Questions and Answers about NL Chess

Learning, Playing and Improving Chess Skills

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  Where can a potential young player learn to play chess or find other players to play?

  Many schools have their own chess club which often meet at lunch time or after school. If your school does not have a club, consider starting one. (See About School Chess and the NLSCA for more information on this). There are fewer multi-school weekend chess clubs but, in St. John's, Vanier Chess Club meets on Saturday mornings at Vanier Elementary School and it is open to school-aged players from all NL schools. The club teaches new players how to play, and coaches established players to improve their skills. There is a small registration fee which covers membership for the whole school year. There is also a canteen which opens for a few minutes each week selling snacks and that is very popular with the kids. The club typically has 70+ members but is run entirely by volunteers. For more information please contact us. [Q011]

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  What if I cannot get to a chess club?

  For those not able to get to a chess club, there are some excellent on-lines chess sites such as Chess.com and LiChess.org that players can join at no cost. Parental supervision is strongly recommended, however, for young players using on-line chess sites. In addition to on-line sources, there is a huge array of books available covering topics ranging from the basics of learning to play chess to advanced chess tactics and strategy. Please feel free to contact us for recommendations on appropriate books to help young players improve their chess skills. [Q012]

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  How can I start a school chess club?

  School chess clubs are not difficult to run and you do not need to be an great chess player to organize one. The NLSCA can provide help if you want to start a chess club in your school. See About School Chess and the NLSCA for more information and guidance on starting and running a chess school club. [Q010]

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  Are there any chess clubs or chess events for adult players in Newfoundland and Labrador?

  Yes. The Newfoundland and Labrador Chess Association (NLCA) organizes chess events for adult players in Newfoundland and Labrador. [Q013]

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  Are there any chess coaches available to do individual or group coaching?

  Yes, The NLSCA does not have its own coaches, but there are independent chess coaches available in Newfoundland and Labrador who are available for individual and group coaching. Please feel free to contact us for the most current information on this topic. It is also possible to find chess coaches on-line but the NLSCA does not maintain any information on coaches outside the province. [Q039]

Chess Tournaments - General Questions

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  When are chess tournaments held in Newfoundland and Labrador?

  The NLSCA typically runs a scholastic chess tournament about once every month throughout the school year. Tournaments are run by NLSCA volunteers in accordance with the NLSCA Tournament Rules. Most tournaments run by the NLSCA are rated tournaments (see Ratings for more details). Tournament announcements will be posted to the NLSCA web site and will also sent out to our email list. Tournament results will generally be posted on the NLSCA web site shortly after each tournament. [Q005]

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  Why should a young player consider playing in a chess tournament?

  Tournaments provide a structured but fun environment for competition which allows players to meet and play against opponents they might not otherwise meet. Tournaments provide a means by which players can test and improve their chess and they provide a motivation for improving those skills. Tournaments are how players obtain a chess rating, and how they improve that rating. Tournaments allow players to meet and socialize with other like-minded players of their own age, and to form long-lasting friendships. In many tournaments, between rounds, players get together to review their games or particularly interesting positions, or engage in playing chess variants such as speed chess or bughouse chess for fun. [Q022]

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  How old does a player have to be to play in a chess tournament?

  In NLSCA tournaments, there are typically players from Grade 1 to Grade 12, but we do see kindergarten players in our tournaments from time-to-time. There have even been pre-school players on occasion. Players are expected to be able to play independently and are not allowed to get help from anyone during a game. So the main concern is whether a young player understands the game well enough to play, and can cope with the tournament environment. That includes being able to handle losing games. Losses are part of chess. Players actually learn most from the games that they lose so losses are valuable experience but some young players may be disheartened by multiple losses. Children differ in how they handle losses so ultimately parents and guardians are likely to be the best judges of whether their young player is ready to play in tournaments. [Q001]

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  Are parents/guardians required to stay at the tournament to supervise their young players?

  In NLSCA tournaments, all tournament participants must be supervised by a parent or designated guardian. Neither the Newfoundland and Labrador School Chess Association (NLSCA) nor the host school will be held responsible for the safety or behaviour of participants not actively engaged in tournament play. The responsibility of the tournament organizers will be limited to ensuring fair competition in accordance with NLSCA tournament rules. [Q050]

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  How many players typically play in scholastic tournaments in Newfoundland and Labrador?

