What is the difference between the Scholarship Tournament & Scholastic Tournament?
The scholastic tournament is a traditional chess tournament, rated through the USCF, that awards prizes to players in a variety of divisions. Anyone can register for the
scholastic tournament, awards are provided to all players. Top players in the College & Adult tournament will receive cash prizes. The scholarship tournament is an
invitation only tournament serving students from underserved communities. Each year the HHCF invites 4 schools to compete for educational scholarships. We hope
in the future to receive enough funding to allow more schools to participate in the scholarship tournament.
I do not know which section to place the competitor in. Can you help?
The tournament director will verify the participants rating with the USCF. If you are not currently rated, then you will register for the UNRATED section that applies to your
age group. If you are not sure what section to place your child in, please make your best guess and the TD's will make the appropriate adjustments as needed.
If your child is in Kindergarten, s/he would normally play in the Kindergarten Division. All other sections are based on grade and separated into unrated and rated
sections. The college section is open to anyone currently enrolled in a 2 year or 4 year accredited institution and both rated and unrated sections carry a cash prize
based on number of registrations. Adult section is open to anyone over the age of 18 years and carries a cash prize based on number of registration.
Any player can choose to move up a division, however higher ranked players can not move down a division.
If the competitor is a USCF member, you can check their rating at http://www.uschess.org/ms/MbrLst.php. Please remember that this is a rated tournament and all
parties must be members of the USCF. When you register you will be asked for your USCF member number, if you are not currently a member you will be provided with
a membership as part of your registration.
What is schedule for the players? Section Game Times: G/30: K-3 unr, 4-6 unr, 7-12 unr, college unr, u500, u1000 G/45: over 1000
What is meant by a bye? And, can you clarify why there is only one half point bye and the other byes are zero points?
A bye means you choose to pass on playing a game (you will be giving 1 bye if you miss a game). 1) Full point byes are generally given only when there is an uneven
number of players in a section. If your opponent does not show or we are unable to match you for a round, you will receive a full point bye. Unrated players seldom
receive full point byes and therefore will gain a half point bye 2) Half point byes--equivilant to a draw--are given when an individual requests to skip a round. During the
interstate competition a player will receive only one 1/2 point bye 3) Zero point byes are given for any round a player requests to skip after the other bye options have
been used 4) No byes will be provided in the last round of play. The United states Chess Federation does not rate byes.
I noticed players must be a member of the United States Chess Federation (USCF). What is that? Why do they have to be
members?
The United States Chess Federation is the national governing body of chess in the United States. Membership is required of all players in order to have our tournament
sanction as well to provide a rating that compares all players in the United States. This rating is done at the USCF headquarters in Tennessee after the event. The
rating is then used to properly place players in future events. Individuals who have not completed in a USCF tournament games are considered unrated. A technical
description of the USCF ratings system can be viewed from http://math.bu.edu/people/mg/ratings/rrating.system.pdf (A less technical description explaining
approximating formulas can be viewed from http://math.bu.edu/people/mg/ratings/approx/approx.html) You can join the USCF on the entry form or by going to http://beta.
uschess.org/frontend/section_203.php. You can check your membership status and rating at: http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrLst.php. I should also note that there is
a magazine that scholastic memberships receive four times a year. If you are not registered with the US Chess Federation, you will be registered as part of your
tournament registration.
Which U.S. Chess Federation rating will my child play under?
The rating that will be used must be the May Rating Supplement as that posts the official rating. While in small competitions directors, like myself, often use the most
recently posted rating, to be fair to players and Team coaches and so there is minimal confusion in to which section an individual should be placed, the May
Supplement will be used. All players will be listed by their official rating as of the May USCF Rating Supplement. If a different rating is posted online when I post the
entries, this rating and if need be, the section, will be changed and posted within a couple of weeks of the tournament.
My child is not a member of any school team can s/he compete?
Definitely! Chess is an individual sport and being part of a team only adds another flavor to the competition.
My child is home schooled, can s/he compete for a team?
