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First ever 90+30 torunament

I have my first ever OTB tournament in three months. Yay! I'm very excited. One problem though. Basically all my chess experience has been in the rapid time control. I have played some 30+0 and 30+20, but 90+30 is a lot longer.

However, I have three months. What is the best way for me to prepare?

I have my first ever OTB tournament in three months. Yay! I'm very excited. One problem though. Basically all my chess experience has been in the rapid time control. I have played some 30+0 and 30+20, but 90+30 is a lot longer. However, I have three months. What is the best way for me to prepare?

Maybe someone would be willing to play some 90+30 practice games with me?

Maybe someone would be willing to play some 90+30 practice games with me?

@TheCaptain7777 said ^

I have my first ever OTB tournament in three months.

Wow! Which one?

@TheCaptain7777 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/VZcr09e3) > I have my first ever OTB tournament in three months. Wow! Which one?

An important question is what you lack experience with: longer time controls or OTB play (and competititve OTB play)? If it's just the time control, there are opportunities to play 60+30 or even 90+30 those on Lichess. A local club can help with OTB practice (some online only players can have problems with orientation on a physical board) but there is also stuff specific to tournament play (playing with clock, technical rules like "touch move" or using one hand, notation and recording, etiquette). Also don't forget that a 90+30 game can easily take 3-4 hours and many people have trouble keeping focus for so long. It's even harder to play 9 classical games in 8 days or in a compressed format 7 games in 4 days or 5-6 games in 3 days.

I would suggest to take your first tournament as a test and learning experience, i.e. do your best and see how it goes, where your problems are and what to focus on in the future.

An important question is what you lack experience with: longer time controls or OTB play (and competititve OTB play)? If it's just the time control, there are opportunities to play 60+30 or even 90+30 those on Lichess. A local club can help with OTB practice (some online only players can have problems with orientation on a physical board) but there is also stuff specific to tournament play (playing with clock, technical rules like "touch move" or using one hand, notation and recording, etiquette). Also don't forget that a 90+30 game can easily take 3-4 hours and many people have trouble keeping focus for so long. It's even harder to play 9 classical games in 8 days or in a compressed format 7 games in 4 days or 5-6 games in 3 days. I would suggest to take your first tournament as a test and learning experience, i.e. do your best and see how it goes, where your problems are and what to focus on in the future.

Indeed, dont forget to plan for basic needs... Food, liquids, sleep... Especially if you have 2 (or more) games a day, this is a very important part of keeping your brain in chess shape throughout the event.

Indeed, dont forget to plan for basic needs... Food, liquids, sleep... Especially if you have 2 (or more) games a day, this is a very important part of keeping your brain in chess shape throughout the event.

@mkubecek said ^

An important question is what you lack experience with: longer time controls or OTB play (and competititve OTB play)? If it's just the time control, there are opportunities to play 60+30 or even 90+30 those on Lichess. A local club can help with OTB practice (some online only players can have problems with orientation on a physical board) but there is also stuff specific to tournament play (playing with clock, technical rules like "touch move" or using one hand, notation and recording, etiquette). Also don't forget that a 90+30 game can easily take 3-4 hours and many people have trouble keeping focus for so long. It's even harder to play 9 classical games in 8 days or in a compressed format 7 games in 4 days or 5-6 games in 3 days.

I would suggest to take your first tournament as a test and learning experience, i.e. do your best and see how it goes, where your problems are and what to focus on in the future.

I have played plenty of OTB. I played casual OTB for a long time before I ever played online and I played at a casual club for a long time. The time control is my main worry.

@mkubecek said [^](/forum/redirect/post/RYx14iaQ) > An important question is what you lack experience with: longer time controls or OTB play (and competititve OTB play)? If it's just the time control, there are opportunities to play 60+30 or even 90+30 those on Lichess. A local club can help with OTB practice (some online only players can have problems with orientation on a physical board) but there is also stuff specific to tournament play (playing with clock, technical rules like "touch move" or using one hand, notation and recording, etiquette). Also don't forget that a 90+30 game can easily take 3-4 hours and many people have trouble keeping focus for so long. It's even harder to play 9 classical games in 8 days or in a compressed format 7 games in 4 days or 5-6 games in 3 days. > > I would suggest to take your first tournament as a test and learning experience, i.e. do your best and see how it goes, where your problems are and what to focus on in the future. I have played plenty of OTB. I played casual OTB for a long time before I ever played online and I played at a casual club for a long time. The time control is my main worry.

