Your first live tournament: a full walkthrough

Arrive 45 minutes early with ID and payment. Registration gives you a seat card — table and seat number, and you sit with your card facing up until the dealer confirms. Keep your highest denomination chips visible. Announce your action verbally if you are unsure; a verbal declaration is binding and protects you. One player per hand, cards stay on the table, and never touch another player's chips. If anything is unclear, call the floor — it is not rude, it is the procedure, and the floor decision is final. Breaks are 20 minutes at the end of every second level; the bathroom queue is longer than you think.