Tournament Guide and USCF Player Rules

Updated 9/18/26

Printable version 

All sections are non-elimination. Players will be paired against players of similar scores each round. They should expect to play ALL 4 or 5 games.

Byes

Players should plan to play ALL rounds. Please contact the tournament directors if you have a schedule conflict and need to leave early. Players can get a single ½ point bye if requested before round 2. Additional zero-point byes are also available and only affect your player’s final score, NOT their rating.

Behavior

During their children’s games, parents may not talk to players or be inside the roped-off tournament area. Between rounds, we encourage players and parents to hang out in the covered outdoor waiting area. Please approach the TDs if you have questions! 

What to Bring

Water bottle and snacks. Masks are not required.

For Championship, Experts, and Premier players – a notation pad, pen, and chess clock (if you have one). Notation sheets and pens will be provided.

Smartphones and Tablets

Players may bring smartphones and tablets, but they must be hidden inside a closed bag and turned off during their game, or they risk forfeiting a game. Players should only look at their phones before or after a game. No exceptions, please.

Tournament Rules

Raise your hand immediately during your game for a floor TD if you have any questions! TDs cannot make a ruling AFTER a move has been played, so contact us immediately if you are having a dispute.

• Touch move. If you intentionally touch a piece, you must move it or capture it (if legally possible), unless you say the word “adjust” (audible to the other player) before touching a piece. The exception is an obvious accident, such as if you brushed it with your elbow.

• Completed move. If you let go of a piece in a square (in a legal move), you have to leave it there.

• Players in the Challenger and Novice sections are encouraged to announce when checking their opponent. Capturing your opponent’s King is illegal. If that happens, the moves must be replayed so that the checked opponent can either capture the attacker, block, or flee with their King. If none of those options work, then the checked player is checkmated and loses the game.

• New! If a player makes an illegal move in the top 4 rated sections, the floor TD will add 2 minutes to the clock of the opponent. Players should raise their hand to claim an illegal move and get TD to confirm and adjust the clock. Illegal moves in the Novices section result only in warnings and guidance from floor TDs.

• Players can only go to the bathroom when it is their opponent’s turn. They should tell their opponent and the floor TD in charge of their section.

• No chatting, commenting, or sharing ideas with other players. 

• Players who interfere or help others will be penalized. This includes pointing out a non-pressed clock or a player running low on time.

• A first offense can result in forfeiting that game. A second offense can result in withdrawal from the tournament. 

• Parents can watch quietly from outside the playing area, but not speak or signal their child or risk a forfeit.

• ALWAYS RAISE YOUR HAND AND ASK A FLOOR TD IF YOU ARE UNCLEAR ABOUT TOUCH MOVE, CHECKMATE, OR ANY OTHER RULE! YOU MUST DISPUTE A MOVE OR ISSUE BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR NEXT MOVE.

• When a game ends, stay at the board, leave the pieces as is (in the ending position), and raise your hand for a floor TD (who will come and check the board and write down the game result).

Notation

• Notation is mandatory in the Championship, Experts, and Premier sections and strongly encouraged in the Challenger. Players can stop notating when either player’s clock time reaches 5 minutes or less.

• Why is notation needed? To check for illegal moves, to claim draws through three-position repetition, to track if a player has surpassed 50 moves without a pawn move or capture (automatic draw), etc.