Ratings and Tournaments

This web page is dedicated to chess tournament directors, organizers, coaches, and club officers like yourself, whose efforts form the backbone of American chess. Promoting chess activity can be demanding and sometimes frustrating, but the results are always rewarding.

The U.S. Chess Federation pledges to support your efforts to promote chess. Many USCF members find participation in rated chess tournaments to be one of their favorite membership benefits. The tournaments themselves are successful only if the people who run them remember that they are performing a service for the players.

This introductory page is designed to aid the providers of this service. It is primarily intended for inexperienced directors and organizers, but should prove helpful to experienced directors as well.

You will find current USCF Announcements, a list of certified directors, information on member suspensions and rules changes, and topics for discussion in our Tournament Directors section.

Our Step by Step Brochure for Running Your First USCF Tournament is also available online.

There are two separate rating systems for over-the-board tournaments: "regular" (or existing) and "Quick." A player's regular rating is computed if he or she enters an event with a time control of G/30 or slower. A player's Quick rating is affected if he or she participates in a tournament with time controls between G/5-G/29 (inclusive).

Dual rating:

In order to increase the accuracy of Quick ratings by enlarging the sample of games rated, some tournaments with time controls between G/30 and G/60 are now rated in the Quick as well as the regular rating system.  The events that are dual rated are:

1. Those submitted for rating on disk which indicate a time control of G/30 to G/60. No extra fee is required.
2. Those submitted for rating on paper which both indicate a time control of G/30 to G/60 and pay double the usual rating fee.

Individual or team events may be rated if:

1. The sponsoring organization is an affiliate of the U.S. Chess Federation.
2. All players are USCF members in good standing (home-school and primary-school level events are an exception). It is improper to report only part of an event, such as those games between USCF members. In events which span more than one month, care must be taken to ensure that all participants remain current members.
3. The event is supervised by a USCF tournament director certified at the proper level.
4. Play is governed by tournament rules, procedures, and policies as set forth by USCF in The Official Rules of Chess.
5. The first time control allows each player at least ½ hour and, except for Sudden Death Quick, or Action Chess time controls, averages no less than one minute per move (for regular ratings only).

Individual matches shall be rated if:

1. Both players have ratings, and their differential is less than 400 points (the latest published rating prior to the match will be used for calculating the rating difference).
2. Reports are validated by a certified tournament director or by a notarized statement signed by both players.The maximum rating change allowed from a match is 50 points. No player may go up or down more than one rating class within a three-year period solely through match play. Match results will not be taken into account for invitational events unless they are subsequently confirmed in tournament play.

The Tournament Membership (TM) is back! An idea last tried 15 years ago, it has returned in an improved form that we expect will stimulate rated activity, especially helping chess clubs and smaller tournaments.

The TM is available for $10 to satisfy the USCF membership requirement for any USCF-rated event of four rounds or less. Longer events qualify for this TM only if they are quick-rated, or if all games are played on weekdays. For events that do not qualify for the $10 TM, a $20 TM is available.

Each TM entitles the player to one issue of Chess Life (US, Canada or Mexico addresses only), plus the option of applying the TM fee, within 90 days, to a one-year Adult, Promotional Adult, Senior, Sustaining or Life membership. No more than one TM fee may be applied to the cost of any one-year membership.

Note that in addition to the TM, other reduced dues options remain in effect: 1) New members and those whose memberships last expired 2004 or before may join for a year for $38 ($36 online). 2) Anyone may join through an affiliate for 6 months for $27. Both of these options include a monthly Chess Life.

Organizations intending to run rated chess events must be affiliate members of USCF. Affiliate memberships are available in the following categories: Regular; College; Scholastic (grades K-12); and Prison.

In addition to the right to run rated events, affiliates receive subscriptions to Chess Life and the USCF Rating List and Supplements, and special discounts on chess books and equipment. Additionally, Scholastic affiliates receive School Mates (a magazine written for beginning players).