Yes. Your child can compete for a team in the same school district as long as you can provide proof of homeschooling and school district compatibility. This option is
not available to children who are NOT home schooled. The proof of this must be provided at least thirty days before the start of the tournament and approved by the
Chief TD before the start of the tournament.
How do I know that my child is registered?
Entries are posted every few days about two weeks before the Interstate Scholastic Tournament at entries.html
The posting lists each players division, USCF rating and grade. Schools are not listed for privacy concerns, however teams are noted by team names.
How would I go about finding a hotel room for this event
There is a large selection of hotels located within 5 minutes of the Cow Palace. The HHCF has officially listed the following hotels for the best rates: Courtyard by
Marriot Oyster Point Water Front, Larkspur Landing San Francisco, Airport, Four Points by Sheraton San Francisco Airport, Comfort Suites San Francisco Airport. You
can also visit the Cow Palace Lodging site for more options.
What should my child and I bring to the tournament?
We suggest that you bring a chess clock if you have one. There will be food sold at the site. The venue has a strict "no outside food/drink" policy. We will note here that
we will have pencils, recording sheets, as well as chess sets for the players in the tournament hall and some extra clocks. See: Does my child have to use a chess
clock?
When we arrive at the tournament site on April 28 what should we do?
You should arrive at the Cow Palace about a 30 minutes before the first round is scheduled to begin. We will post by 30 minutes before the start of the first round, the
chess board your child will be playing at and the color they will play as well as their opponent. You will note that the first column lists the player alphabetically by the last
name. This is where you should look. The color indicates whether your child plays white or black. Then comes the child's opponent and his or her rating. The Board
is the Board number that the child plays on in his or her section. You may note that one player has a full point bye. This occurs when there is an uneven number of
players in the section. The lowest rated player with the lowest score gets the full point bye (equivalent to a win) for that round. Unrated players are generally not given
byes. Half-point byes may be given upon the request of a player to miss a round. No half-point byes can be given in the last round of the tournament.
Once you know what board your child is playing on, please sit them at that board at the proper color. PLEASE BE SURE THE CHILD IS IN THE CORRECT
SECTION/DIVISION. You will be asked to leave the playing room once the round is ready to begin. Please exit the room immediately after wishing your child good luck.
Inform your child where you will meet him or her when s/he is done with the game. Please do not crowd the exit doors. Young children will be asked to remain in a
holding area outside the exit doors until the parents, coach or person responsible for the child picks them up.
Will there be food sold at the site?
Yes! As noted in an answer to an earlier question, we strongly urge you to bring bottled water for your child's use in the tournament room.
Are there special rules that apply to this tournament?
The tournament is run under the US Chess Federation's Fifth Edition Rule Book.
Does my child have to use a chess clock?
Chess rules require that all players use a chess clock due to having time controls. Admittedly, many children are done with their games as soon as the Director says,
"Begin your games!" :0) If your child does not have a clock, a tournament director may place one at the board. In the vast majority of sections we will not have enough
clocks available. If your child's game is still going on and a clock becomes available, the TD may place a clock at his/her board and split the remaining time between
the two competitors. The TD, if the child does not know how to use a clock, will explain to the player(s) how the clock works. Basic information for using clocks: http:
//www.wholesalechess.com/resources/use-chess-clocks.html Information on using chess clocks and related rules for more advanced players: http://www.
hydeparkchess.com/Chess-Clock-Use.htm.
Does my child have to write down (notate) his/her games?
Our rules, following national scholastic regulations, state that no one in K-3 sections have to record the games, although we always recommend that the player does.
In the 4-6 grade sections, only the Varsity, Championship, Open section must record. Players in the 4-6 Junior Varsity and Novice Division do not have to record. All
players in Junior High School and above MUST write down (record/notate) their games. A TD after warning a player that is suppose to keep score who fails to do so,
may add time to the opponents clock or reduce time from the offending party. TD's may also decide to penalize the offending player in another manner and in extreme
case can give the opponent of the offending player a forfeit win.
What about my child using an electronic recording device similar to the MonRoi?
