1. Different types of Tournament
Tournaments
Different types of Tournament
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2. Tournaments Round Robin Knock-out Matches Swiss System Jamboree
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3. Tournaments Round Robin Used for some of the top events.
Also called All-play-all or American.
The lowest half of the draw may get an extra white.
If you have an odd number then the highest number is the bye.
A double round robin is regarded as the best system if time permits. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1-10
10-6
2-10
10-7
3-10
10-8
4-10
10-9
5-10
2-9
7-5
3-1
8-6
4-2
9-7
5-3
1-8
6-4
3-8
8-4
4-9
9-5
5-1
1-6
6-2
2-7
7-3
4-7
9-3
5-8
1-4
6-9
2-5
7-1
3-6
8-2
5-6
1-2
6-7
2-3
7-8
3-4
8-9
4-5
9-1
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4. Tournaments Knock-out
Not too popular a format as half the competitors are eliminated each round.
Sometimes there is a consolation event for the first round losers.
Possibly more common for team events than for individual events outside of a club setting.
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5. Tournaments Matches Used to decide the World Championship.
Used to be a common type of event particularly in the 19th century but now much less so.
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6. Tournaments Swiss Systems Dutch Lim Dubov Accelerated Swiss
Others (e.g. CAA)
The Dutch system is the one that most programs follow (or attempt to). This is the system that we will study in some detail.
Lim is a similar system but has some differences in its rules. The Dutch system pairs top to bottom, Lim works towards the middle from both ends.
Dubov tries to equalise the strength of opponents of the White players. The White seeker with the highest performance is paired against the lowest rated Black seeker.
Acceleration is carried out for one of two reasons – to reduce number of mismatches in first round or to enhance norm chances. In simple terms when doing the first round pairing you assume a round 0 has taken place.
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7. Tournaments – Playing Hall
Well lit
Well ventilated
Adequate space – 4.5 sq metres in top tournament 2.5 in others metres between rows (FIDE)
Tables should have sufficient room for board, set, clock, scoresheet and refreshments. A height of 74 cm recommended. (FIDE)
Chairs should be comfortable and appropriate height for table
Conditions for both players should be identical
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8. Tournaments Swiss Systems
These have the advantage of letting everyone play in every round but still achieving a winner in a relatively short number of rounds.
A 32 player tournament would require only 5 rounds to ensure only one player has a 100% score.
Main principles
Don’t play the same opponent more than once.
Play someone on the same score or as near as possible
Attempt to alternate colours
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9. Jamboree
A Jamboree is an excellent way of running a one or two round team tournament. In a jamboree each member of a team will play an opponent from a different team until it is necessary to repeat.
Hutton pairing tables are recommended.
Each team is given a code letter by lot before play commences. The pairings below give the board number where the player should sit, followed by the white player's code and team board number, followed by the same information for black.
3 Teams 1 B1-C1 2 C2-A1 3 A2-B2 4 B3-A3 5 A4-C3 6 C4-B4
4 Teams 1 A1-B1 2 C1-D1 3 B2-C2 4 D2-A2 5 A3-C3 6 B3-D3 7 D4-B4 8 C4-A4 9 C5-B5 10 A5- D5 11 B6-A6 12 D6-C6
5 Teams 1 B1-E1 2 D1-C1 3 E2-A1 4 A2-D2 5 C2-B2 6 A3-C3 7 E3-D3 8 D4-B3 9 B4-A4 10 C4- E4 11 B5-C5 12 D5-A5 13 A6-E5 14 C6-D6 15 E6-B6 16 A7-B7 17 E7-C7 18 B8-D7 19 C8-A8 20 D8-E8
6 Teams 1 A1-E1 2 B1-D1 3 F1-C1 4 C2-B2 5 D2-A2 6 E2-F2 7 A3-C3 8 E3-D3 9 F3-B3 10 B4-A4 11 C4-E4 12 D4-F4 13 A5-F5 14 B5-E5 15 C5-D5 16 D6-C6 17 E6-B6 18 F6-A6 19 C7-F7 20 D7-B7 21 E7-A7 22 A8-D8 23 B8-C8 24 F8-E8 25 B9-F9 26 C9-A9 27 D9-E9 28 A10-B10 29 E10-C10 30 F10-D10
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10. Tournaments – Equipment (Recommended)
Clocks dealt with in their own section
Pieces made of wood or plastic (or similar)
King’s height about 9.5cm – base should be 40-50% of height, other pieces proportionate
The weight of the pieces should be suitable for comfortable lifting and stability.
Staunton pattern recommended for FIDE events
Dark pieces should be black or brown (or dark shades of these colours). The light pieces should be white, cream or other light colour
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11. Tournaments – Equipment (recommended)
Boards should be wood or rigid plastic or card. Stone is also permitted.
The squares should be of contrasting colours Combinations of colours such as brown, green or light tan and white etc.
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12. Tournaments – Disputes and Appeals
FIDE rated tournaments should have an Appeals Committee
When there is a dispute the Chief Arbiter or Chief Organiser should try to resolve the situation.
In all FIDE rated events there should be an Appeals Committee (AC). This can be appointed or elected and should be done before the start of play.
Recommended composition is a Chair, two members and two reserve members (ideally from different federations).
No member of the AC should have previously been involved in the dispute.
The AC should have an odd number.
No-one on the AC should be under 21. (FIDE)
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13. Tournaments – Disputes and Appeals
Player may appeal against decision made by Arbiter or Organiser
The appeal should be accompanied by appropriate fee
The appeal should be in writing
The appeal should be made within a specified time period
(Fee and Time Period set in advance)
Decision of AC shall be final
Fee returned if appeal is successful
Fee may be returned if an unsuccessful appeal is considered reasonable.
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14. Tournaments – Disputes and Appeals
In Britain it is unusual for a weekend congress to have an Appeals Committee. Some entry forms state that the arbiter’s decision is final. It is therefore even more important that the correct decision is made in the first instance.
Inexperienced arbiters should seek the advice of more senior arbiters before making decisions which could affect the outcome of the game.
Chief Arbiters prefer to offer advice rather than overturn decisions.
Arbiters should never make decisions based on what they would like the Laws to be – only on what the Laws actually state.
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15. Junior Events
It is common for a more relaxed approach to be used regarding the Laws of Chess in junior events.
In particular in a Rapidplay a player may be allowed to make more than one illegal move before losing. However, any variation should be announced in advance.
Good standards of behaviour should be expected but these should not be as high as you would expect at a top tournament. Most juniors want to enjoy themselves at the chess event and do not want ‘exam conditions’. However the behaviour of those who have finished their games should not have too adverse an effect on those still playing.
When speaking to a junior it can be a good idea to use simple language. It is also good to be talking at the same eye level i.e. crouch down to talk to an individual.
Use common sense!!
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