The Rating List and Rating Supplements are essential to tournament directors as references for current rating and membership information. They are useful in determining the most current rating of recently inactive players and should be saved for future reference. Affiliates are not agents of USCF and therefore assume full legal responsibility in connection with their events.

The USCF offers affiliates a commission on all Full Adult and other membership types sold (current commission rates are listed on USCF membership forms). Affiliates may choose to retain the commission or pass the savings on to the individuals who paid USCF memberships. Commissions must be claimed before submitting money and membership forms to USCF. Otherwise, they are forfeited.

It is important that affiliates send USCF memberships to USCF promptly - failure to do so may delay the rating of a tournament. USCF wants to provide prompt service to new and renewing members but can't do so without the cooperation of affiliates and TDs. The time limit for dues submission is seven days after collection. There may be penalties for late submissions.

When competing in rated tournaments, players have a right to expect uniformity in procedures and rules of play as explained in The Official Rules of Chess. They also have a right to expect that results will be accurately reported to USCF for rating.

Accordingly, USCF administers a certification program for training and testing TDs, and for penalizing inadequate performance. Complete details can be found in the "Tournament Director Standards" leaflet (available from USCF).

There are currently five TD categories: Club; Local; Senior; Associate National (ANTD); and National (NTD). As an example, a Club Director may direct a tournament of fewer than 50 players provided it is not a Grand Prix or National event. It's easy to become a Club Director. The applicant merely signs a form stating that he or she has read, has access to, and will abide by the Official Rules of Chess. Other tournaments require certification at higher levels. Club TD applications may be obtained from USCF.

The International Arbiter (IA) is awarded by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). The USCF will sponsor the international arbiter application for Senior, ANTD, and NTD if he or she meets certain criteria. Contact the USCF office for detailed information.

As previously mentioned, USCF requires membership for all players participating in rated competition (except home-school, scholastic-only, and primary-school level events). A director should require each player to provide proof of current membership or require payment for a membership or renewal. If a player is unable to provide a USCF ID card or membership receipt, the TD may find satisfactory proof in a Rating List, or on a player's Chess Life (or School Mates) mailing label. However, if he or she decides to take the word of a player found not to be a member, the TD and/or sponsoring affiliate remains responsible for paying that membership.

If proof of membership is not found, a good policy is to require a membership payment, and if a player is later found to be a current member, his or her membership will be extended by the amount of his or her payment. Following this policy will insure current membership for all players in your event.

(USCF membership categories and prices change periodically. Directors should read Chess Life and the "Bits and Pieces" section of the Rating Lists for current information.)

There are two exceptions to the USCF membership requirement:

1. Home-school, scholastic-only events (all players are from the same school, which is the site of the tournament).
2. Primary-school level tournaments, or primary-school sections of larger events, with the exception of the National Scholastics ("primary" means grade 3 and below).

In these cases, participants may choose the Junior Tournament Player (JTP) option, available to anyone 20 or younger and grade 12 or below who has never been a USCF member.

JTPs pay no membership dues and receive no benefits except for a USCF rating. JTPs may not compete in rated events outside of their home school unless they become USCF members. Chess Coach certification is all that is needed to be a TD of a home-school, scholastic only, and primary-school level event (except the National Scholastics; call or write to the USCF Scholastic Coordinator to receive a Certified Chess Coach application).

The TD should complete a JTP registration form for each player choosing this non-member option (who has not already been JTP-registered) and should forward the green copy to USCF. The number on this form becomes the player's permanent USCF ID number, and must be used on rating reports. Please note that former USCF members under age 20 retain their previously assigned ID numbers. TDs, coaches, and organizers should keep ID number records for future reference.

Every effort must be made by coaches, TDs, and organizers to insure that players are issued only one ID number. Cases of players being issued several ID numbers under different names (such as J. Frederick Smith, Freddy Smith, and Jonathan F. Smith) continue to cause serious rating problems.

Although the JTP program is useful in exposing new players to rated chess, TDs and organizers should make every effort to encourage USCF membership, especially for those who have already experienced USCF-rated competition.