  The number of players varies substantially and depends most notably on the venue, but the majority of NLSCA tournaments have between 50 and 90 players. In recent years, however, the number of players at a single NLSCA tournament has been as high as 175 and as low as 20. The results from almost all NLSCA tournaments for the last 20 years are available on the NLSCA web site (see Past Tournaments). [Q019]

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  How many games will a player play in a tournament?

  In NLSCA tournaments we typically aim for players to play five or six games, but, in some cases, players may play three, four or seven games. The actual number depends on the number of players in the tournament section. For example, if there is an odd number of players in the section, some or all players may get a bye in one round. The number of games can be higher in speed chess tournaments. [Q023]

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  What are "sections" in chess tournaments?

  Sections are groups of players who may play each other in a tournament. Awards (i.e. trophies, medals or cash prizes) are awarded by section. In NLSCA tournaments, sections are normally defined based on player grades or rating. For example, a PRIMARY section will usually include players from kindergarten to grade 3 whereas an ELEMENTARY section will usually include players from grade 4 to 6, and a JUNIOR HIGH section will include players from grades 7 to 9. Rating-based sections are less common but might, for example, have sections with players who have Chess n Math ratings (1) below 750, (2) from 751 to 1000, and (3) above 1000. The sections planned for the tournament are normally published in advance on the tournament announcement, but sometimes adjustments are required on the day, based on the number of players who show up in each section. [Q027]

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  Can players choose which section they play in?

  Players sometimes ask to play in a higher section so that they get practice against stronger opponents. This is called "playing up". For example, a particularly strong grade 3 player who would normally play in the PRIMARY section (kindergarten to grade 3) might prefer to play in the ELMENTARY section (grades 4 to 6). Players are never permitted to play in a lower section, however. Players wishing to play-up must make the request when registering or on arrival at the tournament venue on the day. Whether such request can be accommodated depends on the tournament format and the number of players registered in the relevant sections. The request will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Tournament Director on the day. [Q028]

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  What do the winners of tournaments receive?

  The awards for the winners vary between tournaments, but the awards are normally described on the relevant tournament announcement. For NLSCA tournaments, announcements are typically posted on the NLSCA web site and sent out via email. Generally in NLSCA tournaments, each of the top three places in each section will receive a medal but there are sometimes special cases where something different applies (for example where two sections are combined into one due to a low turnout). Some tournaments, such as the Canadian Chess Challenge Provincial Final, have trophies for the top three players in each grade. In the NL individual championship, there is also a perpetual trophy engraved with the names of all past winners which the winner can usually keep until the next NL Individual Championship. In some tournaments there are cash prizes for the upper sections (i.e. for the older players). [Q048]

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  What happens in the event of bad weather on the day of a tournament?

  Where bad weather forces changes (such as cancelation, postponement or a delayed start) to an NLSCA tournament we will announce those changes clearly on the main page of the NLSCA web site. We will also send out the announcment to our email list. Whenever possible, we will also inform the radio stations such as CBC and VOCM, asking them to include the announcement in their community announcements slot. If you would like to be added to our email list then please send us a message via our contact us page, making sure to check the box "Subscribe to our email list" at the botton of the page. [Q060]

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  Is there usually food and drink available at the tournament venue?

  Yes, but the details vary between tournaments. Most tournaments have at least a light canteen service that has snacks and drinks. In some cases there can be a more extensive selection of food and drink available. It typically depends on the facilities available. [Q064]

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  Is there a Lost and Found at NLSCA chess tournaments.?

  No. Usually we will leave at the venue, any items that appear to be lost. This seems to be the most likely place that the owner of a lost item will look for it upon realizing that it is lost. Moreover, tournaments are typically hosted in schools or similar shared locations so usually we cannot be sure that any item left behind is the property of one of the tournament participants. There are some exceptions, however. If an item left behind at a tournament clearly belongs of one of the participants, and we are fairly sure we can return it to its owner, then we will probably take it with us when we leave. This is most likely to happen if the item has the player's name on it, but occasionally, we see other items left behind that we recognise as belonging to a particular player. So if you think you may have left an item at a tournament, please check the venue first. If you are unable to locate it there, you are welcome to contact us just in case we have it. [Q049]

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  Are there any tournaments in Newfoundland and Labrador where young (school-aged) players can play adults?

