Taking your love and talent for chess and competing in chess tournaments is an excellent way to test your mettle, meet others who love what you do, and of course, win some money while you are at it. If you are new to the field or are just starting out after being inspired by the beautifully done “Queen’s Gambit” don’t worry because there is more than enough room for every chess-lover.
Competing can help strengthen your skills. It also means you can become part of a thriving community, so if you are interested in getting started, follow this guide to help you prepare for your first chess tournament:
Finding Chess Tournaments
There are many ways to join a chess tournament today. You can start online on Chess.com, for example, and play against others with just a few clicks on your computer and a strong internet connection. In other cases, you can join locally or join the open or low-level sections at a tournament (until you are ranked, in which case you can register for more lucrative competitions).
Funding Chess Tournaments
If you are looking at going to a live chess tournament, know that there are going to be costs involved. If you win, these costs will hopefully be covered, but always be prepared to lose out. You have transportation costs, hotel costs, food costs, etc. Local club tournaments are easier to start out with, as you can register and pay your fee when you attend. Larger tournaments have more options, including open sections where anyone can play. Budget how much they cost and try to work it out in advance. If you need more money to go to your first big tournament, you could consider taking out a small loan to cover your costs. It will allow you to pay it off gradually and not break the bank if you don’t win, and it can be paid back quickly if you do.
Preparing for Your Chess Tournament
Now that you have a tournament in mind, you need to practice.
- Practice, Practice, Practice
A great way to do this is to find a chess partner or by joining your local chess club, particularly of players at the same skill level as you. This will help teach you a lot of things, from how to play to different tactics to, of course, actually competing in a game.
There are also books and many forums online that you can get involved in. They are invaluable sources of information and can teach you a lot of different plays and strategies that can help you win in your tournament.
- Get in Shape
You want your brain to be fast and ready, and for that, you need to be as healthy as possible. It’s not something many chess players think about, but there is a huge difference between a brain that is physically struggling and one that is healthy and razor-sharp. Try to get enough sleep, eat well, and always try to exercise and do other circulation-boosting activities to keep blood and oxygen flowing through your brain.
- Analyse Past Tournaments
Practice can do wonders, but overall the last bit of advice that will really help you prepare for your chess tournament is to watch, analyse and understand what happened in past tournaments. You can learn a lot from just watching and reviewing past mistakes.
