1) The "never played before" rating is 1200. If you lose a few early, youll drop to 1000 or under. If you win a few youll be 1300 in no time. But how many players were there under 1300? Most tournaments, this number is low unless it is for children. You might have 10 people from 500 to 1300 out of 100, 200+ players. They put you all in one category. Its rough to play a 1400 whos been having a bad month and gets dropped down there, or an established 1350, but it is what it is. Its normal to have a very fat bracket that spans a fairly wide skill level at the lowest category.
2) Pawns and kings vary from simple to complex. Practice them against a computer until you can win them. There are patterns and principles but practice is what makes perfect on those.
I played in an OTB chess tournament yesterday, my first one in over a year, and two things seemed odd to me.
1) I have a very low rating – 845 – and the first person they paired me with was 1223. That seemed high since there were several opponents between 900 and 1000. I actually got lucky and beat him. I pinned his queen to his king with a rook and after that he just seemed to give up. The next opponent was a 1352. Really?! Okay, I know I beat the 1223 but that still seems excessive. He beat me but I feel I put up a good fight. Then they paired me with a 1290. Again, why? He beat me handily but again I think I put up a good fight. The last one was an 864. That felt better. I beat him but just barely. He actually had me beat but blundered away a rook. That turned the tide.
2) Everybody, without fail, used the Ruy Lopez opening. That just seemed weird to me. Fortunately, it is my favorite opening and I have studied/practiced it a lot.
One thing I did realize is that I SUCK at endgames. Both the games I lost came down to endgames with just kings and pawns. I blew it royally. Considering I have focused my study to 90% tactics and 10% openings this really shouldn’t surprise me. I need to study endgames. I have the Jeremy Silmans book “Complete Endgame Course” which I have not studied much but will be doing so soon.
Questions-
WHY are they pairing me with opponents that are rated so much higher than me?
Any other suggestions on endgame study?