Answers.Body: <blockquote>
    <p>Would it be a good idea for me to enter a tournament with an entry
    fee?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Absolutely! Playing over-the-board chess tournaments is a lot of fun. There is social interaction which is almost completely absent in online play and it will be good for you to compare your level of play with other players in "real" chess. You can also learn a lot in post-game discussions with your opponents.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>in the hopes of winning prize money?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>"Hope" is good. </p>
  
  <p>"Expectation" could be misplaced. I'm afraid there is a word which comes up in the chess world - "sandbagging". If there are sandbaggers in the tournament you enter then you won't win money. You hope you pick a tournament with none of these players and you might be in with a chance. </p>
  
  <p>An example of something which looks suspiciously like this activity is available <a href="https://ratings.fide.com/individual_calculations.phtml?idnumber=1250043&amp;rating_period=2017-11-01&amp;t=0" rel="noreferrer">here</a>. In one month the player gained 72 rating points by scoring 5.5/7 against players with an average rating of 1947 in a tournament with generous prize money and also managed to lose 91 rating points in another tournament by losing 5 games in a row against players with an average rating below 1385 (3 players had ratings more than 400 points below the player's rating and so their ratings were rounded up to be just 400 points below).</p>
  
  <p>Juniors or very young players are also a (more legitimate) danger to your hopes of winning money. The problem there is that they are often improving very rapidly and their rating lags a long way behind their playing level.</p>
  
  <p>Thirdly, you are unrated yourself. Many tournaments which have rating limits (you must be below a certain level to enter) will allow you to enter but not win a prize.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-28T12:01:47.507Z
Answers.Text: This is sometimes called "smurfing" in chess-unrelated online gaming (it's easier there because you can just create a new account, you don't have to tank your own rating). Fascinating to learn that chess has a similar problem.
Answers.UserDisplayName: xLeitix
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-30T20:24:28.287Z
Answers.Text: So just to get this straight, "sandbagging" is when someone purposely loses to keep their rating low in order to still be allowed into lower ranking-limited tournaments and secure a win, rather than risk competing in tournaments of their own raking level?
Answers.UserDisplayName: bpromas
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-03T14:19:24.543Z
Answers.Text: Yep. In a nutshell, sandbaggers lose several games deliberately to lower their rating, so they can enter the "under xxx" section of a tournament and win money. It came into being shortly after the advent of the large class prize tournaments. USCF has tried many things, from "lifetime titles" to rating floors to reduce this practice, but it still happens. The only thing sure to eliminate it is to reduce/eliminate cash class prizes (which is never going to happen, the toothpaste escaped that particular tube in the 60's and it's not going back in).
Answers.UserDisplayName: Arlen
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-26T10:06:15.687Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-11-26T10:06:15.687Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Answers.Body: <p>You should play because you want to play, not for the money.</p>
  
  <p>At 1900, you might win some money here or there, but it will not be a lot, and will likely only offset your costs just a little as you are much more likely to spend more on entry fees, books, online subscriptions, etc. There is a lot of competition at any level, so you may win some money sometimes, and not other times. Also, be aware that 1900 online is not usually close to 1900 in over-the-board play, and may be off by 200 points, or more.</p>
  
  <p>It also takes a while to get used to playing in tournaments, and that experience cannot be discounted. When I first started playing, the stress before each game would get me sick. Over time, I overcame that, but that is one example, and it is something that you need to get over with experience.</p>
  
  <p>As far as not knowing theory, you are talking to someone, who hates theory. I got to 2298 knowing very little except how to play opening pawn structures. Understanding what you should be trying to achieve is more important than knowing exact moves that you do not understand, especially when your opponent is not going to follow book for 30 moves. </p>
  
