How to get "back into chess" after a break?

Hey!

Over the past few years, I've usually studied chess for about 2-6 hours a day on most days, depending on the time of year, and was playing at about a 1950-2050 USCF level.

Now, however, I took a break from chess (aside from casual blitz, etc) for a few months while acclimating to college, and having been disappointed with a few bad tounraments.

When I do play long games now, I feel a bit like those floored masters must feel sometimes. I retain all my positional knowledge, I remember most of my opening prep...but I'm just not sharp. I miss stupid things and sometimes spend 10 minutes in a position that I likely would have used to be able to feel confident in after a few minutes of analysis.

Other than "start playing more 2-3 hour games online" (which I do plan on doing!) and "play in tounraments" (Got one coming up!), any other ways to expediate the process of "getting back into chess" that you all know of?

I remember reading an interview with Judith Polgar in which she admitted to still doing an hour of tactics a day.  I bet putting in some serious time on tactics would sharpen you right up again.  

EDIT:  Now that I think of it, maybe it was Susan. 

I would advise performing black magic while studying the games of Kasparov in order to extract his demonic power.  

Thanks for the waste of space. Do you have anything to actually contribute to the thread? 

I agree with baddogno : some intensive tactics study sessions may help.

Playing quick games (15 to 30') may help too.

That's my experience.  You retain (almost) all of your positional knowledge even over a "long" time off but tactics and calculation suffer a lot.  I recommend solving tactical puzzles.  I guess you could do them online.  I prefer from a book where I take as long as I need to solve it completely (or as much as I can).

Hicetnunc's recommendation of quick games ~G/20 seems good too.

I just hate when legitimately good threads get derailed around here because it happens so often due to the complete lack of moderation.

As for the OP: I haven't been able to play very much online or OTB in the last month. I had some things I had to iron out in life and with myself and knew I would be too scattered to focus enough. So ...I just kept fresh by doing at least an hour of tactics trainer on ChessTempo each day. Between that and a handful of OTB games against friends, I've actually improved noticeably during that timeframe. 

So, yeah - No question: Tactics, tactics, tactics. Whether you're an amatuer like me, or a seasoned vet like you, I don't see what could keep you sharper than that.

harryz, the irony is that you wasted just as much space by quoting his quotation.  

The internet is running out of space!

o_O Back on topic?

no

ArtofWar makes a good point. This is an interesting thread and I would love to hear more relevant thoughts. I am still a patzer, so I can't offer any insight, but I do notice that I tend to follow a pattern of intense obsession followed by total burnout. The burnout lats for about a month, at which time I become obsessed again. But interestingly, I find that each time I step away from the game, my visualization skills are greatly improved when I return. Maybe the subconsciuos keeps working on this stuff? On the other hand, my tactical skills always need to be brought back up to my previous ability.

Absolutely the same here. I remember stepping away from the game for about 3 months during this year at one point. Around that same time I had an estimated FIDE rating of about 1235 on ChessTempo and I was at somewhat of a sticking point. When I returned, I blew right past that and now have an estimated FIDE of 1385.  

I think there is a "settling" of tactical patterns into the subconscious during a break from the game. I too would be interested in hearing other's thoughts on this.

I have noticed sometimes that I come back and get better, maybe cause I'm rested, yeah

I would cut down on games and just work on some tactics- one constantly repeated set with key themes and then X amount of random per day (chesstempo, etc)

Ive came back from breaks and played too much, its more demoralizing than productive. Until I turned to heavy tactics my chess never came back.

Thanks for the input!

I am also coming off a break from chess. Twenty-five years in my case. My preparations for the tournament I'll be playing in six weeks from now include mostly tactical exercises and solving endgame problems, along with review of pawn structures and planning. To prepare for an OTB tournament, I think training games are important also. Not online games or computer games as much as games against a physical opponent, under as close to tournament conditions as you can achieve.

Best of luck to you.

Im the same, had a ten year break from otb but making a comeback this year. Been playing online all time though so not rusty from chess.

 What I am most wondering about is having no play on a real board for so long, hopefully it wont matter too much , but all chess lately been on the screen

Has zezpwn44 posted in this thread since 2013?