Successful chess organizers use a variety of methods to advertise tournaments, one of the most important being Chess Life. However, because of its national scope, Chess Life should be considered only as a supplement to local publicity efforts.

Such methods as paid advertising, public service announcements in newspapers, and on radio or television, direct mailings to players and clubs, distribution of flyers at other tournaments, telephone campaigns, etc., do more to promote tournaments than a few lines in the TLA section of Chess Life.

For a minimal cost, USCF can provide mailing labels from its membership file to satisfy specific needs - for example, labels for all players rated above 1600 living in West Virginia. For more information, contact USCF.

A TLA is a brief, objective description of a future tournament. Affiliates may advertise their events in the TLA section of Chess Life. This method of advertising is most useful to organizers planning on attracting players from a wide area.

Chess Life:

The fee for TLAs in Chess Life is $2 per line for lines 1-6, $3 per line for lines 7-24, and $4 per line for lines 25 and up.  If the TLA appears in more than one issue, the additional insertion(s) is at half price.  Fees are payable with submission of the rating report. Display advertising may be purchased - please inquire.

Rating fees:

Organizers must submit a rating fee along with the report of each event.  The fee is the higher of the minimum rating fee or the per game rating fee. Note that rating fees will increase effective with events played January 1, 2004 or after.  There is no fee for unplayed games such as no-shows, forfeits, or byes.

TLA forms are available for your convenience, though we prefer that you compose the TLA the way you would like it and send it to us by email (adassist@uschess.org). You should send copies to your clearinghouse and state magazine, and retain one for your records. See "How to Get the Most from Tournament Life" in any Chess Life for more TLA information and for Grand Prix rules.

These events are usually for players rated below 1200 or unrated or below 1000 or unrated. They have been found to be far more effective than nonrated beginner events at bringing in USCF members, which is why USCF no longer publicizes the nonrated events in Chess Life or on this website.  RBOs require USCF membership, and players receive a USCF rating. Organizers can hold RBOs with other events.

Your first step when organizing a tournament should be to contact the clearinghouse in your area to see if other organizers have plans for that date. Tournament clearinghouses are established throughout the country to help organizers and players get maximum benefit from the chess calendar.

Two or more tournaments on the same date cause frustration for everyone and, sometimes, financial loss. Such situations can be avoided through cooperation with your area clearinghouse, which keeps records of tournaments planned in your area and advises you of potential conflicts. Providing you plan far enough ahead, it may be possible to reschedule an event if there is a conflict.

Clearinghouses are not agents of USCF, nor do they have binding authority to establish dates or settle conflicts, but cooperation will improve publicity, planning, and attendance for all. A USCF clearinghouse list is published in each Rating List or Supplement and periodically in Chess Life. There is also one available here.

Ratings can be accurate, current, and chronologically processed only if reports are submitted correctly and promptly. The time limit for receipt of rating reports at USCF is seven days from the ending date of the event. USCF may penalize TDs and affiliates who submit late reports. Call USCF if you have questions.

So that the rating process is not delayed, please follow the instructions below when submitting reports:

1. Type or print reports clearly, and retain a copy for your records.
2. Include the names and ID numbers (as they appear on the membership cards, Rating List or Supplements, or Chess Life labels), last published ratings, and results for all players (tie-breaks and colors are not necessary). Designate new members as "New" in the ID number space and include state of residence.
3. Players may be listed in any order, but their results must cross-check against opponents.
4. Partial reports should be submitted for events lasting more than 60 days (league seasons, ladder events, etc.).
5. Extra games played along with an event should be reported as a separate section (match regulations apply for two-player events).
6. Attach a list of names and USCF ID numbers of all players winning a class or section prize of $1,000 or more.
7. Include the "Once Rated, Always Rated" form if a player indicates he/she has an old rating (which can't be found in the rating list)
8. Reports are acceptable only in the following formats (please note that results all cross-check):

• Standard Swiss-system crosstable (page 2-3 of the Official Report form). Use additional forms for more than 40 players. The example below shows player #3 with: W7, L2, D5, 1.5. Letters designate results (W-Won, L-Loss, D-Draw, F-Forfeit), and numbers designate opponents, followed by the final score. Circled scores designate unplayed games (wins or losses by forfeit, or byes).