  <p>Learning about opening pawn structures, and the pawn breaks associated with them, can be learned in the following books:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>“<em>Complete Chess Strategy</em>” volumes 1,2 and 3 by Ludek Pachman. (This teaches about many basic plans, and what you are striving for with your pieces and pawns, especially. THIS is what made me a master.)</li>
  <li>“<em>Pawn Structure Chess</em>” by Andy Soltis. (This extends the above to specific opening structures.)</li>
  <li>“<em>Chess Structures: A Grandmaster Guide</em>” by Mauricio Flores Rios (This is an extension of “Pawn Structure Chess”, and is deeper, and covers more structures. It is outstanding especially if you have already covered “<em>Complete Chess Strategy</em>”.)</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p><a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/26906/opening-moves-pawn-chains-and-countering-attacks/26910#26910">Here is a good link with some basics.</a></p>
  
  <p>In any case, good luck with your first tournament.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-26T16:43:15.963Z
Answers.Text: To be frank, I wonder on price tournaments how important end game theory is, I played chess for almost two decades and I still haven't taken the time to learn the knight bishop end game. -- Anyone I know just resigns :P.
Answers.UserDisplayName: paul23
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-26T16:45:47.447Z
Answers.Text: @paul23 If you mean the B+N mate, I made an IM play it out against me. Unfortunately, I was immediately in one of the first nets, and he did it easily.
Answers.UserDisplayName: PhishMaster
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-31T15:40:59.767Z
Answers.Text: I made a 1900 play it out against me....the game ended drawn b/c he couldn't do it. I wasn't going to make him play the whole thing out, but I wanted to see him prove he knew what to do before I resigned; unfortunately, he very quickly proved he *didn't.*
Answers.UserDisplayName: Arlen
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-31T16:19:25.230Z
Answers.Text: @Arlen I have had to do it twice in 40 years...IN BLITZ! I did it both times.
Answers.UserDisplayName: PhishMaster
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-31T17:02:59.490Z
Answers.Text: I had it once OTB and won.  It is not that hard if you THINK and not just make moves.
Answers.UserDisplayName: yobamamama
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-26T11:41:38.123Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-28T11:44:42.320Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-12-28T11:44:42.320Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: PhishMaster
Answers.Body: <p>As a partial answer that I started as a comment to the (now-accepted) answer: Prepare yourself mentally that you may lose against somebody much weaker, purely due to the stress of the new.  When walking up to a tournament area --- whether game table, dojo, ring, field, or other, --- you find out how you deal with that stress... </p>
  
  <p>Just having to write down your moves on paper may fluster you, throwing off the rest of your composure &amp; then you start thinking about what the spectators and opponent is thinking, you don't lose focus so much as focus on the wrong things. And then maybe the second or third game, all falls in place; you still have almost the same adrenalin shot but you find it clears your head.  </p>
  
  <p>Or on the other hand, you may find yourself completely in your element, a natural at competing, beating superior but less stress-resistant opponents! </p>
  
  <p>But this in itself is a value to competing: learning how you deal with such stress, and then learning to better deal with it; the benefits of this clearly extend to other situations (inspections, management at work, courtroom appearances, ... ), and may inform you if you should search or avoid such situations. </p>
  
  <p>Your mileage may vary. But the tournament prize money is (beyond practical considerations like repaying fees and costs) irrelevant, 'peanuts' to the non-financial benefits in the various answers given.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-27T10:24:58.327Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-11-27T10:24:58.327Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user3445853
Answers.Body: <p>I was 18, and never played in a tournament so was unrated.  As a new player I could have played in a low division and won a prize.  I played in the open division and got to play against local champions.  Seeing how I did against the best was one of my primary goals.  I learned a lot.  </p>
  
