How do you get better at OTB chess?
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Recently I played OTB against some of my classmates. One in particular had a fide standard rating of 1300. I played 2 games against him: the first one I allowed my Queen to be pinned to my king by a bishop, and the second I blundered checkmate on the back rank in a roughly drawn endgame. I feel like I’m a stronger player than him honestly but struggle with board vision on a physical chess board. How do I get better at OTB chess? It is just a matter of practice or is there more to it?
Apr 28, 2022
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#2
Practice and study. The more you play over the board the more you will get used to it.
Thanks for the answer. Will keep that in mind.
Apr 28, 2022
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#4
I sit on my hands literally to improve my vision and thought process. Eventually you start visualizing the board easier.
I had a problem going from my phone screen to otb. Just setup a board and do puzzles. It helped me convert my vision. Even now a day before I go play otb I still do the puzzles just to make sure my vision stays good.
It’s good that you’ve already identified how you went wrong, as well as what aspect of your game to work on. The way to get better at it is just to practice. In this case, probably copying tactical problems from a book onto a physical chess board and then solving them there will help you see tactics OTB.
Apr 29, 2022
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#7
Spit out the orange ones, swallow the green ones and just watch the ceiling, all will become clear. ;0) I hope that helps.
But seriously, I find I blunder more on my smart board.
Thank you everyone for your answers (except Jebko which is expected lol). I’ve tried to get my sister to play a game with me on my chessboard at home some months ago because I knew this time would come but she’s too busy. Should I just play random positions by myself?
You'd have to double-check the Chess.com rules, but I believe you can also play games on Chess.com, but have a board set up to the same position right next to you. But also, you shouldn't play random positions by yourself, if you're just intending to practice on your own. You should do tactical puzzles, set them up on the board, and solve them on the board, if you're trying to improve seeing tactics on a physical board. Chess.com gives you 5 free puzzles a day, Lichess gives you unlimited. You should also be able to find puzzle books online.
Apr 29, 2022
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#11
Or you could go through games which have instructional value on an actual board. You could have two, side by side and use one for variations. The world really is your lobster.
Apr 29, 2022
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#12
But yes, it always best to get your hands on proper wood as much as you can ;0)
Apr 29, 2022
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#13
I think, if I recall correctly, you can only play on a board by your side in a daily game. I think I asked the question a while ago.
Apr 29, 2022
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#14
Jalex13 wrote:
Recently I played OTB against some of my classmates. One in particular had a fide standard rating of 1300. I played 2 games against him: the first one I allowed my Queen to be pinned to my king by a bishop, and the second I blundered checkmate on the back rank in a roughly drawn endgame. I feel like I’m a stronger player than him honestly but struggle with board vision on a physical chess board. How do I get better at OTB chess? It is just a matter of practice or is there more to it?
Sounds like you would benefit from some old-style book study with a chess set.
