1st Year Junior Chess Tournament (Unrated)

There are three different titles to play for (a player can earn more than one title so is is encuraged to play for all of these and give your best!):

• 1st place (can be earned by winning as many games as possible)
• Most creative win (remember those mate in 3 parcels from chess class? Ending the game in a similar stylish way will get you this title)
• Most honorable player (the tournament director will award you for great etiquette and sportsmanship)

Standerd Tournament Rules and Etiquette apply 

Rules: 

·  The player with the Black Pieces has the choice of which side of the board to put the clock on.

·  When the tournament director announces that you may start your clocks, the player with Black starts the clock for the player with White.

·  If your opponent is not there when the round starts, you may start your opponent’s clock.

Touch/Move Rule is really Touch/Move and Touch/Capture.

In general, if you touch one of your pieces, you must move it. If you touch an opponent’s piece, you must capture it. Of course, this applies only to legal moves. For example, making a move that puts your King in check would be an illegal move.

If either player has pieces that are not well-centered, you must announce “j’doube” (I adjust)  before adjusting the piece.

Illegal Move?

If during your game there is a question about whether a move is legal, you must immediately contact the Tournament Director. Usually, all you have to do is raise your hand and one will come to assist. In many beginning tournaments, there are players who question the legality of a move after the game is over. At this time, it’s too late; the game outcome cannot be changed.

END OF THE GAME

Checkmate ends the game: For the beginner, when your opponent calls checkmate, make sure it is checkmate before you agree to end the game. At this point, you need to make the decision because the tournament director cannot help a player by saying it is or is not checkmate.

Other ways to end the game:

·  A player forfeits by not showing up

·  A player may resign, although it is not recommended for scholastic tournaments.

·  A player can win/lose on time. If a player runs out of time, it is the responsibility of the opponent to claim the win on time.

·  The game may end in a draw:

--  players agree to a draw;

-- board position repeats exactly three times (not necessarily in a row);

--   lack of mating material;

-- 50 moves have been made without a Pawn move or capture; or,

-- stalemate.

When the game is over, after checkmate, a forfeit or a draw, players raise their hand to have the game recorded by a tournament director. Or, the players will go together to the tournament officials to have the result recorded or post it themselves at the tournament table.

Etiquette:

Please note that by talking, making sounds or creating distractions in the tournament room you are disrespecting and disturbing other players. 

The tournament director may give you a warning the first time this happens, but keep in mind that we will not be able to resume your game after continuous misbehavior and might have to ask you to move away from the tournament room.

Players may talk to opponments or parents in the waiting room before and after the games.