Tournament Prep.Information for the chess parent on what they should know, do in advance and stuff to bring to a chess tournament. What happens after the chess tournament is over?
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Important Steps to Take After You've Registered for a Tournament
#1 Review the registration list to ensure your child's name is there. Ensure your child will have a "current membership" with USCF, especially for the day of the tournament. If it expires prior to the day of, you will need to renew it prior to attending.
#2 Figure out what section of the tournament your child is competing in. Most tournaments will have more than one "section" to the event.
#3 Review the round times and show up early according to any guidelines published on the tournament website. Sometimes, you may need to go through a "check-in" process. Other times, there may not be a check in procedure needed.
#4 If you are running late or have to miss a round or have to skip attending entirely, please please make sure to tell the tournament organizer as soon as you can. Frequently players are "paired to play one another" and tournament directors need to know if someone will not be showing up as a child will be sitting & waiting to play a game against your child. You can request a "half-pt bye" for a missed round. Check with the TD (tournament director) or the event organizer on this. Usually there are a maximum number of bye requests allowed and a deadline for which you have to request them.
Things You Need to Know Prior to Attending
#1 How to Find the Pairings
Pairings tell you what board your child is to be seated at and what color he/she is playing, either White or Black pieces. Usually the pairings will be printed and posted on a wall or board somewhere near the tournament playing hall. It will look like one of the below image(s). Other times, pairings will also be posted online or possibly sent to your email or your phone as a text message. Pairings are typically posted shortly before round time. Please be patient and wait for the pairings.
Pairings tell you what board your child is to be seated at and what color he/she is playing, either White or Black pieces. Usually the pairings will be printed and posted on a wall or board somewhere near the tournament playing hall. It will look like one of the below image(s). Other times, pairings will also be posted online or possibly sent to your email or your phone as a text message. Pairings are typically posted shortly before round time. Please be patient and wait for the pairings.
In the above example pair chart... "Bd" means board number. This is the table number where you should seat your child.
"Res" circled in yellow is where your child should mark his/her result of the game i.e. a "1" for a Win, a "0" for a Loss, or a "1/2" for a Draw.
At the very top circled in blue is where you will see what color pieces your child should play with, White or Black pieces.
In the example "alphabetical pairings" above, this is simply a different format of pairings where you can easily find your child's name sorted by their name. It tells you what color and then the opponent's name and then what board to be seated at. The image of the "pair chart" is typically what the results are recorded on.
A "BYE" is issued when there's an odd number of players, so one child does not get paired against an opponent. This is unfortunate but cannot be avoided. Since he/she does not have an opponent, he will get awarded a free bye point towards the final score of the event. BYE(s) do NOT affect a child's official rating. Only played games affect their ratings. Sometimes TDs will find another child in another section who has also received a bye to pair the two bye players together for what is called an "extra rated game". The extra rated games do affect a child's rating but they do not matter towards the overall score of the tournament for trophy/awards purposes. Always check for another set of pairings for that extra rated game or ask a TD if that's a possibility. It is possible that there might not be any extra rated games made available.
More information about byes: https://www.danheisman.com/byes.html
"Res" circled in yellow is where your child should mark his/her result of the game i.e. a "1" for a Win, a "0" for a Loss, or a "1/2" for a Draw.
At the very top circled in blue is where you will see what color pieces your child should play with, White or Black pieces.
In the example "alphabetical pairings" above, this is simply a different format of pairings where you can easily find your child's name sorted by their name. It tells you what color and then the opponent's name and then what board to be seated at. The image of the "pair chart" is typically what the results are recorded on.
A "BYE" is issued when there's an odd number of players, so one child does not get paired against an opponent. This is unfortunate but cannot be avoided. Since he/she does not have an opponent, he will get awarded a free bye point towards the final score of the event. BYE(s) do NOT affect a child's official rating. Only played games affect their ratings. Sometimes TDs will find another child in another section who has also received a bye to pair the two bye players together for what is called an "extra rated game". The extra rated games do affect a child's rating but they do not matter towards the overall score of the tournament for trophy/awards purposes. Always check for another set of pairings for that extra rated game or ask a TD if that's a possibility. It is possible that there might not be any extra rated games made available.
More information about byes: https://www.danheisman.com/byes.html
#2 How conflicts & disputes are handled
Once a game is over, it is TOO LATE to address any issues. Therefore, you must instruct your child, that if they have any questions or are unsure of anything, they must ASK IMMEDIATELY DURING THE GAME and in particular WHEN the issue arises. Tell them to pause the chess clock and raise their hand and wait for a TD (tournament director) to come to them. A parent cannot make claims on behalf of their child. Parents are also not allowed to be in the tournament hall during the games.
