Tournament Chess Gear Checklist for Families

How to Use This Checklist

Print this checklist or bookmark it before your next event. The night before the tournament is the right time to run through it — not the morning of.

Gear is organized into three categories:

1. Required — needed for rated play
2. Strongly recommended — makes the day significantly easier
3. Optional / situational — depends on your needs and the specific event

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Required Gear

• Chess clock — DGT North American or equivalent; check it’s charged or has fresh batteries
• Scorebook or score sheets — for keeping game records in rated play (pencil preferred, not pen)
• Pencils — at least 2 or 3; pencil is required for keeping score (erasable)
• USCF membership card or ID number — written down or saved on your phone; check membership is not expired
• Registration confirmation — email printout, screenshot, or digital access

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Strongly Recommended

• Water bottle — refillable; tournament halls can be warm or dry
• Food for the day — lunch + snacks; don’t rely on venue food being available or affordable
• Comfortable layers — tournament rooms range from cold to warm; a light jacket or sweatshirt covers both
• Small backpack or bag — to carry all of the above without juggling items
• Spare batteries — AA or AAA depending on your clock model
• Extra pencils — one always gets lost or breaks
• Tournament schedule — the round times and venue address, either printed or accessible on your phone
• Phone charger or power bank — tournament days are long and heavy phone usage drains batteries fast

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For Young Players (Additional Items)

• Quiet between-round activity — a small book, simple card game, or familiar puzzle
• Comfort item if applicable — especially for very young players at their first events
• Easy-to-eat snacks — fruit, crackers, something low-mess and quick to eat between rounds
• Their player ID or USCF card — old enough to carry their own? Have them do it
• Comfortable shoes — they’ll be on their feet walking to and from the playing area multiple times

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For Multi-Day (Weekend) Tournaments

If you’re attending a 2-day or 3-day event that requires travel:

• Overnight bag with changes of clothes
• Sleep items (pillow, white noise if needed for hotel rooms)
• Hotel or accommodation confirmation
• Car charger or travel power strip
• Medication if applicable
• Extra snack supply for the room

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For Serious Competitors

These are optional for casual players but useful for those with specific preparation habits:

• Scorebook from recent games — for post-round review with a coach or self-analysis
• Opening reference — a small notebook with your main lines if that’s part of your prep routine
• Ear protection / noise-reducing earbuds — for players who are distracted by ambient noise; check event rules on wearable items
• Headphones — not allowed during games, but useful between rounds

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What You Don’t Need to Bring

• A chess set. Organizers provide boards and pieces. Bringing one is optional for post-game analysis away from the venue.
• Coaching books. Between-round study from books is rarely effective under tournament conditions.
• Complicated food. Easy, practical food beats anything that requires preparation or refrigeration.

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Clock Setup Reminder

Don’t just bring the clock — bring it ready to use. The night before:

1. Program it with the correct time control for the event
2. Test that it’s working correctly (run a quick test)
3. Check the battery level
4. Pack it in the bag

For DGT clock programming help: How to Set a DGT Chess Clock

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Related: What to Bring to a Chess Tournament | Best Chess Clock for Tournament Play