I am still in my teens, but I just finished my first tournament and even if you get smashed, it's worth it... I only recommend 3 things,
1. go with a friend, a familiar face (preferably with a bit of experience) is really invaluable
2. never resign/ do not lose confidence if you find yourself losing make them earn the win, especially in lower rating classes and even if you lose all of your games learn from them...
3. go to have fun, but play hard!!
here is a link of my games in that tournament... including a beating I received from a 7 year old, just try your best!!
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/my-first-tournament2
Advice, please: Am I strong enough for OTB Tournament Play?
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Tactickle wrote:
The next step is to convince the wife. I can imagine her jaw dropping "WHAT!?! You are going to play chess for THREE WHOLE DAYS??" "WHAT? One game takes ALL MORNING?"
I can help you with that! Just give me your address and I'll be there the minute you leave and explain her why it is a good thing that you are off for 3 days playing chess. I'll take all the time needed. Free off charge (just my travelexpenses). 
May 27, 2011
0
#24
Playing in your first OTB Tnmt is like playing your first game of chess: you gotta start somewhere. If OTB doesn't work for you, you can always try correspondence or live chess online.
May 27, 2011
0
#25
Its very different from club to club, but i diffinitly think you should join, i pretty sure you will not lose all of your games.
Maby you could se the clubs website or something, to se their rating, bu I dont know how such things work in Canada, but here in Denmark you can just se the rating of every player on the official danish chess union site dsu.dk.
I played my first OTB tournement (2 hours each player each game, FIDE rated) when i was 10 years old, and i believe my level was about 1100.
Good luck with your first tournement!
WellRead wrote:
What you are secretly looking for here is encouragement because deep down you want to be loved. I hope you find what you are searching for. On this website, many are well wishers with good intentions. However, once you enter a full fledged USCF tournament, you'll become truly aware of what an inferior person you are and come to realize how inadequate your chess skills are. You'll be psychologically wounded for life. You asked a question: "am I strong enough?" No! N-O, you are not and you'll be destroyed if you do play. Don't waste what little money you have, or your time, assuming your time is worth at least something per hour. Take up tiddlywinks or watch TV, but chess is too complicated for you.
My final advice,
Haywood
You must be one of those no we "cannot" Republicans. You see gloom and dome eveywhere huh ? Poor fella 
there are no "inferior people" on this site or in this country. At least be man enough to apologize to the OP for those insulting comments and then 
THANK-YOU
not Republicans ,
You're going to have a lot of fun, OP.
You'll do well enough, I wager.
of course you should very few chess clubs will have all people over 1500 and even than youll improve. Im sure youll find someone who will give you a good match.
echecs06 wrote:
I agree with you, except for the Republicans part.. I don't think he is one, he is a clown.
you are correct !! I will apologize for dragging down the name of republicans with this guy , If you apologize for dragging down the name of clowns with this dude ! 
DEAL ?
WellRead/Haywood is having fun with us - I laughed along with his posts, which I am sure is why he posted them.
He is making fun of the fact that I am seeking encouragement by this thread, and giving me the opposite in order to bring my motives and thoughts into stark relief.
Either that, or he is simply being a clown ;)
Tactickle wrote:
My rating here is about 1450-1550 for "Online Chess"
In that case you'll probably end up winning the championship
Its amazing how there is some new random troll who just started posting on forums that comes every month or so...
I recommend everyone looks up WellRead's posts. They are guaranteed laughs.
But in all seriousness, Lord Haywood Snotnose IV is right. I think I will resign... permanently... startinggggg... NOW
*slips on ring and vanishes from eleventy-first birthday party
woodshover wrote:
Sure! How strong do you have to be to lift a chess piece?
Exactly
I'm sure you'll do fine. Just play. I play at Billerica Chess Club, though my Online Rating is just 1300s (though that may because my timeouts from before when I was busy).
heck yea friend, you will kick butt!!!!!!!!
uhohspaghettio wrote:
WellRead wrote:
I think is best to close the file people. The man has admitted playing in a chess tournament is beyond his capacity. He possesses keen wisdom, knowing there is virtually no upside in this affair with unlimited psychological and emotional downside. Should he read this final post, I shall offer to buy him dinner at Vij's; a magnificent and wondrous Indian restaurant in Vancouver, BC. Their entrees are exotic, esoteric and the ambiance could almost be said to be erotic, but certainly not in a vulgar or carnal manner. Vij's is a favorite of mine when I'm in British Columbia as I will be very soon and I would be happy to invite Tactilly to be my guest. I travel the world over and make it a point to fulfill my palatable appetite amongst the finest establishments. In conclusion, let's lay off the guy people. He's thrown in the towel so any future encouragement is both tasteless and destructive. At my urging, he has given up chess for good, and that is what is best for him.
Notably yours,
Haywood
Yes, if he played he would get beaten 10-0 and get looks of utter disgust, booed and spat at as he came out of the tournament.
His picture would appear in the papers the next day as the laughing stock of the state. He would be shunned and shamed, disowned by his family and friends, he might even face court charges of harassment of other chess players who were only trying to play a nice game of chess when he came along with his 11. Bd5??, and get thrown into prison.
That is the worst case scenario but suppose he WINS the dang tournament ! He comes back like some chess god talking down to us like we were patzers !! 
May 29, 2011
0
#38
To the original Poster, I have taken the time to go over your live games, that is the best way to evaluate your abilities in chess, although not conclusive because of the time limited, in real OTB games you will be afforded more time. You are closer to a 1100-1250 chess player and and most likely you will be matched up with other players in your category. If there are no players in your class, ( which is very unlikely), there are alot of people at your present rating that still enjoy the game and will play all there life like myself, but if you end up playing much higher rated players, you will meet people that do not take pleasure in winning over lower ranked players, and most likely you will make friends with them and they will offer to get together with you and help improve your live games! Most chess player are great people to meet and you can take that comment to the Bank!!
For Welreader: You are funny, I hope they do not get kicked you off the site because I never laugh so much when I read your comments You are a good writer BTW). I will no longer watch comedy TV when in the mood for a laugh, I will check into Cheese.com and see if you made any post, I would like to add you as my friend's list so I will know when you are on line!!! lolololo
experience preceeds results
My first tourni I got sick simply because of mental exhaustion , tension , etc etc
the same happend in exiting team match in the first year of the club where I play.
8 v 8 , I was playing at board nr 7 , everyone was done playing , only me and my opponent left, 5 hours of tense play , it was a draw. when we looked up from the board it appeared we had quite an audience , even some press photographers. I slept through the entire sunday after that match, wondering on monday morning where my weekend went off to .
these kinds of war-stories are the start of tournament / competition play regardless of result and especially regardless of wheter one thinks he might not be good/strong enough
I'm looking forward to finishing dead last in my first tournament when i get around to playing in it. I'm sure my family will make it through without too much damage.
Really though... why be nervous? Either they laugh along with my ineptitude or they act like superior jerks who insult weak players, and I kind of like upsetting jerks. If I wind up against some 2100ish lunkhead who likes belittling people I'll just throw a little sodium attack his way and sing the Barney song while I decide on my moves. His head explodes, 1-0.
Nah... I'll do my best and ignore him.
Thanks for all the replies9 - I read all of them and took the advice to herat.
I'm not playing to win a tournament, but I would like to at least give decent games to the opponenets. The reason I'm playing is to learn and challenge myself, and I can see that OTB play will be great for that. I'm going to go to the local club next week, and play in at least one tourney this summer.
Also, I know that my children take chess (and tournaments) much more seriously when they see that Daddy does too ;)