Answers.Body: <p>Caffeine increases 'manual productivity' while decreasing creativity commensurately.  That is, if you're packing groceries or stocking shelves, tank up. If you need to think, ease up. YMMV of course.</p>
  
  <p>There is no silver bullet.  Eat right, sleep plenty, and exercise.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-27T12:49:18.800Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-02-27T12:49:18.800Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.Body: <p>It probably depends on the person and how often you drink energy drinks to begin with. If you don't ordinarily drink them, I would advise against it. I made the mistake of taking an energy drink before a tournament even though i ordinarily didn't drink them. It increased my energy at the expense of focus. My mind was racing and i couldn't concentrate. Instead of an energy drink, i would recommend plenty of rest, and good breakfast is instead.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-27T20:56:53.677Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-02-27T20:56:53.677Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: asdfqwert
Answers.Body: <p>It is best not to drink them before a tournament. At best you can drink coffee however do not buy energy drinks as those really won't help you win at all. </p>
  
  <p>You should always go refreshed and have a good meal (2 hours or so) before heading off to a tournament. I have been on many tournaments and from personal experience, I can tell you this will work best in the future.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-02T17:49:58.183Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-03-02T17:49:58.183Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Chessbrain
Answers.Body: <p>From a guy that drinks for too many energy drinks.</p>
  
  <p>Don't.</p>
  
  <p>They give a rush for 40 minutes tops and then a crash.</p>
  
  <p>Anxiety is also massively induced/increased.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-02-27T10:22:54.087Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-02-27T10:22:54.087Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Paul Young
Body: <p>I am planning to participate in a tournament, and I was thinking about using energy drinks or caffeinated drinks to enhance my performance.</p>
  
  <p>Is this a good idea? I normally don't take any energy drinks. Will it be counterproductive if I suddenly take up energy drinks, or is it better since I won't develop reliance on energy drinks?</p>
  
  <p>If it is good, how much energy drinks should I take (in milligrams of caffeine), and when is the best time to do so?</p>
  
  <p>Or does energy drink has no effect on chess performance whatsoever?</p>
  
  <p>The only side effect I know about energy drinks is that it is diuretic, but it won't be much of a concern as the time control for the tournament is long.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-02-27T16:57:28.223Z
Comments.Text: i've seen nakamura and others drinking energy drinks
Comments.UserDisplayName: Lynob
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-02-27T21:06:04.340Z
Comments.Text: Wonderful question, but only if we actually see answers that refer to serious sources backed by research instead of just another set of guys in the Internet saying things.
Comments.UserDisplayName: JiK
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-03-03T17:10:12.200Z
Comments.Text: I usually drink gatorade. WE've seen nakamura drink red bull often.
Comments.UserDisplayName: CognisMantis
Tags: <performance>
Title: Energy drinks for chess tournament
ThreadText: # Energy drinks for chess tournament
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-27)
  
  I am planning to participate in a tournament, and I was thinking about using energy drinks or caffeinated drinks to enhance my performance.
  
  Is this a good idea? I normally don't take any energy drinks. Will it be counterproductive if I suddenly take up energy drinks, or is it better since I won't develop reliance on energy drinks?
  
  If it is good, how much energy drinks should I take (in milligrams of caffeine), and when is the best time to do so?
  
  Or does energy drink has no effect on chess performance whatsoever?
  
  The only side effect I know about energy drinks is that it is diuretic, but it won't be much of a concern as the time control for the tournament is long.
  
  Thanks.
  
  **Tags:** performance
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: i've seen nakamura and others drinking energy drinks  
  > **username_2**: Wonderful question, but only if we actually see answers that refer to serious sources backed by research instead of just another set of guys in the Internet saying things.  
  > **username_3**: I usually drink gatorade. WE've seen nakamura drink red bull often.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 4 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2015-02-27. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
  
  From a guy that drinks for too many energy drinks.
  
  Don't.
  
  They give a rush for 40 minutes tops and then a crash.
  
  Anxiety is also massively induced/increased.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2015-02-27. Score: 4
  
  Caffeine increases 'manual productivity' while decreasing creativity commensurately. That is, if you're packing groceries or stocking shelves, tank up. If you need to think, ease up. YMMV of course.
  
  There is no silver bullet. Eat right, sleep plenty, and exercise.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2015-02-27. Score: 3
  
  It probably depends on the person and how often you drink energy drinks to begin with. If you don't ordinarily drink them, I would advise against it. I made the mistake of taking an energy drink before a tournament even though i ordinarily didn't drink them. It increased my energy at the expense of focus. My mind was racing and i couldn't concentrate. Instead of an energy drink, i would recommend plenty of rest, and good breakfast is instead.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2015-03-02. Score: 1
  
  It is best not to drink them before a tournament. At best you can drink coffee however do not buy energy drinks as those really won't help you win at all.
  
  You should always go refreshed and have a good meal (2 hours or so) before heading off to a tournament. I have been on many tournaments and from personal experience, I can tell you this will work best in the future.
  
  
  ---
  
  