Is it worth playing in tournaments (OTB) when you know you are going to suck?

I appreciate your interest in the topic.

Here is my story: My OTB rating wavers between 1650-1750, though i've played like an 1800 on my good days.

I've been selected to play in Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championships in December for my school (U of T). So i think i need more practice.

However, I've been playing very badly in both online and OTB (i.e. in today's blitz session I lost or had difficulties against players 400 pts rated lower than me). I'm not just having a bad day, it is more like my peak days are over. This is not just in blitz, but also in longer games - where i just lose concentration (or end up not knowing what I am even doing), there are games where i reach a completely winning position, only to miss my opponent's mate in 1 and lose. 

A (higher rated) friend of mine told me that you can't simply become worse at chess which was inspiring, and gave me hope to come back to my old days. So therefore, I was thinking of participating in a local tournament (90|30, 5 rounds), as a way of rehabing my way back. However, I am not sure if i will be able to play my best chess and i think it is a waste of time, effort and money if i don't play my best. 

Unlike my friend who i mentioned above, I am a bit more protective of my rating points as well so I am not sure if I should be taking the risk. (he plays in every tournament that he can play in)

Some people say the best way to improve your chess is to play as many games as possible, and play in as many tournaments as possible - is that true? 

Anyway should i keep playing in tournaments despite the slump?

Ha!  Yes it is!  It feels more like genuine chess when you're playing OTB.  There's a lot of pressure but a win feels better live than over the computer with invisible people.  

When I compare other chess players OTB is the only fair assessment, I feel.  So get in there and play.  You'll probably do better than you think.

Finally, if you do play terribly, then you've just been given a ton of opportunities to improve.  If you never lose then you're playing the wrong people or you're Magnus Carlsen.  

Good Luck

"I am a bit more protective of my rating points"

Now you know why you have peaked.  You play scared. 

Stop playing bullet and blitz - they are fun, but work against developing a deliberative style needed for good OTB play.

And get a better attitude.

I say go for it.  I don't know if you'll find many people willing to say otherwise here.  Playing long games over the board is the only way to improve your over-the-board skill, anyway.  There's not really a better way to improve than to play tournaments, and play seriously.  I would recommend trying to discipline yourself to a consistent thought process, which will help you avoid oversights and mistakes.  This could be easier to do since you haven't played tournament chess in awhile.

Dear todd987654321 and Vandarringa
Thank you for the encouragement! I've never really thought about losing as being an opportunity to improve so it will give me a new sort of mindset.

- Diakonia
""I am a bit more protective of my rating points"
Now you know why you have peaked.  You play scared. "
Regarding your comment, I am going to assume you are trying to tell me to go play and not be scared of losing rating points?
I am more concerned about not playing my best chess than rating points to be honest.

JamieDelarosa
I do not dismiss blitz, i think it is a legitemate form of chess, though I would prioritize myself with longer games.
Regarding "And get a better attitude.", can you please elaborate on it?
Also, what do you think, should i go play?

Yes, play, you may never have the chance again to play in the Pan Am.

If you dont play, then you will never know.  

When you say that you "suck" - that is defeatist.  I played in the 1979 Pan American - mostly against guys (I'm female) who out-rated me by a lot.   I let them worry about losing, and played each game with a positive attitude.

I recently moved to Etobicoke. I enjoy the experience at tournaments mostly. Gf won't be with me for a few months, so I'm down for any reason to get out (play chess lol), so if your up for some coop-training, hit me up.

I think I started to get the general gist of this - its more of psychological than anything,  that i shouldn't be convinced that i will play badly before even playing.
The thing is, I lack the "killing instinct" that I had back in my better days. I stopped having the thirst for crazy tactical games, which made me think I'm not as tactically sharp as before. Maybe I changed my playing style over the years...

and yeah HueyWilliams, my rating is so low i practically have nothing to lose!

There you go again.  Your Live Standard rating puts you in the top 5% of all players!

Hey Ken - I learned the hard way. ;^)

?? Where is the advice? to not be a "defeatist"? I don't find any difference between "defeatist" and being a pessimist. I come from a competitive background and I feel like I have the obligation to live up to people's high expectations and standards.

Of course, I come to every game hoping to win and I want to play my best chess on every game. Are you telling me to change my mindset and to think that I am a good player with potential of winning games?

Jex_Roselin - I would be interested in Training in the Toronto area.

Don't go into a contest expecting to do poorly. That's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Your opponents will be trying to defeat you. Be a competitor. Play with a winning attitude. 

Playing in the local tournament will be good preparation for the Pan Am.

Well I've certainly been a coach, but I've never coached life.

http://www.oberlin.edu/stuorg/ochess/panams2015/

Very easy to understand this comment, Thanks! 

I wonder if all masters and grandmasters think that way (expecting to win every game) when they come play in tournaments etc. That would be one hell of a tournament with cocky people 

-To all the Optimists out there,

 let's say there's an exam you want to take, but you are pretty sure you won't do good there would you still go take that exam thinking there is no way you are going to fail it? 

Would you attribute not playing well as not having enough practice - so i should play more (Long games)? 

Optimism never hurts... I was convinced that I was quite good before playing in my first tournament (an U1500). I thought I'll get 50% at least. I knew strategy - I was great!

However, it ended with 1.5 points out of 8

I didn't complain, cry or quit. 

My second such effort, a few months later was already 4 out of 8 and I even got my first THREE RATING POINTS above the rating floor (which was 1450 back then)

and my third attempt, soon thereafter, was 6 out of 9, a third place and a fifth category (1535 rating!!!). 

So yes, it's worth it. 

Is the 5 round 90 30 the Pan Am or is it another tournament (say the Nov. Guelph Pro-Am or some such tournament)? Before you go play it let me suggest to you this. Sharpen up your play a bit. Pick up an endgame book, try using online resources. Analyze your games, and study tactics. Even if you just do 30 minutes a day of studying you'll get back into form quickly. You're ovbiously not that old, and slumps are normal. Everyone's had a time where they feel like they played terribly, you just can't stop to think in a game and you blunder, you use too much time and you flag, you lose a game in a miserable fashion, whatever it is sometimes it happens. Try playing in the tournament, and treat it as a learning experience!