How often to play chess USCF tournaments

If you want to improve your skills you can play longer time controls to simulate tourney play.  I can't give an opinion on tourneys, as I have only ever been to 2, and there are not frequent tourneys where I live like you.

Everyone learns differently, so it could take you longer or quicker to improve than a friend.

seryesly dude? maybe i need to block you.

uh wtf dude wdym this is advice from great players like robert shylatenko

Ignore the troll a couple posts above. I'd say the vast majority of your game results are decided before the game is even played, for Rapid and classical at least. It is similar to sports - they always taught us that games are won and lost in pre-season and in practice. How much effort we put in before the match is going to have a big impact on our result. 

Sure playing games might help us improve but really the games are just a way to practice the maneuvers and thought-processes that we learn during practice. 

How often you want to play is up to you really. In terms of improvement I think anywhere from 1-4 tournaments a year would be adequate. 

For myself I've found that if I play a lot of tournaments in a row, and then take several months to identify my fundamental weaknesses and work on those - practice tactics, read about middle games and endgames - I improve way more versus just endlessly playing games. 

Ignore the troll a couple posts above. I'd say the vast majority of your game results are decided before the game is even played, for Rapid and classical at least. It is similar to sports - they always taught us that games are won and lost in pre-season and in practice. How much effort we put in before the match is going to have a big impact on our result. 

Sure playing games might help us improve but really the games are just a way to practice the maneuvers and thought-processes that we learn during practice. 

How often you want to play is up to you really. In terms of improvement I think anywhere from 1-4 tournaments a year would be adequate. 

For myself I've found that if I play a lot of tournaments in a row, and then take several months to identify my fundamental weaknesses and work on those - practice tactics, read about middle games and endgames - I improve way more versus just endlessly playing games. 

there arent 3 tournaments per week

i recomend that you play in a chess club once every week and for the big open tournaments that have the massive prize funds 2 every month shall suffice