Would like some information on playing live games on Chess.com

My plan was simple. Learn the moves, learn some strategy and begin working on tactics.... Also join local chess club and get out of the house and play against real people.

So right up until the play live people everything was fine. And then dun, dun, dun... Coronavirus.

So I've been working through the lessons and playing games against the computer at a low level and even winning some. I really do want to play live but am unsure how to start. I just want to play a regular game against someone who is not so advanced. 

Can someone give me the basics of how to begin playing live.

Thanks

Play -> Live Chess

After you go to live chess, choose a time then press play (picture below)

When there are two numbers like 3 | 2 it means each player starts with 3 minutes, and every time you move you get 2 seconds added to your clock.

There are two clocks, one for each player. Your time counts down only when it's your turn to move. If a clock reaches zero the game is immediately stopped and that player loses.

A time control with just one number like "10 minutes" means each player starts with 10 minutes on their clock, and no time is added for a move.

After clicking play the website automatically pairs you with someone else looking for the same kind of game and the game will begin.

Since you're new, the first few games may be mismatches, but pretty quickly you'll start being paired with people who are very close to the same skill level as you.

I see you've done some tactics, that's a good start. Opening principals are also useful to know for a new player

https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-principles-of-the-opening

Good luck, and have fun with it

Im a noob on this app, been looking thru the chat. *llama44* yr post really helped me understand the times but - Q: what is my new beginner score b4 I even start?

It depends on what skill level you said you were when you made your account. The lowest is 800 I think, and the highest is 1800. Looks like you're starting at 1000.

Thanks - will get on... hope I cn come back to you, in future with more Q's

Sure, and I'm not the only one who tries to be helpful on the forums. If you don't see me around you might run into one of them

Im really quite buzzing. Corona is giving me time to get back into this intriguing game

There are three main tournament formats

1)Elimination: In this type of tournament, if you lose once then you are eliminated

2)Round Robin: In this type you play against everyone else in the tournament, At the end the person who has the most points will win.

3)Swiss: In this type there will usually be a certain number of rounds usually around 10.So  you play against 10 other people.  But unlike a round robin you are not going to be playing against everyone. 

So in a 9 round Swiss tournament which has 60 players, you will play against 9 of them. At the end the person with the most points is declared the winner.

Bullet and blitz are just different time formats. In a blitz tournament the players will have 10 minutes or less to make their moves. In a bullet tournament the players will have less than 3 minutes.

An open tournament is one that any one can take part in. You do not need a specific invitation to join in.

I"m glad I started this. With so many wonderful ways to use this site it is a little overwhelming for a beginner.

Yeah, definitely. There are so many videos and tutorials and puzzles.

And as for ways to play, so many types (live chess or "daily") and varients like 960 and crazyhouse and etc.

There are also groups to join and inside groups there are vote chess games.

Not many people make use of everything. Most people find a few things they like and stick with those.

There are two types of live tournaments you can play:

1) Swiss- players play a set number of rounds against 1 opponent in each round without eliminations. At the end, the player with the highest score (and tiebreak score in some cases) will win.

2) Arena- players play as many games as they can against other players in the tournament one at a time. There is little to no waiting after each game is finished since you are paired as fast as possible with another player who has also finished a game. This style of tournament is set to last a certain amount of time, whether it is 30 minutes or 2 hours or anything else. If you are in the middle of a game when the tournament stops, your then-current game is cancelled and no points are awarded to either player for it. The player with the most points at the end of the tournament wins.

Blitz and Bullet and Rapid designations are all with regard to time control of the games themselves, not necessarily the style of the tournament.

Sometimes, clubs will have their own internal live tournaments as well so it can be good to join one or two large ones if you're interested in playing them.

Otherwise, you are more than able to just play any random player near your rating just by clicking play. It will automatically pair you with someone of similar rating.