Games will be played in accordance with the rules of chess as specified by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). These rules may be found here.
Spectators are very welcome, though are asked to switch their mobile phones off and to make as little noise as possible when observing games.
Players may join a tournament (subject to payment of membership fee) during the first half of the tournament, eg in rounds 1, 2 or 3 of a 6 round tournament, or in rounds 1, 2, 3 or 4 of a 7 round tournament.
Players may not eat at the board.
Players may not use electronic media devices (including smart phones and media players) at the board.
If a player's mobile phone makes any noise during the course of a game, the player will be given a warning. If the player's mobile phone makes any further noise during the course of the same evening, the player will forfeit the game being played.
A player must claim a win on time (by indicating to his or her opponent that they have run out of time). The Director of Play (DOP) will not intervene to indicate that a player's clock has reached zero.
Long time control tournaments are those where the time control is 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move.
Juniors (those under 18 at the start of tournament) may opt to play a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds or 60 minutes + 10 seconds for the tournament. Once a time control has been chosen for a tournament, all games for the junior for that tournament will be played at that time control.
Players may miss rounds with the agreement of the DOP:
In the absence of a house player and if there is an an odd number of players in a round, the DOP will allocate a one point bye (a forced bye) to the lowest player on the cross table, provided that player:
The scheduled start time for games is 7.00 pm.
Players who are in the draw and have not arrived by the scheduled start time and have not advised the Director of Play they will be late will be removed from the draw.