  Almost all NLSCA tournaments are rated by Chess n Math Association, and are open only to players up to grade 12. There are, however, two unrated NLSCA tournaments that allow adult players. These are the annual NLSCA speed chess championships (which have an open section that allows adult players) and the bughouse (a.k.a. doubles chess) tournaments (which are open to players of all ages). The Newfoundland and Labrador Chess Association (NLCA) however, runs tournaments that are CFC rated and which are typically open to young players too. [Q036]

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  How does the NLSCA use the tournament fees paid by players?

  All tournament fees are used to fund NLSCA tournaments and related scholastic chess activities, and to support chess in schools in Newfoundland and Labrador. Tournament fees are currently the only source of income to fund the NLSCA activities. Fees pay for direct tournament costs including venue costs, the awards for winners (including medals, trophies and sometimes cash prizes), the pre-registration system, trophy maintenance and engraving, and the tournament rating fees. Fees also pay for the equipment used in tournaments including chess sets, chess clocks, a laptop computer, software, printers, a card payment terminal, and a cellular router to provide internet access (to support card payments and scorekeeping activities). Fees also pay for consumables such as paper, printer toner, clock batteries and tape, and for services such as the cellular internet access for accepting card payments and for scorekeeping during the event. Tournament fees also cover the NLSCA's minimal administration costs including the NLSCA web site, domain registration (chess.nl.ca), and NLSCA email services. Fees for the Canadian Chess Challenge events help, pay for costs related to the NL Team competing at the Canadian Chess Challenge National event, including the NL team T-Shirts and, when possible, sending a coach to travel with the team to the national event. Finally, the fees also allow the NLSCA to support fledgling chess clubs by contributing chess sets to help new clubs get started. The NLSCA is run entirely by unpaid volunteers and has no paid staff. [Q030]

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  Is there a school team tournament in Newfoundland and Labrador?

  Yes. In most years, the NLSCA hosts a school team tournament once per year. The organization of the team tournament can pose some significant challenges, however, so the precise format of this tournament can vary. In recent years we have aimed for an inclusive appraoch that allows all players from a school who want to play for their school to do so, and to contribute to their school team's success. [Q061]

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  What is the Canadian Chess Challenge (CCC)?

  The Canadian Chess Challenge (CCC) is an annual interprovincial team chess tournament in which teams from each of Canada's 10 provinces compete against each other. The Canadian Chess Challenge is organized every year by the Chess n Math Association and the provincial school chess organizations like the NLSCA. The national tournament takes place on the Victoria Day weekend. Each province is asked to field a team with one player from each grade, from grade 1 to grade 12. This national event is held in a different location across Canada every year. The national event is organized by Chess and Math in association with the host province. The national event is run as a team round robin tournament where every player plays against every other player in their grade for a total of 9 games played over two days. At the provincial level, the provincial associations are responsible for selecting the players who will form their team. This is ultimately done through the Canadian Chess Challenge Provincial Final, which in Newfoundland and Labrador, is usually held in March. In most years, however, players have been required to qualify for the provincial final through regional CCC tournaments before they can play in the Newfoundland and Labrador CCC Provincial Final. Information on the national Canadian Chess Challenge event can be found on the web site of the Chess n Math Association while information on the Newfoundland and Labrador Canadian Chess Challenge in scoreboard for the national Canadian Chess Challenge are available back to 2004. [Q065]

Chess Tournaments - Registration

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  How much does it cost to play in a chess tournament?

  The tournament registration fee for each tournament is given on the tournament announcement. As a guide, recent (and not-so-recent) tournament announcements can be viewed on the NLSCA web site under "Past Tournaments". [Q021]

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  Can I pay by credit or debit card when registering for a tournament?

  Yes, as of October 2023, we have been able to accept credit and debit cards as payment when registering. This applies whether you are pre-registering on-line (via Eventbrite) or on the day at the door. The card payment device that we use at the door can handle tap payments using a credit or debit card if that is your preference. [Q031]

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  Can I pay cash when registering for a tournament?

  Yes, we accept cash payments for registration fees, but only for registration on the door. [Q032]

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  Can players register for a chess tournament in advance?

  Yes. As of October 2023, tournaments run by the NLSCA normally allow for players to register in advance. Where there is advanced registration, the tournament announcement will include a link to the registration page. There are a number of advantages to registering in advance such as a lower registration fee and avoiding the need to line-up to register at the door. [Q018]

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  What happens if a player registers in advance and then cannot play, or decides not to play?

