Hi everyone,
After years of playing chess as a beginner, several months ago I finally became a member of USCF, and began to study on a serious level. I’ve been playing online as well. Sadly, the closest chess club to me is more than a hours drive. I am now interested in getting an official rating. I am considering registering for the 16th annual New York State open as unrated under 1200. Being completely new to the world of Tournament chess this is scary, intimidating, and exhilarating all at once. I was wondering if this was a good way to get my first rating, and if anyone had any advice. I have no idea what to expect. I am also considering going to the Vermont open as a spectator a month prior. Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Spectator option is a great idea to get your feet wet without having to make good moves at the same time. It’s a tough thing to jump right into tournament play without a substantial background of chess-club play, and I am concerned that you might get frustrated if you get creamed by more experienced players who had that background. See how it feels as a spectator and take it from there. If you’re itching to get a game yourself, you are probably ready.
I played my first tournament in a large open, so I have some suggestions:
-
I see this tournament has four sections. As an unrated you can play in
either the Open or the Under 1200 sections. You definitely want to sign up
for the Under 1200 section. I didn’t know any better and made the mistake
of signing up for the open section in my first tournament. In the open section
you will face mostly masters and experts, and you might end up losing
every game. I lost 5 games in a row, and finally won one in the final round,
to some poor fellow who was having a worse tournament than me. Even
that game I should have lost, but I got lucky in the endgame. -
Don’t worry about your rating, it will be provisional and will change rapidly
as you play more tournaments. Ratings are provisional until you’ve played
20 rated games. -
Don’t be surprised if you play worse than usual, you will probably be
nervous (at least I was) and not in the best frame of mind for chess. -
Remember that everyone is trying their hardest at these big
tournaments, so all the games will be very competitive. -
Lastly, smile a lot, and have fun. These tournaments are great! Always
ask your opponent to go over the game afterwards with you. There will
be a skittles room for this purpose. It’s really interesting to see all the things
you missed or that your opponent was considering during the game.
Jim
Ratings are provisional until you have played 26 games, not 20. (That changed in about 2000 or 2001.)
As a spectator you can also go to the skittles room(s) and play some of the other players to get a vague feel for things. If you’ve been playing on-line then some speed games will get you used to a physical clock.
Hey there, butterfly,
You didn’t mention this, but have you ever kept score for a chess game (i.e., chess notation) while playing?
Being an online player, you may never have done this before. You will want to be accustomed to recording your games so you can go over them afterwards. Besides, it’s a requirement at most rated tournaments.
It takes some getting used to, especially when you have to coordinate it with using a clock. I have found that when I mess it up, my opponent will let me copy his notation after the game. 
I also find that my opponents also mess up their notation.
I agree: that first tournament is both scary and exhilarating. It’s also fun!
Do not worrry about how you will score. The goal in the first couple of tournaments you play is to become accustomed to tournament play. That means getting used to using a clock, writing your moves down, and thinking at the same time! Juggling these three and your own excitement is not easy. I hope that you are planning on playing in a tournament with a longer time control rather than a Game 30. If you play in the latter you will feel constantly rushed. Give yourself some time to settle into the game.
It is just as important what you do after the game. If there is time, briefly go over the game with your opponent to check the accuracy of your notation and to get some idea of how both of you played. You’ll find that you both made mistakes. When you get home, wait a couple of days and then analyze the game again. Keep a journal and note your thoughts during the game. Be objective but don’t get hypercritical. Compare your opening with your opening books. Now those books will make more sense because you have your own experience to use as a guide. If possible, analyze your games with a stronger player to get another view. Try to learn at least three things from each tournament game you play.
Even if things do not go well, do not get discouraged. The sun still comes up every morning. At the very least, try to make a new friend in chess at every tournament. Have fun!
I just wanted to thank everyone who has replied to my post already. All of your feedback and advice has been very helpful and more importantly encouraging.
Thanks everyone for your support and advice. I played this past weekend, and scored three points in the under 1200 section. Your support and encouragement gave me the confidence to enter. Thanks again.
Luke
Way to go! Now go over your games and find all the mistakes especially your own.