Even if I know some of the answers to the question I am not good at following them myself.
I guess a simple answer would be to excercise. I have been told that some GM run a marathon before a big game.
Also drink water even if you are thirsty to prevent the brain from signaling it is thirsty.
meditate is also important.
I need the advice myself so If anybody knows how to improve concentraion please post!
I've been having some success with pre-game preparation. I usually play on a Sunday for the club and I've found that by changing my radio channel, for the drive, that I arrive better able to play. I now listen to "Elaine Paige on Sunday", a mix of show tunes, old crooners and classical music. I drive more slowly, notice other road-users less and arrive in a calmer state of mind.
From a practical standpoint: what disturbs your concentration? It may not be an answer you can determine right away...but try to take notice when it happens. Sounds? Motion? Sex? Stray thoughts?
Answers: wear headphones/earplugs...lean over the board and frame your face with your hands, Kasparov style...take care of business before the tournament...yoga/meditation.
Another thing to take note of: it's often easy to stray off mentally once you let yourself begin in that direction...and that's easiest to do while it's your opponent's move. Solution: don't take mental time off during opponent's moves. That's the time to think strategically. Always have something game-relevant TO think about, and your mind won't find excuses to dig up something ELSE to think about.
From a practical standpoint: what disturbs your concentration? It may not be an answer you can determine right away...but try to take notice when it happens. Sounds? Motion? Sex? Stray thoughts?
Answers: wear headphones/earplugs...lean over the board and frame your face with your hands, Kasparov style...take care of business before the tournament...yoga/meditation.
Another thing to take note of: it's often easy to stray off mentally once you let yourself begin in that direction...and that's easiest to do while it's your opponent's move. Solution: don't take mental time off during opponent's moves. That's the time to think strategically. Always have something game-relevant TO think about, and your mind won't find excuses to dig up something ELSE to think about.
This is interesting. Now I realize that I use to leave my chair during my opponent`s move time. But when my opponent goes to play "blitz" with me (in a standard time game, I mean 60m - 1 hour 30 m per player) that also pertubes me too much. What do you recommend me? Thanks
Hello. I'm working permanently to improve my chess... studying openings, strategy, endings and training tactics. But at the time to play OTB tournaments, all eforts goes to garbage because I have days of good concentration, and others days of nothing of concentration, playing patzer like a beginner. What do you recommend me to improve concentration during a OTB game/tournament?