DARLINGTON AND DISTRICT CHESS LEAGUE

LEAGUE RULES

Darlington and District Chess League (DDCL)

League Rules For 2009/2010 (accepted at 2008 AGM and amended at 2009 AGM)

1. An Annual General Meeting shall be held prior to the start of each season. Each club participating in the league may send as many delegates as they wish to the AGM but only 2 may vote. The AGM shall elect the following officials who shall form the Executive Committee- Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Grader and Fixture Secretary. Elected officials also have a vote in addition to their club members. Any person entitled to vote shall only have a single vote. The chair shall have the casting vote if necessary.

2. Each club must pay the appropriate annual entry fee for their teams as agreed at each AGM. This must be paid no later than 30th November.

3. Matches must be played as laid down in the fixture lists unless both teams agree to play on another mutually convenient date. If a team gives less than 72 hours notice of their inability to complete a fixture then the game will be lost by default unless both captains agree to play the fixture on another date.

4. If a team defaults a match without giving any prior warning, a penalty of 1 match point will be deducted from that team’s results in addition to the points lost on the defaulted game.

5. Each team shall field 5 members per team, however where at least 72 hours notice is given a team may field a team of 4 players with the 5th board being classed as a tie. Should less than 72 hours notice be given then the 5th board shall be lost by default.

6. Matches will start no later than 7.30pm unless notification has been given of an earlier start time to the relevant team. White’s clock should be started at the agreed time for play commencement irrespective of his/her attendance. The rate of play will be 36 moves in l¼ hours, with the clocks being turned back 15 minutes for a finish. (ECF quickplay rules to apply). The away team shall have black pieces on odd numbered boards.

7. Match captains will exchange completed team list showing players, grades and playing order prior to the start of play. Players shall be listed in order of strength, with the strongest player on board 1 etc. Playing strength will be defined as the published DDCL current grade +/- 5 grading points. As an example, player A, whose DDCL grade is 90 has a playing strength of 85-95. Player B who has a DDCL grade of 100 has a playing strength of 95-105. Player A can therefore play either above or below the board of player B, the decision being made by the team captain. In summary, where a player with a lower grade plays above a player with a higher grade then there can be no more than 10 points difference in their respective grades. In cases of dispute the views of the League Secretary or Grader should be sought prior to play.

8. DDCL grades shall be used, where a player does not have a published DDCL grade then a current ecf grade may be used if available. Players without a current grade shall be recorded as “u/g” and must play below all other graded players in that team. However where it is apparent that such a classification is not appropriate then the team captain shall liaise with the league grader and an estimated grade for that season shall be allocated. The league grader may also apply an estimated grade to a player if deemed appropriate having regard to all of the circumstances. Such an estimated grade must be allocated prior to the player using that grade in a match.

9.If a team fields a player out of order then that board and all lower boards played during the match shall be forfeited and the team resulted adjusted accordingly. In addition there shall be a 1 point team penalty.

10. In the case of the unexpected, but bona fide absence of a player, a substitute may be provided only 30 minutes after the start of play. Unless both captains agree, the substitute may not be of a higher published grade (+/- 10 points as above) than the original nominated player. Play will continue without the clock being re- started. This means that the substitute will start only after 30 minutes has elapsed on their clock.

11. Both Match Captains must forward the detailed results in the approved format and manner within 48 hours of the match being played.

12. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and non for a team loss. Ties for all places in the league shall be decided in favour of the team with the largest value of game points, In the event of two or more teams finishing tied on both match and game points play-offs shall be arranged as necessary.

13. In the event of a disagreement arising as to the correct interpretation of these Rules, the ruling of the Executive Committee shall be final. If necessary the interim decision of the Secretary shall be adopted until such time as a decision of the Executive Meeting can be made.

14. Knockout Cup Rules.

    (a) Entry in the cup is only open to clubs in the DDCL.

    (b) Teams shall consist of 4 players.

    (c) Any team not fielding 4 players shall forfeit the respective boards, commencing          with board 4. There is no provision for agreeing a board draw prior to the match.

    (d) For the final only, all players in the competing teams must have played at least one           league game for that club in the DDCL during that season.

    (e) For all rounds each player shall have 1 hour on the clock and must finish in that           time (i.e. 2 hour game max.).

    (f) The captain of the home team shall nominate 2 dates for the match within the          published time frame.

