Tournament play · 2 min read
How to control nerves before and during a chess game
Nerves are normal. They cost the most points in two places: the first few moves, and the move right after something goes wrong.
You cannot switch them off, but a routine that does not depend on feeling calm makes them harmless.
The hour before the round
- Eat something light and drink water. Hunger feels a lot like anxiety.
- Arrive early. Rushing makes nerves worse.
- Warm up with two or three easy puzzles, not hard study.
- Ignore your opponent's rating. Shake hands and play the position.
The first moves
Nervous players rush the opening because moving feels better than sitting still. Take thirty seconds over your first move even if you know it, breathe out slowly, and write the move down.
After a mistake
- Sit back and take your hands off the table.
- Name the facts: "a pawn down, worse structure" is something you can work with.
- Take a full minute before your next move. The move after a blunder often loses more than the blunder.
- Look for the move that sets your opponent the hardest problem.
- If you need a break, stand up and walk while your opponent is thinking, staying inside the playing venue.
Between rounds
- Do not analyse a painful loss before the next round. Note where it turned and put the sheet away.
- Eat, go outside, stay off screens for a while.
- Set one process goal for the next game, such as "count attackers before every capture". You control process, not results.
Nerves shrink with practice
Play more rated games, including at the time control you dread. Review your scoresheets too: if your bad moves cluster right after a shock, you have a habit to work on rather than a mystery.
Key takeaways
- Use a routine that works whether or not you feel calm.
- Slow down on the first moves and on the move after a blunder.
- Reset physically: hands off the board, one minute, name the facts.
- Set process goals between rounds, not result goals.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I leave the board during a chess game?
- Usually yes, while your opponent is thinking, as long as you stay inside the playing venue and do not consult anyone or any device. Under FIDE rules, the player whose turn it is needs the arbiter's permission to leave the playing area.
- How do I stop replaying a chess loss all night?
- Write down the one moment the game turned and close the scoresheet. Do the full analysis a day or two later, when it is study material rather than something to dwell on.
- Does caffeine help in chess tournaments?
- It helps some players stay alert and makes others shaky. Test any change in practice games first, never for the first time at an event.
The ideas behind this
- Prophylactic ThinkingBefore every move, ask what your opponent wants to do.
- Evaluating PositionsMaterial, kings, pawns, piece activity: the checklist that gives a plan.