All.

We are holding a Summer tournament for all members to enjoy competitive chess over the Summer break.

I would therefore encourage all members to sign up to the event which will be held on our normal Tuesday club night for 6 weeks starting Tuesday 28th June.

The tournament will be based on a 6 round Swiss, however the pairings each week will be subject to a time increment handicap depending on the players current rating.

The time control for each game will be 40 minutes plus an increment of 40 seconds a move. The increment will however be reduced for higher rated players down to zero. (See attached rules for details). This will hopefully level out the games and allow everyone a chance to win the competition.

Please do support this event and your club over the summer. Don't worry if you are on holiday during this time as you are allowed 2 byes in any round except the final round.

Hopefully, if the event is supported by members, we will all enjoy over the board chess during the summer and be able to award the winner the title of Club Summer Champion 2022.

Please confirm you are able to take part by sending an email to me at: richard.buxton@talktalk.net.

Regards Richard.

Stratford Summer Handicap Tournament 2022

The tournament will be run over a 6 round Swiss competition.

Players will be allocated a handicap score based on their June ECF Standard OTB rating.

If no Standard OTB rating is found the first found rating from the following shall be used:

1. ECF Standard Online rating.

2. ECF Rapid OTB rating.

3. ECF Rapid Online rating.

4. Chess.com or Lichess.com Standard rating.

5. A rating determined by the Controller.

Handicap points will be determined using the 100 value of the rating.

E.g.  1265 = 2    1562 = 5.

Players will compare handicap points before each game and subtract the lower points from the higher. This is the player handicap.

E.g.  Player handicap is  5 - 2 = 3

The player handicap is then multiplied by 10 seconds to give the game handicap

E.g.  10 x 3 = 30 seconds.

This resulting figure will be taken from the higher rated players added time increment in seconds up to a maximum of 40 seconds.

The time control for the lower rated player for each game shall be:

40 minutes plus 40 seconds per move.

The time control for the higher rated player for each game shall be:

40 minutes plus (40 minus the game handicap) in seconds per move.

E.g. Game handicap = 30 seconds.

Higher player has 40 minutes plus 10 seconds per move.

If the game handicap is greater than 4 the added time increment for the higher player is zero.

Digital clocks will be used for every game.

Assistance will be given to those players who are unfamiliar with setting up digital clocks.

Players may take a maximum of two 1/2 point byes in all rounds except the final round.

The winner of the competition will be the Club Summer Champion.

If at the end of the competition more than one player has the largest number of points the player with the lowest rating shall be declared the Club Champion.

Controller: Richard Buxton..