  For NLSCA tournaments, registration fees can be refunded so long as we receive a refund request before the start of the tournament. The pre-registration system (Eventbrite) can issue refunds up to a day before the event. After that, or in case of difficulties, please contact us to make a refund request, explaining the relevant details. In general, refunds will not be issued if we do not receive the request until after the tournament has started. [Q020]

Chess Tournaments - Arriving and Leaving

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  What time do chess tournaments usually start and end?

  For NLSCA tournaments, registration at the door usually opens at 9:30am and closes at 10:00am. Players who have registered in advance are not required to register at the door and just need to arrive by the close of registration.

  Tournaments typically end between 2:00pm and 4:00pm but end times vary depending on the age of the players, the type of tournament, the actual lengths of the games played, and whether any tiebreak games are required. [Q024]

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  Do players who have pre-registered have to check-in or show their ticket when they arrive?

  No. There is no need for pre-registered players to check-in at the registration desk on arrival. The names of pre-registered players will already have been entered into the pairing computer. Pre-registered players just need to be at the venue by the end of registration, when there will be a roll call of all registered players. [Q026]

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  What should players do when they arrive at the tournament venue?

  For players who have not registered in advance, the first, and most important thing to do is to register at the registration desk and pay the registration fee. Other than that, there is nothing specifically players need to do until registration closes, but players will often play scrap games while they are waiting. Once registration closes, all the tournament participants will be called together in the tournament playing area for a participant roll call and player briefing. It is very important that all registered players are at the roll call because it is used to confirm that we have correctly received all player details and that we have accurately entered them into the tournament management system, so that we can be sure that we have an accurate list of players in each section from which to generate pairings. After the roll call there will be a player briefing which covers a range of topics about the how the tournament will run, details specific to the particular tournament, and any announcements related to the tournament venue. Any questions from the players will then be answered at the end of this briefing. Once the player briefing is complete players will be called to the boards where they will play their first game. [Q043]

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  What are the options if a player cannot arrive at the tournament before the end of registration?

  We cannot delay the start of a tournament (or even a section) if a player will be late, but we can make some accommodation (such as excluding the player from the first round) so long as the player has registered for the tournament and that we are informed, before registration closes at the venue, that the player will be late . It is also helpful to know when a player who will be late is expected to arrive, but, if that is unknown, it is sufficient to check-in at the registration desk when the player arrives. Please note, however, that it is not a good idea for a player to arrive late for their first tournament because they will then miss the player briefing, which provides important information to the players. [Q033]

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  What should a player do when they realize that they will not be able to arrive before the close of registration?

  It is most important for any player who may be late to register for the tournament, either in advance (on-line), or at the door before registration closes. Players who have not registered, cannot participate in the tournament. No registrations can be accepted after registration has closed at the door. If a player has not registered in advance, and cannot arrive before the close of registration, then the only option is to have someone else register the player at the door.

  It is also very important to let us know that the player will be late, preferably indicating approximately when the player is expected to arrive at the tournament. This can be done either by sending us a message via our contact us page, or by having someone else inform us at the registration desk on the player's behalf. If you do not know when the player will arrive, then please let us know that is the case, and ensure that the player checks in at the registration desk when the player actually arrives. [Q034]

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  Under what circumstances are tiebreak games played?

  Tiebreak games are generally played when players are tied for one of the top three places in a section. There are exceptions though, especially if a section is relatively late finishing because there have been a number of long games in the section. Sometimes, instead of playing tiebreak games, multiple medals will be awarded to the tied players. This is most common for third place (bronze medals) where ties are more likely. In tournament sections where their are cash prizes, the cash prize may be divided between the tied players instead of the tied players playing a tiebreak game.

  In certain cases tiebreak games are unavoidable. This is the case in the Canadian Chess Challenge Provincial Final, for instance, because the winner in each grade will be invited to play for the Newfoundland and Labrador team in the National Final. There is only one place available per grade so any ties must be resolved. [Q025]

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  Can a player leave during a tournament and then return later?

  Yes, but please notify the Tournament Director about the absence when the player leaves, and when the player returns. In NLSCA tournaments, players are allowed to request one half-point bye during the tournament. This means that, if a player leaves and then returns later, and the player notifies Tournament Director, the player will be awarded a half point for one missed game, (the equivalent of a draw). In addition, the player will not be paired with an opponent for that round.

