Your First OTB Tournament? Here's What You Should Know!

Thinking of Playing in Your First OTB Tournament?
Here's What You Should Know!

One of the questions I hear most often as an arbiter is:

“What’s the best way to start playing in tournaments?”

Over time, I’ve shared bits and pieces of my advice in various places—but today, I’ve brought everything together in one blog post, hoping it’ll help a few of you take that first step! Illustrations are from the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club, where I often arbiter when my time permits.

Why Play OTB Chess?

Whether you're a curious beginner, a club regular, or a competitive player looking to climb the rating ladder, entering a real, over-the-board (OTB) tournament is a powerful way to level up your game and connect with the wider chess community.

Online chess is great for practice, but tournaments offer something special:

• A focused, distraction-free environment
• Longer time controls that reward deep calculation
• A chance to meet real people who share your passion
• Ratings that reflect serious play, not just blitz

Even one tournament can shift your perspective on the game.

Step 1: How to Find a Tournament
There are always tournaments happening—you just need to know where to look. Here are a few common ways to find events:

• National federation websites (e.g., US Chess, English Chess Federation, FIDE calendar)
• Local chess clubs or academies
• Tournament listing sites (e.g., Chess Life, chess.com, chess-results.com, local forums or Discords)
• Social media or event platforms (e.g., Facebook groups, Meetup, Eventbrite)

Many tournaments are open to all levels. Before registering, check the format, rating limits, and location. 

Step 2: Choose the Right Tournament for You
When selecting a tournament, ask yourself:

• What time control do I want?
  Do you want quick games (G/30) or longer classical games (G/90 +30)? Faster events are easier to try first, but longer formats give more time to think and grow.
• What section fits my level?
  Tournaments often have sections by rating (e.g., U1200, U1600, Open). Pick one where you’ll be challenged but not overwhelmed.
• How much time can I commit?
  Some tournaments last a few hours (like a local quad); others run all weekend or multiple days.
• Do I need to travel or stay overnight?
  Local events are a great starting point. But once you're hooked, road trips are part of the fun!

Step 3: Registering for a Tournament
Once you’ve chosen an event, it’s time to sign up.

Most tournaments allow registration through:

• The organizer’s website or email
• Online payment platforms
• On-site registration (though this is often more expensive and risky if it fills up)

Be ready to provide:

• Your name and national federation ID (like USCF/FIDE ID)
• Your rating (if any)
• Your preferred section
• Your byes (if you’ll miss a round)
• Payment for the entry fee

If you’re not yet a rated player, most events will still allow you to play — choose the "unrated" or appropriate beginner section, and you’ll receive a provisional rating afterward.

Before Your First Tournament: What you should know!

• Most chess tournaments are not elimination types. Win or lose, you are expected to play all your rounds!
• Tournament Type: Swiss or Quads?
• Time control: Game in XX minutes with an X-second increment or delay
• Number of rounds
• Schedule: When does the first round start? Do rounds start at a fixed time, or will there be a rolling schedule? When will the day end?
• How to find and read your pairings: find the board number, check if you are White or Black, and make a note of your opponent.
• Basic rules: Touch-move, illegal moves, notation requirements, when to complain, etc.
• What you must bring: Boards, sets, clocks, and scoresheets?

Regarding the basic rules: You don’t need to be a rules expert, but it helps to understand:

• Touch-move rule – If you touch a piece, you must move it.
• Illegal moves – Know how they’re handled (some time penalties or even forfeits).
• Notation – Most tournaments require you to write down your moves.
• Clock use – Understand how to start/stop the clock and add increments.
• Pairings and results – Learn how to find your board, opponent, and report your result.

Ask the tournament director or an experienced player if you’re unsure. Everyone starts somewhere.

Game Day Tips: Make It a Good Experience

1. Know when the tournament starts and where the venue is, and be there 15 minutes early!
You will run late, so plan to arrive 15 to 30 minutes early. Having time to calm down, get into focus mode, not rush to find the board, and not have to spend the first minutes of your time on this will be extremely valuable during the endgame, believe me!

2. Find the restroom before your first round 
You will need it in the middle of the game at some point during the tournament, and being able to sprint back and forth might be extremely valuable.

3. Find out if you need to use a clock. If that's the case, know how to pause it.
This will save you some headaches, prevent you from accidentally turning it off or resetting it, and save you a valuable few seconds.

4. Eat and Hydrate
Chances are that you won’t have time to go out and buy food, but you will get hungry! Chess is a serious sport where you burn many calories and release heat through your head.
My daughter’s ears were red whenever she played a longer game—I’m not joking! And she always came out hungry from the playing hall.

5. Turn Off Your Phone
Seriously. If your phone rings, it can cost you your game!

6. Always Report Your Result!
After the game, politely shake hands, reset the board, and report your result. Please don’t assume your opponent will write it on the result sheet or tell the arbiter. Even if you lose, ensure your game's result is reported.

7. Keep a tournament diary 

This may sound silly, I know. But besides analyzing your games after a tournament, summarize and make notes on what you learned: best practices, new rules you learned, and non-chess mistakes you made during the tournament. This will help you verbalize them, and you’ll increase your chance of not making that mistake again. I use this technique to get better as an arbiter, too!

Don’t Be Afraid to Call the Arbiter

Arbiters are there to serve the players and ensure that the event goes smoothly. Many players fear calling the arbiter with a question or suspicion that something is incorrect or unfair.
Don't be shy. Arbiters do like players. Otherwise, we would not be working almost every weekend at tournaments! And if your arbiter is like me, they especially like new players and like guiding them through their first events.
Are you not sure if that en-passant was correct or illegal? Call the arbiter! Are you wondering if you have to continue notating? Call the arbiter! Are you wondering if you can make your opponent stop fidgeting with that candy wrapper? Call the arbiter! No question is too small.

There's one thing I always say at every tournament: "During the game, we can help you, but after the game, it's too late!"

Final Thoughts
Playing in tournaments can be intimidating initially, but once you’ve done one or two, it quickly becomes second nature. You’ll find yourself improving faster, caring more deeply about your games, and feeling like you are part of a bigger chess world.

So go for it:
📅 Find an event.
📝 Register.
♟️ Show up and play.

And win or lose, take pride in doing something meaningful. Every tournament game is a step forward—and a story worth telling.