Rules and Regulations

The general USCF laws shall be applied. The following specific regulations for the
2006 LI Interscholastic Team Championship shall also be in force.

I. Eligibility
II. System of play and pairings
III. Scoring system and tie breaks
IV. Time control
V. Touch Move
VI. Notation
VII. Miscellaneous
VIII. Conduct in the playing hall

I. Eligibility
Open to the Long Island School Teams of Four. The players in each team must be listed in a fixed board order. The board order cannot be changed during the tournament.

II. System of play and pairings
Swiss system
1. Two teams may play each other only once.
2. Teams are paired with others of the same score, or nearest score.
3. When possible, a team is given the white pieces on board 1 as many times as it is given the black pieces.
4. When possible, a team is given the color other than that it was given the previous round.
5. The players in each team must be listed in a fixed board order. The board order cannot be changed during the tournament.
6. If there are an odd number of teams a bye should be given to one team which arbitrarily would be credited with 2 game points.

III. Scoring system
The proposed scoring system is modeled after the Team World Championship and Chess Olympiad. Team’s score is based on the number of game points it has scored.
If any teams finish with equal game points the tie shall be resolved as follows:
a. by match points( won match = 1pt., draw match =1/2pt. );
b. by the score of the tying teams against each other;
c. by the cumulative score of the opposition.


IV. Time control
G/25 (25min per player per game). The players are required to use a chess clock.

V. Touch Move
Touch move means the first piece you touch is the one you must move, unless moving that piece is illegal. If opponent’s piece is touched it has to be captured. Touching an opponent’s piece with your piece is the same as touching it with your hand.
If you want to straighten a piece, say “I adjust” before you touch the piece.

VI. Notation
Score keeping is expected. If a player does not keep score then 20% of the initial time (5 minutes in G/25) will be subtracted from the non score-keeping player before the game starts. If a player has less than 5 minutes remaining, score keeping is optional.

VII. Miscellaneous
* Players must be quiet in the tournament hall at all times.
* Players with fewer than 5 minutes left must press the clock with the same hand that moves the piece.
* If there is a problem, raise your hand and a director will assist. You may stop the clock. Telling a director after the game is over is too late.
* Be sure you really agree it is checkmate or stalemate. Directors may not help you.

Can you take, block, or run to get out of check?
* This is not an elimination tournament.
* All cell phones must be turned off.
* Illegal moves when claimed will result in 2 minutes added to the opponent’s time.
* Players giving or receiving advice during the game may be forfeited. To avoid suspicion, do not talk to teammates, coaches, or friends while your game is in progress.
* Parents, family, chaperons, and coaches are not allowed in the tournament hall while games are in progress.

VIII. Conduct in the playing hall:
* Shake hands
* Reset the boards
* The Players must leave tournament hall as soon as the game is over. 
 * During the whole course of the contest, the players must conduct themselves in accordance with sporting fairness and decency, and must take care neither to distract nor to annoy their opponents.

Have fun!