Prepare for OTB without people to play against

Hollow-1-1

I have an OTB tournament coming up. I don't have people to practice against unfortunately. What I have been doing is playing online games (classical) and making the moves on my physical board and then making the moves online. I think this is the best I can do given what I have to work with. To be clear, I don't move the pieces around and then decide what move to make. I'm strictly moving the pieces only after I have decided on the move to make.

I was wondering if others would have any advice, or possibly do something else give the circumstances.

Thanks!

crusader5

@Hollow-1-1 said ^

I have an OTB tournament coming up. I don't have people to practice against unfortunately. What I have been doing is playing online games (classical) and making the moves on my physical board and then making the moves online. I think this is the best I can do given what I have to work with. To be clear, I don't move the pieces around and then decide what move to make. I'm strictly moving the pieces only after I have decided on the move to make.

what I do is I go through my opening repertoire (which is on lichess study), the do a couple hundred puzzles, play a bit of blitz, and do chess.com puzzle rush. all of this about ~2-3 days before the tournament. The day of the tournament go light on chess, you don't want to lose focus early.

@Hollow-1-1 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/vGQi1I3v) > I have an OTB tournament coming up. I don't have people to practice against unfortunately. What I have been doing is playing online games (classical) and making the moves on my physical board and then making the moves online. I think this is the best I can do given what I have to work with. To be clear, I don't move the pieces around and then decide what move to make. I'm strictly moving the pieces only after I have decided on the move to make. what I do is I go through my opening repertoire (which is on lichess study), the do a couple hundred puzzles, play a bit of blitz, and do chess.com puzzle rush. all of this about ~2-3 days before the tournament. The day of the tournament go light on chess, you don't want to lose focus early.

Hollow-1-1

Thanks Crusader. When you study your openings, do you use a physical board to get that 3D feel, or just use the studies feature?

crusader5

@Hollow-1-1 said ^

Thanks Crusader. When you study your openings, do you use a physical board to get that 3D feel, or just use the studies feature?

no I just use the studies feature tbh its easier for me, but if it helps you see the board better and remember stuff better, definitely use a physical board

@Hollow-1-1 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/bU8gq23L) > Thanks Crusader. When you study your openings, do you use a physical board to get that 3D feel, or just use the studies feature? no I just use the studies feature tbh its easier for me, but if it helps you see the board better and remember stuff better, definitely use a physical board

tpr

"playing online games (classical)"

Great

"do something else"

There are 2 other possibilities to simulate an over the board classical game.

Play a game against yourself preferably with a chess clock. This was recommended by Carlsen.
Play through a grandmaster game move per move, take the winning side and think what you would play. Preferably with a chess clock and a score sheet. Then see what the grandmaster played. Did you play the same? If not, which move is better? Why? Did you consider the good move? If yes, why did you reject it? If no, why not? Then play the move by the opponent and proceed with your next move.

"playing online games (classical)" * Great "do something else" * There are 2 other possibilities to simulate an over the board classical game. 1) Play a game against yourself preferably with a chess clock. This was recommended by Carlsen. 2) Play through a grandmaster game move per move, take the winning side and think what you would play. Preferably with a chess clock and a score sheet. Then see what the grandmaster played. Did you play the same? If not, which move is better? Why? Did you consider the good move? If yes, why did you reject it? If no, why not? Then play the move by the opponent and proceed with your next move.

crusader5

@tpr said ^

"playing online games (classical)"

Great

"do something else"

There are 2 other possibilities to simulate an over the board classical game.

Play a game against yourself preferably with a chess clock. This was recommended by Carlsen.

