When are you ready to play tournaments?

Hi, I've been playing chess for a few weeks now, and I'm doing more poorly than well. Even though it's getting a bit better . I would like to know when it makes sense to play tournaments and how that works. I would like to try it out, but I wonder if there are only players there who have much more experience.

I'd say that you're ready when you're ready. I've only been playing a few months, my Daily ELO is below 400, and I'm playing in tournaments now. 

What I'm liking about the Tournament Play: there's much less of a chance for my poopnent to abandon a game/resign a game halfway through, especially when things aren't going their way. I also really like the time constraints, it prevents me from forgetting about a game or something, and then the opponent wins on time because I was a flake. 

I do join the sub 600 tournaments, primarily. 

I like the Arena format over the Swiss.

Either way, it will be a great learning experience and opportunity for you to pair with higher rated players where you would not otherwise be able to play in an open challenge since normally nobody would accept.

Me as an example, I am a 1300 but I have won and loss to everybody between 1800-700. You would never see a 1300 player playing an 1800 accepting an open challenge. 

You never know, you may surprise yourself and win one or two tournaments.

If you're talking about over the board tournaments, I don't think there's any reason not to play. You'll get more experience with longer time controls and high rated opponents etc etc

As for the tournaments on chess.com, I don't think it's really important besides getting practice in. None of the results particularly matter too much

In my view, you're ready to play in tournaments when you can consistently mate with a king and queen.

You may not win much, but you're ready to play!

I started playing in tournaments when I was rated around 400 on here, and it was incredibly useful for improving. There's no such thing as too early honestly.

Thank you very much for your answers. I think I will wait a few more months and then give it a try. Then I'll have time to gain some more experience. I had another aha moment yesterday when I was "destroyed" by an opening I thought I already knew. I think I will have to look at it again .

There are tournaments for all ratings so you could jump in right away.

For instance, I arranged a beginners tournament that is not rated with really beautiful trophies so there's really nothing to lose!

https://www.chess.com/tournament/100-999-beginners-friendly-tournament-not-rated

Wow 1100 - 1200 that would take me a while (or a life ). To be honest, I prefer to play longer games because i need time to think and at least try to come up with a plan.  But at the moment i find it quite hard to keep the level of concentration up for a long time. Or for more games in a row. I tried quick games as well and I got very stressed due to time pressure. Too much pressure. Bad moves. That was not fun at all

As soon as you have moved beyond the pure beginner stage, you have a lot to gain by playing in real tournaments and very little to lose. On the plus side, you will learn much more quickly. You put much more thought and effort into an OTB tournament game--and so does your opponent! Every game is a much more intense experience than any online game. You will also be able to discuss your games with stronger opponents and get advice and insight into how better players think. You might also make some new chess friends.

So, what's the down side? You will probably lose a lot of games at first. But so what? Every good player starts out as a beginner and loses a lot of games. But each game is a lesson, although some are painful! But if you have the right attitude and mindset, every game will make you stronger

You're ready to play tournaments when you're able to follow the tournament rules and behave yourself. :-)

im not ready at 600