USCF Tournaments – Everything You Need to Know

US Chess represents the United States in the World Chess Federation (FIDE), connecting members to chess players around the world. Founded in 1939 with the merger of the American Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation, US Chess has grown to serve over 93,000 members and 2,000 affiliated chess clubs and organizations today.

Every year, US Chess sanctions and rates over 10,000 tournaments and over half a million games. We host over 25 National Championships and award titles to both amateurs and professionals, ranging from elementary school students to senior citizens.

Almost a 100-year-old!

The United States Chess Federation was created through the merger of the American Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation.

The U.S. Chess Federation has two governing bodies. The board of delegates is composed of 125 persons, designated by the state affiliates, as well as some other categories, meets annually at the U.S. Open. The Executive Board, composed of seven persons, is elected by the membership for a 3-year term.

A rating is a calculated numerical estimate of a player’s strength, based on results in tournament play against other rated players. Tournament organizers submit results to US Chess, which carries out the calculations and publishes the results. US Chess has rating systems for chess players. Before completing 26 games, your rating is provisional and can change drastically after winning or losing. Later, ratings change incrementally based on your result and the ratings of your opponents. You can lose rating points as well as gaining them (unlike in bridge) but you cannot lose your US Chess rating. Once rated, always rated.

There are also separate ratings for various chess organizations from the international chess body, FIDE to Internet chess clubs.

A player can have up to six ratings: for correspondence games, for over-the-board games at regular (slow), quick, or blitz time controls, and for online games at quick or blitz time controls. Ratings are posted online on the US Chess Player Search web page.

Ratings for over the board play range from 100 to nearly 3000. The higher the rating the stronger the player is. Ratings are often used by tournament organizers who submit results to US Chess, which carries out the calculations and publishes the results.

The titles awarded by USCF should not be confused with those awarded by FIDE, such as Grandmaster, and International Master. Have a look at how the points affect the titles that are awarded:

There are other titles like Life Senior Master- which a player earns if they have 2400 points over at least 5 tournaments and his ratings eventually reach 2400.

As a member of the US Chess Federation (US Chess) you experience many benefits including:

• Entry to the world of chess through affiliated clubs, organizations and US Chess sanctioned events;
• Opportunities to develop chess strengths and establish a nationally recognized rating.
• Personal recognition (titles, Top Lists, MAP) and accreditation (TD certification, chess coach certification).
• Connection with chess players around the world via correspondence chess events.
• Support participation of U.S. players and teams in international competitions.
• Advocacy through posting views and opinions on the website forum.
• Improved critical thinking and social skills such as problem-solving, decision making, and sportsmanship.

USCF has affiliate clubs around the country. If you are not ready to play the game yet, you can observe any event for free.

Sign up with Chess KLUB and we will help you with regular updates, training, coaching sessions, weekly in-house tournaments to keep practicing and also inform you about upcoming chess events by USCF to better your ranking.

Ratings points and prizes are usually at stake in Chess tournaments, so the atmosphere is much more competitive and quieter than in a casual club or cafe game.

In the large majority of chess tournaments, computers determine pairings. In the first round, players are ranked by their ratings (Unrated players are ranked at the bottom, alphabetically.) The Swiss system of pairing is then used. Swiss pairings split the field into two halves and pair the top of the first half with the top of the second half.

If there are 50 players in a tournament, #1 will play #26, #2 will play #27, etc.

Chess is a lot like tennis to understand the answer to this question.

A lot of people love and learn the game early, but give it up since it’s tough to find an appropriate opponent. Ideally, you want to find an opponent with a similar or slightly higher rating than your own. With Chess KLUB’s online chess coaching, now you can play with players from around the world right from your screen.

Chess KLUB conducts USCF Tournament every month. US Chess Federation (USCF) is the official body of Chess in the U.S. If you’re serious about chess, then this is one event you shouldn’t be missing at all. Players of all caliber participate in this tournament.

This is a question we are often asked.

The right time is NOW.

The earlier you participate, the better as you will have more opportunities to play and improve the game. Yes, there is no better time than NOW.

So, go ahead and register.