  Additional missed games will be treated as zero point byes, i.e. no points awarded. It is still better than just not showing up for the round, however. Byes do not affect a player's rating, whereas if a player just does not show up for a game, the result will be recorded as a loss, and that can adversely affect the player's rating.

  Please note that the half-point bye can be requested for any round, except the final round. If the player cannot play in the last round and notifies the Tournament Director before the round starts, the player will receive a zero point bye. [Q035]

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  When are award ceremonies held?

  In NLSCA tournaments, we typically hold small individual awards ceremonies for each section as each section finishes. Awards ceremonies require that all tiebreaks in the section have been resolved. [Q045]

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  What if a player needs to leave the tournament early?

  If a player needs to leave the tournament early, the player should just let the tournament director and/or the adjudicator for the player's section know that they will be leaving before the end of the tournament. This can be done either in advance, or when the player actually leaves the event, or preferably both. The player will then be removed from the roster for the section and will not be paired for any further rounds. Any results up to that point will stand, however, and the player will still be shown in the standings for the sections. The results of games played before leaving will be used in updating the player's rating. Note that if the player leaves without letting anyone know, then the player will most likely be paired with an opponent for the next round and the result will be recorded as if the game was played, as a win for the opponent and a loss for the player who left. [Q046]

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  How will a player know if it is OK to leave at the end of the tournament?

  For standard tournaments, once the awards in a player's section have been given out, players from that section can safely leave. If players want or need to leave before the relevant awards ceremony, they should verify that they have played all the regular round games, and that they are not required for any tiebreak games. To determine if there are any ties, it is necessary to carefully examine the points of each player in the top positions in the final round standings for the section. In NLSCA tournaments, we normally post the final round standings on green paper. It is easy to misinterpret these standings, however, so it is best to check with the tournament director. In addition, in some tournaments, such as the Canadian Chess Challenge (CCC) Provincial Final, and the NL School Team Championship, the situation is more complicated as there are additional procedures at the end of the torunament for some players. So, in general, the best way to be sure if it is OK to leave before the awards ceremony is to ask the section adjudicator or the tournament director. [Q047]

Chess Tournaments - During a Tournament

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  How will players know who they have to play and where they have to sit?

  Player pairings will be posted for each round before the round starts. The pairings list a board number which is unique in each section. They also indicate whether a player is to play as white or black. The tables for each sections will also be labeled. So, using the posted pairing information, players can find out their board and colour, and can locate their place at the table. The section adjudicator will verify that all players are in the correct seat and playing the correct opponent, before players are told they can start, so any errors can be corrected then. [Q051]

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  Do tournaments have lunch breaks, and if so, at what time and how long are they?

  Yes, in NLSCA tournaments we normally try to include a lunch break. The timing varies, however. The lunch break for each section will be timed to fit in between rounds (for example between the 2nd and 3rd round) but different sections play at different rates and it is not possible to predict that timing in advance. The exact timing of the lunch break for each section will, therefore, be announced sometime after the tournament had started. There is not usually a lunch break at NLSCA speed chess tournaments, however. [Q063]

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  Are spectators (including parents) allowed to watch games?

  All NLSCA tournaments have a designated area for spectators but, for reasons of fairness and to avoid even accidental interference, we have to separate spectators and players by a reasonable distance. For this reason, it is generally not possible for spectators to see the details of a tournament game in progress from the spectator area. Spectators who are too close to a tournament game that is in progress can influence the outcome of a game without ever intending to do so. In some cases, this can result in the players having to replay a game, which delays the tournament for all players in the section. Players may, however, record their games using game record sheets and standard chess notation so that they can review the games later. [Q056]

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  How are players paired against each other in a tournament?

  A round robin pairing scheme will almost always be used where the number of players in a section means that a round robin is practical. A round robin format is considered the fairest pairing scheme because it means that, during the tournament, every player in a section plays against every other player in the section. A round robin is usually practical where there are up to seven players in a section. With seven players, a round robin will mean that there will be seven rounds, with each player playing six games and having a bye in one round. Occasionally, there are sections that have only three or four players. In such cases, a double round robin format may be used where each player plays every other player twice, once as white, and once as black.

