Milwaukee City Chess Conference
2007-2008

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Rules



GENERAL RULES OF PLAY MILWAUKEE HIGH SCHOOL CHESS LEAGUE (revised Spetember 2007)
  • Drawn games divide the points in half.


  • Junior varsity play may use a separate option than varsity play. J.V. totals do not count for toward the match points of Varsity section and the Varsity section scores are the only score count in the results of the match.


  • The required option of play is there will be 5 varsity boards that equal a sum score of 40 points. The 1st board winner will receive 10 points. The 2nd board winner will receive 9 points. The 3rd board winner will receive 8 points. The 4th board winner will receive 7 points. The 5th board winner will receive 6 points. In case of a draw the points will be halved between the two players. This is the format that was used at the city conference championship and the state championship last year and will be the only format used this year during the city chess regular season.


  • The both coaches must sumbit results on the web site the next day at: www.byzantinecommunications.com/citychess0708 If there are any questions about a match, email me directly at mroeder3@wi.rr.com


  • There can be no stacking of boards. The team’s best player must play board one, the second best board two, etc. Violations will result in forfeiture of the match. It is understood that board places will change because of challenges, especially in the beginning of the season. In those options which employ more than one section, board order within the section is irrelevant, but teams must put their best players in the top section, their second best in the next section, and so on.


  • The following criterion can be used to establish or change board order. Coaches must be prepared to justify any changes in board order with any of the following: seeding tournaments
    • USCF rating
    • Challenge matches
    • Extended absence from the team


  • There can be no KIBITZING between players. Coaches must enforce this rule. Forfeiture of the board will result. Kibitzing includes any comments or suggestions made by a player about a teammate’s game while it is in progress. Kibitzing also includes any comments made about the time remaining on either player’s clock or the legality of a move made. Players are not allowed to discuss anything about any of the matches going on at any time or in any place during the match. Either coach may opt to clear the room of all spectators, including players who have finished their games, if they deem it appropriate. It is advised that players watch other games from behind their teammates.


  • Coaches are not allowed to effect the outcome of any games played in a match. The coach cannot suggest moves to a player playing a game, nor can they comment on the status of the time left for either player. Coaches may be asked if the player should take a draw or play for the win. The coach may answer this question based on how this will affect the whole team's outcome in the match and not based on the position of the board of the game in question. Remember, our goal as coaches is not only to try to lead our team to victory, but to watch and make sure the game is as fair for both the players as possible, so our students can learn fairness and sportmanship on a competitive stage. Updated 12/13/05


  • In time controls where a certain number of moves must be made in a certain amount of time, a player must keep accurate notation of the game in order to call an opponent on time. Notation MUST be taken in any game with a time control of 30 minutes or more. If there is 5 minutes or less on either player's clock both players may stop taking notation and a teammate or coach may continue to take notation behind their player until the game is completed as long as the person taking the notation does not disturb the game in progress.


  • USCF rules will apply to all games with a time control of over 5 minutes. Coaches should have a copy of the USCF rules available at all matches. Some of these rules are:
    • If you touch a piece, you must move it as long as you have a legal move to make with that piece.
    • If you touch an opponent’s piece, you must take it as long as you have a legal way to take that piece.
    • If you let go of a piece after moving it, it must remain on that square, as long as the resulting move is legal.
    USCF also has specific rules for BLITZ chess (game in 5 minutes), some of which are:
    • If you make an illegal move you lose.
    • You may take your opponent’s king and claim the win.
    • You are NOT committed to a move if you touch a piece.
    • You ARE committed to a move once you have hit your clock.


  • Either coach may POSTPONE the match for any of the following reasons: one of the schools cancelled classes for all or part of the day due to weather.
    • A transportation department error.
    • One of the coaches is ill.
    • Emergency situation.
    Postponed matches must by played by February 29, 2008. If the match is not reported by that evening, it will be considered a drawn match and each team will receive ½ a match point.


