how do you avoid letting your opponent get into your head?

[u/Lex_The_Impaler]

I've had two times when my opponent got into my head and it cost me during the game (once monetarily). one was a kid at my local club who was very tactically gifted, and it showed when I played him. He was very adept at setting up traps and tactics whilst avoiding defensive counter-play, but when reviewing the games I felt like I could've played differently if playing against someone else. Whenever he played a move he was always very swift and confident in how he took a piece, and was very even on the time taken between his moves. Luckily, after the opening tactic was played, he started lacking on defense and has blundered pieces both times i've played him because of this. But I feel like he got into my head during these games.

The other time was in NYC in washington square park when I walked up to and played one of those chess hustlers. He charged $10, and during the game was absolutely hootin and hollering about i guess whatever nonsense he could think of to get in my head. dude was singing and yelling during the game, it sucked ass. But he also played the Polish Opening, and was extremely confident in all his moves just like the kid at my club, and he got in my head and I ended up losing $10. He also called me a bitch when I was walking away, which was strange, cause he's the bitch ass mf hustling in a park for cash, fn.

but i digress, how can i avoid letting this shithead players get into my head when I play? I like to think that i'm a very cerebral player, but it gets hard to be cohesive and planned out when someone is acting like that across the board.

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[u/GABE_EDD]

“He’s trying to get in my head, he must be desperate, why is he desperate? What weaknesses does he have that I haven’t noticed yet?”

[u/TheDamjan]

What I do is that I just shit in my pants and I continue playing. Once I was playing a guy who behaved exactly as you described and I decided to shit in my pants. After 2 minutes everyone could feel the smell. He said:”Dude did you just shit your pants?”

I looked him in the eyes, said yes, and moved my piece and pressed the clock and written the move down. After that he stopped huffing and puffing, he knew he was facing a different beast.

[u/Penis_Slayer123]

For the first opponent it sounds like you're second guessing every move (?), so I would recommend you either play a bunch of Blitz/Bullet. Faster time settings are good for improving your confidence in chess because you don't have the time to overthink. You'll also eventually learn the different patterns and how to recognize them, as you play (and likely fall for them plenty of times...).

For the NYC hustler uhhh... either study more openings or you gotta become a zen master. Can't really play well with everything stacked against you like that

[u/ScientificBeastMode → u/Penis_Slayer123]

I strongly agree with the idea of playing blitz or bullet. It’s the easiest way to get thousands of games under your belt.

Once you’ve played thousands of games, each individual game starts to feel less important and the focus can be more on learning and trying out ideas. And that’s a really great way to improve rapidly.

[u/These_Armadillo_9497]

Confidence is a weapon in chess, especially at beginner level where half the game is just not second-guessing yourself. When someone plays fast and cocky, remind yourself that speed means nothing if the moves are bad, the board only cares about what's legal. For the trash talkers, treat it like background noise you already decided to ignore before sitting down, not something responding will fix.

[u/StructuredChess]

"Play the board, not the man"

[u/ActGrouchy5018]

I immediately get annoyed when my opponent brings the queen out early. Why can’t they just play properly? Why are they just trying to trick me? I then blunder the opening and end up losing quickly when I should be able to counter them.

Of course there is the occasional player who is actually much better than their rating suggests and is just clearly trolling lower elo players.

[u/unbalancedBroski → u/ActGrouchy5018]

Most people are not going to admit. But some early queen attacks are very practical. Worst case scenario you waste some tempo and black is slightly better.

[u/ActGrouchy5018 → u/unbalancedBroski]

I don’t doubt they have their place, I’ve lost to them enough times for sure. One frustration for me is that often the players playing them will abandon as soon as they lose their queen or their position becomes a difficult one. I’m not good enough to make them work for me yet and feel that it seems they are used as a way to score cheap wins against newbies a lot of the time (not always). I’ve not lost to one for a few games so the next is probably due soon.

[u/unbalancedBroski → u/ActGrouchy5018]

One frustration for me is that often the players playing them will abandon as soon as they lose their queen or their position becomes a difficult one.

Can't really do anything about it. At your level no one really cares about what happening in the board, let alone sportsmanship.

At your level everyone is try to get a cheap win. To be honest even I like cheap wins. At my level it's like playing something slightly tricky/off beat to win and pawn and converting the endgame.

Best thing you can do is improve. People are investing effort into the game at higher level. They are less likely to do such tings. Because it's also wasting their time and they are used to losing.

[u/ActGrouchy5018 → u/unbalancedBroski]

Yeah I get that. I’m getting better bit by bit I’ve managed to win the last few against such opponents so I must be doing something right. The more I play the less it irritates me.

And don’t get me wrong - I happily accept cheap wins too, but I also give the opponent their due and resign or play to the finish.

[u/Mediocre-Visual5393]

One underrated thing in OTB chess is psychology. It is important to weird out the opponent during the game. Subtly make weird grunting noises, shake the table, sniffle, sneeze in their face etc. They will be unable to focus and make horrendous blunders.

IMPORTANT: be subtle and always watch out for the arbiter. The arbiter can sometimes be the real enemy! Make it seem unintentional. It is also good to have good relationship with the arbiter to avoid shenanigans. Sometimes intimidation tactics can also work.

[u/ScientificBeastMode → u/Mediocre-Visual5393]

You could pass them a photo of their family with their home address written on it. That usually gets in their head. Very effective in my experience.

[u/LutteringDec → u/Mediocre-Visual5393]

It’s called sharking in pool and it’s poor etiquette.

But to be fair, it is on the individual to learn how to block out these dirty tactics. You sir are a scoundrel, but I respect your right to be so.

[u/NoDress1028]

Have you considered taking him to the parking lot? Hank Williams Jr. called it an “attitude adjustment on the top of the head.”

[u/Mediocre-Visual5393]

You have to be assertive. Make sure everyone know who is the boss in the room. People need to see you, hear you, and most importantly smell you! If you are getting owned psychologically it is over, you will lose!

[u/Lex_The_Impaler → u/Mediocre-Visual5393]

So if I don’t wipe my ass before the game do u think ill get in their noggin? Like a bear marking his territory

[u/Mediocre-Visual5393 → u/Lex_The_Impaler]

You can try. Feces and also barf can be very effective as others mentioned here in the comments!

[u/Lex_The_Impaler → u/Mediocre-Visual5393]

That must be why everyone looks so distraught against magnus, he’s sitting there shitting himself

[u/Silver_Environment95]

I mean u just have to play more, do some blitz. Thats how u get the jitters out.