Posted procedures at the site circumvent these published rules.
1. Pairing sheets will be posted by section. Determine
your table # and piece-color and proceed to your table with score sheet (in
this program), pencil & clock.
2. Only pictures without flashes can be taken at any time.
3. If there is any question, stop the clock and raise your
hand until a TD arrives at your table.
4. When the game is over, both players must reset the pieces
and report the results at the scorer’s table.
5. Players must leave the playing room after their results
have been reported. Set up the pieces before you leave. After the last round,
place the pieces in the bag provided.
6. Speaking to anyone other than a TD about any of the
games in progress, including your own, may result in a penalty.
7. Standings will be posted during the following round.
Tournament Format & Rules
There are four sections: K-1,Grades 2-3, Grades 4-5, Grades 6-8. There are 7 rounds.
K-1 Rounds: Sat, 10-12:30-2-3:30; Sun, 9-10:30-12:30
; Grades 2-3 Rounds: Sat, 10-12:30-2:30-4:30; Sun, 9-11-1
; Grades 4-5,
6-8 Rounds: Sat, 10-12:45-3:15-5:45; Sun, 9-11:30-2.
Swiss System team/individual pairings by section, you play only in your
own section. Each (2-person minimum) team score in each section is the total of the
top 4 finishers from the same team. The February Rating List will be
used.
1 The U.S. Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess,
5th Edition, any published revisions and additions, and the USCF National
Scholastic Chess Tournament Regulations will apply to this tournament except
as otherwise noted.
2. The time controls are:
Grades K-1 G/25 d/5,
Grades 2-3 G/40 d/5,
Grades 4-5,
6-8 G/55
d/5. All clocks (delay, analog and others) are set for same base time
control (no subtraction of time) . Delay (d/5) is set for 5 seconds.
3. Tournament Directors (TD's) will be on the tournament
floor at all times to assist you in the event of any problems or questions.
4. Chess Control will be staffed during the hours posted
to assist in administrative matters such as registration, membership renewals,
withdrawals, byes, player information corrections, etc.
5. When making a claim, or in the event of any dispute,
either player may stop the chess clock and raise their hand to summon a tournament
director. Keep your hand up until a TD comes to assist you. Only the players
involved may make a claim regarding matters that happen at the board. If
you think a TD has made an error you should ask to appeal the decision. A
frivolous claim may be penalized by adding time to your opponent's clock
or in other ways.
6. Players must furnish their own clocks. If neither player
has a clock, borrow from a friend, purchase one from the Bookstore, or begin
the game without a clock. TDs do not have extra clocks, but may allow the
game to start if none are available.
7. The player of Black has the choice of clock.
Clocks
using time delay have priority over other clocks. A player who arrives
after
the start of the round can replace analog clocks with standard clocks
only before they make the first move. All players should know
how to operate their own clock - including setting the original time
control
and the ability to add or subtract time for either player.
8. Start White's clock as soon as the start of the round
is announced. Do not wait for your opponent to arrive. White makes
the first move and then presses the button to start the opponent’s clock.
9. If both players are late for the start of the round,
the first player to arrive must split the elapsed time and then start White's
clock. If neither player has a clock, the elapsed time from the start of
the round must be split equally when one is obtained.
10. Only the players in the game may claim a time forfeit. No parent, coach,
teammate, or TD may make such a claim for any player.
11. A player who does not arrive within thirty minutes of the actual start
of the round forfeits the game and will be withdrawn from the tournament
for future games unless reinstated by the Chief TD. For round 1, players
must be at their board for the start of the round, unless the Chief TD has
been notified of a delay. Repairing for no-shows may be performed.
12. Touch move rules apply. Players should touch their King first when castling,
but there is no penalty for touching the Rook first unless the player has
been previously warned not to do so.
13. Players in grades K, 1, 2, and 3 are encouraged to keep score but are not required
to do so.
Players in all other grades must keep move by move score. Players in grades
4-8 who are not able to keep score, as determined by the TD, shall have
up to five minutes deducted from their time.
14. Players claiming a draw under the 50 move or three-fold
repetition rules must have a reasonably complete score sheet. If the claim
is ruled incorrect, the TD will add two minutes to your opponent's clock.
15. When offering a draw to your opponent, you should do so after moving
but before you start your opponent's clock. The game is over if both players
agree to a draw.
16. "Insufficient Losing Chances”: You may claim this type of draw if it
is your move, you have less than two minutes left, and you are not already
using the time delay on your game. This is also a draw offer. If the TD believes
your claim is frivolous you may lose up to one minute from your clock and
could lose on time. The director has the option of either making an immediate
decision, watching for progress or inserting a delay mode clock. In the latter
case the game continues with the claimant’s time being reduced by one-half
(time remaining not to exceed one minute) and both players having a five
second grace period (the time delay) for each move.
17. Never leave the playing area without a Tournament Director's permission.
18. The game is over when both players agree to a result. When the game is over, both players must reset the pieces
and report the results at the scorer’s table. If you do not
report your results properly, among other things,
you may not be paired for the next round.
19. Analysis in the playing room, even quietly, is strictly forbidden!
20. Do not remove sets or boards from the playing room.
21. Wallcharts and pairings will be posted as available. Be sure your results
are posted properly. It may not be possible to correct mistakes that are
reported more than one round late!
22. Only if asked by the player, a coach may advise the player on how a draw
will affect team standings. The coach may not consider the position on the
board in giving advice. To avoid any appearance of impropriety, coaches,
parents, and teammates may not speak to players during play except in the
presence of a tournament director.
23. Smoking, the use of tobacco products, alcoholic
beverages,
and illegal substances are not allowed in the tournament areas, including team rooms. Players may not have food
or drink, except for water, in the playing rooms.
24. No flash photography is allowed.
25.
A single half-point bye will be
available for the first round, if requested with an advance entry. 0
point byes shall be available for all rounds. The Chief Tournament Director
shall have the ability to grant an 1/2 point bye for any round based on
unusual circumstances, except the last round.
26. If you wish to withdraw or skip a particular round, please sign the sheet
at Chess Control at least one hour before the start of the round. You may
be penalized if you forfeit without notice.
27. Pairings made by computer will be considered official unless serious
inequity, as determined by the TD staff, would result.
28. This is a team/individual event. A team may have as many players from
the same school as desired, but only the top 4 scores in each section count
for team results and tiebreak. Teams must have a minimum of two players.
Each section will have its own set of awards.
29. Players will generally be paired against others with the same score.
Every reasonable effort will be made to avoid pairing players from the same
team.
30. All players/teams tied for first place in any section are
considered
co-champions, but trophies will be awarded based on tiebreaks. Players
can
win only one individual trophy in the main event. Place trophies take
precedence
over all other trophy awards. An honorable mention trophy will be
awarded
to any player who ties for a place trophy but whose tiebreaks are not
high
enough to earn one of the other place trophies. There is also a
Good Sporstman trophy awarded as determined by the staff.
31. Individual ties for trophies will be broken by Modified Median, Solkoff,
Sonnenborn-Berger, Cumulative, Kashdan, head-to-head, most blacks, then coin
toss.
32. Team ties for trophies will be broken by total individual Cummulative,
total Solkoff, total Sonnenborn-Berger, total Kashdan, and then coin toss.
33. Due to space considerations spectators may have limited or no access
to the playing area. Only players and directors are allowed between the tables. Spectators
who interfere with the games or bother the players will be asked to leave.
Spectators are never allowed in the K-1 or grades 2-3 playing area during play.
34. Cell phones must be turned off or penalties will apply, including loss
of time and possible removal from the playing area of any person, player
or non-player, violating this rule.
