How to relax during a game of chess.

This question is a call for help. I find that in my chess games over the board that I become stressed in those high pressure situations. How do you guys relax during a chess game. Any thoughts, tips, ideas, methods, and comments are welcome. Thanks guys. "The hardest game to win is a won game.

sit back and remember its just a game inless your rating is over 2600...

listening to music can relax some but it can also distract some

I used to get stressed about my games. Here is my solution:

I welcome the stress.  Keeps me alert.

Thanks Gizmondeus. Maybe the surest way to relax is to simply relax. Talk about reverse-psychology!! Thanks for your tips everyone. Anyone else, please feel free to post something.

I walk away when it's not my move and throw some water in my face at the nearest restroom, then stand there for a few minutes. After that I usually have my focus I had at the beginning of a game.

I kind of welcome the stress in a way. It goes along with the excitement. For most of the game though, I put it away in its own little box. Every so often I crack the lid and enjoy the experience, but then when it's time to buckle down again, I close the box, and focus on the game, secure in the knowledge that it'll be there for me when I'm done. 

I also find that knowing what you know, and being sure of what you know, helps a lot. Let's say the Lucena position, for example. Once you achieve the Lucena position, the stress is gone, because if you really know it, you know that your opponent could get up from the board, and Kasparov could sit down, and you would still win easily. Knowing what you know (in this case the Lucena position) and being confident that your knowledge is correct, that you can execute it, etc, helps you keep your mind on the game.

Endgames are the easy example, but imagine if you could have that same kind of certainty in a middlegame position! Even if you're not certain you're winning, if you at least understand what's happening (I'm making a kingside attack, and he'll be counterattacking on the queenside. I need to make as few moves as possible over there or my kingside play will be too slow. --playing an open sicilian as white) it helps you frame the game in your mind, and suddenly it's not so chaotic. I find the stress gets to me most when the board is a mess, and I feel like I have to calculate 20 different lines in 5 different variations, most of which are very different from each other, and all of which are 6+ moves long....it gets overwhelming, and I can sometimes lose sight of what's actually happening, of the critical features that drive the position. Once I remember those few important things, often not only is the position (and thus my move) clearer to me, but the stress is reduced because at least now I understand the task at hand, and how to go about it.

Another thing to do is a bit of a psychological trick, but it may help you. If you're the higher rated player, or playing white, or can find another reason that you have some advantage in the game, remind yourself that your opponent is no match for you. All you have to do is relax, play your game, and he won't be able to keep up. Conversely, if he should have an advantage (higher rated, whatever) remind yourself of one of your best wins, where you really stepped up, and look forward to repeating that performance.

having a nice sleep,taking supplements of  of vitamin b and c eating pr

having  a nice sleep , taking regular supplements of vitamin b and c and eating your favorite food,regular exercise will fight stress and gives you endurance while playing chess.perhaps acup of coffee and dark chocolates may  help fight stress the caffeine and sugar in it may give  you additional energyto go on.drink  wateras a relief to remove tensions in your mind. inhale and exhale methods refreshes the mind.

You can NEVER relax. STAY ALERT!

Excellent suggestions guys. @ Lucidish Lux Great answer!! :)

Thanks for all the tips!!! I'll try and come up with more soon.

i do relax,when i do not give much meaning to victory nor defeat.the less prominence i give the more light and relaxed i feel.thats it.another way is to have victory already in your mind(i mean uncounciuos mind),but it takes some knowledge and mental rehearsal.NLP can help there

nlp is one but preatty heavy, try relax or hypnosis for mental training

I'm always stressed in tournament games. Especially in round 1. I think some people are just high strung in pressure situations. You may want to avoid too much caffeine.

Usually in a real life chess game I sit back, yawn a bit and pretend I'm bored while playing around with my opponent's captured pieces. This makes the opponent stress instead

Have you ever considered smoking a nice, green bowl before a game? Works every time and it's the true secret of the pros.

It's okay to have some tension. It keeps you on your toes. You just don't want your opponent to see you tense. Have someone shoot you with a tranquilizer dart prior to the game.  Inwardly you will have the alert state of mind you need, but your opponent will think you're totally laid back.

Work out sharp, complicated positions that need solving with creative solutions, such as rejecting a rook sacrifice on h7 or finding a sound Nd5 sacrifice agaisnt the e6 Najdorf or Nxb5.  Then when you encounter such positions over the board you could keep cool, look for creative solutions (make sure all candidates are thoroughly calculated and judged, don't be afraid to return to the variations) and calmly play chess.  

Or you can simply work out or take a walk prior to your game.