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So you are going to a live chess tournament!  Congratulations! - it will be fun.  Here are some tips to enhance your experience (you can find playing tips here):

• If possible, register by mail ahead of time - (See below for details) This is allowed in most tournaments and serves several purposes.  It helps the tournament directors (TD) get the first round started on time and also gives him time to check your registration information more thoroughly.  It also usually entitles you to a discount.  While almost all tournaments allow you to register in a registration period on the same day as the first round (and by all means if you need to wait until then, please come and register then - most do), "pre-registration" lets you sleep a little later.  If you do pre-register ahead of time, make sure you check your registration when you get to the tournament, hopefully 15-30 minutes before the first round is scheduled.  One exception: If you are joining USCF for the first time and it is a small tournament, it is easier to do so at the tournament, since you will need to supply additional information over and above that needed for normal pre-registration.

• How to Select Your Section. These days, many larger events are separated into sections, usually by rating. For example, a tournament with 3 sections might have “Open”, “Under-1800”, and “Under-1400”. If you are new to tournament chess, you probably want to play in the lowest section possible until you know you are strong enough to play in a higher one. There is one exception. Most unrated adults usually have a playing strength between 900-1400, but sometimes there are sections that are primarily meant for younger players. For example, if a tournament has the same three sections as above but also a fourth “Under-900” section, the U-900 is probably designed for kids, and so adult playing in his first event should choose the next-to-lowest section and play in the Under-1400. Of course if an section is labeled “scholastic” then it is only for K-12 and that will not be an issue!

• Get plenty of sleep.  Playing chess correctly is fun, but tiring - a well rested player is a much better player.

• Know the directions to the tournament and give yourself a little extra time - no sense missing the first round because of a traffic jam, a detour, etc

• Bring your equipment!  Except for national tournaments, most tournaments do not supply anything but scoresheets.  So bring a standard Staunton chess set and board, a chess clock (if you have one), and a few pencils/pens to record your games (if you know how).  Also, put your name on your bag, board, and clock, and your initials under each chess piece - this helps greatly in both identifying your equipment and preventing it from being stolen. Many larger tournaments have equipment rooms that sell all kinds of books and equipment.

• Learn ahead of time how to set your chess clocks.  If it is a digital clock, read the instructions and set the clock ahead of time to the time limit advertised for your tournament.  For example, if the time limit is “G/30” that means play all your moves in 30 minutes.  If that includes a standard time delay of 5 seconds per move, then the clock is set at “G/25; T/D 5” meaning it counts down from 25 minutes to zero on each side of the clock and the clock is set to delay five seconds before each move. If you purchased an analog clock, then it cannot use time delay, so G/30 simply means each player has 30 minutes, so set each face of the clock to 5:30, since the first time control should always expire at 6:00. If you have a digital clock, also learn how to add two minutes to either side during a game, since that is a common time penalty for illegal moves, etc. The TD is not responsible for helping you with your clock, since there are so many types of digital clocks.

• Learn algebraic notation (this is not required, but it is easily learned and is taught in almost every beginner’s book).  That way you can keep score and go over your games later.  USCF rule 15a1c states "Beginner's who have not learned to keep score may be excused from scorekeeping, at the director's discretion." At my tournaments I thus rule, "If you know how to keep score (well enough) you must; if you don't, you can't." and most directors feel the same way, but you might want to check with your director before the event if you are concerned. Therefore, if you (or your child, whoever is playing!) doesn't know how to keep score, you probably won't be required to do so, but it is just a great idea - my son played much better when he started keeping score because it slowed him down! I would say it is pretty easy for anyone 8 and older who practices a few games ahead of time, and most 7 year olds have no problem. Don't attempt to keep score for the first time during your first event - my suggestion is either practice ahead of time until you are comfortable or don't keep score. USCF rules also require everyone who can keep score to do so until at least one of the players has five minutes left or less.

• Make sure to check the dates/times of registration and the times of the rounds.  Tournament information is posted at www.uschess.org/tla and elsewhere.  If you have to, call or e-mail the TD or registration person to confirm.  On multiple-day tournaments be aware that rounds may start on different times on different days!

• If you are joining the USCF, during registration at the site fill out a USCF membership form – Keep a copy of the “member’s” form – it will be your proof of membership at other tournaments until you get your USCF card in a few weeks.  If you cannot prove current membership at a tournament, the tournament director may require you to join for an additional year – he cannot let you play without proof (which can by your USCF card, your membership form copy, your magazine mailing label, or a copy of your USCF membership information as printed out from the USCF website ratings page). Do NOT register online just before the tournament without receiving an e-mail receipt! It is usually not only better but usually less expensive (due to the affiliate discount) part of the registration process. However, if USCF is having a "first time member web discount" it may be less expensive to join online.

