How to Prepare for Your First OTB Tournament (Part 1 - Rules & Norms)
Playing in your first over-the-board (OTB) tournament can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. While many of the skills you’ve honed online will serve you well, there are some important rules, norms, and etiquette unique to OTB play that you’ll need to familiarize yourself with. In this guide, we’ll cover several key points to help you prepare.Phones and Electronic Devices
One of the most important things to remember is that phones and electronic devices are strictly prohibited during the game. I once played a small tournament in a basement where my opponent, new to OTB chess, casually pulled out his phone mid-game to check messages or something along those lines. According to the rules, I could have claimed a win immediately, but I chose not to since he was new. Luckily, in the end I won rather easily.
There’s hundreds of stories about phone-scandals and every chess player knows of at least one. To avoid being part of one of these stories, I recommend turning off your phone and leaving it in a bag or jacket on the opposite side of the playing hall. If it rings despite being off, no one will know it’s yours. Alternatively, you can leave it on the table, face down and turned off, but I personally find that distracting. The key is to ensure that the phone isn’t on you, especially when you go to the bathroom, as this could raise concerns about cheating.
Touch-Move Rule
The touch-move rule is one of the most well-known in OTB chess. Once you touch a piece, you are obligated to move it. Similarly, once you’ve placed a piece on a square, the move is final. To avoid mistakes, always think carefully before touching a piece. Only make contact with a piece when you are 100% certain of your move.
If you need to adjust a piece on the board without intending to move it, you must say “adjust” (Only if you’re in the U.S I think) or “j’adoube” (a French phrase meaning “I adjust”). This lets your opponent know you’re only repositioning the piece, not making a move.
Illegal Moves
Making an illegal move has consequences. In most cases, your opponent will be awarded extra time. If you make two illegal moves, you’ll lose the game. In the past, a single illegal move would result in an immediate loss. I once lost a game because I promoted a pawn to a queen using both hands, which is technically against the rules—you can only use one hand to move and promote.
Walking During the Game
Walking around during the game is allowed and I even recommend it to help you stay focused, whether you’re stretching your legs or visiting the bathroom. However, it’s important not to leave your seat while it’s your turn to move. Additionally, while it’s usually permissible to leave the playing venue for a short break (such as stepping outside), wandering too far from the tournament area can raise suspicions of cheating. Always make sure you're within sight or reach of the arbiters.
Scoresheets
One of the trickier aspects of classical OTB chess is keeping an accurate scoresheet. You are required to notate every move of the game, which can be stressful if you fall behind or have messy handwriting. If you miss a few moves, you’ll need to borrow your opponent’s scoresheet to catch up, which costs you time on the clock. Make sure your handwriting is legible so the tournament organizers can understand it later. At the end of the game, both players must sign the scoresheet, and in some cases, you’ll need to submit a copy to the arbiters. To learn more about chess annotion check out this link.
Before and After the Game
When you first sit down at the board, it’s customary to shake hands with your opponent as a gesture of respect. In some places, like where I live (Sweden), players say “good luck” before starting the game, but this isn’t the norm everywhere. Once the game begins, start the clock and focus.
When resigning, stop the clock first, then shake hands with your opponent. Afterward, you’ll sign each other’s scoresheets, and you might briefly analyze the game together, speaking quietly to avoid disturbing other players.
Draw Offers
Offering a draw follows a specific procedure. You must make your move first, then offer the draw either verbally like “I offer a draw” or with a gesture such as crossing your fingers in an “X” shape, which can be quite useful if there’s a language barrier. Once offered, you cannot retract the draw offer, and your opponent has as much time as they want to consider it.
If your opponent accepts the draw, they’ll simply say something like “Sure” and extend their hand for a handshake. If they decline, they’ll often make their next move without saying anything. While this can be seen as rude in some places, it’s quite normal in others. In some cultures, players prefer to say something polite like, “Let’s play on a bit longer.”
It’s important to note that repeatedly offering a draw can be seen as bad etiquette. Asking once or twice is fine, but persistently offering draws can annoy your opponent. In fact, excessive draw offers may even lead to an arbiter being called to address the situation.
Summary
To prepare for your first over-the-board (OTB) chess tournament, it's essential to follow key rules and etiquette. Phones and electronic devices must be turned off and stored away, while the touch-move rule requires you to move any piece you touch. Making illegal moves can result in time penalties or a loss after two infractions. Walking around is allowed, but you must stay within the venue and avoid leaving during your turn. Keeping an accurate, legible scoresheet is crucial, as is proper etiquette: shake hands before and after the game, and offer draws politely after making your move. Familiarizing yourself with these norms will help ensure a smooth and respectful tournament experience.
Most importantly, be respectful, nice and have fun!
In my next part about OTB chess I'll talk about the differences between online and OTB chess, and how you can improve your OTB skills. If you want to learn more about chess join my discord and lichess team <3