How to prepare for my first tournament?

[cubesmith]

Hi all,

I have just registered for my very first tournament. (Nottingham, UK)
My current rank (on KGS) is 8k and I suspect I will be one of the weakest players there, so is there anything I can do to prepare for my games?

Obviously, I can only play within the limits of my strength and knowledge but I often hear people talking about a strategy (or going into the match with a "game plan")
Could anyone here elaborate on the concept of a pre-planned strategy?

I would assume that you would make general statements to yourself such as: "play calm and don't get into unnecessary fights" ...for example. Or is this an over-simplistic view?

I am INCREDIBLY nervous about this tournament but if I don't bite the bullet, I probably never will. So, I don't care if I lose all 3 of my matches as long as it isn't embarrassing and hopefully I will learn something.

Anyway, any general advice for my first tournament would be appreciated!

[topazg]

Go with the intention of making friends with other Go players and being sociable and friendly with your opponents, rather than focusing on winning the games. I know that sounds like perverse advice, but it will a) relax you more for the games themselves, which makes the experience more enjoyable, and b) gives you lots of chance to discuss and review in the breaks between games.

Tournaments are more fun when you're looking forward to meeting people there each time, and the more relaxed you are, the better you'll play anyway

[karaklis]

Not much to add to what topazg has already said. When you're 8k on KGS you should register as 11k, because KGS-8k translates to EGF-11k according to the rank comparison list. You'll not be the weakest player there. If you have a look at the outcome of last year's tournament, you can see that about a fourth of the players is weaker.

If you are too nervous, you can prepare a strategy. When I was around your strength, I started with 3-4/3-4 as black and 4-4/3-3 as white. Nowadays I prefer the Chinese opening. A good general advice is: read. Even if you think you cannot read very well, just try to read out the situaion every move (you will notice that you have improved a stone after the tournament), And try to evaluate your adjacent groups after each move of the opponent.

Enjoy your tournament!

[Uberdude]

Check out http://www.britgo.org/tournaments/1st.

As topazg says, try to relax and have fun.

On a more practical note you could practice playing with a clock if you've not done so before to get into the habit of 'play move - press clock' (says someone who lost a game at the British Candidates Tournament because he forgot to press his clock!).

P.S Hi Graham

[topazg]

Check out http://www.britgo.org/tournaments/1st.

As topazg says, try to relax and have fun.

On a more practical note you could practice playing with a clock if you've not done so before to get into the habit of 'play move - press clock' (says someone who lost a game at the British Candidates Tournament because he forgot to press his clock!).

P.S Hi Graham

Hi Andrew

[Joaz Banbeck]

There are lots of peripheral issues that can undermine you, and you can plan ahead so that they don't.

1) Do you know when the rounds are? Write them down, and keep it with you.
2) Do you know where the closest bathroom is? If the need strikes in mid game, you should be able to get there and back without losing your concentration. ( Ok, I'm sounding like an old man on this one )
3) Do you know where you can get lunch and/or dinner? And how fast can you do it if one of your games goes for a long time?
4) Do you know which rule set you are playing with? How do they handle dame?

Good luck, and let us know how you did. -JB

[aokun]

My advice would be to make the other player work for it. A game of go is a protracted episode, with chapters and turning points. As long as there is any legitimate chance of turning it around, keep trying to win. Not silly or time-wasting moves, but cuts and attachments and invasions that you have some reason to think may work, that are part of a plan to put together points you would need to win. Resign if it's properly, conclusively hopeless. You're liable to be playing another player somewhere in your skill level, and players at that level make mistakes that you can take advantage of. You may lose all three games, but putting in that kind of effort is rewarding. Did you ever watch "Casino Royale" the James Bond movie with Daniel Craig? In the opening scene he confronts a traitorous British diplomat (before killing him.) When the traitor asks what happened to his confederate, Bond flashes back on a horrific, long-drawn-out brawl with the man in a grimy restroom where mirrors and toilets are smashed, ribs broken and blood smeared all over before Bond finally slowly and laboriously throttles the guy. Seeing Bond's expression as he remembers the fight, the traitor comments "Made you feel it, did he?" That's what a tournament go game should be like. Best is winning, but next best is, when you resign, seeing the other guy sigh with relief and still look a little gaunt and worried.

