Tournament Format

• The tournament will be conducted in a League format. Each team will face every other team once
• Each face-off between 2 teams will comprise of 10 matches – 9 singles and 1 bug house
• The players will be divided into 3 levels based on their competency. The levels will be as follows:
  • Level 1 – Expert
  • Level 2 – Intermediate
  • Level 3 – Novice
• The teams are themselves responsible for coming up with these divisions
• There will be 3 matches a piece in each level for a face off.
• There will be an upper limit placed on the number of games a player can play as specified:
• Level 1
  • Players can play 1 match each against every other team.
  • A minimum of 3 players will be required at this level.

• Level 2
  • Players can play 1 match each against 2 other teams.
  • A minimum of 5 players will be required at this level.

• Level 3
  • Maximum of 2 players can play 1 match each against 2 other teams
  • Other players can play a maximum of 1 match.
  • A minimum of 6 players (2 playing 2 each and 4 playing 1 each) will be required at this level.

• Bughouse
  • 1 player each from Level 2 & 3 will team up for a bughouse.(Level 1 players not allowed)
  • The same player can play singles and bughouse during a face-off
  • A player can play a maximum of 2 bughouse matches
  • A minimum 2 each of Level 2 & 3 players will be required for bughouse.
• The teams will have to inform the list of all players in each level for a face-off before the first match begins(including players who will play the bughouse. No need to point which players will be playing the bughouse). This will be published after both teams provide the list.
• Once the player list is shared, the levels of the players cannot be changed during the face-off. It can be changed maximum once between face-offs subject to the maximum games rule explained previously. When switching between levels, the rule corresponding to the level which has a lesser limit will be applied. (i.e) If a player is switched from Level 1 to Level 2, he can only play one more game based on the restriction on Level 2
• The players who will be playing the following day have to be shared before 5 PM on the previous day. This will not be shared unless both teams inform their picks. The exact moderator whom this information has to be shared will be informed separately. This moderator will be picked so that he does not belong to either of the teams.
• Match schedule
  • Teams will play singles matches every alternate day. On the gameday, three games (1 of each level) will be played simultaneously.
  • 2 bughouse matches will be conducted on the same day. So the each phase will complete at the same time for all 4 teams.

See schedule for clarification on the above 2 points.

Scoring

• Scores for each level will be as follows
  • Level 1:
    • Win – 15
    • Draw –  7
  • Level 2:
    • Win – 10
    • Draw – 5
  • Level 3:
    • Win – 5
    • Draw – 2
  • Bughouse:
    • Win – 10
    • Draw – 5

FIDE rules apply for draw.

• Penalties
  • The matches will start sharply at 6 PM every day. If a player is not present, it will be considered a forfeit and the opponent will be awarded the full points.
  • If both the players are not present, both will be considered to forfeit and points will not be awarded to either team.(The teams not playing will benefit from this. So don’t treat this like a draw).
  • During the games, if any one team tries to help its players or distract the opponent, points will be deducted from the corresponding team(even if not in play that day)

Game rules

• The games will be 15 minute each with no time increment
• The player must use only one hand during castling
• The player must change the timer immediately after making the move using the same hand with which he made the move
• If he dislocates any piece, he has to rearrange it before changing the timer. Arbiters can decide to extend time to the opponent in case the player does not follow this
• No recess allowed during the game
• No mobile phone usage during the game (except to note down the moves by third person)
• Draws will be awarded only on appeal. The player appealing for a draw should pause the timer and bring in the arbiter for a review. Arbiter(who will belong to a different team) decision final. The team can appoint a person to note down the moves for the match. Noting Down Chess Moves
• Stalemate will be treated as a draw.

Bug House Rules

• 2 players of the same team will face 2 players of a different team simultaneously in 2 boards
• Players of same team will have a different coloured piece
• The game proceeds similar to normal chess with independent clocks
• When one player captures a piece, he can give it to his team mate who can then make use of this piece in his game
• The transferred piece can be brought into the game at any point (need not be immediately)
• Introducing the piece will be counted as a move
• The piece can be dropped at any position (including forcing a check) as long as it is not a pawn dropped in the 1st and 8th rows (at least one move before getting promoted).
• A promoted piece if captured will be counted as the original pawn and not the promoted piece when transferred to the next board.
• If any one of the player wins (checkmate or time), the entire team wins
• The players can communicate with each other throughout the game but one player should not physically play for his team mate
• The captured pieces should be present in full display (it should not be hidden from the other player and brought in as a surprise)

For Captains

• Make sure the player list is shared at the requested time. If the player list is not received by the moderators before 5, the entire leg will be considered a forfeit and the entire 100 points will be awarded to the other team.
• Same goes for the contender list on each day
• To avoid any surprises(based on checks from the moderators on player appearances), send the list well in advance so there is time for changes if any
• Make sure the players are present at the exact time specified(6 PM). See penalties in the Score section again.

Under exceptional cases, if the arbiter and the controller see merit, the games can be rescheduled to the reserve days. This will be taken on a case by case basis.

For Everyone

• Please make sure the tournament does not affect your day to day activities in any way. The format has been designed to take less than an hour a week from anyone involved to that effect.
• Please inform your team/lead/manager well in advance if you will be taking part in the game on any day for them to plan accordingly.
• If you are playing a match, please be present at the expected time so that no one else is wasting their time waiting for you.