These devices are new to us and we are concerned about their ability to broadcast games to outside locations. Since it will be difficult to monitor players who go to the
restrooms outside the playing area, the Chief TD for this year's States has ruled that any electronic recording device will not be permitted.
I understand that as of January 1, 2007 Rule 15A has been changed to read that a player must first make the move and then record it on a score sheet. Will this be
process be enforced at this year's States? <
We are going to enforce the old Rule 15A (page 55 in the 5th edition of the rules) allowing the move to be written on the score sheet first.
Is Financial Aid Available?
Yes, however there is currently a waitlist. Information can be found here.
What about the Awards Ceremony?
First, all players will receive an award. Second, we have hundreds of trophies, plaques, medals and other awards to give to the players. If possible we will distribute
these after each section is completed, however, the main awards ceremonies for will start at 5:30 PM on Saturday. A special section of chairs will be set aside to the
right of the stage for all award winners. The children should not sit in this section until we are ready to give out the awards for their section/division. We hope we will be
able to post the winners under the section signs in the hallways before the ceremonies so the players will know to sit in the special section.
What are tie-breaks? Which will be used?
Tie-breaks are used when their are ties in position for the awarding of the trophies. In adult tournaments where money is awarded they can divide the money, however,
we, obviously cannot split a first place trophy when two people tie for first. Section 34 of the US Chess Federation Rules of Chess says: "There is no perfect tie-break
system; each has its faults." We will adhere to the tie-break order listed on page 199 of The Rules of Chess:*
1. Modified Median: The Median system evaluates the strength of a player's opposition by summing the final scores of his or her opponents and then discarding the
highest and lowest of these scores.
2. Solkoff: The Solkoff system is the same as the Median system except that no opponent's scores are discarded.
3. Cumulative: To determine cumulative tie-break score, simply add up the cumulative (running) score for each round.
4. Cumulative of Opposition: The cumulative tie-break points of each opponent are calculated and these are added together.
The computer program calculates these automatically.
Team tie-breaks will be based on Cumulative Score.
The scholastic tournament is a traditional chess tournament, rated through the USCF, that awards prizes to players in a variety of divisions. Anyone can register for the
scholastic tournament, awards are provided to all players. Top players in the College & Adult tournament will receive cash prizes. The scholarship tournament is an
invitation only tournament serving students from underserved communities. Each year the HHCF invites 4 schools to compete for educational scholarships. We hope
in the future to receive enough funding to allow more schools to participate in the scholarship tournament.
I do not know which section to place the competitor in. Can you help?
The tournament director will verify the participants rating with the USCF. If you are not currently rated, then you will register for the UNRATED section that applies to your
age group. If you are not sure what section to place your child in, please make your best guess and the TD's will make the appropriate adjustments as needed.
If your child is in Kindergarten, s/he would normally play in the Kindergarten Division. All other sections are based on grade and separated into unrated and rated
sections. The college section is open to anyone currently enrolled in a 2 year or 4 year accredited institution and both rated and unrated sections carry a cash prize
based on number of registrations. Adult section is open to anyone over the age of 18 years and carries a cash prize based on number of registration.
Any player can choose to move up a division, however higher ranked players can not move down a division.
If the competitor is a USCF member, you can check their rating at http://www.uschess.org/ms/MbrLst.php. Please remember that this is a rated tournament and all
parties must be members of the USCF. When you register you will be asked for your USCF member number, if you are not currently a member you will be provided with
a membership as part of your registration.
What is schedule for the players? Section Game Times: G/30: K-3 unr, 4-6 unr, 7-12 unr, college unr, u500, u1000 G/45: over 1000
What is meant by a bye? And, can you clarify why there is only one half point bye and the other byes are zero points?
A bye means you choose to pass on playing a game (you will be giving 1 bye if you miss a game). 1) Full point byes are generally given only when there is an uneven
number of players in a section. If your opponent does not show or we are unable to match you for a round, you will receive a full point bye. Unrated players seldom
receive full point byes and therefore will gain a half point bye 2) Half point byes--equivilant to a draw--are given when an individual requests to skip a round. During the
interstate competition a player will receive only one 1/2 point bye 3) Zero point byes are given for any round a player requests to skip after the other bye options have
been used 4) No byes will be provided in the last round of play. The United states Chess Federation does not rate byes.