    (g) These dates shall be notified to the captain of the opposing team as soon as           possible and no later than 14 days prior to the first nominated date.

    (h) Should any team not be able to play the match in the agreed timeframe or           arrangements are not made within the agreed time frame then the offending team           shall forfeit the match.

    (i) The competition shall be handicapped. The handicap for each match will be         dependant upon the total grading points of the competing players and will be as          follows:
         Difference is 30 or less – no handicap
         Between 31 and 40 points – ½ point.
         41 and 60 – 1 point
         61 and above - 1½ points

    (j) Should a team forfeit any board then the grade of that board, for handicap          purposes, shall be deemed to be the average of the other players in that team.

    (k) Players must play in DDCL grade order.

    (l) Matches shall be decided on simple board count. Should the match be a tie then         each team member shall play the same opponent, with different colours, with 5         minutes on each clock. Should this result in a tie then each team captain shall         nominate one player to play in a single 5 minute game, tossing for colours. Should         a tie still follow then 1 other player from each team shall be nominated for a single         5 minute game, this shall continue until a winner emerges.

    (m) Prior to each match the captain of the team must contact the League Grader and           agree an estimated grade for any un-graded player. If due to wholly exceptional           circumstances this did not occur any un-graded player shall be deemed to have a           grade equal to the average of the grades of the 3 other players.

    (n) Alternate colours will be on consecutive boards but with the colours being           decided on the toss of a coin just prior to the commencement of the match but           after team sheets have been exchanged.

    (o) Results shall be forwarded in the normal manner via the website.

    (p) Should player be played “out of order” or any other infringement occurs, the           matter should be referred to the competition organiser who shall decide on the           matter. That decision shall be final. Should the competition organiser be a           member of one of the teams subject to the referral then he shall consult with at           least one other league committee member prior to deciding on the issues raised.

The winner of the competition and runner up shall be presented with the trophies at the next AGM.

15. Player of the Year.

There shall be a Player of the Year Competition. The winner shall be decided by the highest ratio of games points over games played in the League only. KO games and conceded games do not count. To be eligible for the competition the player must have played at least 75% of the matches available. In the event of a tie the player who has the highest % increase in grading points within the DDCL over the season shall be deemed the winner.

SUMMARY OF ECF QUICKPLAY FINISH RULES (extract from national rules which take precedence).

1. A Quickplay Finish is one in which all remaining moves must be made by a player within a given time. When Black has made his time-control move and stopped the clock, the times on the clocks are noted and the clocks are set back by a stipulated time. The final time control is on the hour and a player retains the use of any time he has not consumed.

2. The FIDE Laws of Chess which regulate the normal game of chess apply .

3. Spectators must never interfere.

4. Before commencing the Quickplay Finish. the players must inspect the settings on the clock. An error cannot normally be corrected after each player has made a move.

5. Each player must record the moves one by one until less than five minutes remain on that players clock. The opponent’s move must be written down before the reply move is made.

6. Only one hand shall be used to move the pieces and the same hand must be used to press the clock button.

7. The clock must not be picked up by either player, nor should undue force be used on the clock.

8. An illegal move will be treated under the normal Laws of Chess. There is no automatic loss.

9. A player will win on time if he can stop the clocks showing that his opponent’s flag has fallen and his own flag has not fallen, unless the player who makes the claim cannot possibly checkmate, in which case the game is drawn.

10. If both flags are down the game is drawn, irrespective of which flag fell first.

11. A player may claim a draw during the last two minutes on his clock and before his own flag falls. He must claim the draw and stop the clocks, after which there will be no further play. There are two grounds for claiming a draw under this section of the rules. He must claim; a) that his opponent cannot win by normal means, and/or b) that his opponent has been making no effort to win by normal means.

12. The claim should then be discussed by the players and if not resolved it should be submitted to the two captains. If it is still not resolved, the position and relevant information should be referred to the League Secretary, whose decision shall be final.

13. The information should reach the League Secretary within 12 days of the match. It must be submitted by both sides and be accompanied by a fee of £5 from each, make cheques/postal orders payable to DDCL.

14. Both players must provide a complete scoresheet of the game, together with a diagram showing the final position, and the amount of time left on both clocks.

15. The diagram should show the position with the WHITE side of the board at the bottom, and all the men in BLOCK CAPITALS, with the BLACK men ringed. The number of men on each side should also be indicated.