OTB Chess
If you're part of the online chess community, you'll probably see someone talking about OTB chess at some point. But what exactly does that mean?
Here's what you need to know about OTB chess:
What Is OTB Chess?
When people refer to OTB chess, they're talking about over-the-board chess. In other words, it's a term that describes chess played using a physical board and pieces.
Why Is OTB Chess Important?
OTB chess is the oldest form of the game and is what most people envision when they imagine someone playing chess. Although online chess is widely popular nowadays, most of FIDE's tournaments are OTB.
The two most important tournaments for classical time controls in the world, the Candidates Tournament and the FIDE World Championship, are OTB. Many other prestigious tournaments such as the Sinquefield Cup, Norway Chess, and the Olympiad are also played OTB.
An important detail to note is that in-person tournaments are not necessarily OTB. Hybrid tournaments, where participants gather at the same location but play on computers, are also an accepted tournament format. Therefore, games are considered OTB only if a physical chess set is used.
Conclusion
You now know what OTB chess is and its importance. Check out our Events page and keep up with the strongest OTB tournaments in the world!