  <p>What I didn't expect was an introduction to chess culture.  They way folks reviewed games, the nightly blitz battles, all those chess books was new to me.  The gathering around an interesting game. Have fun!</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-28T16:24:20.210Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-28T16:24:20.210Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Michael West
Answers.Body: <p>play because chess is fun. You will lose more money than you gain in chess unless you are very strong.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-04T16:25:04.770Z
Answers.Text: Unless you are a top GM invited to a tournament and paid expenses you will lose money in the long run no matter how strong  you are.   Tournament fees, hotels, travel, food, yada yada, will eat up a lot of your winnings unless you can play all the time and win all the time.  Most people can not win enough.
Answers.UserDisplayName: edwina oliver
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-28T10:57:24.980Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-11-28T10:57:24.980Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Hamish
Answers.Body: <p>What chess theory?  How much theory?</p>
  
  <p>Back when I started playing in tournaments there was very little material to help learn "theory".   What passed for theory was very basic information and simple problems.  Underpromoting to a horsie was the hardest I recall.  Good books on tactics would have helped but I did not have any of those. </p>
  
  <p>Later I found a copy of a book on openings which was interesting but not that useful except in postal chess. </p>
  
  <p>I am not sure how I developed my skills but it may have mostly just been by playing tournaments.  Some was reading anything I could find to help learn more principles which might be called theory.  I did find a book on endings which I devoured and that definitely helped. Openings were very basic and I used ability with tactics to get my way through them and usually get a better game. </p>
  
  <p>Anyway like @Edwina Oliver noted above, and others had similar sentiments,  you will not make money playing in tournaments.  It is a zero sum game. You make money by being so good that they pay you to show up and compete for prizes. </p>
  
  <p>I knew one kid who had won money in his first very small club tournament.  He then figured he would always be making money so he started playing in more tourneys.  The next one I saw he was complaining that he did not make anything at all because the prize for second/third had been split between two players tied for second  and he though since he was third in numerical scores  he should have gotten the third place money even though he was 4th in people scoring. There were only 3 prizes and about ten people in the event.</p>
  
  <p>Do you need theory to play and do well.  No.
  Will you need some theory to play better.  yes.
  And will you make money playing in tournaments.  Not until you are a tippy top GM.  GMs are a dime a dozen.  I see them playing in every medium sized tournament trying to make a living.  </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-28T16:15:20.997Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-28T16:15:20.997Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: yobamamama
Answers.Body: <p>If you've never played OTB tournaments, don't be misguided by your online rating. I had about 1700 online rating when I entered my first tournament: I was crushed losing to 1300 and even to 1100's. Tournament play is a different beast, with more time think expect a lot better quality play from the opposition than what you are used to seeing. Money or not, you should definitely play, it's totally amazing.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-28T20:59:38.580Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-28T20:59:38.580Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: postoronnim
Answers.Body: <p>No.  </p>
  
  <p>Entering tournaments to make money is a fools errand.   </p>
  
  <p>There is much cheating that occurs in them.  And plenty of us 1900 players  (real 1900 federation rated not the fake online ratings) also deviate from the book to befuddle those who only know the book and think that the book is always right.</p>
  
  <p>And since we do know theory and have good tactics too you will be surprised at  your results if you play actual rated 1900 players.  </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-04T11:51:16.833Z
Answers.Text: "There is much cheating that occurs in them" - source?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Annatar
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-04T14:11:48.330Z
Answers.Text: Lombardy cheated against me in the 4th round of the Eastern Open.  Later Chess Review had an article that he had been caught doing the same thing in NY.  He disappeared every move and went to the mens room.  In the stall he had books and notes he used.
Answers.UserDisplayName: edwina oliver
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-28T16:27:53.537Z
Answers.Text: And now with cell phones and electronics it is even easier.  Even if they confiscate phones at the playing site.  Just leave a burner in the rest room for use.  And plenty of smaller sites will allow people to keep their phones and even if not they let they use the only rest rooms that are outside the playing room.
Answers.UserDisplayName: yobamamama
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-03T15:09:32.650Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-03T15:09:32.650Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: edwina oliver
Answers.Body: <p>First of all, don't trust the online ratings. I've been rated by various digital arenas as much as 600 points more than my "real" rating. There's an inherent variability in rating systems, such that even two systems based on the exact same equations can come up with divergent ratings for the same player. (Elo, the man the international rating system is named for, described rating chessplayers as trying to measure the depth of a rapidly moving stream with a yardstick suspended from a Willow branch in the wind. There's too many variables to do it accurately.)</p>
  
