Not many years ago, typical tournament fair for me was a pack of cigs, about
half a liter of Coca Cola, and a snickers bar. That's what got me through
each game. Yes, I am still alive, but I am not entirely sure why.

Anyway, it's been some time since I've played in a tournament, in which
duration I've quit smoking, started working to lose weight, and in general
begun taking better care of myself. I still consume a fair amount of
caffeine, but it's more during intense mental activities (like chess) than
the constant all-day every day energy drip it used to be for me.

So what I'm wondering is, what do people find helpful when playing
tournament chess? I remember reading once that IM Silman used to suck on a
root of some sort (Ginko? Ginger?), and I also recall a discussion ages ago
about stacking guarana, Ginko and Ginseng for a mental boost. Then there's
the famous quote, "A brain without sugar is not a brain at all"...etc.

So what's your opinion? What do you eat the night before a big tournament?
What do you eat the morning before? What do you eat during the game? Have
any luck with Red Bull -type energy drinks? Bananas? Maybe Snickers really
does satisfy. Should we carb up the night before? Fast for breakfast? Do you
have a routine or ritual you follow?

I want to know.


--
Glenn 'Mac' Frazier
USCF#12721233, FICS:'Frazier', RedHotPawn.com:'GMF'
mailto: [ my 3-letter name ] @thefraziers.org, http://mac.thefraziers.org/

The wife of a friend of mine once told me that he would take no pepper in
his food the evening before an important game, and as an extra precaution he
slept on the couch. I knew nothing about these methods the first time I meet
him OTB, and as a consequence I lost. Later games were drawn.
Hans J

Check into the Zone diet. I used it with great results in my last major
tournament two months ago.
The idea behind the Zone diet is to eat the right amounts and the right
combination of protien (meat), fat, and the correct types of carbs (fruits
and veggies), so your body creates the correct amout of insulin.
With the right amount of insulin production, Not too much from bad carbs
(pasta, rice and bread) and Not too little from low carbs, you will then hit
the ZONE. If you do that, your body works more efficiently, you feel better,
you have more energy, and you think clearer.
Its working for me.
Leopold


"My name is Mac, not Spam" wrote in message
...
Not many years ago, typical tournament fair for me was a pack of cigs,
about
half a liter of Coca Cola, and a snickers bar. That's what got me through
each game. Yes, I am still alive, but I am not entirely sure why.

Anyway, it's been some time since I've played in a tournament, in which
duration I've quit smoking, started working to lose weight, and in general
begun taking better care of myself. I still consume a fair amount of
caffeine, but it's more during intense mental activities (like chess) than
the constant all-day every day energy drip it used to be for me.

So what I'm wondering is, what do people find helpful when playing
tournament chess? I remember reading once that IM Silman used to suck on a
root of some sort (Ginko? Ginger?), and I also recall a discussion ages
ago
about stacking guarana, Ginko and Ginseng for a mental boost. Then there's
the famous quote, "A brain without sugar is not a brain at all"...etc.

So what's your opinion? What do you eat the night before a big tournament?
What do you eat the morning before? What do you eat during the game? Have
any luck with Red Bull -type energy drinks? Bananas? Maybe Snickers really
does satisfy. Should we carb up the night before? Fast for breakfast? Do
you
have a routine or ritual you follow?

I want to know.


--
Glenn 'Mac' Frazier
USCF#12721233, FICS:'Frazier', RedHotPawn.com:'GMF'
mailto: [ my 3-letter name ] @thefraziers.org, http://mac.thefraziers.org/

I get sleepy during chess matches. There are two types of Ginseng -
the Panax and Siberian (there may be more but these are all I know).
I think a mixture of the two might be good to keep you balanced during
the game. The Ginkgo Baloba stuff - I haven't seen any evidence that
this really makes one more mentally alert. There are memory enhancing
supplements you can buy OTC that has this stuff in it. I tried a
bottle without a lot of dramatic effects. It may have made me a bit
more aware of my surroundings though.. Maybe it was a placebo effect.

a href="www.niftygeek.com/energy-drinks/"Energy drinks/a are a
definite possibility. I'd stay away from the ones with high amounts
of caffeine. Those just tend to make me dizzy and fidgety.

Find one with a good dose of Taurine, Guarana, Ginkgo, B Vitamins
(these are excellent for you), and Ginseng (both kinds if possible).

Make sure you have something other in your stomach besides the energy
drinks. It can give you some indigestion if all you drink are energy
drinks - due to the citrus nature of most of these drinks. Very
acidic.

Be careful about too much of this stuff. Drinking them all the time
could have some ill effects. I don't think any of them have been
rated by the food and drug administration. Everything in
moderation...

Pat.

"Leopold" wrote in message ...
Check into the Zone diet. I used it with great results in my last major
tournament two months ago.
The idea behind the Zone diet is to eat the right amounts and the right
combination of protien (meat), fat, and the correct types of carbs (fruits
and veggies), so your body creates the correct amout of insulin.
With the right amount of insulin production, Not too much from bad carbs
(pasta, rice and bread) and Not too little from low carbs, you will then hit
the ZONE. If you do that, your body works more efficiently, you feel better,
you have more energy, and you think clearer.
Its working for me.
Leopold


"My name is Mac, not Spam" wrote in message
...
Not many years ago, typical tournament fair for me was a pack of cigs,
about
half a liter of Coca Cola, and a snickers bar. That's what got me through
each game. Yes, I am still alive, but I am not entirely sure why.

Anyway, it's been some time since I've played in a tournament, in which
duration I've quit smoking, started working to lose weight, and in general
begun taking better care of myself. I still consume a fair amount of
caffeine, but it's more during intense mental activities (like chess) than
the constant all-day every day energy drip it used to be for me.