@TheCaptain7777 said ^

I have my first ever OTB tournament in three months. Yay! I'm very excited. One problem though. Basically all my chess experience has been in the rapid time control. I have played some 30+0 and 30+20, but 90+30 is a lot longer.

However, I have three months. What is the best way for me to prepare?

I dont think its that important. Just try to rely more on calculation now. And get some rest ;)

@TheCaptain7777 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/VZcr09e3) > I have my first ever OTB tournament in three months. Yay! I'm very excited. One problem though. Basically all my chess experience has been in the rapid time control. I have played some 30+0 and 30+20, but 90+30 is a lot longer. > > However, I have three months. What is the best way for me to prepare? I dont think its that important. Just try to rely more on calculation now. And get some rest ;)

I thought that I would reply to your post since I am in the same boat but a little ahead.

I am writing this on my phone, so I cannot be too elaborate.

Background: So far, I played 10 OTB games but I played a lot of casual OTB when I was younger, so I am somewhat used to the 3D pieces but not to the time control.

Games/Opposition: 6 wins, 2draws, 2losses. Average ELO around 1800.

Insights:

  • I am very bad at time management. Despite being a rather slow player on lichens I usually had twice as much or more time remaining on the clock than my opponents.

-The OTB players are much better at calculating variations than I am.

-They know the main opening lines much better than I do, but when I played something unusual they quickly got lost.

-I feel like my lichess opponents play a higher-level chess positionally than my OTB opponents. On the flip side we blunder more.

Conclusion: (for myself) Keep it simple, try to avoid tactics, go for a positional crush.

I do not know if this helps you, but I thought I would share.

I thought that I would reply to your post since I am in the same boat but a little ahead. I am writing this on my phone, so I cannot be too elaborate. Background: So far, I played 10 OTB games but I played a lot of casual OTB when I was younger, so I am somewhat used to the 3D pieces but not to the time control. Games/Opposition: 6 wins, 2draws, 2losses. Average ELO around 1800. Insights: - I am very bad at time management. Despite being a rather slow player on lichens I usually had twice as much or more time remaining on the clock than my opponents. -The OTB players are much better at calculating variations than I am. -They know the main opening lines much better than I do, but when I played something unusual they quickly got lost. -I feel like my lichess opponents play a higher-level chess positionally than my OTB opponents. On the flip side we blunder more. Conclusion: (for myself) Keep it simple, try to avoid tactics, go for a positional crush. I do not know if this helps you, but I thought I would share.

@TheCaptain7777 said ^

I have played plenty of OTB. I played casual OTB for a long time before I ever played online and I played at a casual club for a long time. The time control is my main worry.

You may still need to get more familiar with the specific rules for competitive play or move recording.

As for opportunities to play longer time controls on Lichess, you can take a look at 90m+30s or C3 – Classical Chess Club. Also, the registration for next season of Lichess 4545 League is going to start next week; the Series side league (with 90+30 time control) started recently but if you plan to play more classical opens in the future, it may also be of interest.

@TheCaptain7777 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/CDN7U7Wv) > I have played plenty of OTB. I played casual OTB for a long time before I ever played online and I played at a casual club for a long time. The time control is my main worry. You may still need to get more familiar with the specific rules for competitive play or move recording. As for opportunities to play longer time controls on Lichess, you can take a look at [90m+30s](https://lichess.org/team/90m30s) or [C3 – Classical Chess Club](https://lichess.org/team/c3--classical-chess-club). Also, the registration for next season of [Lichess 4545 League](https://www.lichess4545.com/team4545/) is going to start next week; the Series side league (with 90+30 time control) started recently but if you plan to play more classical opens in the future, it may also be of interest.

You should definitely practice 90+30 games. What works in rapid and blitz no longe works in 90+30: your opponent has time to calculate it through. You can seek 90+30 here, or play 90+30 over the board, or play 90+30 against a strong engine.

You should definitely practice 90+30 games. What works in rapid and blitz no longe works in 90+30: your opponent has time to calculate it through. You can seek 90+30 here, or play 90+30 over the board, or play 90+30 against a strong engine.