Tournament Play

[tama]

Hello all!

Well soon next month i will be participating in my first tournament! I wanted to make this topic to help me or anyone in the future who needs help with preparation. because im cluless i will start with some questions. So!

Question 1) what messures should i take to prepare my self for the tournament?

Question 2) any hints for over the board play? i never played real life.

Question 3) do i need supplys?

I cant think of anything else so please fill me in! also because i dont have a rating there making my play in the U1400 level witch i feel is way to week for me, and im planing on winning 1st. price 500$ LMAO.

[cyanfish]

Well, here are a few things I can think of that might help.


First, it would be a good idea to bring a bottle of water and something to snack on between rounds. This will help keep your energy up.

Actually playing in real life has a very different feel than on a computer; it may take a bit of practise for you to play to your "full" strength. Do you ever use an actual board to look at positions?
If so, then there shouldn't be too much of a problem with this.
If not, you may find yourself making blunders because you didn't "see" something - you should probably do a quick conscious blunder check before every move, even if you wouldn't normally in a particular position.

Always try to stay calm. If you feel yourself getting too excited, frustrated, etc., take a mental step back and try to look at the board with a new perspective to make sure you're making the best move.

You'll perform better if you are physically feeling good before your game. Take a moment and try to feel if you're too hot, have an ache, etc. and try to address it if you can.

You should probably read the full rules for whatever tournament you're entering (it might have its own rules, or it might be USCF, FIDE, etc. that you can find online). Pay attention to areas such as touching a piece, offering/claiming a draw, leaving the board, etc. This will hopefully avoid any potential problems that might arise.


As for preparing your actual chess game (keep in mind that at least for this tournament since you are facing weaker players, some of this may not be very important):

Decide on which openings you are going to use and make sure you're familiar with them, but be prepared for unexpected moves especially since you're in a lower rated section.

Make sure to keep practising tactics (which I'm sure you're doing!) and be confident that you know basic strategic/positional ideas (e.g. outposts, etc.).

Brush up on any basic endgames that you are not 100% confident that you can win/draw. For example, if you don't know them, it would be a good idea to look up the Lucena and Philidor positions.


Well, that's all I can think of right now, hope some of this is helpful. 

[tama]

Well my rating on chesstempo if 2050+ standard so im confident that im down with the basics. But were can i get information on opening understanding, i seem to only fined programs that show me the lines but i dont get the reasons and the general stratagy that follows the opening. Like i can make up a plan but like lines in the dragon sicilian its absolutaly crazy when both sides casle in opposite sides if i dont know general ideas for black ill get crushed (like whats bin happening to me reasontly) lol

[thelonederanger]

A good book for covering opening ideas is  "Ideas Behind the Chess Openings" by Reuben Fine. You can get a used copy on Amazon.com for a couple bucks. A similar book that's more up to date is "Chess Opening Essentials". I hear it's pretty good, but so far only the first volume has been released; which only covers e4 lines.

A few friends at my chess club also seem to like some website called Chess Ops. I personally prefer the books over Chess Ops though.

I would be careful about playing Sicilian Dragon lines. They are some of the most theoretical complex if not the most theoretical complex lines of all chess openings. Basic ideas and strategic guidelines are no substitute for memorizing the vast reams of theory; especially in the Yugoslav Attack (where black castles kingside and white goes queenside). Not that it's unplayable, it's just that the extra amount of time required to learn all the critical variations is so extreme that many players (myself included) prefer to put this time towards working on other things; like the other openings in our repertoire or other elements of our game like the endgame, tactics, etc.

Anyway, good luck with your tournament.

[tacto]

My advice is...

Play over the board a few times before you go. I am much weaker over the board if im not used to the board that much, the 3d vision DOES make a LOT of difference. You have to get used to it, you just think you are but when you dont play over the board all that much it gets weird.

This is basic but...MAKE SURE your up on time, one time I was winning and I forgot my clock in an endgame and my time ran to like 1 min so I couldn't defend it properly etc.

Make sure you click your clock when moving, your opponent probably will be a jerk like 100% of my opponents have done... I tell them though becuase I want to crush them.

Looking confident and not can sometimes be an advantage. You decide when hehe.

Don't over calculate everything, soon you won't calculate ANYthing and drop pieces and become chess blind lol.

One overall chess tip: As the game progresses the more important your opponents moves become, you have to start looking at them more and more.

etcetcetcetcetceetcetc

I dont really play otb that much but thats what I know.

[slacker00]

First off, Good Luck!!!