  <p>That having been said, go ahead and play tournament chess. Opening theory is overrated when your opponents are rated under 2000, maybe even 2200. A good feel for the game will serve you better than a dozen opening books. I can't tell you how many times I've emerged from the opening with the worse game, only to win in the end. Go, play, and enjoy.</p>
  
  <p>Just be prepared for reality to give you a cold, hard, slap in the face. Decades ago, when I started playing in organized events, I discovered a completely new world. I'd won most every game I'd played up until that point; it took 4 tournaments to win my second game. Not saying this will happen to you, just warning you to be prepared to handle it if it does.</p>
  
  <p>But here's a definite advisory: the good tournament players will not be put off by deviations from opening theory; only the ones whose opening preparation consists solely of memorization. Bent Larsen once observed that a player that has memorized the moves will win more than one who hasn't, but the player who understands the position will win more than both of them. In any mid-size or larger, non-scholastic, tournament you will find a good proportion of those.</p>
  
  <p>Tactical strength is the foundation of chess; don't mistake it for the whole edifice.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-31T16:10:19.097Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-31T16:10:19.097Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Arlen
Answers.Body: <p>It could be very interesting, but you can expect your opponents to get a theoretical advantage out of the openings I would say anywhere from +0.8 to +2. However, at your current level, the individuals with whom you are playing against might not be able to keep that advantage all the way to the endgame or even the late middlegame. So I would say that if you have strong middlegame and endgame skills you can stabilize his/her advantage, but you have to of course expect inferior moves from the opponent.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-01T09:48:44.880Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-01-01T09:48:44.880Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: SubhanKhan
Answers.Body: <p>There is nothing wrong in entering a tournament if you have the time and if you can afford the entry fee.</p>
  
  <p>However, I think you should really consider your first tournament as a discovery experience and enjoy the pleasure of chess and the atmosphere of the tournament rather than worry at once about winning prize money.</p>
  
  <p>Whether you can win something depends a lot on the specifics of the tournament, the field, and of course your own level. I wouldn't put too much faith in online estimates of your strength: real-life chess is quite different. Playing your first tournament will actually give you a much better evaluation of where you stand vis-à-vis competition chess, and the experience will probably make you pretty stronger for your second one!</p>
  
  <p>In a typical Swiss-system open tournament, you won't get crushed in all your games: whether your 1900-elo online estimation translates to real-chess 1900, or 1700, or 1500, there are many players of every level entering such events, and there will almost certainly be some opponents that you can beat. Probably you will get crushed in a few games, but not throughout the tournament, and you will have your revenge in others.</p>
  
  <p>Some tournaments have prize money for unrated players. This may be a nice plus at the end, or a goal to aim for if your are well-placed before the last couple of games. But don't worry about it at the starting line, concentrate on your chessboard!</p>
  
  <p>Finally, studying chess, reading books or training is up to you. It certainly doesn't hurt to play over some grandmaster's games collection, for instance. In any case, don't overestimate the importance of opening theory: it does help, but you wouldn't be the first tournament player to reach decent results without delving into it. </p>
  
