USCF Tournaments

What are the tournament formats?

Chess KLUB will use the Swiss System. In this system, players in each section will play against each other. No one is eliminated. In fact, as you continue to win games, you face progressively stronger opposition players and those who were not so successful play against each other. Towards the end of the event, you are likely to face players at your level.

Also, in the Swiss-system events, players are paired with each other according to the following general principles:

• A player is not paired with any other player more than once.
• Players with the same score are paired whenever possible.
• Colors are assigned as fairly as possible. Alternating the colors is ideal.
• For the first round, the players are ranked according to their last published official USCF rating. Know everythign about USCF tournaments here.
• If you are a new USCF player, then you will be placed in the UNRATED section
• The top player in the upper half is then paired against the top player in the lower half of the field, and so on. The top-ranked player’s color in the first round is normally allocated by lot, and then colors alternate down the halves.
• In the second round, the Tournament Director uses the same principles to pair each of the three score groups (those who won, those who drew, and those who lost). These pairing procedures will continue through the rest of the tournament.

How do you ensure touch & move in online tournament?

Just like touch and move rule in the real world, in the online chess tournament once a move has been made, there is no take back. No request for take backs will be entertained.

What are the time controls for the tournament?

Time Control for this tournament is 30 minutes per player. If a player is late for a round, the opposing player may start the game when the TD announces it is time for the round to begin.

How are scores determined?

For every win, you receive 1 point. For draw, you receive ½ point and for every loss, you receive 0 point. Trophies will be given to the top 3 scorers in each section based on points and tie-breaks.

How will you ensure that discipline is maintained, and no one is taking any help?

We trust every player to be honest. We will have Zoom session open for all. While it is not mandatory for you to have the video on, we highly recommend it.

Where can I locate the pairings?

Pairings (match-up) will be automatically posted before and after each round.

What should I do when something is wrong?

The player must call the attention of the TD (tournament director) immediately if there is any problem or disagreement between players by raising your hand on Zoom. Please wait patiently for the TD and avoid making unnecessary noises. Please mute your video if you do not have any issues.

How are tie breakers determined?

We use the USCF-approved Median system, which adds up the final scores of the tied players’ opponents. In other words, it is the computer software that is approved by USCF that will calculate the tie-breaks. In general, if one’s opponents’ scores are higher, that means they played stronger opposition and therefore deserves a higher place on the standings. USCF rating results do not take tiebreaks into consideration.

How do I get USCF membership?

There are 2 options:

• You can do it yourself by visiting uschess.org and applying for membership
• We can process on behalf of you for a small processing fee of $5. This will ensure accuracy and will save you some time.

Which USCF rating do you use for your tournament?

We use the most recent regular rating for pairing. However your resulting online rating may be different.

What time will the tournament start?

The Tournament will start exactly at 12 PM EST / 11 AM CST / 9 AM PST.

When should we check in online?

You should check in at least 1 hour before to ensure that you don’t lose out on the initial pairing.

What should I do first when I arrive?

We will post a video on exactly what needs to be done to check yourself in.

When and where is the awards ceremony?

Once we calculate the standings and tiebreaks for a section, we will announce the awards. All trophies & certificates will be sent via USPS or UPS in 2-3 business days from the date of the tournament.

Can I use the restroom while my game is still in progress?

Yes! However, note that you are not allowed to pause your virtual clock while the game is going on.

What should I do when my game is finished?

Right after the completion of a game, your scores will automatically be noted by the computer and you will be paired for the next round.

Will you publish the results? How?

Winner(s) name will be announced on Website Hall of Fame, in the Chess KLUB Online community and on our Social Media.