So what I'm wondering is, what do people find helpful when playing
tournament chess? I remember reading once that IM Silman used to suck on a
root of some sort (Ginko? Ginger?), and I also recall a discussion ages
ago
about stacking guarana, Ginko and Ginseng for a mental boost. Then there's
the famous quote, "A brain without sugar is not a brain at all"...etc.

So what's your opinion? What do you eat the night before a big tournament?
What do you eat the morning before? What do you eat during the game? Have
any luck with Red Bull -type energy drinks? Bananas? Maybe Snickers really
does satisfy. Should we carb up the night before? Fast for breakfast? Do
you
have a routine or ritual you follow?

I want to know.


--
Glenn 'Mac' Frazier
USCF#12721233, FICS:'Frazier', RedHotPawn.com:'GMF'
mailto: [ my 3-letter name ] @thefraziers.org, http://mac.thefraziers.org/

As a diabetic I might comment; diabetics are by life and death necessity
must be quite aware of what is happening with their bodies and
metabolism. The tip is one that diabetics know well: maintaining your
blood glucose at a relatively even level without major up and down
swings.

Again, as "in control" diabetics know, the amount of additional energy,
stamina, and mental-well being and alertness that results from so doing
is significant, and at times amazing. I know this applies to diabetics
and I suspect it applies to non-diabetics, who would also have an easier
time managing to do this.

Now, taking a glucometer with you and testing in the middle of a match
is not what I recommend particularly! But being aware of how your body
reacts and how to stay on an even keel would be a big advantage. No
befuddled and muddy-thinking lows, no rushes and crashes (good for a few
moves and then you're in trouble), and especially no dullness or
lethargy due to high levels sustained too long.

in article , Bob Newell at
wrote on 8/14/04 12:21 PM:

As a diabetic I might comment; diabetics are by life and death necessity
must be quite aware of what is happening with their bodies and
metabolism. The tip is one that diabetics know well: maintaining your
blood glucose at a relatively even level without major up and down
swings.

I'm finding everyone's input on this interesting.

As for keeping glucose levels balanced, are there good general "best odds"
foods and or diets?

Lately, experimenting a bit, I've found bananas to be almost magical for me.
This isn't just for chess, but for other forms of long-term mental effort,
especially late at night. When I find myself flagging, a quick ten ounces of
cold water and a whole banana perk me up without any rush or crash.


--
Glenn 'Mac' Frazier
USCF#12721233, FICS:'Frazier', RedHotPawn.com:'GMF'
mailto: [ my 3-letter name ] @thefraziers.org, http://mac.thefraziers.org/

in article , Leopold at
wrote on 8/11/04 12:04 AM:

Check into the Zone diet. I used it with great results in my last major
tournament two months ago.

Interesting. This paralells Bob's suggestion regarding maintaining even
glucose levels.

Do you find the effect on your focus, calculation, endurance, etc., very
dramatic? Also, have you only used the Zone for things like tournaments? or
are you also making it (or trying it out as) an eating lifestyle for
yourself?


--
Glenn 'Mac' Frazier
USCF#12721233, FICS:'Frazier', RedHotPawn.com:'GMF'
mailto: [ my 3-letter name ] @thefraziers.org, http://mac.thefraziers.org/

in article , Patrick at
wrote on 8/13/04 6:27 PM:

[a href="www.niftygeek.com/energy-drinks/"]Energy drinks are a
definite possibility. I'd stay away from the ones with high amounts
of caffeine. Those just tend to make me dizzy and fidgety.

Find one with a good dose of Taurine, Guarana, Ginkgo, B Vitamins
(these are excellent for you), and Ginseng (both kinds if possible).

Thanks for the info. Other things I've read have implied that guarana, b-6
and b-12 are good boosters in general for this sort of thing. I recall a
long time ago hearing of someone stacking ginseng (forget which one), ginko,
and gotu kola, possibly also with aspirin. Sounded a bit extreme, to me.

I did try ginko supplements with mild amounts of caffeine a few years ago --
just gave me headaches.

Anyway, getting more curious, I've looked around and been surprised at how
hard it is to find a drink that has the full list you suggest. Sure, every
ingredient is available in some drink, and most drinks have most of them,
but for some reason only one single drink (Hansen's energyPRO) has them all,
so far as I have been able to tell.

That website could become an interesting resource once more people add their
own ratings and drinks to the list.


--
Glenn 'Mac' Frazier
USCF#12721233, FICS:'Frazier', RedHotPawn.com:'GMF'
mailto: [ my 3-letter name ] @thefraziers.org, http://mac.thefraziers.org/

Anyway, getting more curious, I've looked around and been surprised at how
hard it is to find a drink that has the full list you suggest. Sure, every
ingredient is available in some drink, and most drinks have most of them,
but for some reason only one single drink (Hansen's energyPRO) has them
all,
so far as I have been able to tell.

That website could become an interesting resource once more people add
their
own ratings and drinks to the list.

Mac, mountaineers say 'eat and drink before you need to', since you need a
readily available supply of energy at all times as a guard against
unpredictable conditions, which you can't get from emergency or sugar-heavy
foods - so maybe timing is also important to prevent crashing?

Another advantage to eating and drinking earlier is not to compete with the
brain's supply of blood-oxygen by competitive digestive processes. I have a
diabetic friend who takes an hour or so to 'come back' after a 'low',
obviously too long while engaged in a chess game. He says to eat a balanced
meal 60 to 120 minutes before any sort of exertion is the best general
routine for him. Phil Innes


--
Glenn 'Mac' Frazier
USCF#12721233, FICS:'Frazier', RedHotPawn.com:'GMF'
mailto: [ my 3-letter name ] @thefraziers.org, http://mac.thefraziers.org/