Live, over-the-board (OTB) tournament play is the ultimate in chess competition. It's fun, exciting, and aesthetically pleasing. However, rated chess events are not always unicorns and rainbows. There's a harsh reality to tournament play that is often omitted from the discourse on chess. Neal discusses some hard truths about tournaments, shares some of his own personal journey as a player and TD, and provides some tips and tricks along the way. Some of this episode's talking points include the following:

Chess equipment
Local clubs vs. major events
Ratings & pairing systems
Tips & tricks while playing
Should you play speed chess between rounds?
Things that will annoy the tournament director
Rules you may not be familiar with but should know
Openings and using a "forever" repertoire
Scorekeeping
Dealing with disruptive behavior

Referenced: Tournament Announcement Terminology (Scroll down to "TOURNAMENT LIFE ABBREVIATIONS & TERMS") If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. Our links:

Ep. 65: Your First Chess Tournament - Tips & Tricks