Chess Tournament @ Your Library

Bedford Branch Library, March 22, 2003

 

Instructions

 

Thank you for registering for the Chess Tournament @ Your Library.  Please put on your name tag (which also includes your player number) before play begins.  If you brought a chess set to the tournament, make sure that it is identified with your name.  Place it at any marked location that does not already have a chess set, and set up the chess board.

 

Each player will play within a division (named after the first five official world chess champions, in alphabetical order) and has been provided a player number, as follows:

• Alekhine Division (ages 6, 7, 8, and 9) – player numbers 00 through 19
• Capablanca Division (ages 10 and 11) – player numbers 20 through 39
• Euwe Division (age 12) – player numbers 40 through 59
• Lasker Division (ages 13 and 14) – player numbers 60 through 79
• Steinitz Division (ages 15 and above) – player numbers 80 through 99

 

Each division will play at its own set of chess boards, designated by the prefix A, C, E, L, or S (the first letter of each division) before the chess board number.

 

Each player will play five games (lasting a maximum of twenty-five minutes per game).

 

As soon as registration has been completed, the computerized pairings (using SwissPerfect 98 Chess Tournament software) will be posted at the chess registration table in the following format:  location of game, player playing white, player playing black.  When this is announced, check the posting and then go to your assigned location and wait for the signal to begin the match.

 

During each game:

• Maintain silence, except to announce check or checkmate.
• When you touch a piece, you must move that piece if you can legally do so.
• When you stop touching a piece, you cannot take back your move.
• If the same position has occurred three times with the same player to play each time, the game is drawn.
• If fifty successive moves have produced no marked change in position (checkmate, stalemate, a capture, or a pawn’s move), the game is drawn.
• Agree to a draw if neither of you has hopes of winning.
• Offer to resign if you believe your position is indefensible.
• If you want a checkmate or stalemate to be verified, or if you have a question about rules, raise your hand to request assistance.
• Be courteous to the other players.

 

The time remaining in each round will periodically be announced.  At the end of twenty-five minutes, any games still in progress will be stopped.  The winner will be the player with remaining pieces having the most value, as follows: Queen – 9 points, Rook – 5 points, Bishop – 3 points, Knight – 3 points, and Pawn – 1 point.

 

When you have completed each game:

• Set up the chess board for the next game (except after the final round).
• Based upon your game results, write your player number in the “Won” or “Lost” or “Drawn” column for the appropriate chess board number and round number on your division’s “Match Results” sheet at the chess registration table.
• Stay away from the playing area until everyone has finished playing the round.
• Use the restroom between rounds.
• Listen for the announcement of the next round’s pairings.
• Do not leave the library, since the time between rounds should be minimal.

 

At the concluding awards ceremony, a personalized certificate will be awarded to each player.  In addition, the winner of the most games in each of the five divisions will receive a prize.  On Wednesday, March 26, the top three winners in each division can pick up at the library a personalized award certificate (or request that it be mailed to him or her).  For players with the same number of wins, placement will be determined by the Median Buchholz, Buchholz, and Progress methods.

 

If you brought a chess set to the tournament, remember to get it before you leave the library.

Please complete and return the questionnaire to the chess registration table before you leave the library.