Originally posted by irishhebrew82Unfortunately, I think the answer you will hear from everyone is "it depends."
I am very new to chess in general and especially new to otb. I do not have a uscf rating, but if i had to guess I would probably be in the 700-800 range. Are there even sections in chess tourneys for my skill level?
Some events will hold games for individuals with lower levels, but I think most will agree that at the low ends this tends to be reserved for children (1st to 8th grade). (I can't remember an OTB event where any adults were ranked under 1400).
That being said, I wouldn't be discouraged. Especially if you are just learning. You can play in parks, on the beach, even in Starbucks. It is amazing, how many people will come and ask "Can I play?" if there is a chess board (ready to go) in front of you.