Tournaments

Tournament FAQ's

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​Registration Cutoff

The registration deadline for tournament's is 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for the first round. Players who register after this cutoff may receive a half-point bye for the first round.

 

Refunds and Withdraws

Refunds are available if requested up to 1 hour before the tournament begins. Requests made later will not be honored. To withdraw from a tournament, please send an email at least one hour prior to the event's start time.

 

No Elimination

The Swiss format in chess is a system where players don't face everyone but are paired based on ratings and performance. They play a set number of games. There is no elimination.

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When can I start playing tournaments

If you're familiar with the rules and possess an active US Chess ID, you're eligible to participate! Players of all ages and skills are welcome!

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Do I need to bring anything

You don't need to bring a chess set or clock; we have plenty! While we do provide paper and pencils, the supply is limited, so please consider bringing your own if possible.

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How do pairings work

I'm glad you asked! In the first round, players are ranked by their "rating." The top half competes against the bottom half. In subsequent rounds, winners face off against each other, as do the bottom half. This pattern continues throughout the tournament.

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What is US Chess

In the United States, a player obtains a chess rating through the United States Chess Federation (USCF) by participating in rated tournaments. After playing and completing a certain number of games against other rated opponents in sanctioned events, the USCF uses the results to calculate an initial rating for the player. This rating fluctuates as one continues to play in rated events, reflecting their performance relative to other players. In addition to the rating, players are assigned a unique US Chess ID, which helps in tracking their progress, tournament history, and rating adjustments over time.

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What are byes

If there’s an odd number of players, then someone has to sit out, right? You’ll still get a win in the tournament, but no ratings change. (Remember, ratings are a mathematical estimate of your playing strength. You don’t prove how good you are by being the lucky odd man out!) Byes are given to the lowest-scoring player in the section, with the exception of players for whom it’s their first tournament or players who have a scheduled zero- or half-point bye coming up. Refunds are not given or expected for byes.

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What if I've got commitments and can't play a round

We've got you covered! Simply inform us. Half-point byes (which count as a draw in the standings without affecting your rating) are available if requested before the start of the preceding round. If not requested in time, the bye will be worth zero points, but your rating will still remain unchanged.

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Tie Breaks: Modified Median Method

Among median tiebreaks, this method is prevalent. It assesses a player's competition strength by summing opponents' scores. Players with even scores discard both the highest and lowest totals. Those with more wins discard the lowest score, and those with more losses discard the highest. In tournaments of nine or more rounds, either the top two, bottom two, or all four scores are omitted based on the player's win/loss ratio. Unplayed games count as half a point each, and if a tied player has unplayed games, they're treated as games against opponents scoring 0.

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How do I get a FIDE ID

You can contact USCF and request an ID. However, to be officially FIDE rated, one must play five games against previously rated FIDE players, score at least a half point in those games, and have a performance rating of at least 1000.