I noticed players must be a member of the United States Chess Federation (USCF). What is that? Why do they have to be
members?
The United States Chess Federation is the national governing body of chess in the United States. Membership is required of all players in order to have our tournament
sanction as well to provide a rating that compares all players in the United States. This rating is done at the USCF headquarters in Tennessee after the event. The
rating is then used to properly place players in future events. Individuals who have not completed in a USCF tournament games are considered unrated. A technical
description of the USCF ratings system can be viewed from http://math.bu.edu/people/mg/ratings/rrating.system.pdf (A less technical description explaining
approximating formulas can be viewed from http://math.bu.edu/people/mg/ratings/approx/approx.html) You can join the USCF on the entry form or by going to http://beta.
uschess.org/frontend/section_203.php. You can check your membership status and rating at: http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrLst.php. I should also note that there is
a magazine that scholastic memberships receive four times a year. If you are not registered with the US Chess Federation, you will be registered as part of your
tournament registration.
Which U.S. Chess Federation rating will my child play under?
The rating that will be used must be the May Rating Supplement as that posts the official rating. While in small competitions directors, like myself, often use the most
recently posted rating, to be fair to players and Team coaches and so there is minimal confusion in to which section an individual should be placed, the May
Supplement will be used. All players will be listed by their official rating as of the May USCF Rating Supplement. If a different rating is posted online when I post the
entries, this rating and if need be, the section, will be changed and posted within a couple of weeks of the tournament.
My child is not a member of any school team can s/he compete?
Definitely! Chess is an individual sport and being part of a team only adds another flavor to the competition.
My child is home schooled, can s/he compete for a team?
Yes. Your child can compete for a team in the same school district as long as you can provide proof of homeschooling and school district compatibility. This option is
not available to children who are NOT home schooled. The proof of this must be provided at least thirty days before the start of the tournament and approved by the
Chief TD before the start of the tournament.
How do I know that my child is registered?
Entries are posted every few days about two weeks before the Interstate Scholastic Tournament at entries.html
The posting lists each players division, USCF rating and grade. Schools are not listed for privacy concerns, however teams are noted by team names.
How would I go about finding a hotel room for this event
There is a large selection of hotels located within 5 minutes of the Cow Palace. The HHCF has officially listed the following hotels for the best rates: Courtyard by
Marriot Oyster Point Water Front, Larkspur Landing San Francisco, Airport, Four Points by Sheraton San Francisco Airport, Comfort Suites San Francisco Airport. You
can also visit the Cow Palace Lodging site for more options.
What should my child and I bring to the tournament?
We suggest that you bring a chess clock if you have one. There will be food sold at the site. The venue has a strict "no outside food/drink" policy. We will note here that
we will have pencils, recording sheets, as well as chess sets for the players in the tournament hall and some extra clocks. See: Does my child have to use a chess
clock?
When we arrive at the tournament site on April 28 what should we do?
You should arrive at the Cow Palace about a 30 minutes before the first round is scheduled to begin. We will post by 30 minutes before the start of the first round, the
chess board your child will be playing at and the color they will play as well as their opponent. You will note that the first column lists the player alphabetically by the last
name. This is where you should look. The color indicates whether your child plays white or black. Then comes the child's opponent and his or her rating. The Board
is the Board number that the child plays on in his or her section. You may note that one player has a full point bye. This occurs when there is an uneven number of
players in the section. The lowest rated player with the lowest score gets the full point bye (equivalent to a win) for that round. Unrated players are generally not given
byes. Half-point byes may be given upon the request of a player to miss a round. No half-point byes can be given in the last round of the tournament.
Once you know what board your child is playing on, please sit them at that board at the proper color. PLEASE BE SURE THE CHILD IS IN THE CORRECT
SECTION/DIVISION. You will be asked to leave the playing room once the round is ready to begin. Please exit the room immediately after wishing your child good luck.
