How much time are you given per game at a tournament?

I've never been to a tourney( or a chess club, for that matter.) so I would like to satisfy my curiousity, but I plan to when my live rating gets comfortably within the 1500s. I would like to know about everywhere, but England mostly.

For League games in England it's an hour and a quarter for 30 moves and then 15 minutes gets added on for the rest of the game, which I think is shorter than it used to be. For tournaments I guess it would depend. I've only ever been to two, and I can remember the controls for the last one were an hour and a half for 36 moves and then 15 minutes added on.

Btw, if you're really interested in accelerating your development as quickly as possible I recommend you don't wait. You have to take more than a few ego hits as an improving chess player anyway...  

nuclearturkey: where I live down south, there are varying rules for what happens at the 30 move mark, depending on which division you're in.

In the 1st division, preference is given to playing on, so if one says play on and one says finish, the game gets adjourned. Whereas in the 3rd division (not so sure about the 2nd) the reverse is true - the game would be finished on the night.

Tournament controls can vary as you mention - I think you're about right with 1.5hr for 36, maybe 1hr 40mins. I think usually the time added on is more like 20 minutes or 30 minutes though - depending on whether 4 hours or 3.5 hours is allotted for the game.

I also totally agree about 'getting in there'. There will always be players worse and better than you; getting to a presupposed level is pointless. I really suggest you (tarikhk) wiggle your butt down to your local club at least.

Blimey ! things have changed ! we used to play 1 hr 45 mins for first 42 moves !

Old git :P

that'd be me

40 moves in 2 hours each were all I played as a youth.... after 40 moves the game was usually adjourned, continued at a later time/date with the time control of 20 moves in 1 hour each upon resumption. The home computer killed the adjournment, good job too, they were a proper pain in the backside.

I am also within the 1500's range but i have never been to a tournament because i'm afraid that i get stressed and lose some games i should win.

I remember those days myself..... back in the 70s and there were even adjournments too ! I have only had 2 adjourned games in my life though and drew both of them. One was in the city championship of Schweinfurt Germany and the other was in an Open swiss in TN.  I miss the 40/90 events but am glad adjournments are gone. I dont mind a secondary time control that is sudden death but dont like G/2 or G/90 time controls.....

The 2 most popular fide time controls now seem to be G/90 but with 30 sec increments from omve 1  and G/2h  , no increment.