  <p>Welcome in the world of competitive chess and have a nice tournament!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-26T16:37:35.193Z
Answers.Text: Also, experience often trumps theory. I used to play chess quite avidly, but never really studied theory. Just by having experience growing up with chess you'll get into the 1700-1800 bracket; theory is just when you wish to reach your personal edge and get slightly over it.
Answers.UserDisplayName: paul23
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-27T13:50:40.857Z
Answers.Text: There may also be an advantage when playing against players who rely to much on remembering openings and their "proper" counters but who don't understand the why very much. I imagine that would get rarer on the higher ratings, though.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Gloweye
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-29T14:32:32.513Z
Answers.Text: @Gloweye Yes, it would get increasingly harder to reach higher rankings without understanding the game more fully.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Mast
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-11-26T07:58:24.360Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-03T07:11:26.843Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-12-03T07:11:26.843Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Evargalo
Body: <p>I have played chess since a very young age and my tactics are very developed in my opinion. However, I never bothered to read chess related books about opening or related theory. This often leads to interesting games as I don't follow well known openings which throws off my opponents. Would it be a good idea for me to enter a tournament with an entry fee in the hopes of winning prize money? Or would I get completely crushed by my opponents? I am roughly a 1900 ELO rated player - checked online.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-11-27T20:47:19.963Z
Comments.Text: There is no way you can know if you are a 1900 player *without* playing in tournaments -- the online evaluations are a sham IMO.  I think you have your expectations way too high.  But if you want to get exposed to theory just play over master, preferably grandmaster and better yet world champion games.  The book "Tal Botvinnik 1960" is a good place to start IMO.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dexygen
Tags: <theory><tournament>
Title: Chess Tournaments Without Studying Theory?
ThreadText: # Chess Tournaments Without Studying Theory?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-26)
  
  I have played chess since a very young age and my tactics are very developed in my opinion. However, I never bothered to read chess related books about opening or related theory. This often leads to interesting games as I don't follow well known openings which throws off my opponents. Would it be a good idea for me to enter a tournament with an entry fee in the hopes of winning prize money? Or would I get completely crushed by my opponents? I am roughly a 1900 ELO rated player - checked online.
  
  **Tags:** theory, tournament
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: There is no way you can know if you are a 1900 player *without* playing in tournaments -- the online evaluations are a sham IMO.  I think you have your expectations way too high.  But if you want to get exposed to theory just play over master, preferably grandmaster and better yet world champion games.  The book "Tal Botvinnik 1960" is a good place to start IMO.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 11 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_16 on 2019-11-26. Score: 34 | Accepted answer
  
  There is nothing wrong in entering a tournament if you have the time and if you can afford the entry fee.
  
  However, I think you should really consider your first tournament as a discovery experience and enjoy the pleasure of chess and the atmosphere of the tournament rather than worry at once about winning prize money.
  
  Whether you can win something depends a lot on the specifics of the tournament, the field, and of course your own level. I wouldn't put too much faith in online estimates of your strength: real-life chess is quite different. Playing your first tournament will actually give you a much better evaluation of where you stand vis-à-vis competition chess, and the experience will probably make you pretty stronger for your second one!
  
  In a typical Swiss-system open tournament, you won't get crushed in all your games: whether your 1900-elo online estimation translates to real-chess 1900, or 1700, or 1500, there are many players of every level entering such events, and there will almost certainly be some opponents that you can beat. Probably you will get crushed in a few games, but not throughout the tournament, and you will have your revenge in others.
  
  Some tournaments have prize money for unrated players. This may be a nice plus at the end, or a goal to aim for if your are well-placed before the last couple of games. But don't worry about it at the starting line, concentrate on your chessboard!
  
  Finally, studying chess, reading books or training is up to you. It certainly doesn't hurt to play over some grandmaster's games collection, for instance. In any case, don't overestimate the importance of opening theory: it does help, but you wouldn't be the first tournament player to reach decent results without delving into it.
  
  Welcome in the world of competitive chess and have a nice tournament!
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: Also, experience often trumps theory. I used to play chess quite avidly, but never really studied theory. Just by having experience growing up with chess you'll get into the 1700-1800 bracket; theory is just when you wish to reach your personal edge and get slightly over it.  
  > **username_17**: There may also be an advantage when playing against players who rely to much on remembering openings and their "proper" counters but who don't understand the why very much. I imagine that would get rarer on the higher ratings, though.  
  > **username_18**: @username_17 Yes, it would get increasingly harder to reach higher rankings without understanding the game more fully.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2019-11-26. Score: 16
  
  > Would it be a good idea for me to enter a tournament with an entry
  > fee?
  
