Bring clocks to tournaments?

I'm thinking about attending the 51st Maryland Open as my first "real" OTB chess tournament.

The website says:

"Sets and Boards will be provided for all sections.

Clocks will be provided in the Open section"

Does this mean that I have to buy a chess clock to go to the tournament? Are there any guidelines I should follow when getting a clock?

Also, as this is my first real OTB chess venture- are there any special things I should know about OTB chess? Things like the touch move rule?

So you are not in the "open" section? this sounds very odd if you've never been to a tournament before.

Some places provide clocks (to prevent tampering) while others require that players bring their own clocks (due to monetary constraints).

ivandh, often unrateds can play in other sections but only for reduced prizes.

Because it's your first tournament, I would say you don't have to buy a clock. Your opponents will likely have one.

Well, Lopsidation will be in the Reserve section playing for the Unrated prize. 

Probably there will be approximately fiftyhundred people with clocks there, so chances are you'll be able to borrow one even if your opponent doesn't have one.

However if you are still looking for a clock, I'm sure any new digital model will serve fine.  I've a preference for my Chronos clock, and the DGT Fide-type clock would come in second.  Others will probably have different opinions.

And, yes: touch move, recording moves on your scoresheet (maybe practice before the tourney if you aren't used to that), no talking of course (PLEASE don't say "check") except for draw offers.  Before the round starts just find your section's pairing sheet which will tell you your board number, proceed to the tournament and glgl etc.

Thanks, everyone!

As for the section- there are three sections: Open, Amateur (U1900), and Reserve (U1400). I was previously on the fence between Amateur and Reserve, as I'm ~1700 coorespondence but ~1300 live chess here, and this is my first time doing anything OTB. ivandh, did you think I should sign up for Open instead?

Also, just one more thing- do I have to register with USCF before going to the tournament, or will I be able to work everything out when I get there? Thanks!

I think you would have your hands full in the reserve section. Some like to play up though.

I used my laptop at my last chess tournament and used online stopwatch. I was kinda surprised their was free internet.

You should be able to register for USCF at the tournament.

Used your laptop at the tournament? That's surprising.

We were supposed to bring clocks and neither I nor my opponent owned one, so that was the best solution I could come up with.

This is the site I used: http://www.online-stopwatch.com/chess-clock/

You were allowed to use a laptop clock at an official USCF event? Surprising

OP - first, do *not* play up. U1400 will be plenty challenge, I promise, especially for your first tournament. The ratings say you should be solid but not dominating in that section, but as today's US Women's Championship showed, playing with the pressure of a real tournament is a whole different animal. For your first one, I'd expect to play below your normal ability.

As far as the clock, I'd say contact the TD and let him know this is your first tournament and you don't want to buy a clock just yet. Everyone's supposed to have one, so there will be plenty to go around, but it'd be polite to at least let the TD know ahead of time that you won't have one. Eventually, you'll need to get one. Just go to the USchess.org site and find one of their official clocks. A cheap digital is fine.

Estragon- it was the U1300 section at the 2010 Kings Island Open. I'm sure those are in fact the rules, however we were never told we couldn't use it and since it was a low section, I assume the tournament director just didn't care enough.

If you have a smartphone, there are chess clock apps.

Here's one for Blackberry:

https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/38030  I can't vouch for that one.

I have one for an Ipod touch that's nice, but I don't play in tournaments. I don't know if these would be legal in a tournament or not.

From the stories I hear, the TDs for CCA don't really care about anyone not in the open section. I have a class A player at my club who made an insufficient losing chances claim and it was summarily rejected and he lost the game.(Even though you could have sat someone like me down against a GM and I could have drawn the position)

 Here's a nice one: http://www.chessclockpro.com/

If there were insufficient losing chances then how did he lose ?  I would like to see the position where he made the claim..... 

I've got some newfangled Saltek clock which I lost the instructions for shortly after I bought it. The first few games I used it for I had to ask my opponents how to programme the wretched beast

I'm not a big-time TD, but I wouldn't want to allow smartphone-based clocks due to the small sized and visibility of the device. Music is typically allowable at tournaments(at least, all that I've been to) with people in the top score group or two disallowed from using headphones in an attempt to control cheating.

This was the position he showed me, he was black against a stronger player and lost on time(presumably there was no increment). I'm not sure how accurate the story is, since I find it hard to lose this position, but i think it certainly qualifies for a claim.

I would question if there wasn't actually a delay. Insufficient losing chances claims are not allowed in that case (or with increment).

I will be at this event as well and to answer a few of your questions:

It's a good idea to have your own clock, but since it's your first event and it's just a few days away, I am fairly certain it is acceptable not to have one on you.  Mike Regan runs a pretty tight ship and he may have a few clocks on hand for this type of situation.

As others have stated, 100+ people will be attending.  There's a very good chance that each opponent you will play will have their own clock.

No, do not play in the Open section.  Unless you are a phenomenal talent, this is a quick way to start off 0-5.  You won't get much out of getting your head kicked in by a bunch of seasoned vets all rated above 2000 (USCF).  Actual live tourney conditions are completely different vs online or correspondence chess.  You will have enough of battle in the reserve section, trust me.

Good luck,

Erik

 I not only play up, I throw tantrums too.