Your healthy attitude about losing is good, but don't be afraid to feel a little disappointment if you lose a game. It is an indication you care about what you are doing.

Also, study endgame.

[judicata]

Keep telling yourself that "second place is the first loser," and stay up all night before the tournament replaying pro games and doing problems. Drink lots of coffee before your first game.


...or just do what everyone else said.

[Bill Spight]

Hi all,

I have just registered for my very first tournament. (Nottingham, UK)
My current rank (on KGS) is 8k and I suspect I will be one of the weakest players there, so is there anything I can do to prepare for my games?

No.

Now that we have got that out of the way, as topazg says, play go, have fun, make friends, learn something.

Really, what do you have to prove?

I am INCREDIBLY nervous about this tournament but if I don't bite the bullet, I probably never will.

I do understand. When I went to play my first duplicate bridge game, not even a tournament, I was nervous. I reviewed a couple of bridge books before going.

Here is an idea that may help. During a game, pretend that you are actually two stones stronger than your rank.

Good luck!

[aokun]

Also, chant this:

I will lose.
As much as I hate losing
As much as I seek to win,
I will lose,
Losing is my path, my gateway.
It is my method, my clothing, my skin.
I will drink my losses like coffee.
I will eat my losses like peas and carrots.
I cannot win without losing first, and after I win, I'll lose again as sure as night follows day,
And still, no matter how much I play, I cannot lose as much as the world’s best players have lost.
Perhaps I lose because my opponents are better.
Perhaps I lose because there is more to learn.
Perhaps I lose because I am human…
But most of all, I lose because I choose to play.
I have chosen my path.
I cannot lose.

[Javaness2]

I don't think there is much to be nervous about. Tournament games aren't very different from online games. You get handicap, so you can't expect to get crushed in your games. My advice:

1. Talk to people
2. Get used to the time limits
3. Do life and death before the tournament

Hi all,

I have just registered for my very first tournament. (Nottingham, UK)
My current rank (on KGS) is 8k and I suspect I will be one of the weakest players there, so is there anything I can do to prepare for my games?

Obviously, I can only play within the limits of my strength and knowledge but I often hear people talking about a strategy (or going into the match with a "game plan")
Could anyone here elaborate on the concept of a pre-planned strategy?

I would assume that you would make general statements to yourself such as: "play calm and don't get into unnecessary fights" ...for example. Or is this an over-simplistic view?

I am INCREDIBLY nervous about this tournament but if I don't bite the bullet, I probably never will. So, I don't care if I lose all 3 of my matches as long as it isn't embarrassing and hopefully I will learn something.

Anyway, any general advice for my first tournament would be appreciated!

[Laman]

if you care about winning (and who doesn't want to win), try to be respectful against weaker players and confident against stronger ones. even if someone is weaker than you, he can still beat you if you give him a chance, and on the other hand, even stronger player has to prove his superiority to win from the even starting position.

sometimes i see an uneven game and the weaker player doesn't try to fight at all. he just starts enclosing his part of the board and his opponent does the same and though it is painfully obvious that his half is larger, the weaker player just tries nothing to counter it. then the stronger player wins by several dozens of points without having to show his strength. such games always makes me feel sorry for the weaker player and i consider them almost pointless for either one.

i have no idea if this applies to you, just another tip

[p2501]

The best preparation is probably having a good night sleep the night before, be rested and refreshed. Have something to drink and a snack with you.

[daniel_the_smith]

Get lots of sleep, and act like you've done it 1000 times before.

[jts]

Tell us how it goes!