Tournament Info

Ratings and Titles

Ratings are generally used for tournament pairings and prize sections. In many events, you don't have to win the tournament to win a prize -- you can win a class prize as a top scorer of your rating group, or a section prize in a section restricted to your rating group. The Castle will vary the rating range for class prizes. The USCF ratings groups are:

Weekly and Monthly Club Tournaments

MONDAY A three round robin (RR) format at Game in 30 minutes. (Game/30) You play players of comparable strength. Register from 6:30-7pm, pairings are done right away, so we should be done by 10:30. Entry fee is $10 for members, $12 others. Prizes are $20 for 1st in each section. No one is stuck with a bye ever.

TUESDAY A night of casual play where people gather to analyze games play Blitz (Game/5) and hang out. You should be able to get the basic information on the rules to get you started and ready for the other events. (Keeping score, using a clock, tournament rules, chess etiquette and how to say "Checkmate" in Russian).

THURSDAY Four or five round Swiss tournament, with a game played each Thursday of the month, starting at 7:30 pm. Castle opens at 6:45 Time control is game in 100 minutes with a 30 second bonus. Register: First Thursday, before the start of the first round. Entry Fee is $15 for members, $20 for others. Prizes: Winners get free or reduced entry next month, with participation counting towards an invitation to Club Championship. Most games done by 11:00.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY Our main event days. Some one day events and some two day. The time per games varies as does the number of games played.

Examples of Weekend Club Tournaments

X-QUAD TOURNAMENT

Three games, played at a time control of game in an hour + 30 second delay. (Note this means you are required to maintain a score sheet for the entire game.) We divide into groups of four by rating and play round robins. Entry fee is $20 for club members, others $25. Prize for first place in each quad is $40. Register from 9:00 to 9:50 AM. Round times are 10 – 1:30 – 4:30. USCF memberships required.

SUNDAY QUICK TOURNAMENT

Ten games, Swiss pairings. Counts on your quick chess rating, not your regular rating. Time control is game in 8 minutes + 3 second delay. Entry fee is $10 for club members, $15 other. Prize fund is half of all entry fees paid back out. Register from 11 to 11:50 AM. You play two games against each opponent, with a five minute break before the next match-up (20 minute break after six games). USCF memberships required.

THINK TOURNAMENT

Seven games, (4 games on Saturday, 3 games Sunday). Time control is game in an hour +15 second delay. Prize fund is 70% of entries paid out, with several class prizes. Entry fee is $35 for club members, $45 others. Two half-point byes for any rounds; must be requested when entering. Register from 9-9:50 AM. Round times are 10-1-3:45-6:45, and on Sunday noon-2:45-5:15. USCF memberships required.

CLASSIC SWISS TOURNAMENT

Five games, Swiss pairings. Time control is game in 90 minutes Saturday, game in two hours Sunday, with a ten second delay for both. Entry fee is $40 for yearly club members, others $50. Register from 9-9:50 am. Round times are 10-1:45-5:30; 10:30-3:30. Prize fund is 75% of entries, paid out. USCF membership required.