  • The following are NOT reasons for postponing a match.
    • any or all of the team is ill.
    • Any or all of the team is participating in alternate events at or for the school.
    • One of the coaches is called to a conference or meeting.


  • If a team drops out of the league, ALL of its matches are forfeits, including those matches already played.


  • The visiting team has until 4:30 PM to arrive at the home team’s school. Unless the home coach has been notified, the home team will start their clocks at 4:30 PM, resulting in a forfeiture of the match by the visiting team if they do not arrive by 5:30 PM.


    • PLAYOFFS
  • Playoffs will be held all in one day from 9AM to 5PM on at date and place to be determined soon.


  • Note: TRPI (.25*(winning percentage) + .5*(opponents winning percentage) + .25*(opponents opponents winning percetage)) will be used as the 3rd tiebreaker in all situations as voted on City '07


  • There will be 2 sections of play at the meet :
    • Varsity (the top 24 teams)
    • Varsity Reserve (the remaining teams plus JV teams from all the teams)


  • The Varsity I teams will be determined by the following:
    • 4 Divisional winners
      Note: The record versus divisional opponents are only used to determine the divisional winners and not used for any tiebreakers.
    • 4 Wild Cards


  • Any tie for the divisonal champion to get into the Varsity I tournament with be broken by the following tiebreakers:
    • Head to head (only used if there are 2 teams tied for the same spot, if there are more than 2 this tiebreak is skipped)
    • Best overall record
    • TRPI (.25*(winning percentage) + .5*(opponents winning percentage) + .25*(opponents opponents winning percetage))
    • Record vs common opponents
    • Points vs common opponents
    • Total match points


  • The Varsity I wild card teams will be determined by the following:
    • Best overall record
    • Head to head (only used if there are 2 teams tied for the same spot, if there are more than 2 this tiebreak is skipped)
    • TRPI (.25*(winning percentage) + .5*(opponents winning percentage) + .25*(opponents opponents winning percetage))
    • Record vs common opponents
    • Points vs common opponents
    • Total match points


  • The Varsity I ranking will be determined by the following order: top 4 will be the 4 divisional winners they will be ranked in the following order:
    • Best overall record
    • Head to head (only used if there are 2 teams tied for the same spot, if there are more than 2 this tiebreak is skipped)
    • TRPI (.25*(winning percentage) + .5*(opponents winning percentage) + .25*(opponents opponents winning percetage))
    • Record vs common opponents
    • Points vs common opponents
    • Total match points
    the 4 wild card teams will be ranked 5-8 with the same criteria as the divisional winners.


  • The Varsity II and III teams will be determined by the following with the top 8 going to Varsity II:
    • Best overall record
    • Head to head (only used if there are 2 teams tied for the same spot, if there are more than 2 this tiebreak is skipped)
    • TRPI (.25*(winning percentage) + .5*(opponents winning percentage) + .25*(opponents opponents winning percetage))
    • Record vs common opponents
    • Points vs common opponents
    • Total match points


  • For Varsity II and III, the ranking will be used to set up a 3 round swiss tournament. Place in the tournament will be determined by :
    • Best overall record
    • Head to head (only used if there are 2 teams tied for the same spot, if there are more than 2 this tiebreak is skipped)
    • TRPI (.25*(winning percentage) + .5*(opponents winning percentage) + .25*(opponents opponents winning percetage))
    • Record vs common opponents
    • Points vs common opponents
    • Total match points


  • Varsity playoff matches will use the same format as the regular season with the time control of sudden death in 60 minutes. Board color in each match will be determined by swiss system rules. Every player should expect to play black at least once and white at least once.


  • Varsity Reserve will use a shorter time control of between 10 to 20 minutes, to be determined by the number signing up. Teams of 4 will be formed from players from the same school. If you do not have a multiple of 4, those players will be teamed up with players from another school. Swiss pairings will be done by total games won by a team, not match points. Teams will NOT play other teams from the same school.