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 equipmentLocal clubs vs. major eventsRatings & pairing systemsTips & tricks while playingShould you play speed chess between rounds?Things that will annoy the tournament directorRules you may not be familiar with but should knowOpenings and using a "forever" repertoireScorekeepingDealing with disruptive behaviorReferenced: 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 [email protected]. Our links: WebsiteTwitterYouTubeFacebookE-mail: [email protected]