when i walked into uscf 10 years back i was nervous, but relax if you can. everyone who walks in the first time is nervous. i still get nervous sometimes at larger tournaments, i just dont let it bother nearly as much. grab your marbles and stand tall :) you will be just fine.
The Club Level Transition: What you need to know.
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Most club players are something like 1300-1700 USCF although depending on where you visit you can see much higher or lower.
I'd say these players have experience with all the tactical themes and have probably solved at least a few hundred tactical puzzles. They know some basic endgame ideas like rooks behind passed pawns, opposite colored bishops are drawish, passed pawns are useful. In the middlegame they're aware of things like backward pawns, doubled pawns, isolated pawns. They try to increase the scope of their pieces by putting knights on outposts, bishops on long diagonals, rooks on open files, stuff like that.
They have the experience of having played around 1000 games (whether it be blitz, bullet, tournament, casual untimed, etc). They've probably read at least one beginner book. The stronger club players have probably read a few books.
So basically they know all the basics and have some playing experience. The single biggest separation between players from 1200 to 1900 is probably just how well they calculate and spot tactics.
Clubs welcome new players. And big tournaments have unrated sections so you can play other people new to tournament chess. So it's not like you have to study and practice in secrecy for years before going out and playing. In fact that would mean very slow progress. A big help to improving is playing these people as often as you can.
For the totally new and casual player I'd recommend learning notation and getting an introductory book maybe like Reinfeld's The Complete Chess Player. You don't have to read it all before visiting a club, just be working through it so you'll be aware of some of the ideas and terms which will help you communicate with people.
Before going to a tournament I'd recommend visiting a local club a few times if you can. Just to get used to playing on a 3d set in front of a person and hitting a clock. You can also get tips. After a game most players are willing to answer any questions about the game (what could I have done better?) or about things in general like what opening would you recommend.
You think about a thousand games is a likely amount for a 1300-1700 to have played? Surprising, I would have expected that number to be larger. I have never played in a club or tournament but wafflemaster's advice/summary does sound good/thorough.
Looking at robmccarthy's profile he's played about 1000 games so he's not as casual as I thought. I guess I was thinking more in terms of giving a beginner advice.
It's true some club players have read many books and played many thousands of games over decades and never improved past wherever they are. I was just trying to give a new player a feel for the order of experience a club player would have.
This question is directed primarily at people who've played at club level:
What do you need to know when making the transition from casual play to club level? I imagine the learning curve is pretty steep... but perhaps your experience may be helpful to someone looking to get into the next level of their game.
What would have been helpful to know before you first entered chess at that level?
Anything from etiquette to essential game knowledge to anecdotes would be appreciated here.
Thanks!