Tournament help!

I recently started doing chess tournaments about two months ago at a nearby chess club.  I have been getting killed by these guys, however.  I am in a tournament this Saturday and was thinking about possible openings that could cause them trouble.  In my first three tournaments, my preferred opening is the Italian.  If they do c3, I switch to the Alapin.  As black I usually answer e4 with e5.

Anyway, I was looking at playing the Urusov Gambit if I am white and d4/e5 is played.  I was hoping some of the better players on here could give me some insight into this opening.  Also, is it well known?  I would like something that makes my opponent a bit uncomfortable and the Italian is usually met with a yawn.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Trying to use a new opening for a tournament coming up that quickly probably isn't going to help. You should stick with an opening you know.

Also, unless you are falling for opening traps, the reason you are losing is likely due to some other reason, such as tactical oversights or endgame weaknesses.

What is your OTB rating?

What level of talent will you be playing?

My OTB rating is 1056 (I think it's around there).  I just got the rating recently so it's still provisional.  I will be playing a Swiss.  My last Swiss I played three 1500's and a 1300 (I upset the 1300, but I have lost to worse since then).  My expectation is to play members between 1000-1500.

ok then DONT I REPEAT DONT try new openings like Diakonia said. Try them online instead because there is no OTB Rating on the line. Try something you know a decent amount about.

Guessing by your question I would say you are low rated. Why don't you instead of blaming your losses on openings don't analyze your losses and train on practical skills.

Forget about openings.  Follow Opening Principles:

Control the center.

Develop toward the center.

Castle.

Connect your rooks.

At your level (no offense) openings are the last thing you should be wasting study time on.  tactics...tactics...tactics...is the name of the game.  

Let me nutshell it for you:

The basics of each phase of the game

Opening:

Follow the Opening principles:

1.      Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5

2.      Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key

Ø  Complete your development before moving a piece twice or starting an attack.

Ø  Move pieces not pawns.

3.      Castle

4.      Connect your rooks

Ø    By move 12, you should have connected your Rooks, or be about to do so.

Middle game:

When you have completed the Opening Principles, you are now at the middle game.  Now you need to formulate a middle game plan.  The middle game is a very complicated part of a chess game.  A simple way to develop a middle game plan is to perform the following steps.

1.      Scan your opponents 5^th, and 6^th ranks (3^rd, and 4^th if your black)

2.      Look for weak pawns, and or weak squares.

Ø  Weak pawns and squares are Pawns, and squares that cannot be defended by another Pawn.

Ø  Knights are excellent pieces on weak squares.

Ø  When deciding on weak squares, and weak Pawns to attack, the closer to the center the better

End game:

Start with the basics:

1.      Learn basic mates – KQ vs. K, KR vs. K, KRR vs. K

2.      Learn Opposition, and Key Squares

3.      Learn basic King and Pawn endings

1.      Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5

2.      Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key

3.      Castle

4.      Connect your rooks

Diakonia, do you have elabourate answers saved somewhere to commonly asked questions and sopy and paste them in, or do you come up with them everytime?

You give me way to much credit if you think i come up with this stuff off the top of my head.  Of course i have this stuff saved, on my home and work PC.  Gotta love the copy and paste!

the stotch is easy to learn and you'd be surprised how many people just fail at it

Thanks gang.  I appreciate it!