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November 8, 2008 All Grade


Posted procedures at the site circumvent these published procedures.

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 from the balcony 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

First Round: 9:00 A.M. K-3 (9-10:15-11:30-12:45-2), Gr. 2-5 (9-10:30-12-1:30-3), Gr. 6-12 (9-11-1-3)
Swiss System team/individual by grade, you play only in your own grade. Grades K-1 are G/30 5 SS, Grades 2-5 are G/40, 5SS, and Grades 6-12 are G/50 4SS. Each (2-person minimum) team score in each section is the total of the top 3 finishers from the same team. The November 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.    Time Control is Game in 30 minutes (G/30) for K-1, G/40 for Grades 2-5, and G/50 for Grades 6-12.. Analog clocks should be set at 5:30 for K-1, 5:20 for Grades 6-12, and 5:10 for Grades 6-12.  Digital clocks should be set with a five second delay. You must notify your opponent if your time delay is not set.

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 no longer has the choice. 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-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 4-12 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. Both players should set up the pieces and both players should report the results to the scorer’s table  immediately. If you do not report your result, 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 on campus. Players may not have food or drink, except for water, in the playing rooms.

24. No flash photography is allowed.  Pictures without flashes may be taken from the balcony.

25. ½-point byes may be requested in advance. Byes should be requested before the start of the tournament.  

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 3 scores in each grade count for team results and tiebreak. Teams must have a minimum of two players. Each grade 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.  

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. Spectators are encouraged to view the games from the balcony. 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-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.

Eligibility Rules

1. All players must be Illinois residents or citizens currently attending school in grades K-12 and under the age of 18 years as of January 1, 2008.

2. The following maximum ages apply as of January 1, 2008: K-3: under age 9, K-6: under age 12, K-9: under age 15, K-12: under age 18.

3. No club Teams.

4. A team must contain a minimum of two players in the same grade.  Team size is unlimited, but only the top three scores in each grade are counted.

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