So far I've played in 5 open tournaments.I didn't have any special preparation for any of them,just refreshed my memory on my pet openinglines and that's it.And even that is pretty useles since I often end up experimenting with some crazy idea I get during the game.Basically I just try my best,enjoy the games and I'll see where I end up in the end.Four times that was somewhere halfway the standings but once I managed to win a "losers final",I was the best of the bad players LOL! My best achievement ever 😀
play ragulerly even when you have to win try to keep lots of tension in the game and dont do anything stupid (no chess) like bring a very tight hat and bring water with you if its premitted (which it probbally will)
my record in a normal game is a tie with a 2000-2100 but he was like 65 and in blitz its 1904 i think it was a 5 mins on each clock i had a mate that he saw only after he touched a rook that could'nt block the mate so he had to scarfice it and i made like 2 queens easily after i had traded =)
I've played in many OTB tournments over the past 2 years and won several of them. First there are 2 different kinds, Swiss and Round Robin / Sectional.
With the sectional ones you usually know ahead of time who you are playing and what color. What you should do is go over your opponents game and see which openings he plays and prepare to meet those openings. That help a lot. I owe a lot of victories to preparation. Not traps or anything but just know which opening to play and what plans to follow really helps and makes you comfortable.
So that's it for sectional ones. For both types of tournaments I like to go over some simple tactical puzzles before the game starts. 5 or so 4 move combinations for example. Also don't play blitz before the game. I never play blitz. It's bad for my OTB play.
Other then that just have fun, you don't need a plan going into the tournment or anything and try not to worry about your opponents rating. Just because he is 300+ point lower then you doesn't mean you will waste him easily 🙂
Originally posted by 7ate9A lot of players under 2000 don't bother preparing for an opponent. If you prepare then you'll have a substantial advantage.
one of my brother's friends(well his boss) is very good chess player(2000+) and right up there in new zealand chess. i think he had one or two games here but didn't stick around, as i think he may prefer real-time chess.
my brother told me about how he goes through the same procedure as yourself when coming up against an opponent. estimating what sort of open ...[text shortened]... it's just as important what you shouldn't do entering into a tourny... such as overloading.
I am 1.e4 e5 player but I had a game coming up in this big 8 round 2 month tournament and I knew my opponent would play the viena gambit against me. And I knew he liked the Qxd4 sicilian so just for that one game I decided to play the sicilian and we went into the Qxd4 sicilian. I studied that and looked at some games before hand and new some of the plans. My game went smoothly, I knew what my goals were and I won. That I owe to perparation. When you are comfortable then you play great chess.
Originally posted by 7ate9Make sure you at least have a better RHP rating than 1400 before entering a USCF tournament. Then, you at least can challenge the felluhs in the under 1200 section and win a couple of hundred dollars. Bahahahaha!
I've never played in a chess-club let alone entered any tournaments, but for those of you who do.... what sort strategies do you use in your build-up into that important OTB tournament? I have a fair idea at what i would do, so i'm just going to write it and see what anyone thinks.....
I would've already spent a lot of time playing a lot of games against ...[text shortened]... important meetings, going on a date etc. chess can hold a lot of success for life.
Bucky
Originally posted by powershakerIt's a shame that the ignore feature does not work for forum posts.
Make sure you at least have a better RHP rating than 1400 before entering a USCF tournament. Then, you at least can challenge the felluhs in the under 1200 section and win a couple of hundred dollars. Bahahahaha!
Bucky
Anyhoo, ignore this guy and just go play. The atmosphere is completly different than any online game of chess you can play. It's tons of fun (and I have won only 1 tournament out of the 33 I have played).
Lots of people play blitz before their games, lots more study puzzles. Personally the most important thing for me is to take a walk and relax. Come to the board with a clear head, focus and enjoy the game. If you have never done it, I doubt you can know which approach works best for you.
As far as preparation goes, most tournaments I enter are open swisses, so I have no idea who I will play. Just know your openings and even when a move is automatic for you, stop, think and remember why you play that move, check for threats, look for a better move and only then touch the piece.
Everyone should try it at least once. I used to be so nervous during my games that not only would my leg bounce, but my hands would tremble. I can barely read my old scoresheets. The best part though is that 99% of people are willing to analyze their game with you afterwords.
Originally posted by 7ate9I've won a few tounaments and done badly in a few.
I've never played in a chess-club let alone entered any tournaments, but for those of you who do.... what sort strategies do you use in your build-up into that important OTB tournament? I have a fair idea at what i would do, so i'm just going to write it and see what anyone thinks.....
I would've already spent a lot of time playing a lot of games against important meetings, going on a date etc. chess can hold a lot of success for life.
No preparation is necessary at our level. By the time you get round to doing tournaments its like your job. You either know it or get fired!
Having said that there are a few non chess things to do.
1. get a good nights sleep the day before;
2. no drinking the night before or on the day;
3. don't get too involved in other peoples games until yours is over;
4. don't bother to look at the other persons grade you either get over confident if you are rated higher or feel beaten if graded lower. either way you play below your best;
5. pace yourself on your time. Don't spend too long thinking about moves you know or obviously forced moves but do spend time thinking about those complex positions before you make a mistake. You don't want to spend your time thinking how to avoid a forced mate or material loss;
6. ensure you don't run out of time. You don't want to be in a time scrabble with less time than your opponent but if there is a win there use your last minutes, find it and then play it quick.
7. Relax and Enjoy.
On a good day you end a weekend £100 richer.
Originally posted by powershakerThere are plenty of class tournaments and 1200 do have a chance to win money also. Starting early is chess is great and every 1200 is welcome.
Make sure you at least have a better RHP rating than 1400 before entering a USCF tournament. Then, you at least can challenge the felluhs in the under 1200 section and win a couple of hundred dollars. Bahahahaha!
Bucky
The best ones I like are sectional or round-robin where you play against players -/+ 100 of your rating. That's were I learn the most and I've won 2/4 I have played it. The swisses are much harder but thanks to preparation I won the biggest one this year for our club. 8 rounds split over 2 months every thursday. Since I was top board after my first 3 games, my potential pairing were announced and of course I prepare for that opponent and opponents with a lower score just incase the pairing would get changed. Wow, that preparation helped me so much. I can't believe it!
The best openings are the ones you are comfortable with and thus familiarizing yourself with an opening prior to playing it helps a great deal.
Originally posted by zebanoYeah, right! You just want him to go to a tournament so you can make a fool out of him with your 1700+ RHP rating. BahahHAhahaHAHA!
It's a shame that the ignore feature does not work for forum posts.
Anyhoo, ignore this guy and just go play. The atmosphere is completly different than any online game of chess you can play. It's tons of fun (and I have won only 1 tournament out of the 33 I have played).
Lots of people play blitz before their games, lots more study puzzles. Personall ...[text shortened]... best part though is that 99% of people are willing to analyze their game with you afterwords.
Originally posted by 7ate9Well since the thread name is Strategies for entering OTB tournaments, heres my strategy on entering
I've never played in a chess-club let alone entered any tournaments, but for those of you who do.... what sort strategies do you use in your build-up into that important OTB tournament? I have a fair idea at what i would do, so i'm just going to write it and see what anyone thinks.....
I would've already spent a lot of time playing a lot of games against ...[text shortened]... important meetings, going on a date etc. chess can hold a lot of success for life.
Contact the tournament director in advance and register. Make sure you pay the money and give the correct information.
Does this answer your question? 😛