Play through a grandmaster game move per move, take the winning side and think what you would play. Preferably with a chess clock and a score sheet. Then see...

imo #1 doesn't make sense psychology of your own mind influences your moves too much

@tpr said [^](/forum/redirect/post/OWf9wFJU) > "playing online games (classical)" > * Great > > "do something else" > * There are 2 other possibilities to simulate an over the board classical game. > 1) Play a game against yourself preferably with a chess clock. This was recommended by Carlsen. > 2) Play through a grandmaster game move per move, take the winning side and think what you would play. Preferably with a chess clock and a score sheet. Then see... imo #1 doesn't make sense psychology of your own mind influences your moves too much

tpr

"doesn't make sense"

Carlsen said he made much progress doing so.
If you do it, then you have to physically look from the other side of the board.
Each ply made allows you to calculate 1 ply deeper.
It confronts you with your own limitations.

"doesn't make sense" * Carlsen said he made much progress doing so. If you do it, then you have to physically look from the other side of the board. Each ply made allows you to calculate 1 ply deeper. It confronts you with your own limitations.

DrHack

How much prep time do you have?

RemRus

@Hollow-1-1 said ^

I was wondering if others would have any advice

It's a difficult question. Your game ratings are not calibrated, and your puzzle rating is 1500. This means you are still at the stage of learning basic tactics. You need to solve a lot of problems, but you can't do this on a real board.
You can practice openings up to move 10. Study several branches that you know for sure, make a move in 3 seconds for yourself and your opponent.
Then change the training mode, imagine that the opponent knows nothing and makes random moves. Now you can think for 10-20 seconds to remember the opening principles. Simulate a game against a confused opponent until the tenth move.

@Hollow-1-1 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/vGQi1I3v) > I was wondering if others would have any advice It's a difficult question. Your game ratings are not calibrated, and your puzzle rating is 1500. This means you are still at the stage of learning basic tactics. You need to solve a lot of problems, but you can't do this on a real board. You can practice openings up to move 10. Study several branches that you know for sure, make a move in 3 seconds for yourself and your opponent. Then change the training mode, imagine that the opponent knows nothing and makes random moves. Now you can think for 10-20 seconds to remember the opening principles. Simulate a game against a confused opponent until the tenth move.

Hollow-1-1

I'll try to capture all the questions in one post.

I have three hours of study I do each day.

My plan is to play 1 30+5 game per day against an opponent, as this is the time control of the tournament.
I use Chessable for my openings and make the moves on a physical board. (I'm looking for a safe opening with decent middle game chances, where I play principled chess at this point. I'm not grinding openings and understand that at my level openings are the last thing I should study. So it's only about 30 minutes of study here.)

After that I was hoping for advice on more ways to improve OTB without having the opportunity to play OTB.

My rating doesn't really reflect my actual rating, I think. (It's provisional right now.) But I have completed the Steps Method level 2, have a good grasp of fundamental tactics, and thus it would not be seen on Lichess as I use a board with physical books for my tactics training. (Steps Method) If I had to guess I would say I'm about 900 to 1000 on Chess.com and about 1200 Lichess (Classical). But I'm doing my best to guess at that rating so take that as you will.

Playing through GM games with a clock makes a lot of sense. Thanks! I will also give it a shot of playing against myself too and see how that goes.

I'll try to capture all the questions in one post. I have three hours of study I do each day. My plan is to play 1 30+5 game per day against an opponent, as this is the time control of the tournament. I use Chessable for my openings and make the moves on a physical board. (I'm looking for a safe opening with decent middle game chances, where I play principled chess at this point. I'm not grinding openings and understand that at my level openings are the last thing I should study. So it's only about 30 minutes of study here.) After that I was hoping for advice on more ways to improve OTB without having the opportunity to play OTB. My rating doesn't really reflect my actual rating, I think. (It's provisional right now.) But I have completed the Steps Method level 2, have a good grasp of fundamental tactics, and thus it would not be seen on Lichess as I use a board with physical books for my tactics training. (Steps Method) If I had to guess I would say I'm about 900 to 1000 on Chess.com and about 1200 Lichess (Classical). But I'm doing my best to guess at that rating so take that as you will. Playing through GM games with a clock makes a lot of sense. Thanks! I will also give it a shot of playing against myself too and see how that goes.