Preparing for first OTB

Hey all,

I am playing in my first OTB tournament this weekend, and I just wanted to ask what everyone does to prepare. I hardly ever play OTB. I am especially worried about breaking the 'touch-move' rule, but I am also worried because I tend to try random things at this point-- I haven't settled into a standard response to D4 or e4, as black, for instance... In any case, what are the steps people normally take in general to prepare for OTB tournaments?

What will be the time control? what's the opposition level do you know already?
When preparing I start to do puzzles more and more, playing some slow games (better OTB with friend or club player) and then analyse them.
In the morning before tournament also do some puzzles, and perhaps few blitz games, just to warm up.

"I am especially worried about breaking the 'touch-move' rule"

After having done this mistake one time during an OTB game, you will never do it again !
Make your security check to avoid it

Have a goal for your tounament : winning a least 2 games, or no blunder, or being ahead after every opening, not being mated before 20 minutes, and so on
Choose the right one.

consider your first OTB tournament as an experience. Do not be afraid of losing.

You will come back home with some games to analyse. You will have a lot of fun !

Use the same hand for moving the piece and pushing the clock!

Just leave your fingers from the board while thinking. And if you decided to make a move do it quickly. There is no point in moving your hand close to the king you intend to move if you haven't decided yet. And you even give away information about what your intensions might be.

And the "touch - move" rule also includes: If you touch an opponent's piece you have to capture it.

Good luck with your OTB matches.

Always ask myself what about if the touched piece is pinned ? Illegal move ?

Try running through tactics carefully before hand. The key is to play like the best version of yourself - do wild stuff but calculate it.

Oh.. and if your opponent tells you to play a move since you touched a piece.. Just tell them you never had any intention to move the piece and call the TD over. See if they can prove your intention to move it, because they can't... since you were just adjusting it on its square anyhow.

Be honest, but firm if you did not intend to move a piece.. the rules are in your favor.

@Sholmes49 If you can't legally move a piece, you are not forced to.

Even an absolute pinned piece ?

It is an illegal move only if you touch the clock

There are no "illegal moves" in long OTB tournament games. If you touch a piece and there ist a possible move with that piece, you have to move it. If there isn't, nothing happens. (Sometimes there is a time compensation of 2 minutes.)