Once a game is over, it is TOO LATE to address any issues. Therefore, you must instruct your child, that if they have any questions or are unsure of anything, they must ASK IMMEDIATELY DURING THE GAME and in particular WHEN the issue arises. Tell them to pause the chess clock and raise their hand and wait for a TD (tournament director) to come to them. A parent cannot make claims on behalf of their child. Parents are also not allowed to be in the tournament hall during the games.
#3 About scorekeeping / notation
Keeping a record of the moves is required per USCF Rules. However, there is discretion about how much this is enforced, in particular with beginning kids. At the end of the day, you should make sure your child learns how to do notation. In the event of a dispute between players, more credibility will be given to a player who has kept good notation vs any claims made by a player who isn't keeping track of the moves.
Here's a link to a "beginner" scoresheet where the player can simply circle the moves instead of writing them out. Perfect for younger inexperienced kids!
https://new.uschess.org/sites/default/files/wp-thumbnails/2019/10/BeginnerScoresheet.pdf
Keeping a record of the moves is required per USCF Rules. However, there is discretion about how much this is enforced, in particular with beginning kids. At the end of the day, you should make sure your child learns how to do notation. In the event of a dispute between players, more credibility will be given to a player who has kept good notation vs any claims made by a player who isn't keeping track of the moves.
Here's a link to a "beginner" scoresheet where the player can simply circle the moves instead of writing them out. Perfect for younger inexperienced kids!
https://new.uschess.org/sites/default/files/wp-thumbnails/2019/10/BeginnerScoresheet.pdf
#4 Parent/Player Expectations
Parents and kids should not be talking while the child is in the midst of his/her game. This includes trips to the bathroom while during play. There should be ZERO discussion about anything related to the game. Parents please do not peek into the playing hall repeatedly to check on your child. Opening doors is disruptive and is frowned upon. Please have patience and wait.
Parents and kids should not be talking while the child is in the midst of his/her game. This includes trips to the bathroom while during play. There should be ZERO discussion about anything related to the game. Parents please do not peek into the playing hall repeatedly to check on your child. Opening doors is disruptive and is frowned upon. Please have patience and wait.
Upon Arrival to the Playing Venue
#1 Check in (or if not required) familiarize you and your child with the venue
Make sure your child knows how to find you in the waiting area after each round is over. Find the playing hall, find the skittles/waiting area and where any bathrooms are located. In a school setting, it is common for the playing hall to be in a gymnasium and the waiting/skittles area to be in a cafeteria. In a hotel, usually the playing hall is in a ballroom with the skittles area found in the lobby areas or other booked rooms nearby the main ballroom. In a brick & mortar chess club that is one single open space there may not even be a skittles area at all.
Make sure your child knows how to find you in the waiting area after each round is over. Find the playing hall, find the skittles/waiting area and where any bathrooms are located. In a school setting, it is common for the playing hall to be in a gymnasium and the waiting/skittles area to be in a cafeteria. In a hotel, usually the playing hall is in a ballroom with the skittles area found in the lobby areas or other booked rooms nearby the main ballroom. In a brick & mortar chess club that is one single open space there may not even be a skittles area at all.
#2 After the pairings are determined get your child situated at his/her board asap
Find the posted pairings. Or if they are posted online, then make sure you have the link bookmarked on your phone. Go ahead and get your child situated at the board he/she should be playing at and then wait for pre-round announcements or as instructed.
Find the posted pairings. Or if they are posted online, then make sure you have the link bookmarked on your phone. Go ahead and get your child situated at the board he/she should be playing at and then wait for pre-round announcements or as instructed.
#3 In-between rounds
All kids must have a parent/guardian present throughout the whole day. Tournament directors are not child care providers. After a child is done with his/her game, which could happen within minutes, then the child leaves the playing hall on his own to find his/her parent. Please remain nearby or ensure your child knows how to find you. Kids will have to wait with their parents until all games are finished. Pairings are then redone and we start the next round asap. Parents are not allowed to remain in the playing hall while games are in progress.
All kids must have a parent/guardian present throughout the whole day. Tournament directors are not child care providers. After a child is done with his/her game, which could happen within minutes, then the child leaves the playing hall on his own to find his/her parent. Please remain nearby or ensure your child knows how to find you. Kids will have to wait with their parents until all games are finished. Pairings are then redone and we start the next round asap. Parents are not allowed to remain in the playing hall while games are in progress.
