Playing Rules

All United States Chess Federation rules will be followed. Examples of this are the touch move, touch capture rule, en passant, and stalemate rule. Please make sure your student/child is aware and has practice playing with all of these rules. The one exception is the Non-Rated/Capture the King K/6 tournaments will allow the capture of the opponent's king to win (in addition to checkmate). In these games, if a player leaves their king in check (under attack), the opponent will be allowed to capture that king to win the game.

Tournament Equipment

US National Jr. Chess Congress provides all competition boards, pieces, notation sheets, and pens for their tournament games. Clocks: Players are responsible for bringing and setting their own clocks, and explaining their operation when asked. Finally, if you wish to review your games or play practice games with others, please bring your own board and pieces. The tournament boards and pieces cannot be moved out of the playing hall.

Notation Requirement

Chess notation is required in most sections at US National Jr. Chess Congress. In the main event, players in the 8 & Under and 6 & Under are not required to keep notation. A complete notation sheet is a player’s strongest evidence for how things went during a game. There are also many chess rules that you cannot use if you do not notate your game. Examples of those rules include draws by repetition, who made what move when (if you needed to prove it), or if you want to prove an illegal move occurred. US Jr. National Chess Congress provides scoresheets. Players may not use their own scorebook nor an electronic notation device.

Behavior and Spectator Guidelines Introduction

US Chess/US National Jr. Chess Congress have issued Safe Play Guidelines that covers safe play and conduct at our national event. We also have specific guidelines for spectators that can be viewed here. Any player who engages in disreputable conduct during a national event is subject to immediate removal from the tournament and ejection from the playing site without refund.

The playing halls at scholastic events are only open to the following people while games are in progress: Players with games in progress in that room; Tournament staff; Press and other attendees with badges authorizing their access; Other persons directly authorized by the US Chess Director of Events. Parents, coaches and other attendees who do not fall into the four above categories must leave the playing hall before the tournament director in charge of the playing hall will begin play. Closing the floor virtually eliminates accusations of players receiving advice from spectators. It also makes the playing hall much quieter for the players! National Junior Chess Congress staff designate exits from each playing hall clearly marked with signage, both inside and outside the playing hall. Players will be reminded before each round and after reporting their results which exit to take when finished playing for that round.

How to View Your Pairings and Standings

Many of you are used to/comfortable with viewing all pairings and standings on white boards on tripods outside of the playing hall. However, new technology has made this much safer, easier, and more convenient. This system is a website called swisssys.com. When you go to that website, you then click on "Events", then click on "2024 National Jr. Chess Congress". When you click on 2024 National Jr. Chess Congress, you will see all the sections of all of the tournaments listed. Each of them are links. You can click on any of these and you will find the players who are competing in that section/tournament as well as the pairings for that round, as well as the standings. This way allows you to see these from wherever you are and do not jeopardize the safety of all as people push in to see the pairings/standings in the past method. The safety of all is our most concern and this new method helps tremendously with this.

Cell Phones & Other Devices

Players may carry their cell phones into the playing hall, but they must be turned off, not on silent, for the start of the round. The phone must be kept face-up on the table beside the player throughout the round, or stored away in the player's chess bag. While a game is in progress NO PLAYER CAN HAVE A CELL PHONE ON THEIR PERSON, and the phone must remain on the table or in the chess bag for the duration of the game meaning players may not take their phones with them to the bathroom! If it is necessary to use a phone, the player must ask the TD, who will be present during the entire phone call. If your child is caught with a phone on their person during a game, they could lose half of their time or even be forfeited. The phone must be left off before completely exiting the playing hall. If they are caught with the phone on their person, or blatantly cheating, they could be forfeited or removed from the tournament and face additional sanctions. Make sure that your child understands these rules!

This policy applies to other electronic devices too such as tablets and smart watches. Electronic scoring devices such as the Monroi, PlyCount and ChessNoteR are not allowed. Players with certain disabilities may request an exception.