• REGISTRATION: Make sure all your registration information is printed clearly, complete, and correct:
• For Everyone including new and old USCF members:
• Provide the name of the tournament and the section in which you wish to play
• Provide contact information (phone or e-mail) so the TD can get back to you if there is a problem
• If it is a scholastic event, include your school (and club, if appropriate) and grade..
• If the tournament has multiple choices for schedules, like a "2-day or 3-day" choice, make sure to include which schedule you wish to play
• Send a check for the entrance fee made out to the tournament organizer (or whomever directed)
• If there are any rounds you cannot attend, please note which rounds you will not attend (each tournament has a policy for handling these voluntary "byes").

• For USCF Members

• Your name must be EXACTLY as it is on your USCF card.  Many players leave out or add their middle initial, etc.  This can be very dangerous, as if the TD does not catch this, you may end up with two ratings!  So please check this carefully.
• Supply your USCF ID#
• Supply your USCF Expiration Date (if expired, see renewing below)
• Supply your latest OFFICIAL USCF rating.  Ratings are official on Feb, April, June, August, October, and December 1 - the "in-between" web ratings are for your purposes only.  If you are not yet officially rated, but do have a rating posted on the web, you are still unrated until the next of those six dates above.
• If renewing, include a check made out to USCF for their membership fee

• If joining USCF for the first time and registering by mail, make sure to include (in addition to the above):

• Name as you wish it to appear forever on your USCF membership
• Full address
• Date of birth
• e-mail address
• A check made out to USCF for their membership fee

• Find your first round pairing after the pairing sheet is posted, just before the time of the first round.  Your board number will be on the extreme left.  The left-most name will play White and the name on the right will play Black.  Play will start when the TD says to start the clocks, usually about the time posted for the round (sometimes the first round is a little late if a mob showed up to register just before registration closed).

• After the first round starts, the Tournament Director will post a "Wall Chart" with your name, USCF ID, and rating.  Double-check these to make sure they are correct - if not, notify the TD immediately.  At one tournament one player told me AFTER I GAVE OUT THE TROPHIES that his rating was incorrect and he should have won a trophy.  He had two days to tell me, and his rating had been posted the entire time, but he waited until after the tournament was over.  Too late.  Please let the TD know ASAP...

• Bring a small snack to eat during long games - most tournaments allow players to eat quietly (no chips!) during a game, and it is important not to get too hungry. Tournaments usually supply water.

• During the game, if there is any question at all, please GET THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.  I have seen dozens of cases where even experienced tournament players "decide" how to solve a problem incorrectly, always to the detriment of one of the players.  When in doubt - stop your clock and get the tournament director.

• Etiquette: Before the game, introduce yourself to your opponent to make sure you are playing the correct person.  Shake hands before Black starts the clock to start the game.  During the game, limit talking to comments such as "Would you like a draw?" or "That is an illegal move", or "You touched that piece, you have to move it".  You may say "check", but it is not necessary, and against strong opponents it is considered an insult (they know it is check).  If you are in a hopeless position, resign by saying "I resign" or purposely turning down your King; a handshake does not end the game, but shaking hands after the game is over is expected.  If you need to adjust a piece that has fallen down or is not centered, do so on your time, but before you do, say "I adjust" or "J'adoube".  If you have a problem keeping score, you can ask your opponent to borrow his scoresheet, but only when your time is running.

• After the game, BOTH players, win or lose, must report their result by putting a "1" next to the winner and a "0" next to the loser (or 1/2 in the case of a draw) on the pairing sheet (the sheet that told you who you were playing and where).  If the result is not reported, the TD may assume that the game was not played, it was a double-forfeit and that both players went home.  Therefore, they may not be paired for the next round. This happens so often that you should really make an effort to either mark your game or check it is marked, especially if you lose.

• If you lose, relax!  It is only a game!  Maybe your opponent would like to go over the game with you in the Skittles Room, and you can learn something so you will be a better player in future games.  The best players cannot get too upset about losses, or they would never have been able to become really good. And don't go home! Chess tournaments are almost always swisses, never elimination, so you will play all the rounds unless you drop out. In a swiss you always play someone who is doing about as well as you are, so if you lose your first two games you play someone else who lost their first two games. Besides, half the fun of a tournament is hanging around with the other players between the rounds making new friends, talking chess, and going over chess games!

• If you have to leave (whether you are coming back or not) and will miss a round (or more) or are withdrawing, please remind the pairing TD at the time you leave, and it is also a good idea to check in when you get back.

• Before you leave, make sure you have all your equipment, and be sure to pick up any prizes you have won!  Many players don't realize there is unrated prizes, etc., so you might even win a prize if you have lost all of your games!

• Tell the tournament director what you liked about the tournament - he will appreciate both your effort and your comments!

• It will take about 3-6 weeks before your rating is published at USCF's web site and possibly even longer before it becomes official. Until then you play as an "unrated" player.

• Players who play in their first tournament usually learn quite a bit, and all good chess players at one point in their career played regular tournament chess. You may be extra nervous in your first few events, but after that (like most experiences) it will not seem so new or daunting.

   

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