I know this might sound stupid, but I like to meditate before tournament games. It helps to calm my nerves and concentrate my brain.
Pre-Tournament Routine
idk, my past tournaments i took a nap (active tourney 2 rounds at 7PM every tuesday)
Thats aobut it, ate the same, drank the same.
I do tactics problems/chess puzzles to warm up, before hand, and try to not think chess between rounds. After the tourney, I'll annotate my games, then let them rest a day or two, and do another run at the analysis.
8 hours of sleep
Get up at least 1 hour before the round starts. It take your body around 30 minutes to wake up.
Light breakfast
Water, sugarless sports drink, snacks during the game.
Be polite. Shake hands before and after the game.
Say Good Luck before the game starts, and Good Game after.
DO NOT drink energy drinks! I played a kid one time who was downing red bulls because he was up late the night before. I got paired with him in round 2. He was a nervous twitching wreck. Every Time he started to get up i moved. He couldn't sit still to save his life. He lost badly.
If its a big tournament, nap between rounds.
I use the Tactics Trainer and work Chess Puzzles a few days in advance of the tournament. I play some computer games the day before and then try not to over think befor the round.
My new routine:
Get 8-10 hours of sleep (9pm-6am)
Drink a glass of water and then take a warm-cold shower.
Light breakfast (like an egg)
Refresh brain on my newly invented thinking system and preparation for the day before
Puzzle rush to train intuitive puzzles
Blind chess tactics to practice visualization
Get ready 2 bottles of water for the long game
Do breathing exercises and light stretches
Refresh preparation
Do more tactics (especially blindfold ones, in a secret area)
One last puzzle rush
Good luck and hope you win!
After the game:
Ignore all negative people
Have a non-added sugar lunch (not applicable to afternoon rounds)
Analyze game for 20 mins-1 hour
Prepare for the next game 20 mins minimum, 1 hour max
Take a nap
do the chess warmup and refresh thinking system and preparation
refill 2 bottles (hopefullt there is a refill station)
Win!
I am chess tournament player. I love tounaments. I'd like too know what everyone does before a chess tournament and after a chess tournament??? How do you prepare and what do you do the night before the tournament and before the tournament starts???