What Kids Should Do Once the Game is Over
- Make sure their result is recorded. This can be handled differently by various TDs/Arbiters/Organizers. Expect any of the following procedures:
- Raising hand for a TD to witness the end position (checkmate/stalemate/clock flagged out of time)
- Filling out a results sheet to turn in
- Players both going to the pair chart and recording the results on their own accord - make sure it is recorded ACCURATELY!
- Help one another either to
- reset the board to have it ready for the next round
- packing up the pieces and board, etc for whoever brought the equipment
- Go find their parent/guardian and wait for the next round to start
What to Bring to the Event
#1 Food & Beverage
There may or may not be concessions for sale. Check with the organizer for details. You may want to pack a sack lunch or prepare to find food nearby to pick up. Usually there is complimentary water at hotel hosted events. Please do not expect for there to be microwaves or any kitchen refrigerator access.
There may or may not be concessions for sale. Check with the organizer for details. You may want to pack a sack lunch or prepare to find food nearby to pick up. Usually there is complimentary water at hotel hosted events. Please do not expect for there to be microwaves or any kitchen refrigerator access.
#2 Chess Equipment
Some organizers provide playing equipment. Some don't. Be prepared to have to bring a chess set, board, clock. notation book and writing device to keep notation. For a list of recommended playing equipment, see this link. Please note it is not uncommon for players to not have a chess clock when it comes to scholastic amateur kids tourneys. If both players don't bring clocks, then we will have the players start without a clock and the TD may add a clock towards the end of the round to force the game to end in a timely fashion. Thus, it is in your child's best interest to have a clock available from the beginning of the round instead.
Some organizers provide playing equipment. Some don't. Be prepared to have to bring a chess set, board, clock. notation book and writing device to keep notation. For a list of recommended playing equipment, see this link. Please note it is not uncommon for players to not have a chess clock when it comes to scholastic amateur kids tourneys. If both players don't bring clocks, then we will have the players start without a clock and the TD may add a clock towards the end of the round to force the game to end in a timely fashion. Thus, it is in your child's best interest to have a clock available from the beginning of the round instead.
#3 Outerwear
Playing halls can be kept "cool". Bring a jacket/hoodie just in case.
Playing halls can be kept "cool". Bring a jacket/hoodie just in case.
What Not to Bring
Electronics
Do not bring phones or other electronic devices including smart watches into the playing hall. These are not allowed.
Food into the Tnmt Hall
Please do not eat at the chess board. Water is fine.
Do not bring phones or other electronic devices including smart watches into the playing hall. These are not allowed.
Food into the Tnmt Hall
Please do not eat at the chess board. Water is fine.
What Happens After the Tournament Is Over
Give time for the TD/Arbiter/Organizer to submit in the game results to USCF/FIDE for rating purposes.
Sometimes, you will see your child's new rating within a matter of a couple hours after a tournament is over - these TDs / Organizers who pull this off are awesome and you should give them a pat on the back! This is applicable for USA tournaments. FIDE rated events are rated once a month.
Sometimes, you will see your child's new rating within a matter of a couple hours after a tournament is over - these TDs / Organizers who pull this off are awesome and you should give them a pat on the back! This is applicable for USA tournaments. FIDE rated events are rated once a month.
- To check your rating: http://www.uschess.org/datapage/player-search.php; click on the name and then tournament history tab to see the latest rating
- Alternatively, if you know your USCF ID, copy and paste the following into a web browser, just replace the XXXXXXXX with your USCF ID#:
http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlTnmtHst.php?XXXXXXXX - If you see a "P" next to your rating: Before completing 26 games, your rating is provisional and can change drastically after winning or losing. Later, ratings change incrementally based on your result and the ratings of your opponents. When you win, your rating should go up, when you lose, your rating should go down, and when you draw, whether your rating goes up or down depends on whether you were lower rated than your opponent (up) or higher rated (down). US Chess assigns ratings to members who play in official tournaments. Ratings range from 100 to nearly 3000. You can lose rating points as well as gaining them (unlike in bridge) but you cannot lose your US Chess rating. Once rated, always rated.
- There is always going to be a difference between your "supplement rating" and your "live rating". The supplement is published by USCF and is usually what is referenced for pairing purposes in an event. "Live rating" is your latest rating based on the most recent performance at a tournament. See below image for reference. Tnmt.Hst tab will show you your live rating. Rtg.Supp. tab will provide your supplement rating.
Important Comments about the Wallchart Results
Your child may have been told at the tournament that he/she won 3rd place but then the results on the US chess page shows otherwise. This is because US Chess does not display crosstables in tiebreak order. See their explanation on the link below.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ratings
Click on the header above to see the US Chess FAQ page on ratings. Most of your questions can be found there.