Your First OTB Tournament: What to Expect & What to Bring
Playing chess online is comfortable. You are in your chair, with coffee, and 2D pieces. Walking into a tournament hall with 200 silent players, ticking clocks, and 3D pieces can be terrifying. This guide will help you navigate your first "Real Life" event.
1. What to Bring
Unlike online chess, the server doesn't provide everything. In many local USCF or FIDE events, you are expected to bring your own gear:
- Standard Staunton Set: Regulation size (3.75" King height is standard). Vinyl roll-up boards are the most common.
- Digital Clock: Capable of "Increment" or "Delay."
- Pen/Pencil: For recording moves. Bring two (one will break).
- Snacks/Water: Classical games last 4-5 hours. You will get hungry.
2. The Pre-Game Ritual
- Find your Board: Check the "Pairings Sheet" on the wall (or online link) to find your Board Number and Color.
- Set Up: If you are Black, you might need to provide the clock. If you are White, you provide the set (usually).
- The Handshake: When the Tournament Director (TD) says "Start your clocks," shake hands with your opponent and wish them a good game.
- Silence: Do not talk. If you have a dispute, pause the clock and raise your hand for the Arbiter.
3. 2D vs. 3D Vision
The biggest shock for online players is "Board Blindness."
3D pieces block each other. A Bishop might be "hiding" behind a tall King.
Tip: Before the tournament, spend a week playing or analyzing on a real physical board to adjust your eyes.
4. The Post-Game: The Analysis Room
This is the best part of OTB chess. After the game, players usually go to a separate "Skittles Room" (Analysis Room). Regardless of who won, you sit down and go over the game together. "What if I went here? Oh, then I saw this..." This social learning is invaluable and builds the community spirit missing from anonymous online play.