Most important advice I'd give is to just have fun,  don't take it too seriously.  I mean, give 100% when you're sitting at the board with the clock ticking, but between games, feel free to relax, talk chess, make friends, hang loose and don't stress about your last win or loss because the next round will be starting before you know it.  Remember why you signed up for the tourney, to have fun, get out, make friends, enjoy chess,  etc.

I wouldn't spend a ton of time looking at other games going on between  rounds, except superficially.  It'll be a long day and try to conserve whatever chess brain power you've got in that noggin for that last round game.  It's maybe  a little  bit like running a marathon, especially if they try to cram 4 games into 1 day or so.  Save something for that final sprint.

In the days leading up to the event, I'd kinda chill out on studying chess  too much.  If you feel like doing any last-second cramming, maybe just go over some recent games you've  played, nothing too strenuous.  I definitely wouldn't do too many  tactics problems, just rest those chess muscles.  Give them a gentle massage with some light study of your opening repetoire if you  must, but keep it very light.

Keep yourself in good shape physiologically leading up to the tournament.  That means, get a good night's sleep, eat balanced meals, no drinking  or partying etc.  The day of the event, stay away  from too many sugars or starches because it can make one tired, drink plenty of water.

I guess that's about it.  I'd definitely try to get some practice playing with a chess clock and physical board & pieces if you can.  Even if it's just examining some of your old games, just getting the  feel of moving pieces around might help put your mind at east a little bit when you are playing for real.  Also, maybe play a standard game online and  write down the moves with pencil & paper as you play,  because you'll  be doing that during the live tournament, that's a good skill to get out of the way.

Like I said, Good Luck, I think all of us here  at CT will  be rootin' for ya.

[chipschap]

Can I ask what tourney you're playing in?  A big one in July in the class tournament in Houston and I will be there myself.

The best non-chess advice: good sleep, good hydration, relaxation between rounds, and never lose sight of the most important thing of all, namely, it is supposed to be fun, so treat it as such, and you will be properly relaxed and have a good time no matter what your final score.

At my level I don't presume to give chess advice!  My own preparation consists of hundreds, if not thousands of tactics problems, a light review of the openings I plan to play, and visualization practice by trying to follow games from a book without using a board.

[tama]

I'm playing in the Canadian Open Championships in Montreal (were i live)  many Gms will be there playing in the class A section,  im so exited i can hardly breath.

I am also playing in the U1400 section were i should win 1st place seeing that my ICC standard rating is 2000+!

[chipschap]

Ah, les canadiens!   A l'epoque (il y a des dixaines des annees) j'ai joue aux echecs a Winnipeg.  Bonne chance et amuse-toi bien!

[angrypirate]

just a warning--

often if you are unrated, you are not eligible for any of the prizes excpt in the open section, but also you should not have to pay a full entry fee. read the fine print and don't pay the full entry fee if you do not have to...

[tama]

Know way.... People UnRated can have winning prize privileges removed? Anyways the money does not matter for me i want to have fun thats my goal, and thank you everyone for your tips i feel them helping already,lol.

I have 1 more question) How do i know my opponents rating? do i have to ask them or is it written some were? Also how are players matched? Will there be names on each table for the players to sit? Because ive seen some youtube tournaments were theres a room full of 100 people! I don't want to get lost!

[tmr]

There will be a list of who plays who for each round.  This will also indicate what board you'll play at which should be numbered around the room.

[stormcrow]

Bone up on the tournament rules too - touch move, improper play, talking on cell phone, etc. There's more to tourney chess than playing chess!

Also be prepared to take notation.  Know how to use a clock.

+1 play a few practice OTB games first.

What you'll find is that chess is easy when someone hands you a problem and says "solve this."  When you have a board that has no piece-winning move, and you have to make something happen, it is way different.

I hope you have some manner of opening book.  You need at least one white opening and two black ones.

Good Luck!
Signed,
USCF "B" player (AKA "victim")

[arabianmaster]

Hello there  ,

First of all, I hope my English help me enough to explain for you what you really need to play in chess tournament  .  Well, there is no period of time to be ready for chess tournament.  Chess tournament is completely different from other games like soccer that needs very high stamina, which needs years to be ready.  Therefore, chess needs practice in daily bases particularly opining game.  In addition, if it is long tournament you need to eat snacks such as chocolate between rounds.  Moreover, do not forget to have enough rest and very short walk before you start.

I hope my comment help you a lot  .

All the best,
Arabian Master

[tama]

Thanks for all your help, today i played my first game and it went very well, i was up a piece from a difficult tactic and won. When the tournament ends ill post my full results.