  Absolutely! Playing over-the-board chess tournaments is a lot of fun. There is social interaction which is almost completely absent in online play and it will be good for you to compare your level of play with other players in "real" chess. You can also learn a lot in post-game discussions with your opponents.
  
  > in the hopes of winning prize money?
  
  "Hope" is good.
  
  "Expectation" could be misplaced. I'm afraid there is a word which comes up in the chess world - "sandbagging". If there are sandbaggers in the tournament you enter then you won't win money. You hope you pick a tournament with none of these players and you might be in with a chance.
  
  An example of something which looks suspiciously like this activity is available [here](https://ratings.fide.com/individual_calculations.phtml?idnumber=1250043&rating_period=2017-11-01&t=0). In one month the player gained 72 rating points by scoring 5.5/7 against players with an average rating of 1947 in a tournament with generous prize money and also managed to lose 91 rating points in another tournament by losing 5 games in a row against players with an average rating below 1385 (3 players had ratings more than 400 points below the player's rating and so their ratings were rounded up to be just 400 points below).
  
  Juniors or very young players are also a (more legitimate) danger to your hopes of winning money. The problem there is that they are often improving very rapidly and their rating lags a long way behind their playing level.
  
  Thirdly, you are unrated yourself. Many tournaments which have rating limits (you must be below a certain level to enter) will allow you to enter but not win a prize.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: This is sometimes called "smurfing" in chess-unrelated online gaming (it's easier there because you can just create a new account, you don't have to tank your own rating). Fascinating to learn that chess has a similar problem.  
  > **username_4**: So just to get this straight, "sandbagging" is when someone purposely loses to keep their rating low in order to still be allowed into lower ranking-limited tournaments and secure a win, rather than risk competing in tournaments of their own raking level?  
  > **username_5**: Yep. In a nutshell, sandbaggers lose several games deliberately to lower their rating, so they can enter the "under xxx" section of a tournament and win money. It came into being shortly after the advent of the large class prize tournaments. USCF has tried many things, from "lifetime titles" to rating floors to reduce this practice, but it still happens. The only thing sure to eliminate it is to reduce/eliminate cash class prizes (which is never going to happen, the toothpaste escaped that particular tube in the 60's and it's not going back in).  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2019-11-26. Score: 9
  
  You should play because you want to play, not for the money.
  
  At 1900, you might win some money here or there, but it will not be a lot, and will likely only offset your costs just a little as you are much more likely to spend more on entry fees, books, online subscriptions, etc. There is a lot of competition at any level, so you may win some money sometimes, and not other times. Also, be aware that 1900 online is not usually close to 1900 in over-the-board play, and may be off by 200 points, or more.
  
  It also takes a while to get used to playing in tournaments, and that experience cannot be discounted. When I first started playing, the stress before each game would get me sick. Over time, I overcame that, but that is one example, and it is something that you need to get over with experience.
  
  As far as not knowing theory, you are talking to someone, who hates theory. I got to 2298 knowing very little except how to play opening pawn structures. Understanding what you should be trying to achieve is more important than knowing exact moves that you do not understand, especially when your opponent is not going to follow book for 30 moves.
  
  Learning about opening pawn structures, and the pawn breaks associated with them, can be learned in the following books:
  
  1. “*Complete Chess Strategy*” volumes 1,2 and 3 by Ludek Pachman. (This teaches about many basic plans, and what you are striving for with your pieces and pawns, especially. THIS is what made me a master.)
  2. “*Pawn Structure Chess*” by Andy Soltis. (This extends the above to specific opening structures.)
  3. “*Chess Structures: A Grandmaster Guide*” by Mauricio Flores Rios (This is an extension of “Pawn Structure Chess”, and is deeper, and covers more structures. It is outstanding especially if you have already covered “*Complete Chess Strategy*”.)
  
