How do you register for a OTB tournament?
@JayMitros I would start with the website for your national federation, which will probably have information on local tournaments as well as clubs.
What happens if you offer a draw when your opponent has 10 second left on the clock, but then their time runs out? Can they still accept the draw offer, or do they lose the game???
I remember my first tournament quite vividly. I scored 4/4, and celebrated with a delicious Papa John's pizza afterwards. Good times....
> Similarly, once you’ve placed a piece on a square, the move is final.
To be more precise, it's only final once you release it from your hand. I.e. as long as you still hold the piece, you can change the destination square (unless you also touched opponent's piece you wanted to capture). But of course it's better not to get into such situation in the first place.
There are also some other details that may be tricky for inexperienced players. As mentioned in the section about illegal moves, promotion must be performed using only one hand. But the same is true for any move, including also captures or castling: the whole move must be performed using only one hand and the same hand must be also used to press the clock.
To be more precise, it's only final once you release it from your hand. I.e. as long as you still hold the piece, you can change the destination square (unless you also touched opponent's piece you wanted to capture). But of course it's better not to get into such situation in the first place.
There are also some other details that may be tricky for inexperienced players. As mentioned in the section about illegal moves, promotion must be performed using only one hand. But the same is true for any move, including also captures or castling: the whole move must be performed using only one hand and the same hand must be also used to press the clock.
My first tournament game ever, I was almost shaking with nervousness. This nervousness carried over as I offered a draw in a dead winning position.
This is a great summary! Really, a lot of it is common sense but there are some pitfalls I would add:
- When castling you must first touch and move your king by two squares and then the rook. If you first touch the rook, you must move it and cannot castle anymore.
- Make sure to arrive on time: Most tournaments (at least here in Germany) have a mandatory check-in deadline on the first day, usually 30min-1h before the official start. For later games you can usually be up to 30min late, but you'll loose that time on your clock. If you miss the day one check-in you might miss the tournament entirely.
And as for some other general tips:
- Bring something to pass the time: Many classical tournaments have two games per day. The gap between the morning and afternoon game can be several hours long if yours finishes early and some others take especially long.
- Make food plans beforehand: There's nothing more annoying than finishing an exhausting morning game and having to figure out what to eat in a rush before your next game. Picking out some places beforehand makes things much more comfortable. Some tournaments have food offerings, but don't count on it.
- Food etiquette: Oh yeah, and no eating at the board please! If you get a sandwich during your opponent's turn, be mindful and eat it outside of the playing hall. Snacks are fine, as long as you keep the distraction to a minimum.
- And besides all the chess - don't forget to talk to people! Meeting other players is half the fun ;)
- When castling you must first touch and move your king by two squares and then the rook. If you first touch the rook, you must move it and cannot castle anymore.
- Make sure to arrive on time: Most tournaments (at least here in Germany) have a mandatory check-in deadline on the first day, usually 30min-1h before the official start. For later games you can usually be up to 30min late, but you'll loose that time on your clock. If you miss the day one check-in you might miss the tournament entirely.
And as for some other general tips:
- Bring something to pass the time: Many classical tournaments have two games per day. The gap between the morning and afternoon game can be several hours long if yours finishes early and some others take especially long.
- Make food plans beforehand: There's nothing more annoying than finishing an exhausting morning game and having to figure out what to eat in a rush before your next game. Picking out some places beforehand makes things much more comfortable. Some tournaments have food offerings, but don't count on it.
- Food etiquette: Oh yeah, and no eating at the board please! If you get a sandwich during your opponent's turn, be mindful and eat it outside of the playing hall. Snacks are fine, as long as you keep the distraction to a minimum.
- And besides all the chess - don't forget to talk to people! Meeting other players is half the fun ;)
In Hungary you cannot have your phone on the table in any shape or form. It has to be turned off and stored in a place that you will not touch until the end of the game. In practice, it is usually okay to store it in your bag next to the table and grab stuff from the bag if you are not doing it suspiciously.
Also you cannot analyse your game in the playing hall at all. There are usually dedicated tables set up for analysis in a separate room.
Also you cannot analyse your game in the playing hall at all. There are usually dedicated tables set up for analysis in a separate room.
@Electrostrike said in #4:
> What happens if you offer a draw when your opponent has 10 second left on the clock, but then their time runs out? Can they still accept the draw offer, or do they lose the game???
In general I think they would lose the game, except if you don't have enough material for mate (that is, you only have a king and they have other stuff). Then the game is a draw.
> What happens if you offer a draw when your opponent has 10 second left on the clock, but then their time runs out? Can they still accept the draw offer, or do they lose the game???
In general I think they would lose the game, except if you don't have enough material for mate (that is, you only have a king and they have other stuff). Then the game is a draw.