?? Tournaments and vote chess??

OK how do you play in a tournament?

go to the page for them (like hover over "my home" click on tournaments, and then browse through up coming tournaments and check 'em out).

Then join one you want. 

A word of warning, a tournament here or there can turn into an overwhelming # of games.  Some people dig an overwhelming # of games, some don't.  I'm currently in way over my head and it might only get worse for me with regard to # of games. 

If you are not a member of chess.com...you are only allowed one tournament....

I looked at the pages but Im still feeling like I dont understand. 

You pick a tournament and then they tell you when it will start?

You can pick a rating you would like to play in but you may not play at that rating level?

Yeah, you wait for the games to start, I think it is just waiting for the board(s) to be filled. 

some tournaments have rating limits. look for one thats open or at your level. 

they sometimes will abort the game before the tournament starts if the quota of player are not met...there are rating rules for example <1500 means anybody with a rating of 1500 or LESS are welcome to join...>1500 or MORE is welcome to join...This would give an even chance for everbody winning within their group ratings...

I read a post that said if there were not enough players that u might be matched with a stronger player?

definitely. why i suggest looking for one in your range. games will be more competitive and youll probably have more fun

if there are not enough players in the tournament you choose...you will not be bumped into another tournament whether they are strong players or not...It would be an unfair advantage having the strong play the weak...

if she gets in one for <1500 shes already doomed. look for one <1200 at the least

WEAK !!!    less experienced but still charming players  right

or you might want to play agaisnt stronger players to become strong yourself...that is how I became better from playing agaisnt only the good players..but Kevin is right...play within your rating range and have fun...

I am a diamond member and you are not a member so if and when you are please give me the credit for saying Frank you need to join ! lol

you do not have to join a group if you are focusing on playing in tournaments only...there are so many tournaments going on now that you can pick and choose whatever fits your playing ability...groups are good to join for other activities besides being invited to other tourneys there is the forum section where you can discuss just about anything with your fellow group members...

I do belong to some groups but I dont do tournament5s because I didnt understand exactly how to join or what the expectation was...

Well, Ms.Jean is  diamond, so it doesn't matter for her. A tournament is basically exactly like a regular game, though I think you're more likely to play people rated much higher than you (given it's an Open tournament) than normally. Still, it's really nothing to worry about. Just play. It's basically a bunch of online chess games in a package (as long as it's not OTB). There's really no expectations, as upsets (when a lower rated player beats a higher one) are common and losses are natural in chess.

im gonna try lol

it is like riding a bike or having sex...at first you are not sure but once you ride and play it becomes understandable and fun...we need more female players in these tournaments for balance...they are just as intelligent or more so as their male counterpart...