  [Here is a good link with some basics.](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/26906/opening-moves-pawn-chains-and-countering-attacks/26910#26910)
  
  In any case, good luck with your first tournament.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: To be frank, I wonder on price tournaments how important end game theory is, I played chess for almost two decades and I still haven't taken the time to learn the knight bishop end game. -- Anyone I know just resigns :P.  
  > **username_6**: @username_7 If you mean the B+N mate, I made an IM play it out against me. Unfortunately, I was immediately in one of the first nets, and he did it easily.  
  > **username_5**: I made a 1900 play it out against me....the game ended drawn b/c he couldn't do it. I wasn't going to make him play the whole thing out, but I wanted to see him prove he knew what to do before I resigned; unfortunately, he very quickly proved he *didn't.*  
  > **username_6**: @username_5 I have had to do it twice in 40 years...IN BLITZ! I did it both times.  
  > **username_8**: I had it once OTB and won.  It is not that hard if you THINK and not just make moves.  
  
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  ### Answer by username_9 on 2019-11-27. Score: 5
  
  As a partial answer that I started as a comment to the (now-accepted) answer: Prepare yourself mentally that you may lose against somebody much weaker, purely due to the stress of the new. When walking up to a tournament area --- whether game table, dojo, ring, field, or other, --- you find out how you deal with that stress...
  
  Just having to write down your moves on paper may fluster you, throwing off the rest of your composure & then you start thinking about what the spectators and opponent is thinking, you don't lose focus so much as focus on the wrong things. And then maybe the second or third game, all falls in place; you still have almost the same adrenalin shot but you find it clears your head.
  
  Or on the other hand, you may find yourself completely in your element, a natural at competing, beating superior but less stress-resistant opponents!
  
  But this in itself is a value to competing: learning how you deal with such stress, and then learning to better deal with it; the benefits of this clearly extend to other situations (inspections, management at work, courtroom appearances, ... ), and may inform you if you should search or avoid such situations.
  
  Your mileage may vary. But the tournament prize money is (beyond practical considerations like repaying fees and costs) irrelevant, 'peanuts' to the non-financial benefits in the various answers given.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_10 on 2019-12-28. Score: 2
  
  I was 18, and never played in a tournament so was unrated. As a new player I could have played in a low division and won a prize. I played in the open division and got to play against local champions. Seeing how I did against the best was one of my primary goals. I learned a lot.
  
  What I didn't expect was an introduction to chess culture. They way folks reviewed games, the nightly blitz battles, all those chess books was new to me. The gathering around an interesting game. Have fun!
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_11 on 2019-11-28. Score: 2
  
  play because chess is fun. You will lose more money than you gain in chess unless you are very strong.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_12**: Unless you are a top GM invited to a tournament and paid expenses you will lose money in the long run no matter how strong  you are.   Tournament fees, hotels, travel, food, yada yada, will eat up a lot of your winnings unless you can play all the time and win all the time.  Most people can not win enough.  
  
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  ### Answer by username_8 on 2019-12-28. Score: 2
  
  What chess theory? How much theory?
  
  Back when I started playing in tournaments there was very little material to help learn "theory". What passed for theory was very basic information and simple problems. Underpromoting to a horsie was the hardest I recall. Good books on tactics would have helped but I did not have any of those.
  
  Later I found a copy of a book on openings which was interesting but not that useful except in postal chess.
  
  I am not sure how I developed my skills but it may have mostly just been by playing tournaments. Some was reading anything I could find to help learn more principles which might be called theory. I did find a book on endings which I devoured and that definitely helped. Openings were very basic and I used ability with tactics to get my way through them and usually get a better game.
  
  Anyway like @username_12 noted above, and others had similar sentiments, you will not make money playing in tournaments. It is a zero sum game. You make money by being so good that they pay you to show up and compete for prizes.
  