  Where practical considerations prevent a round-robin based pairing, the Swiss pairing system will be used. The Swiss pairing system is an internationally recognized method of pairing in chess tournaments and is commonly used in sections with a larger number of players. Swiss pairing attempts to achieve the fairest possible pairings in situations where a round robin is not practical. In Swiss pairing, players who have similar scores in the tournament are paired together. In the first round, where all players have zero points, Swiss pairing pairs players based on their rating. After the first round, players are paired based on their total score in the tournament up to that point. This means that players will typically find they are playing more closely matched opponents as the tournament progresses. For the strongest players in a section, their games should get increasingly harder as the tournament progresses, with the games in the last round being the most challenging, and the most decisive. [Q062]

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  What if I want to run a tournament in my school. How can I generate pairings?

  In NLSCA tournaments, we use software to generate pairings and keep track of player scores in each section. Pairing software, however, is not free, and it takes time to learn to use it correctly. For occasional in-school tournaments, therefore, we recommend dividing the payers in to groups of seven or fewer players and using a round-robin format for pairing players. This can be done by printing a pairing sheet for each sections and entering the names in the appropriate column.

  In principle, it is also possible to pair larger sections using the Swiss pairing system without using a software. This can be accomplished using Swiss pairing cards to pair the players but it is challenging, requires an indepth understanding of Swiss pairing, and is potentially error prone. [Q052]

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  Who determines who has won and who has lost a tournament game?

  The players must agree the result of the game. The adjudicator is not allowed to indicate the outcome of the game. When the players believe that the game has come to an end, at least one of the players should raise their hand to draw the attention of the section adudicator. The section adjudicator will then come to the board and ask the players the result of the game. The adjudicator will check that the two players agree to the result. If the players agree, the adjudicator will record the result. If the players do not agree, then the game continues until they come to a point where they do agree. [Q054]

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  Should players verify that the results of their games have been recorded correctly? If so, how?

  Yes. Players should verify that their results have been recorded correctly. The results are posted after each round in a prominent location near the playing area at the tournament venue. The results from the previous round will show each player's result against their opponent. If a player believes they see an error, they should report it immediately to the section adjucator or to the tournament director. Any errors can be easily corrected if they are reported immediately. It is much harder to correct errors that are not reported until later, after other rounds have been played. [Q067]

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  What should a player do if they believe that a result has been recorded incorrectly?

  If a player believes that a result has been recorded incorrectly, they should report it immediately to the tournament director, to the section adjudicator, or to the scorekeeping desk. [Q068]

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  Why do some players receive a bye and how much is a bye worth?

  Byes are required in sections where there is an odd number of players. Byes in sections paired as round-robin are treated differently from byes sections paired using Swiss pairing. With round-robin sections, if one player has a bye then all players will have a bye, so the bye will not make any difference to the overall results at the end of the tournament.

  In NLSCA tournaments, we award zero points for a bye in a round robin paired section. In Swiss paired sections, if a player is unpaired (because there is an odd number of players in the section) they will be awared a full point. This is called a forced bye (as opposed to a requested bye). With Swiss pairing, forced byes, where they are necessary, are awarded to the player with the lowest score who has not previously had a forced bye in the tournament.

  Requested byes (which must be requested before a round is paired) are worth a half point (equivalent to a draw). A player can only request one half point bye, however, and that cannot be in the last round. [Q066]

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  How will players know how well they are doing in the tournament?

  Results for each section are posted prominently at the tournament after each round. This includes the results of games in the round just completed, the resulting player standings (based on the points they have so far in the tournamnet), and the pairings for the next round. [Q055]

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  Are the tournament results posted at the event during the tournament?

  Yes. The results for each section are printed and posted somewhere near the playing area after each round. The posting shows the results of all games in the round and the standings of the players after the round. The standings also show the results from previous rounds including which players played each other. [Q069]

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  Are the tournament results posted on the internet, either during or after the tournament?

  We try to post results of the NLSCA web site during the tournament, but this is not always possible. The tournament results are typically posted on the NLSCA web site, sometimes immediately after the event, but almost always within a day of the tournament. The results are also available from the Chess n' Math Association once the tournament is rated but that may be a few days after the tournament. [Q070]

Chess Ratings

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  What is a chess rating?

  A chess rating is a number that represents the strength of a player based on past games played by the player (in rated tournaments). [Q037]

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  How are chess ratings determined?

