I do try to "empty" my mind of any connections between my play and my ego. When I make a mistake or my opponent plays an unexpected move I try not to panic. I want my attitude to be that if I have played good moves I will still be in good shape even if my opponent plays something I didn't expect. This attitude helps when my opponent sets up a big moyo. I think to myself that my moves up to that point were good so I can't be behind and I don't need to do anything desperate. It saves me from making hasty invasions, for example.

You may not be able to ensure your victory but you can certainly ensure your loss...

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That which can be destroyed by the truth should be.
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My (sadly neglected, but not forgotten) project: http://dailyjoseki.com

You could try visualising winning and think back to a time when you played a great game and won, remembering it in detail. This isn't answering your question since I've not tried it myself (I don't play many non-online games) but it's what I've read in some sports psychology books.

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I am John. John-I-Am.

I can understand this, because I do the same. It's not that I want to, but I have to . After that I feel released and ready to accept the challenge...

James Kerwin, 1P, recommends, "When you're playing forget your ambitions, forget winning, forget losing, just play. If you have a goal during the game that goal is not to win, it is to make sure the opponent does not outwork you. There is no shame in losing, but to lose and know you didn't make your best effort is shameful. And you should have the grace to be ashamed when you win if you know you didn't make your best effort."
http://www.usgo.org/EJournal/archive/20 ... htm#KERWIN

I really believe this. I am sometimes able to achieve this state in over the board games and I feel satisfied regardless of the result. It definitely helps me to play stronger.

I also believe this. Sadly, I am a perfectionist. As a result, I am (almost) always unhappy with each game I play, regardless of the result. Trust me, this is annoying!

I try to make sure that each move I play makes some sort of sense and isn't just an automatic reaction. So then if I win or lose, at least I had some sort of plan and followed it. Maybe it was a bad plan, but at least it wasn't flailing around the board. To get close to being able to do that, I try to clear my head some before each match and go in fresh. Not trying to last-second remember any new moves I saw or think of some exotic fuseki.

Kind of like taking tests in college. I'd say "I know what I know and cramming just before probably won't help much", and usually come out OK if I'd prepared enough (not that day but the previous 1+ week (s)).

Bruce "Freakout" Young

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Currently reading: Plutarch, Cerebus, and D&Q 25th Anniversary