Going from Online Matches to OTB

I've been playing/practicing chess for 3 months now, so I have a good bit to go. I've been playing exclusively online matches, ranging from 5-10 minute games. I recently got a DGT board so I can play on an actual board while playing on this site. I've realized that otb games take significantly longer than online haha; I usually play 1 hour matches with a board. And with it, the playstyle is very different; I blunder pieces a lot less otb and am planning a few more moves ahead versus an online blitz match.

My question is, would you say learning quick online matches translates well into playing longer otb games, or would you say that those are pretty different things that are exclusive? My ultimate goal is to play in live tournaments in the coming years, and I wouldn't want to focus much on quick blitz games if it ends up being so different from a longer otb game.

I'd say there's a venn diagram kind of relationship. Play rapid online for best results, I'd suggest.

I’ve discovered that online games aren’t really good preparation for OTB classical time-control tournaments, at least for me. 

I had been playing 30-minute rapid games and daily games on this site, thinking that would keep me in reasonable form. Then I played in the Mid America Open tournament a couple of weeks ago (after 2+ years away from tournament games). Time control 80 minutes for the first 40 moves, with an additional 30 minutes after move 40 for the rest of the game. Plus 30 second increment staring from move 1. I was unable to stay sharp for that long. I became fatigued and made errors/blunders that I normally wouldn’t make. Not a good tournament for me. I think playing the rapid and daily games beforehand was better than nothing, but definitely not the same as the real thing. 

Can you please tell us which e-board do you use and which application to connect to chess.com ?

Quick online matches into long classical games? No, they don't translate well, they feel like different games.

I use the Millenium Chess Exclusive board. It has both Bluetooth and USB connection; I use it with my phone, but computers work too. As for application, there isn't any. You can change settings on chess.com to allow electronic board connections, there's Youtube videos that walk you through it. One random note worth mentioning, for now chess.com only allows board play online against people. If you want to use it against bots, you'll need to find another site or app.

But I appreciate all the tips! Glad I'm learning this now, I'll start playing longer games and get used to that style more.

I would not say playing online is anything similar to otb. It is superficial preparation at best. To get used to otb, the only way is to play otb. I would recommend just sleeping well, eating healthy, no fast food, etc. 

For example- a year ago my otb rating was 1600, but my online was 2300 blitz, 2100 rapid (same as now.) I performed in otb like a 1600. After a few tournaments my rating went up, but that’s still many, many hours at the board. I’m now 2000 otb, and my online hasn’t changed much. So that’s why I say you just need to play otb to get used to it.

It took me many months (about 10) of evaluation practice before I felt I could play as well on a DGT board as the screen. However, I now play all my matches on the board. Initially, it was my goal, but it took longer to make the transition than I was expecting. The perspective is surprisingly different.