Inform your child where you will meet him or her when s/he is done with the game. Please do not crowd the exit doors. Young children will be asked to remain in a
holding area outside the exit doors until the parents, coach or person responsible for the child picks them up.
Will there be food sold at the site?
Yes! As noted in an answer to an earlier question, we strongly urge you to bring bottled water for your child's use in the tournament room.
Are there special rules that apply to this tournament?
The tournament is run under the US Chess Federation's Fifth Edition Rule Book.
Does my child have to use a chess clock?
Chess rules require that all players use a chess clock due to having time controls. Admittedly, many children are done with their games as soon as the Director says,
"Begin your games!" :0) If your child does not have a clock, a tournament director may place one at the board. In the vast majority of sections we will not have enough
clocks available. If your child's game is still going on and a clock becomes available, the TD may place a clock at his/her board and split the remaining time between
the two competitors. The TD, if the child does not know how to use a clock, will explain to the player(s) how the clock works. Basic information for using clocks: http:
//www.wholesalechess.com/resources/use-chess-clocks.html Information on using chess clocks and related rules for more advanced players: http://www.
hydeparkchess.com/Chess-Clock-Use.htm.
Does my child have to write down (notate) his/her games?
Our rules, following national scholastic regulations, state that no one in K-3 sections have to record the games, although we always recommend that the player does.
In the 4-6 grade sections, only the Varsity, Championship, Open section must record. Players in the 4-6 Junior Varsity and Novice Division do not have to record. All
players in Junior High School and above MUST write down (record/notate) their games. A TD after warning a player that is suppose to keep score who fails to do so,
may add time to the opponents clock or reduce time from the offending party. TD's may also decide to penalize the offending player in another manner and in extreme
case can give the opponent of the offending player a forfeit win.
What about my child using an electronic recording device similar to the MonRoi?
These devices are new to us and we are concerned about their ability to broadcast games to outside locations. Since it will be difficult to monitor players who go to the
restrooms outside the playing area, the Chief TD for this year's States has ruled that any electronic recording device will not be permitted.
I understand that as of January 1, 2007 Rule 15A has been changed to read that a player must first make the move and then record it on a score sheet. Will this be
process be enforced at this year's States? <
We are going to enforce the old Rule 15A (page 55 in the 5th edition of the rules) allowing the move to be written on the score sheet first.
Is Financial Aid Available?
Yes, however there is currently a waitlist. Information can be found here.
What about the Awards Ceremony?
First, all players will receive an award. Second, we have hundreds of trophies, plaques, medals and other awards to give to the players. If possible we will distribute
these after each section is completed, however, the main awards ceremonies for will start at 5:30 PM on Saturday. A special section of chairs will be set aside to the
right of the stage for all award winners. The children should not sit in this section until we are ready to give out the awards for their section/division. We hope we will be
able to post the winners under the section signs in the hallways before the ceremonies so the players will know to sit in the special section.
What are tie-breaks? Which will be used?
Tie-breaks are used when their are ties in position for the awarding of the trophies. In adult tournaments where money is awarded they can divide the money, however,
we, obviously cannot split a first place trophy when two people tie for first. Section 34 of the US Chess Federation Rules of Chess says: "There is no perfect tie-break
system; each has its faults." We will adhere to the tie-break order listed on page 199 of The Rules of Chess:*
1. Modified Median: The Median system evaluates the strength of a player's opposition by summing the final scores of his or her opponents and then discarding the
highest and lowest of these scores.
2. Solkoff: The Solkoff system is the same as the Median system except that no opponent's scores are discarded.
3. Cumulative: To determine cumulative tie-break score, simply add up the cumulative (running) score for each round.
4. Cumulative of Opposition: The cumulative tie-break points of each opponent are calculated and these are added together.
The computer program calculates these automatically.
Team tie-breaks will be based on Cumulative Score.
| HHCF Home Page | In the News | Press Releases | Advertise | Exhibit | Prizes | Accommodations | Parking | Meet the HHCF Board | FAQ's |
| HHCF Home Page | In the News | Press Releases | Advertise | Exhibit | Prizes | Accommodations | Parking | Meet the HHCF Board | FAQ's |