  I knew one kid who had won money in his first very small club tournament. He then figured he would always be making money so he started playing in more tourneys. The next one I saw he was complaining that he did not make anything at all because the prize for second/third had been split between two players tied for second and he though since he was third in numerical scores he should have gotten the third place money even though he was 4th in people scoring. There were only 3 prizes and about ten people in the event.
  
  Do you need theory to play and do well. No.
  Will you need some theory to play better. yes.
  And will you make money playing in tournaments. Not until you are a tippy top GM. GMs are a dime a dozen. I see them playing in every medium sized tournament trying to make a living.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_13 on 2019-12-28. Score: 2
  
  If you've never played OTB tournaments, don't be misguided by your online rating. I had about 1700 online rating when I entered my first tournament: I was crushed losing to 1300 and even to 1100's. Tournament play is a different beast, with more time think expect a lot better quality play from the opposition than what you are used to seeing. Money or not, you should definitely play, it's totally amazing.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_12 on 2019-12-03. Score: 2
  
  No.
  
  Entering tournaments to make money is a fools errand.
  
  There is much cheating that occurs in them. And plenty of us 1900 players (real 1900 federation rated not the fake online ratings) also deviate from the book to befuddle those who only know the book and think that the book is always right.
  
  And since we do know theory and have good tactics too you will be surprised at your results if you play actual rated 1900 players.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_14**: "There is much cheating that occurs in them" - source?  
  > **username_12**: Lombardy cheated against me in the 4th round of the Eastern Open.  Later Chess Review had an article that he had been caught doing the same thing in NY.  He disappeared every move and went to the mens room.  In the stall he had books and notes he used.  
  > **username_8**: And now with cell phones and electronics it is even easier.  Even if they confiscate phones at the playing site.  Just leave a burner in the rest room for use.  And plenty of smaller sites will allow people to keep their phones and even if not they let they use the only rest rooms that are outside the playing room.  
  
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  ### Answer by username_5 on 2019-12-31. Score: 1
  
  First of all, don't trust the online ratings. I've been rated by various digital arenas as much as 600 points more than my "real" rating. There's an inherent variability in rating systems, such that even two systems based on the exact same equations can come up with divergent ratings for the same player. (Elo, the man the international rating system is named for, described rating chessplayers as trying to measure the depth of a rapidly moving stream with a yardstick suspended from a Willow branch in the wind. There's too many variables to do it accurately.)
  
  That having been said, go ahead and play tournament chess. Opening theory is overrated when your opponents are rated under 2000, maybe even 2200. A good feel for the game will serve you better than a dozen opening books. I can't tell you how many times I've emerged from the opening with the worse game, only to win in the end. Go, play, and enjoy.
  
  Just be prepared for reality to give you a cold, hard, slap in the face. Decades ago, when I started playing in organized events, I discovered a completely new world. I'd won most every game I'd played up until that point; it took 4 tournaments to win my second game. Not saying this will happen to you, just warning you to be prepared to handle it if it does.
  
  But here's a definite advisory: the good tournament players will not be put off by deviations from opening theory; only the ones whose opening preparation consists solely of memorization. Bent Larsen once observed that a player that has memorized the moves will win more than one who hasn't, but the player who understands the position will win more than both of them. In any mid-size or larger, non-scholastic, tournament you will find a good proportion of those.
  
  Tactical strength is the foundation of chess; don't mistake it for the whole edifice.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_15 on 2020-01-01. Score: 0
  
  It could be very interesting, but you can expect your opponents to get a theoretical advantage out of the openings I would say anywhere from +0.8 to +2. However, at your current level, the individuals with whom you are playing against might not be able to keep that advantage all the way to the endgame or even the late middlegame. So I would say that if you have strong middlegame and endgame skills you can stabilize his/her advantage, but you have to of course expect inferior moves from the opponent.
  
  
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