Thanks for your responses!
@TrainingOTB
Friday Night is blitz: 5-min, touch-move, no notation required.
Saturday 'college section': 4-rounds. Swiss. 60-min with 5 sec. delay. (I have never played a clocked game longer than the 15+15 games I have played on lichess :0) Notation required. (They do not specify touch- or clock-move, but I am assuming it is touch-move also....)
Last I checked the rating varied quite a lot (860-2200 in the college section, with many unrated players).
@Allonautilus
Re: writing moves down. I will definitely need to practice this! I am still not the fastest as notation and finding squares, especially as black. How does this process break down when at the board: 1) make my move 2) hit clock 3) write down my move 4) opponent moves 5) I write down opponents move 5) repeat? (I guess I am asking when do I write my opponents move? As soon as they make it?)
@Sybotes "And the "touch - move" rule also includes: If you touch an opponent's piece you have to capture it." Ah, I had no idea. Good info to have, thanks.
@DrHack "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." Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but its good to know that I have a possible out if I mess up!
@Sholmes49 I think my primary goal should just be making sure I use my time effectively. I really have a hard time slowing down and thinking about my moves and considering multiple possibilities, especially since I play too much bullet right now.
What about opening preparation? Should I try to prepare one deeply or just review some traps in some common lines?
It's hard to prove a piece has been touched, but I'd rather lose a game than break the touch move rule which I consider to be extremely unsportsmanlike.
The rule has been broken twice in my games. In the first case I said to my opponent:"You touched it." He did not like it, but he moved the piece he had touched. The second occasion was a week ago. My opponent used both hands for castling and he first touched the rook. I was simply amazed and for a few seconds I considered what to do. Then I remembered that he had said that this was hist first tournament game and I glanced at his card beside the clock and that confirmed what he said as he had no rating. After the game I told him about the rule he was not aware of. If an experienced player would move like that I would have no mercy.
For us mere mortals: preparing for OTB tactics training is good. Analysing positions with database software is easy, but recommend using a real board often. Get a beautiful board and Staunton pieces and your living room is more beautiful, too.
@jzehner4192 good luck at your tournament! Here's how the notation process works:
1) Write down your move (if you change your move, you can erase, etc.)
2) Make your move
3) Hit clock
3.5) Think on your opponent's time! :)
4) Opponent moves
5) Write down your opponent's move
Repeat.
Also, the best way to practice for OTB tournaments is by playing long OTB games. See if there's a place where you can do this near you!
@ruttuvaari Thanks for reminding me about the castling move rules! That will be an especially difficult one not to break, as I usually don't think about it. I am not even sure how I would do it if I wasn't thinking about it!
@Expiration thanks for the break down. Writing my move first does sound best. Hopefully I can find someone to practice with. It is amazing how difficult that can be once you're older.
"What about opening preparation? Should I try to prepare one deeply or just review some traps in some common lines?"
Nothing. Just :
1) control the center of the board
2) Activation of your pieces
3) king security
And avoid your opponent to reach this principles !
May be, readying the first 4-5 moves of your beloved opening... that you will never encounter.
An OTB tournament is like an exam...
@Expiration has said something very wrong:
Compare the "LawsOfChess" from FIDE:, 8.1.:
"It is forbidden to write the moves in advance, unless the player is claiming a draw according to Article 9.2, or 9.3 or adjourning a game according to the Guidelines of Adjourned Games point 1.a."
If you write down a move before you actually move it on the board, it can result in a penalty (think about a coach standing at the side and coughing if that's a bad move). If the opponent makes a claim to the arbiter concerning this and you repeat this, further actions can take place.
Sparring partners are as important as preparation for the first OTB tournament.. with a clock..
@jzehner4192 since many mention clock thingy there. In my 2nd OTB tournament, I was playing white perhaps in 4th round, and I made my move Nf3, wrote it down and started to wait until my opponent moves, but he didn't. So almost 2 minutes I was thinking in my head did I took him out of the book with Nf3, or is he trying to remember some preparation :D... but then I've noticed that my clock is running and not his lol conclusion I didn't press clock after made move... it is easy to forget that important duty if you are not used to it.
