Hi, Jim H.
I'll echo the comments that Jim T. mentioned along with the biggest
key/mindset to have. Don't wear yourself out when not on the clock.
When it's you're opponent's turn, do some deep breathing, maybe touch
the board once or twice depending how long he goes. And if he takes a
while, let him.
I used to lose a lot of games early on in my playing, and I mean a
whole lot of games, because my time ran out. Then, I realized that by
the end of the game I was so stressed out because I was agonizing over
stuff while my opponent was on the clock instead of letting my mind
ease up during that time. In some tournaments I've attended, guys will
get up, walk around, grab some coffee or run a lap around the block to
reset their mind. Since I'm by nature a quick player and fairly
intense when on the clock, I need that time to let my adrenaline slow
down and return me to the soft zone.
David
On 9/22/18, JT <hazelnutt2001@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Since I know we're not talking about playing speed chess, and since I'm
pretty sure that most of the games you're talking about, Jim, are online
with a third-party TK, I will offer some thoughts.
Speaking as one who has lost numerous games on time, especially in my
earlier years of tournament play, I can offer a couple ideas. One is to
loudly, enthusiastically, stringently echo and support Evan's statement
about having a plan at the start of the game. Some people call it studying
openings. I call it having an idea of the order of moves you would like to
play if your opponent cooperates. But it also includes the idea of learning
to consider your strategy in terms of the next several moves. Often during a
game, it is possible to make some observations of how you would like your
pieces to be arranged over the next few moves. Once you have that idea, you
can then consider what your opponent might do to interfere with your plans.
As you consider that, you can make some observations of how you might alter
your move order to achieve your desired end if possible.
Now, all this takes time. And time is the very thing that is giving you, and
me, trouble. There is one very simple thing you can train yourself to do,
though, to alleviate some of the stress that is affecting your analysis.
Remember this: the timekeeper, if doing his or her job properly, will give
you your time checks at the appropriate times. Most of our tourhnaments are
played 30/60, 30 moves in 60 minutes. You should receive your first time
check when the first player has reached 40 minutes remaining. The timekeeper
will also tell you what move you are on. Thirty moves in 60 minutes means
you should Average, Emphasis on average, two minutes per move. If you have
made your tenth move by the first time check, you are right on track. In
most cases, if you have indeed made a plan at the start of the game as to
what move sequence you would like to play, then odds are that you will have
made more than ten moves by the first time check. You will then get your
next time check when the first player reaches 20 minutes remaining. It is
especially important to note what move you're on at this point. You should
feel a bit of adrenaline rush when you hear that you only have 20 minutes
left. But hold that 20 minutes against how many moves you have left to play.
If you've reached move 20 or beyond, you're in great shape because you have
more than the two-minute average with which you started the game. And you
will still get additional time checks at the ten-minute-remaining mark,
again at 5 minutes to go, and yet again at 2 minutes to go. If you hit 2
minutes to go, and you still have four moves to make, yes, you need to pay
strict attention and move quickly. But if you're paying attention to the
board and not fretting about the clock, you might find a way to repeat a
move just to burn up the move. Even masters have been known to do that on
occasion. Bottom line, Train yourself to trust your timekeeper, and you can
then begin to tell yourself, when you feel yourself beginning to stress over
time, you can tell yourself to relax and concentrate on the board. And when
I say "Tell yourself," I mean exactly that. I find that I don't have to do
it nearly as often as I used to, but, every now and again, I have to tell
myself, "Thoune, pay attention to the --- board and quit worrying about how
long you're taking. It does work. At least, it has worked for me. I don't
get into time trouble nearly as often as I used to. Part of it is definitely
to do with knowing before I make my first move what course I will follow if
given the chance. But part of it is also a direct result of the words that I
say to myself.
I realize that we can all ignore ourselves just as effectively as we can
ignore others. But it has allegedly been proven that what we practice inside
our heads has the very same effect on our brains as physically doing the
thing. I wish I could give the source of that allegation, but I can tell you
that I came across the wisdom as part of my Toastmasters training, and I
have found through personal experience that is has indeed worked according
to the claim for me. So tell yourself, in the same tone that you might tell
your kid or your dog to knock off whatever it is they're doing, to knock off
worrying about time. And try to avoid arguing with yourself! (Smile)
One other thing. On those occasions that you do lose a game on time, and you
will on occasion lose a game on time if you care more about playing well
than you do about playing fast, then take a good look at the position. You
ought to do that anyway. But take a good look and see if you were making
good moves as far as you got. If you feel that you were, then take some
comfort in the knowledge that you were doing good analysis, and that with
time and practice you'll be able to do that level of analysis faster. For
me, if I have to lose a game, I'd much rather lose on time making good moves
then I would to lose with plenty of time left on my clock and a scoresheet
full of moves that look like ... well, you know what I mean.
Oh, and one other last thing, I don't know if it affects you the way it does
me, but I know for sure that when I have a lot of things on mind, non-chess
things, household issues, other deadlines, the fact that my yard needs
mowing, all those non-chess things that just get in the way, I know going
into the game that these things are going to interfere with my ability to
concentrate. And the best thing I can do for myself is find a way to try to
clear my mind and forget about everything else as I prepare to make my first
move. It usually helps!
All the best,
Jim T
-----Original Message-----
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Evan Reese
Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2018 1:23 PM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Re: OTB Tips Wanted
Hi Jim,
Unfortunately, I don't have a lot to offer. One thing I do that helps me is
to try to remember that my opponent's time is also my time, in the sense
that I can use his time to think as well as my own time.
It also helps to come up with a general plan which can speed up individual
moves because you've already got a basic strategy in mind.
Of course, you may have to alter the plan as a result of your opponent's
moves, but a general strategy may still be able to survive possible
variations that may be necessary if he does something you didn't
anticipate.
Sorry I can't help more. I'm sure you'll get much better advice from
stronger players with more OTB experience.
Evan
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim
Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2018 1:25 PM
To: USBCA
Subject: [usbca_chess] OTB Tips Wanted
Hi All,
I have been playing chess very badly lately in timed games. I'm getting
anxious about time and not looking carefully. Do you have any tips?
Thanks.
Jim
--
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Jim Homme
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