PLEASE BRING YOUR BOARD AND CLOCK IF YOU HAVE THEM

If there aren't enough boards, don't say we didn't warn you.

If you have never been to a tournament or are thinking of bringing your child to one, I strongly suggest you read a very applicable webpage by Dan Heisman at Enhancing Your Chess Tournament Experience.
Rules
First and foremost. let's all be respectful and sportsmanlike as usual. There is no way that these rules are going to be exhaustive.

A. PLAYING RULES

1. Touch move rule in force. If it is your turn and you intentionally touch one of your pieces, you MUST move it. If you intentionally touch one of your opponent's pieces, you MUST take it if at all legally possible. If you want to adjust pieces instead, say "I adjust". Feel free to announce to your opponent "Touch Move!" when he touches a piece and doesn't move or take it. A player who touches a piece by accident (for example, with the hand brushing the piece as it passes by) is not bound by touch-move.

2. Games are G/30 or G/45 as referenced by the schedule posted before the first round starts. If there is a chess clock available, it must be used and set up by the owner of the chess clock.

3. If both players have clocks, black will have preference to use his clock. Black also gets to choose which side of the board that the clock is placed. (This of course requires that black be present.)

4. No use of move increments or time delay are to be used.

5. If a chess clock is used, the first player whose time runs out loses the game. You are responsible for pushing the clock button after you have moved. (Recommendation: You might want to pause the clock so that the claimant's time doesn't run out either)

6. Proper timing of draw offer. A proposal of draw offer should be made after move and before punching clock (if using clock). The opponent may accept or reject it. (You might want to read the newsletter advice on draws).

7. In order to claim a draw by threefold repetition, the claimant must present a score sheet demonstrating that the same position: A) is about to occur or B) has occurred, with the same player to move. It must be your move to make such a claim. This requires that claimant is recording moves. (Recommendation: Either player should pause the clocks at this time, especially if either player is going to run out of time)

8. Other recognized draws are by stalemate and the 50 move rule. Invoking the 50 move rule will require that the game has been recorded.

9. If you are not using a chess clock and time runs out, the competitors are free to request arbitration from volunteer TDs to determine which side is highly likely to win. Their decisions are final. Otherwise, the game will be recorded as a draw. (Comment: If I am the only TD, you're risking my poor chess vision and understanding to determine a winner. In that case, it is far better to bring a clock.) If there are clocks available later in the round, the TD has the right to put a clock on the last 10 minutes of the round in a 5/5 split.

10. If white has not turned up at the start of a round, the clock if available may be started by a TD.

B. DETERMINING A WINNER(S)

1. Highest points competitor is winner.

2. Tiebreaks will be in use.

C. RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Print this out and keep a copy.

2. My contact information is victortcs@gmail.com

3. Consider bringing your own chess set just in case there isn't enough available. If there is none for you to compete, it is YOUR fault. The club has only a limited number of sets.

F. SCORING

Win - 1 point
Loss - 0 points
Draw - 0.5 points