Somerset League Rules
RULES FOR SOMERSET CHESS LEAGUE - SEPTEMBER 2024
1. GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS & ELIGIBILITY
a) All League matches shall be played over 4 boards. However, this may be extended to 6
boards if both clubs agree. Captains should contact each other before a match and agree on
the number of boards in play. Any extra games may be included in the League result but
captains should be careful to agree to this and note it on the result sheet before the match
begins.
b) Knock-out Cup matches shall be played over 6 boards.
c) The first named club in each fixture is at home and will be black on odd numbered boards.
d) A player is not permitted to represent more than one club in a season unless a transfer has
been agreed by the League Secretary.
e) Division One shall be an Open Competition.
f) In Division Two, teams are permitted to play one player with an unlimited grade and that player
must play on the top board. All the remaining players must be graded under 1900.
g) In Division Three, teams are permitted to play one player graded between 1800 and 1650 and
that player must play on the top board. All the remaining players must be graded under 1650.
h) The Knock-out Cup shall be a handicap competition (see Appendix 1 for more details). It is
important that the result required using the handicap rules is calculated and clear to both clubs
before the match starts.
i) The grades announced by the ECF on 1st September shall be used to determine eligibility for
all grade limited teams, for the handicap system for the Knock-out Cup, and for the team board
order. All attempts should be made by Club Secretaries and Team Captains to accurately
assess ungraded players before they represent the club.
j) The penalty for playing an ineligible player in any match shall be the loss of the game for that
player and a win for the opponent, provided the opponent is present and eligible. The game(s),
if played, will still be graded. The League Secretary may impose an additional penalty if he is
satisfied that the inclusion of the ineligible player was deliberate or wilful.
2. MATCH SHEETS
a) Before any match the captains shall enter the names of their players on a match sheet from
previously written team sheets. Best practice would be to include players initials and grades
and for juniors to be marked with a (J). Juniors are those Under 18 on September 1st.
b) Except with the express agreement of Team Captains, players shall be arranged in
descending order of strength. Unless with the explicit consent of the opposing captain
(recorded on the match sheet) any player with a grade 40 points or more above that of a
player on a higher board shall be deemed ineligible.
c) Defaults known in advance shall be conceded on the lowest board.
d) Discretion by Team Captains is to be exercised and they are to communicate with each other
before each fixture in order to avoid unevenly matched teams where possible.
3. RESULTS
a) Results should be recorded on the LMS system by the home club owner within two weeks of
the fixture. Best practice would be for the away club owner to verify the result.
4. TIME CONTROLS
a) Length of matches is at the discretion of respective captains. Unless both captains agree
otherwise, the rate of play shall be all moves in 90 minutes. An alternative time control that
meets ECF requirements for grading of standard play games may be used by agreement
between the match Captains. (Note: if the match Captains agree to use an incremental time
control, 80 minutes plus 10 seconds per move from the start of the game is recommended.)
b) If a player is not present at the start of a game his opponent shall start his clock. A player
forfeits the game after 30 minutes has elapsed.
5. TIE-BREAKING
a) In a section of the League when two teams score an equal number of points, the winner will be
determined by the results of the games played between the teams. If necessary (a) board
count, (b) elimination will be used to determine a winner. In the event of three or more teams
finishing equal on points then a tie break by (a) matches won and then (b) individual games
won, would decide.
APPENDIX 1 : KNOCK-OUT CUP - HANDICAP RULES
1. Teams of 6.
2. The average rating strength of the team to be used prior to the commencement of each match.
Where there is a player default, the average rating of the remaining players will be used.
3. Unrated players (these are players who do not have an ECF ‘A’ or ‘K’ rating) may play subject to
the controller’s approval in advance of the match, and they will be provided with an estimated local
rating.
4. A player is only eligible to play for one team.
5. It is the responsibility of the home Captain, upon receiving notification of the draw, to contact the
away Captain within 7 days of possible dates for the match, otherwise the home advantage will be
reversed. A neutral venue may be used where there is more than 30 miles distance between the two
clubs.
6. When two teams meet in any round, the difference in the average ratings is compared and the
higher graded team will need to win by the following scores:-
Average Rating
Difference
Score Required Comments
0 – 30 3 – 3 Tie break rules apply (see rule
8)
31 – 90 3.5 – 2.5
91 – 150 4 – 2
151 – 210 4.5 – 1.5
211 – 270 5 – 1
271 – 350 5.5 – 0.5
351 or more 6 – 0
8. Tie-break rules. If the score is 3 – 3, then the team that wins individual games on the higher
boards will be deemed the winner. This can be determined initially by adding together the winning
boards. If team A wins on boards 1 and 4 (= 5) and team B wins on boards 2 and 5 (= 7) then team A
wins. If this is equal, then the result on the bottom board is eliminated. e.g. If team A wins on
boards 4 and 5 (= 9) and team B wins on boards 3 and 6 (= 9) then there is a tie on the first tie break
rule as above but team A then wins 3 – 2 as the board 6 result is eliminated. If board 6 is a draw,
then the result on board 5 is eliminated and then board 4 etc until a result is achieved. If all
individual matches are draws then there will be a replay.
9. The Captains toss for choice of colour on board one.
10. FIDE rules apply. However, the Tournament Controller’s decision is final.