First time at a Chess Club

Tonight will be the first time I visit a chess club. I'm 43 years old, and have played a few times in Central Park & Washington Square Park in NYC, played casually with friends here and there (and found very few interested in playing), and online from time to time.

I finally decided that I like the game too much to be so passive about it.

How old were you on your first visit to a chess club?

How did things go for you?

Do you attend weekly, monthly, or sporadically?

Any advice for a first timer?

Hi HiggsBoson,

My first trip to a chess club I was 19 years old.  I have visited many and find the norm is to meet once a week. 

My advice for a first time visit would be to ask who the best player is and go challange him to a game.  Lose badly, then start weeping, flailing your extremeties, and generally throwing a very bad tantrum.  No one in the club will ever dare beat you again.

Watch your backrank.

I play twice a week with some friends in a local restaurant. It's kind of like an informal club, but still really fun. Most of the time random people will stop and watch for a few minutes.

Advice? I dunno, maybe leave the ego in the car. :)

Hi Higgs.

I'm 28 and have never played in any type of real-life club so I won't be of much help to you, but I'm thinking of possibly joining one some time next year.  Let us know how it goes for you, I'm sure it'll be fun.

I didn't know greatness came so easily!

Well, I was 13 when I started going to a club, and I've been hooked ever since!

First went to the local club when I had just turned 17.  I go every week.  You'll quickly figure out who knows how to play chess and who is a total joke :P (lots of people go to clubs and play the same thing over and over again, never learning a thing).

... If you are improving quickly, regardless of your level, you'll get a lot of respect pretty quick.

I think you have to go there, find the biggest baddest best chess player you can find, and beat him up right away.  Literally.  Then after that, no one will ever mess with you.  Oh wait...  no thats what you have to do in prison...

I understand that there will be ladder play. How does that work? How do they determine where I will be in the ladder? I suppose I start by being matched up with the person at the bottom?

ladder play is basically a list of players in an order of best to worst. to go up the ladder, you can challenge someone above you (normally between 1 and 5 places) and if you beat them, you move up to their position and they move down to yours. all challenges must be accepted and you begin at the bottom of the ladder.

in terms of chess clubs, i have never been to one :P. i am entering my first OTB tournament a week on saturday, so that will be a new experience for me (especially using chess clocks ;) ). good luck with your first time at the chess club, im sure it will be great!

A technique approved by everyone from bobby fischer to Angelina Jolie.  I joined my first chess club in high school and it. was. awesome.  Picture a bunch of crazy guys playing chess.

Thanks, good luck in the tourney! I've never used a chess clock either. I hope I don't make a move and forget to hit the clock. What happens in a tournament if you do that? I guess your opponent gets to play on your time.

my first league game for my club i forgot to hit the clock.

Did'nt notice for five minutes or so. My opponent did'nt say anything cause he did'nt need to....if he wanted he could have sat there until my time ran out and won the game...

Everyone forgets once or twice . just try and remember to hit that clock !

i had better not forget :/, but i am more scared about the touch move rule...

i normally play online chess were i make a move, see it is a blunder, press cancel, and try a new move. OTB i will have to do that in my head and make sure i dont touch a piece before i am sure which move i will make :P

If your opponent's anything like most of the folk round here he'll press the clock for you the first couple of times. Better to introduce himself to the new member as one of the good guys rather than as the shark who won the point because the newcomer was unfamiliar with the clock. Enjoy your new club. My advice is just to go in pleasant and ready to accept or buy the drinks. Your level of chess will speak for itself.

When I went to my chess club for the first time, I barely knew how to play chess.  I first played a 1900 player.  I was absolutely astounded because all of his pieces were defended.  It was very strange for me. :P

Welcome into the world of real OTB chess. My advice : enjoy !