After a lot of reading and research, there's still a part of European train travel that I don't understand - reservations.
I'm looking on cd.cz and would like take the ALX train which departs Munchen Hbf at 9:01 and arrives at 14:43. At the link that allows you to look at seat availability, it shows all seats on Carriage 259 are beige (The seat cannot be booked, the reservation period has either not started, or already ended), and it shows all seats on Carriage 262 as pink (The seat has been booked, you cannot select it). I'm thinking it's a very busy train, and we've already missed our opportunity to reserve a seat.
But, if I decide to make a reservation ( for an additional $3.50/p), it gives me seats in the beige car in the section that showed "The seat cannot be booked" a moment earlier).
My concern is that if I do NOT buy a reservation, is there a good chance that when the four of us arrive at the Munich Hbf with tickets in hand, we may not get on because all the seats are booked? Is that possible? Likely? And is the only way to avoid that is to purchase a reservation?
I'm a little train-shy because on my last trip with 7 of us, I bought overnight reservations on the train for 7 of us at the station, and did not understand that a reservation is not a ticket! It was a very embarrassing and long night trying to find a way to purchase on the train that wouldn't take our credit card. Since arrangements are in my hands again, I'd sure like to avoid another ride like that one! The family still brings the story up years later. :-)
Essentially, I'd like to know if reservations on this Munich to Prague train are a good idea? Or not necessary at all?
Thank you for any help with pointing me in the right direction.