  Player ratings are calculated based on their results when playing in rated tournaments. In simple terms, a player's rating increases for each game the player wins and decreases for each game the player loses. The rating difference between the two players matters, however. If a player wins against a much higher rated player, then if the winning player's rating will increase more than a win against a player of about the same rating, or a lower rated player. Similarly, a draw against a player who has about the same rating, will not change either player's rating very much, whereas if a player draws a rated game against a much higher rated player, then the winner's rating will increase and the loser's player will decrease. Almost all NLSCA tournaments are rated tournaments. In these tournaments, all games from the regular rounds are used for updating ratings but tiebreak games are not used for rating updates. Only speed chess tournaments are unrated. Precise details on how the ratings are calculated can be found on the Chess n' Math web site on the Scholastic Rating page. [Q038]

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  Who maintains chess ratings?

  Player ratings are maintained by various chess organizations. The NLSCA now uses the Chess n' Math Association (CMA) exclusively for rating all rated tournaments. Other examples of organizations that maintain player ratings are the Canadian Federation of Chess (CFC) and the International Chess Federation (FIDE). On-line chess sites such as Chess.com and Lichess also maintain their own rating systems for games played on their sites. The choice of which organization will be used to rate a tournament is a choice made by the tournament organizers (usually in advance). [Q041]

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  Are all tournament games used for rating updates?

  In general, it is normal for tournament games to affect ratings but there are exceptions. In NLSCA that use regular time controls, all games from the regular rounds are used for updating ratings after the tournament but tiebreak games are not usually included in rating updates. Also, NLSCA speed chess tournaments are not rated and hence the results do not affect player ratings. In tournaments not run by the NLSCA, the situation may be different. The Canadian Federation of Chess (CFC), for example, rates adult tournaments across Canada. While the Chess n Math Association rates tournaments for school aged players across Canada, the CFC also rates youth tournaments in other provinces. [Q040]

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  How soon after a tournament are the player ratings updated?

  The ratings are usually updated on the Chess n Math ratings page on the Monday following the tournament. Sometimes, however, we can post the ratings on the NLSCA web site (along with the results) before they are available from the Chess n Math web site. [Q071]

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  Is there a way for a player to calculate their rating themselves?

  Yes. The Chess n' Math Rating page. has a rating calculator that players can use to calculate their updated ratings after a tournament. A player would just need to enter the results of the games played in the tournament along with the ratings of their opponents in those games. Precise details on how the ratings are calculated can be found on the Chess n' Math web site Scholastic Rating page. [Q074]

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  How can a player look up their rating, or the rating of another player?

  Players can look up their Chess n' Math rating, or the rating of another player, on the Chess n' Math Rating page. This includes the player history including a list of rated tournaments played and a graph showing the player's rating history. [Q072]

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  Are there any player rankings available, such as the top rated players by grade?

  Yes. The Chess n' Math Rating page. can show a variety of rankings based on rating such as the top 10 players in a grade in Newfoundland and Labrador, or in Canada. [Q073]

Chess Clocks and Time Controls

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  How do chess clocks work?

  Chess clocks have two timers, one for each player. In a tournament, each player is allocated the same amount of time at the beginning of each game. When it is a player's turn, the player's clock counts down time on their clock. When the player finishes their move, the player presses a button on the clock which stops their clock and starts their opponent's clock. [Q004]

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  Why are chess clocks used in chess tournaments?

  Chess clocks are used to keep tournaments manageable to ensure tournament games do not go on too long just like time limits on sports games like hockey and soccer. [Q002]

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  What might happen in a tournament without chess clocks?

  Chess tournaments are usually organized in rounds in which players are paired against opponents. Usually, every game in one round must finish before the next round can start. Young players tend to play shorter games than older players so we do not usually use clocks for the younger grades (i.e. below grade 4) but, in the high grades, in the absence of chess clocks, games (and hence rounds) could go on for a long time. This in turn could mean that the tournament has to end before all planned rounds have been played. Typically, at least five rounds are required to determine clear winners in a tournament section, so if too few rounds are completed, the may be no clear winners in a section. [Q029]

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  Do all players need to learn to use chess clocks?

  Not necessarily. Chess clocks are primarily used in tournaments. Players who are not playing in tournaments need never use a chess clock. In NLSCA tournaments that use the normal time controls, players are required to use clocks if they are in grade 4 or above. In speed chess tournaments, all players must use clocks, regardless of the grade or age of the player. Players do sometimes use chess clocks in casual (i.e. non-tournament) games for example when they wish to limit how long a game will last, or just for the fun of it, but that is then their choice by mutual agreement. [Q014]

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  How can a young player learn how to use a chess clock?

