Hi guys, I will be playing my first OTB tournament coming 21st Jan and the time control is 15+10 from move 1. I will be playing in the open category where there is a range of players from 2400+ to 1200.
I have a few questions in mind:
1) I have been playing chess mostly online and I have trouble seeing 3D set-ups, what should I do?
2) With the limited time I have, should I spend more time on tactics, middlegame or endgame strategy?
3) I usually get into time trouble before my opponent, any tips to help?
4) Any interesting tips to share?
Any constructive advice would be greatly appreciated thank you!
You cannot do much within a couple of days. Don't try to rescue the world.
Suggestion: maybe playing some games with a longer time control and transferring the moves to a real board?
Normally people have problems to get used to 2D but I remember when I started playing with real pieces it was somewhat strange because I knew better the 2D view of Sargon III on a Amiga 500. ;-)
So, good luck! Don't forget that reaching a comparable rating like lichess would be a success.
1) Work a few hours with a chess board before the tournament. Rehearse your favorite openings and endgames by touching the pieces and writing down the moves on paper.
2a) If you don't have favorite openings yet, it's time to choose one for White, one for Black against 1.e4 and one against 1.d4. Be prepared for six moves, and more only if this particular opening has a forcing character (in open tournaments, your opponent will often avoid theory sooner). Rehearse a typical plan for the early middlegame, but don't memorize it. Stick to those choices for the whole tournament.
2b) If you already have favorite openings, spend more time on typical endgames (R+xp vs R+yp, K+xp vs K+yp). Against weaker players in an open tournament, whenever possible, take them to a rook (or king and pawn) endgame to make use of that extra knowledge. That's how you save your mental energy for the big contests.
3) Play your first game slowly, especially against a strong opponent. Make sure you learn something even if you loose (the first game is usually a mismatch). Against weaker players, make them think by taking them into positions where they have no clue (endgame, queenless middlegame, asymmetric center with potential pawn breaks,...). In most situations, think about strategic themes on your opponent's time and about tactical variations on your time.
4a) Usually you will loose the first round to a strong opponent. If not, play solidly in the second round. You will normally have a better tournament experience (i.e. evenly matched games) if you start with 1/2 or at most 1.5/2.
4b) It's a great time to learn about yourself, your strong traits, your weaknesses, what you need to improve. Record your impressions in a notebook but don't waste time and energy analyzing your games between rounds. If a stronger players makes suggestions during the post-mortem, note them down. You will analyze *after* the tournament. Your energy is needed for playing. Don't play blitz between rounds either :) , but do play blitz after the tournament is over.
Enjoy ! It's the most important advice, even if it's not very concrete. The previous ones are means to this end.
My advice is simple. Just enjoy it! When I played my first OTB tournament in 2006, I was pestered by this so called "coach" about how the play the game of chess. Other than that, just do what feels right for you. Have a repertoire that you feel comfortable with and study the endgame. Finally, don't worry too much about results. They will get better as you gain experience in tournament play. :)
Good Luck!
Thank you all for your encouragement and suggestions!
@A-Cielbleu @Sarg0n @penpalrdro I am an e4 player and I have settled on playing the bishop's opening if black replies with e5. I want to go into the Lewis gambit lines if black plays 2. Bc5. If black chooses 2. Nf6, I would go into the Urusov gambit lines with 3. d4. These lines are theoretically unsound but super tricky if my opponents have not seen it before. Likewise, I can always transpose into the Italian game if my opponent plays 2. Nc6 and I will go for the Fried Liver attack if my opponent allows.
On a side note, has anyone tried playing with 3D pieces on lichess? Do you think it will help with my transition from 2D to 3D?
I don't think that 3D pieces on a screen will be comparable to a chess board. By the way, the Urusov gambit is sound according to several authors of repertoire books for Black (Emms, Bologan,...). Be prepared for Black's best (and frequent) response, which is a transposition in the two-knights defense : 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Nc6. You can choose between 5.0-0 (with two complex lines 5...Bc5 and 5...Nxe4) or 5.e5 (with much less theory and simple lines against all three replies 5...d5, 5...Ne4 and 5...Ng4).
In the Italian, you have a wide choice. Just avoid the old Möller attack, it's heavily theoretical, over-analyzed and not promising at all for White.
I have similar issues adjusting to a 3D board. What I have been doing recently is setting up positions on a board from a chess book I am reading and solving them. It's definitely helped a bit. I still find that when in time trouble, I don't instinctively see the whole 3D board. So if possible avoid getting into time trouble in your tournament and solve problems on a 3D board. I wouldn't worry about your opening prep - I don't think you have time for that. Opening prep takes weeks to get right. You have to experiment with different openings, practice them in blitz games and figure out what works for you. Since you only have a few days, just get comfortable with a 3D board and solve a few problems. Also, don't make the mistake of over-training before the tournament. You will need all the stamina you have during the tournament. On the day, you will have a lot to deal with e.g. seeing a real human being opposite you making moves, hitting the clock, adjusting to the surroundings. You need to be fresh and sharp on the day. So don't over train. Just do a few problems on a 3D board and stock up on your carbohydrates. You will need your energy reserves replenished. So eat well, sleep well, exercise a bit and practise a few problems on a 3D wooden board. Keep it simple and enjoy the day - it'll be a real adrenaline rush.
1) I have been playing chess mostly online and I have trouble seeing 3D set-ups, what should I do?
You should definitely get a 3D board and try to play some games on it. You can play games online while having a 3D board next to you where you make moves, on 15mins online its achievable.
2) With the limited time I have, should I spend more time on tactics, middlegame or endgame strategy?
I have a rule in the opening , before any move i count to 5. So i can calm myself before the middlegame starts. My advice is that you watch opponents time and try not to have more then 3 min. less. If you have 3 min. and opponent has 10 then you are in trouble,but if he has 6 min. you still have good chances.
3) I usually get into time trouble before my opponent, any tips to help?
I think this mostly comes if you are not confident enough. Just relax , build self-confidence in your moves and your strenght.
4) Any interesting tips to share?
Before the game starts, when you shake hands,be a MAN and press opponents hand! :D When I see my opponent barely shake hands , it boosts my confidence !
Most important thing, have fun and try to remember your games ! :D
There is nothing you can do now about opening knowledge, positional understanding or endgame technique if you didn't do it before.
I have only three tips:
1- Forget about chess a few days before the tournament. Don't overtrain, don't get saturated with chess.
2- Sleep well, make sure to have plenty of rest before the games.
3- Warm up with a few easy tactics exercises before the games.
@A-Cielbleu Thanks for the tips, I have read through and tried to memorise the various lines in Urusov gambit especially the one you mentioned. Hopefully, it's enough to win against the lower rated players. I might go with the solid lines in the Italian game with higher rated players.
@NotoriousOne I will be sure to remember the strong handshake haha, chess is psychological ;)
@kifaru Yes I agree, I have not played 7 games continuously in a day and I already feel exhausted after 2 games. Do you think I should play 7 games in a day to simulate tournament conditions for at least once?