• Cumulative Swiss-system crosstable or wallchart: In this format, a player's round-by-round scores are added to results of previous rounds and are recorded as cumulative totals. The example below shows player #3 as: 1, 1, 1½ (meaning that he won round one, lost round two, and drew round three). Enter total score in the last column.

• Round-robin or all-play-all crosstable (page 4 of the "Official Tournament Report Form for USCF National Rating" form): The example below shows player #3 as: 1, 0, X (he doesn't play himself!), ½, meaning that he defeated #1, lost to #2, and drew #4, followed by the total score. Double round-robins and ladder events must be submitted in Standard Swiss-system crosstable or Cumulative Swiss-system crosstable format.

• Tournament Administrator - See "Rating Fees." Organizers are required to include a paper copy of the wall chart when submitting a tournament report on disk. A copy of the wall chart helps solve problems with a player's ID, name, or results. There is no minimum rating fee. Use consecutive numbers (not letters) for the players. If an event has two or more sections (such as quads), number the players for each section starting with number. Any changes or corrections to membership records should be noted separately.

Each player has an ID number. Playing under another player's name and number constitutes cheating, and players doing so will be penalized. Penalties may include expulsion from the event, barring from future events, and suspension or revocation of USCF membership. Additionally, criminal prosecution for fraud is possible. Tournament directors should require additional identification (preferably a document with a photograph) before awarding prizes to unknown players.

Correct ID numbers are crucial on all reports. Wrong ID numbers produce wrong ratings. A previous member who renews after an absence should be indicated as "Former Member" along with his most current ID number and rating, if possible. Previous members may receive new ID numbers, but their last published rating is always maintained on file and will be used for calculating their new rating. The most current ratings of inactive players who remain members will always appear on their Chess Life or School Mates mailing label.

The USCF has created a "Once Rated, Always Rated" form. The TD fills in this form if a player indicates he or she has a rating which has not been published in over one year. The TD also fills in the "Once Rated, Always Rated" form if a player is returning to tournament chess after a lapse in his or her membership. The USCF office can promptly confirm and add the old rating to the member's record.

There is no fee for unplayed games such as no-shows, forfeits, or byes.

The USCF Delegates and Executive Board members approved a plan to create a health and benefits fund for American professional chessplayers. This is funded solely by voluntary contributions. In addition to paying the rating fee, an organizer of a USCF-sanctioned Enhanced Grand Prix tournament must contribute $1 per player to this fund. This qualifies the event to receive additional Grand Prix Points. See "How to Get the Most From Tournament Life" in any Chess Life for information.

The following materials are available free of charge. Just send a postcard or letter requesting them.

USCF Membership forms and promotional fliers Junior Tournament Player forms - players who are 20 years old or younger and grade 12 or below who wish to participate in home-school, scholastic-only, and primary school events (see "Home-School, Scholastic-Only, and Primary-School Level Tournaments" section on page 5 in this booklet)

Official Affiliate application form

"The USCF Rating System" - a simplified explanation of rating calculation

How Does Correspondence Chess Work? - an explanation on how to play correspondence chess

"Once Rated, Always Rated" form

"An Introduction to USCF Rated Tournaments" - aimed at new players

"Let's Play Chess" - a summary of the rules

"Keeping Score" - an explanation of chess notation.

Tournament Life Announcement forms

Non-Rated Beginner Tournament Announcement forms

Tournament Director Certification Standards booklet

Mailing-label order form

The USCF staff is available to answer questions or, if you like, to give advice.

You can call or write to:

U.S. Chess Federation
PO Box 3967
Crossville, TN 38557
(931)787-1234
Fax: (931)787-1200
Email:clubs@uschess.org
www.uschess.org