  In NLSCA tournaments, the tournament director will typically ask if any players need instruction on how to use a chess clock. Beyond tournaments though, chess clubs (and chess coaches) will often have their own chess clocks, which players can use for learning and for practice. Chess clocks can also be purchased fairly easily on-line. [Q015]

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  How do chess clocks affect players in tournaments?

  Chess clocks limit the amount of time that each player gets to play their moves. Play continues essentially as it would without a clock, unless and until a player runs out of time. In principle, when a player runs out of time, the player can make no more moves and loses the game. A player whose time has run out, however, can continue playing until their opponent points out that the time has expired.

  It is each player's responsibility to press the button for their clock once they have made their move. If the player forgets to do this, the opponent is under no obligation to point that out. It is important, therefore, for both players to keep a watchful eye on their opponent's clock, as well as their own. It is also very important that spectators and adjudicators do not draw attention, even accidentally, to the fact that a player may have run out of time. [Q016]

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  Should young player use a chess clock even when playing practice or casual games?

  In principle, playing practice games with clocks outside tournaments can help young players get comfortable with using them so that they are not adversely affected by using clocks during tournaments. Caution is required, however. Young players often need to slow down and to take more time to carefully consider their moves. Chess clocks can cause players, particularly young players, to feel under time pressure, even when they have plenty of time on the clock. This can lead them to rush their moves unnecessarily, and hence make mistakes, or to miss things that they would have seen if they had spent more time study the position on the board. So if clocks are used habitually in practice, it may limit the degree to which a young player is able to learn more advanced chess skills. [Q017]

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  What are the key differences between analog and digital chess clocks?

  Analog chess clocks have hands like a traditional clock. The time is set by moving the hands to the required position at the start of each new game. As the time on a player's clock gets low, the minute hand on the clock progressively pushes aside a hard red 'flag' hanging in its path. Eventually, when the player's time finally runs out, the minute hand passes the end of the flag and the flag then suddenly falls, indicating that the player's time has expired.

  Digital chess clocks are generally more flexible in that they can have many different pre-programmed timing modes. They also tend to be easier to set/reset. Once set in the required mode, digital clocks can be reset at the touch of a button, which is particularly convenient for scholastic tournaments. With digital clocks, the expiry of a player's time is indicated in some way on the clock's digital display panel, such as with a red light or flashing of the digits on the display. Many digital clocks are also capable of giving an audible indication when a player's time has expired but such audible indications are not allowed in NLSCA tournaments. [Q009]

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  What is meant by 'flagging' when using a chess clock?

  A player who has run out of time is said to have 'flagged'. The term comes from the way in which the older style analog chess clocks operate. With analog chess clocks, as a player's time gets low, the minute hand on the clock progressively pushes aside a hard 'flag' hanging in its path, until, ultimately the minute had passes the end of the flag and the flag falls. Digital chess clocks do not have physical flag to indicate a player's time has expired and instead use other methods to indicate that a player's time has expired but the language of the older analog clocks has persevered, and we still talk about players 'flagging' when they run out of time, even when using digital clocks. [Q042]

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  What is meant by 'time controls' in chess tournaments?

  In order to keep tournaments manageable, we use chess clocks to limit the lengths of games. Time controls are the specific timing scheme in use in any given tournament or game. Examples are 'sudden death', 'increment', 'delay'. [Q003]

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  What does 'sudden death' mean in time controls?

  Sudden death means that each player gets a fixed amount of time for the game (e.g. 30 minutes). If a player runs out of time, they lose the game provided that their opponent has enough material (pieces) left on the board to checkmate the player who has run out of time. This latter provision can get very complicated which is why we no longer use sudden death time controls in NLSCA tournaments. [Q007]

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  What is difference between 'increment' and 'delay' in time controls?

  With increments, the increment is added to the time on a player's clock at the beginning of each move. With delay, the counting down of the clock is delayed at the beginning of a player's turn. With increment, a player can actually build time back up. That cannot happen with delay. [Q006]

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  What time controls are used in NLSCA tournaments?

  We now use 25 minutes 5 second increment. That means that 5 seconds are added to a player’s clock at the start of each move. This means that if you make some moves in less than 5 seconds (as can easily happen at the end of a game) then you can gain some time back. That in turn means that a player need never actually run out of time but will be forced to make rapid moves when their time gets low. So, the players will then play the game to a conclusion but the player who is low on time will be at a disadvantage. [Q008]

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