Her News Q&A with Chloe & Zara

How do you get ready for a tournament and not feel so nervous?

BY CHLOE COHEN
THE CHAPIN SCHOOL - COACH & MANAGING EDITOR

and

BY ZARA SHAH
THE SPENCE SCHOOL - COACH & HN COLUMNIST

Zazzle.com

Her News: How do you get ready for a tournament and not feel so nervous?

Chloe: Nerves can be a very challenging aspect of participating in competitive chess (or any other sport!). Many people feel nervous before an important event or activity, especially when there is pressure, whether perceived or genuine, to perform at a certain standard. Even Magnus Carlsen has experienced nerves pertaining to a chess game! It may help to remind yourself: neither one game nor one tournament will drastically affect your success in chess (or any other activity) or define you as a player. Plus, nerves are normal for many people; it’s not just you! At the same time, many players place a great deal of pressure on themselves to play “well” or at their best, which can be a positive motivator –– to an extent. If you find that your nerves are impacting your ability to focus during a game or are causing you great distress, you may benefit from pausing to think about where those nerves are coming from. Do you feel that peers, including teammates, or adults in your life expect that you obtain a certain result in your chess games? Is that pressure self-imposed? Are you worried about letting down others or yourself? Though few pieces of advice can be universally applied, having a conversation with those persons (including yourself) about how you’re feeling can be helpful. You might also strategize with a loved one about how you and those around you can reduce any unbeneficial pressure and grow your chess support system. You should want to be proud of your games; however, you should also want to be proud of yourself, even if a game didn’t end with a “1” next to your name. Your effort is enough.

TeePublic.com

Her News: How do you get ready for a tournament and not feel so nervous?

Zara: For me, I feel nervous in high stake situations. So, I try not to think of chess tournaments as such. Chess tournaments are supposed to be fun and an opportunity to show off all of your practice. Practicing is really important because it allows you to feel comfortable playing chess games in a more serious setting. You can practice by playing chess with friends or family, playing online or doing online puzzles. If you do feel nervous, however, know that nerves are normal and will quickly go away.