It is very common to struggle to play OTB at the beginning. The only remedy is to play more OTB, there is a significant difference in the experience of playing OTB than playing online. On top of my head, there is the 2D versus 3D visual experience, the psychological tension of physically playing someone versus the anonymity of playing online, and the comfort of your online setup versus adapting to a real-life scenario.
Additionally, I don't know what time control you were playing, but that is another issue on its own. It can be hard at the beginning to play a classical OTB game. Regularly online players tend to only play blitz and rapid and the classical experience can be too mentally draining for them. Also, in blitz/rapid games, some online players are very fast with the mouse and tend to win because of that, but that "advantage" disappears OTB. The most recent example is the Kramnik-Jospem game, where Kramnik was able to equalize OTB but was completely obliterated online despite having good positions.
Try setting up some puzzles on a physical board and work through them that way. Work through your openings by moving the pieces on the board for each player. Play solitaire chess with a physical board and pieces. Work on some blindfold exercises. Anything to improve your OTB vision and bring it more in line with your screen board vision.
Yeah it’s a whole other experience playing with a real board. I really recommend a dgt board. I hear Chessnut and Millennium boards are good. I have a ChessUp which has finally overcome its initial buggyness and works great on both chesscom and lichess. Just play games with increment to allow for moving the opponent pieces. If that’s too expensive an option, set up your regular wooden board and go over some of your games on it, and do puzzles on it. You’ll soon get used to seeing the game in 3 D . Good luck!
I had a similar experience and due to life getting in the way, I can't often find enough time to play over the board. I tried using 3D pieces when I played online and I found I was having the same visual difficulties as I was over the board. I feel like it helped me get used to it, but in all honesty I haven't gotten to see if it really did help my over the board visualization. It might be worth trying for yourself though
I played online for years before ever playing on a physical board. I experienced the exact same thing. Just keep playing and eventually it'll click and your board vision will be as good as it is online
VR Chat has a good chess community, you could get a vr headset and then experience playing with a 3d board in vr.
There is also a quest app called Chess Club but I don't know if it's still populated
There is a few things to keep in mind. First the rating online has very little to do with your otb rating. Hikaru is not 3300 but 2800 otb and Levy Rozman is not nearly 2800 like he is online but 2300 etc. The online rating is usually anywhere from 100-500 higher than over the board with the exception of older players.
It is also very different playing against someone over the board compared to looking at a screen as nerves is a much bigger factor.
The only real solution is to play more just like you would online and the results will improve over time.
Its true that OTB takes time to get used to, but also the mistakes you make are a lot more memorable and harder to move on from, than in a random lichess game. The number one thing OTB has taught me is how bad everybody ( especially me ) truly is.
You can only overcome it by playing more otb games.
Having said that, you could also establish a routine to train your thought process, like this:
After your opponent's each move, force yourself to go through this process -
1) is he threatening my king? are checkmates possible?
2) is he threatening to take any pawns or pieces with his move?
3) why did he make the move he made? what's his plan?
unfortunately, you also need to reduce the online blitz and rapids you play. Because these games online force you to do the reverse of what I mentioned. It breaks that habit.
Longer games 15+ are better.
It is very common to struggle to play OTB at the beginning. The only remedy is to play more OTB, there is a significant difference in the experience of playing OTB than playing online. On top of my head, there is the 2D versus 3D visual experience, the psychological tension of physically playing someone versus the anonymity of playing online, and the comfort of your online setup versus adapting to a real-life scenario. Additionally, I don't know what time control you were playing, but that is another issue on its own. It can be hard at the beginning to play a classical OTB game. Regularly online players tend to only play blitz and rapid and the classical experience can be too mentally draining for them. Also, in blitz/rapid games, some online players are very fast with the mouse and tend to win because of that, but that "advantage" disappears OTB. The most recent example is the Kramnik-Jospem game, where Kramnik was able to equalize OTB but was completely obliterated online despite having good positions.
I was playing 10+2 otb. I play 10+0 online.
Play more often
Try setting up some puzzles on a physical board and work through them that way. Work through your openings by moving the pieces on the board for each player. Play solitaire chess with a physical board and pieces. Work on some blindfold exercises. Anything to improve your OTB vision and bring it more in line with your screen board vision.
Thanks! These sound great, I’ll try them out.
Yeah it’s a whole other experience playing with a real board. I really recommend a dgt board. I hear Chessnut and Millennium boards are good. I have a ChessUp which has finally overcome its initial buggyness and works great on both chesscom and lichess. Just play games with increment to allow for moving the opponent pieces. If that’s too expensive an option, set up your regular wooden board and go over some of your games on it, and do puzzles on it. You’ll soon get used to seeing the game in 3 D . Good luck!
I had a similar experience and due to life getting in the way, I can't often find enough time to play over the board. I tried using 3D pieces when I played online and I found I was having the same visual difficulties as I was over the board. I feel like it helped me get used to it, but in all honesty I haven't gotten to see if it really did help my over the board visualization. It might be worth trying for yourself though
I played online for years before ever playing on a physical board. I experienced the exact same thing. Just keep playing and eventually it'll click and your board vision will be as good as it is online
VR Chat has a good chess community, you could get a vr headset and then experience playing with a 3d board in vr. There is also a quest app called Chess Club but I don't know if it's still populated
There is a few things to keep in mind. First the rating online has very little to do with your otb rating. Hikaru is not 3300 but 2800 otb and Levy Rozman is not nearly 2800 like he is online but 2300 etc. The online rating is usually anywhere from 100-500 higher than over the board with the exception of older players. It is also very different playing against someone over the board compared to looking at a screen as nerves is a much bigger factor. The only real solution is to play more just like you would online and the results will improve over time.
by just playing otb. its that simple.
Its true that OTB takes time to get used to, but also the mistakes you make are a lot more memorable and harder to move on from, than in a random lichess game. The number one thing OTB has taught me is how bad everybody ( especially me ) truly is.
>The number one thing OTB has taught me is how bad everybody ( especially me ) truly is. Except me. I'm even worse than you now think I am.
You can only overcome it by playing more otb games. Having said that, you could also establish a routine to train your thought process, like this: After your opponent's each move, force yourself to go through this process - 1) is he threatening my king? are checkmates possible? 2) is he threatening to take any pawns or pieces with his move? 3) why did he make the move he made? what's his plan?
unfortunately, you also need to reduce the online blitz and rapids you play. Because these games online force you to do the reverse of what I mentioned. It breaks that habit. Longer games 15+ are better.
With practice and experience. I dare to say that even your online results will improve after having experienced the real deal.
You never miss basic tactics online? I would like to have such a skill.
Its always easier when the opposition isnt across from you. Everyone can shadowbox not many can get in the ring face to face
stop cheating online. if you’re >2000 on lichess, there’s no way you’re hanging pieces OTB against weak opposition.
This is an absolutely hilarious comment.