Imagine this to happen in middle game, where you make a move, don't press the clock, and wait, silently thinking, that you caused your opponent so much trouble, that he doesn't know where to move... and then lose on time...
@ClaireWerk Hmm. Nice catch. I wonder if the rule is the same in USCF. Haven't been able to find it yet. I better make sure!
Edit: I have confirmed that it is the same in USCF rules, but may have been a recent change! (See below).
Pasted from USCF rulebook:
15A. Manner of keeping score.
In the course of play each player is required to record the game (both the player’s and the opponent’s moves), move
after move, as clearly and legibly as possible, on the scoresheet prescribed for the competition. Algebraic notation is
standard, but descriptive or computer notation is permitted. The player must first make the move, and then record it
on the scoresheet. The scoresheet shall be visible to the arbiter (tournament directors) and the opponent throughout
the game. See also Chapter 3, Chess Notation; 13C3, Filling in moves with flag down; 13I, Refusal to obey rules;
35F6, Scorekeeping options; and 43, Scoresheets.
TD TIP: While the rule’s wording indicates making the move first and keeping the scoresheet (paper or electronic)
visible at all times, it brings US Chess in alignment with FIDE procedures and sooths many of the fears surrounding
electronic scoresheets—see Rule 43— it is a huge change for many players. TDs are advised to first (and possibly
second and third) issue warnings to players that do not comply with this revised rule before enforcing any time
penalties (1C2a. prescribes adding two minutes to the opponent’s unused time).
@jzehner4192 tbh not so hard to find. In the "US Chess Rule Book" it says under 15A. Manner of keeping score.:
"In the course of play each player is required to record the game (both the player’s and the opponent’s moves), move after move, as clearly and legibly as possible, on the scoresheet prescribed for the competition. Algebraic notation is standard, but descriptive or computer notation is permitted. The player must first make the move, and then record it on the scoresheet. The scoresheet shall be visible to the arbiter (tournament directors) and the opponent throughout the game."
However as a comment below:
"[...] TDs are advised to first (and possibly second and third) issue warnings to players that do not comply with this revised rule before enforcing any time penalties [...]."
So in an USCF tournament (and also FIDE ones), you don't have to fear to loose if not following this rule. However, keep in mind that this is an suggestion, a Tournament Director (TD) can basically rule as they wishes.
However, there is the following: 15A. (Variation I) Paper scoresheet variation.:
"The player using a paper scoresheet may first make the move, and then write it on the scoresheet, or vice versa. This variation does not need to be advertised in advance. The scoresheet shall be visible to the arbiter (tournament directors) and the opponent throughout the game."
In addition to:
"TDs may penalize a player that is in violation of 20C, Use of notes prohibited if the player is first writing the move and repeatedly altering that move on their scoresheet before completing a move on the board."
I won't bother searching when the variations kicks in, but the use mentioned in #13 is in both cases strictly forbidden. When behaving OTB, just remember that you're a man/woman/... of culture and thus shall not do anything that causes irritation. This includes, but is not limited to:
Eating smelly food, being loud, being unfriendly, irritating your opponent (and writing down moves and erasing them surely is irritating).
I highly encourage you to be friendly, which includes, but is not limited to:
Giving your opponent at the start of the game a firm handshake (as well as at the end, no matter the result), saying hello in a genuine kind tone and maybe chatting a little bit before the game. When the time of your opponent is running because they didn't hit the clock, you can and shall mention this (in my national federation, it's also encouraged to move after an appropriate amount of waiting time)! Many opponents are also willing to analyze the game with you afterwards - that's a nice experience. As a last tip from me: Your opponent has all the right to play the game. A lot of people get grumpy when the opponent doesn't resign (a childish trait). If it's the last round of the tournament, some opponents (me included) will be in favor of a quick draw. It's up to you, but I don't like the feeling of loosing the last game. If you think so too and your opponent doesn't - refer to the last sentence.
Edit: After posting this, I see that you've also found the paragraph. If you are not familiar with rules (like me in the case of 'when to apply the variation') you are always encouraged to ask the arbiters! They will help you and explain to you all main features like claiming draws (not that easy if never seen before) etc.
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