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The 5 things I do before a tournament

#2

Great post , i’m completely agree with all the points.
Many peoble think that chess is only make good moves and have knowledges but all the themes that you talk in the post are so so useful to have better results , i use to aplied all of them and this post is going to be so useful for the people how read and apply the advices.

Great post , i’m completely agree with all the points. Many peoble think that chess is only make good moves and have knowledges but all the themes that you talk in the post are so so useful to have better results , i use to aplied all of them and this post is going to be so useful for the people how read and apply the advices.
#3

@BuendiaChess said in #2:

Great post , i’m completely agree with all the points.
Many peoble think that chess is only make good moves and have knowledges but all the themes that you talk in the post are so so useful to have better results , i use to aplied all of them and this post is going to be so useful for the people how read and apply the advices.

Thanks BuendiaChess! Hope to see other people's tips in this thread as well.

@BuendiaChess said in #2: > Great post , i’m completely agree with all the points. > Many peoble think that chess is only make good moves and have knowledges but all the themes that you talk in the post are so so useful to have better results , i use to aplied all of them and this post is going to be so useful for the people how read and apply the advices. Thanks BuendiaChess! Hope to see other people's tips in this thread as well.
#4

Good advice except for 1 point:
"still have 30 minutes left at 30 moves"

  • Most chess games are essentially decided by move 30. They may drag on for some 15 moves, but the outcome is already decided. With a time control of 90+30, if one player keeps 30 minutes by move 30 and the other is at 0 on move 30, then the player on 0 who has to finish the game on increment has used 30 more minutes and thus is more likely to have a winning position by move 30 and thus win the game if he has good technique to convert the win low on time in the last 15 moves.
    In grandmaster tournaments with comparable players it is rare for a player to have 30 minutes left on move 30.
    In unbalanced encounters between a master and an amateur it is common: the amateur is scared by time trouble and plays too fast and the master does not need the time as the opponent makes weak moves.
Good advice except for 1 point: "still have 30 minutes left at 30 moves" * Most chess games are essentially decided by move 30. They may drag on for some 15 moves, but the outcome is already decided. With a time control of 90+30, if one player keeps 30 minutes by move 30 and the other is at 0 on move 30, then the player on 0 who has to finish the game on increment has used 30 more minutes and thus is more likely to have a winning position by move 30 and thus win the game if he has good technique to convert the win low on time in the last 15 moves. In grandmaster tournaments with comparable players it is rare for a player to have 30 minutes left on move 30. In unbalanced encounters between a master and an amateur it is common: the amateur is scared by time trouble and plays too fast and the master does not need the time as the opponent makes weak moves.
#6

That was a really good post
Thank you! I will use this as a guide

(p.s. my next OTB tournament is in one hour)

That was a really good post Thank you! I will use this as a guide (p.s. my next OTB tournament is in one hour)
#7

Very sound observations/advice from long practice. I especially appreciated the validation of the best practice of "being hungry" right before a tournament, rather than cramming for it like it's a midterm exam.

Next one up for me is in November.

Very sound observations/advice from long practice. I especially appreciated the validation of the best practice of "being hungry" right before a tournament, rather than cramming for it like it's a midterm exam. Next one up for me is in November.
#8

Nice to see you writing again after 2 years.

About things which I do before a tournament, I wrote a month ago about on my blog. It is very different to your article and definitely requires more time.
https://schaken-brabo.blogspot.com/2025/09/hoe-belangrijk-is-elo-deel-2.html

Nice to see you writing again after 2 years. About things which I do before a tournament, I wrote a month ago about on my blog. It is very different to your article and definitely requires more time. https://schaken-brabo.blogspot.com/2025/09/hoe-belangrijk-is-elo-deel-2.html
#9

about the time management part i think it depends on game to game opponent to opponent and player to player it also largely is decided by the nature of the position and outcome of the opening so i think no hard fast rule to be followed
But in general a good artical and ofc nice to see you back at writing

about the time management part i think it depends on game to game opponent to opponent and player to player it also largely is decided by the nature of the position and outcome of the opening so i think no hard fast rule to be followed But in general a good artical and ofc nice to see you back at writing
#10

@tpr said in #4:

Good advice except for 1 point:
"still have 30 minutes left at 30 moves"

  • Most chess games are essentially decided by move 30. They may drag on for some 15 moves, but the outcome is already decided. With a time control of 90+30, if one player keeps 30 minutes by move 30 and the other is at 0 on move 30, then the player on 0 who has to finish the game on increment has used 30 more minutes and thus is more likely to have a winning position by move 30 and thus win the game if he has good technique to convert the win low on time in the last 15 moves.
    In grandmaster tournaments with comparable players it is rare for a player to have 30 minutes left on move 30.
    In unbalanced encounters between a master and an amateur it is common: the amateur is scared by time trouble and plays too fast and the master does not need the time as the opponent makes weak moves.

Thanks tpr, interesting observations. I think there are many types of games, regardless of playing level - plenty are still a fight at move 30, and in a 90+30 game, using 30 minutes more and playing on increment is not necessarily good (in many cases, that player is simply at a time and practical disadvantage). That line was partly for myself as I've struggled with time management my whole chess life, and having 30 minutes left at 30 moves in a 90+30 game is an achievement for me, even against lower rated players historically.

@tpr said in #4: > Good advice except for 1 point: > "still have 30 minutes left at 30 moves" > * Most chess games are essentially decided by move 30. They may drag on for some 15 moves, but the outcome is already decided. With a time control of 90+30, if one player keeps 30 minutes by move 30 and the other is at 0 on move 30, then the player on 0 who has to finish the game on increment has used 30 more minutes and thus is more likely to have a winning position by move 30 and thus win the game if he has good technique to convert the win low on time in the last 15 moves. > In grandmaster tournaments with comparable players it is rare for a player to have 30 minutes left on move 30. > In unbalanced encounters between a master and an amateur it is common: the amateur is scared by time trouble and plays too fast and the master does not need the time as the opponent makes weak moves. Thanks tpr, interesting observations. I think there are many types of games, regardless of playing level - plenty are still a fight at move 30, and in a 90+30 game, using 30 minutes more and playing on increment is not necessarily good (in many cases, that player is simply at a time and practical disadvantage). That line was partly for myself as I've struggled with time management my whole chess life, and having 30 minutes left at 30 moves in a 90+30 game is an achievement for me, even against lower rated players historically.