How to prep now, as a beginner for a Senior Chess Tournament in 3 years?

Hi Everyone, 

I got a late start in chess, never really knowing anyone who played it seriously. However, I've gotten the bug bad, despite being far older than all these 20 somethings we seem to see on these interwebs sites. 

However, I am so thrilled to have learned that there are tournaments JUST for seniors!...and it got me thinking....I don't stand a chance against all these young whippersnappers, but I'm 47 years old now, and have a beginners rating of around 1300 (on chess.com only). My question for the forum is: how high of a ranking can I realistically hope to achieve 3 years from now, when I'll be old enough to qualify to play in a Senior tournament, and what path should I take to get there? I work a full time (40+ hours per week) job, but generally have nights and weekends free.

Any advice or reality checking for this aspiring Senior Chess Club Player who got a late start in chess? 

Thank you!

In 3 years if you continue play and study chess quite frequently, by the end of 3 years period your should expect your rating to be somewhere 1650- 1750. In other words you will be strong B category player. 

Each year read 5 chess books and play morr games. Try to use a chess board all the time = study time not on a computer but chess board, online games not on a screen but real chess board .

Studying and Playing is 2/3 of the equation, you also need to learn from your mistakes. A coach can help you find mistakes in your play, whether it's time management, wrong thought process, bad plans etc. 1800 in 3 years is achievable.

My gratitude goes out to you for insightful answers! Thank you! It is nice to know that there is hope, and I am eager to be competitive someday....even in my "Golden Years"! 
I was mostly just curious to see if I could become competitive (raising my rating by about 300-500 points in my lifetime), so thank you again!

If you have any book recommendations, I will gratefully take them!

So far, I have acquired: Lasker's Manual of Chess, Gary Kasparov's "My Great Predecessors" (Vol. 1), "The Amateur's Mind" and "How to Reassess Your Chess" both by Jeremey Sillman, and finally, of course, I have "Fundamental Chess Openings" by Paul van der Sterren, and "Modern Chess Openings" by Nick de Firmian. It would be amazing if the two of you (or anyone else) can agree on any of the many chess books available...!

Either way, I hope you both have a wonderful day. Thank you, again!

Your chess books of choice is rubbish(no offense).

First of all throw away all the books on openings, you won't need them. Under 2300Elo rating you can play ANY openings as long as you have strong tactics, good positional understanding and few other non so important things.

All the books you need is on middlegames and endgames.

Take my advice and buy this particular books( and read them of course , you won't regret.

First middlegame: best of the best of course: 

1. Aron Nimzowitsch - my system

2.Max Euwe - strategy and tactics in chess

Endgame : 

1. Mikhail Shereshevsky - Endgame strategy 

2. Sillman's - Complete endgame course 

3. Paul Keres- practical chess endings

If you study JUST this 5 books in 3 years time period( preferably twice each book ) and play some chess of course I guarantee you will be an A class player by the end of 3 years 1800 - 1900rating. 

Dear DeirdeSky, DanisTheMan and ESP-918, 

I can't thank you enough for all of your thoughtful answers, guidance and insight. You have all inspired me to do my best to get to a point where I can qualify for a Senior Tournament. Looks like we have a local Senior Chess Championship here every year I can aspire to compete in. I'm also a member of the San Francisco Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room where I can get some good long games in. 

Thank you also for the great book recommendations. I'm surprised to hear that ESP-918 felt that even My Great Predecessors was rubbish. I'm enjoying that book quite a bit, out of all of them...although I am also enjoying Lasker's Chess Manual. 

Regardlessly, I will seek out the books you have all recommended and set my self on a rigid study schedule. I'll check back in here in a three months to let you know how things are going! 

Again, your generosity of time has been quite a delightful surprise, and I hope you get the same kindness and generosity from others as you have shown me. 

All the best, 

~Yo'el

 If you wanted books to enjoy then continue reading yours if you want books to improve then 5 books I already recommended to you.

ESP-916  Point taken!