In a round robin, you play one game with every other player in the tournament. One common type of round robin is a quad, in which four players of approximately equal ability are grouped into a section. These three-round tournaments are usually played in a single day.
Most chess tournaments are known as Swiss-System. This means that players are paired against others with similar scores. The pairing system is quite complicated and leaves the director almost no room for discretion. Most tournaments have a computer program that assigns the pairings.
A great resource for more information regarding Swiss tournaments can be found here.
Refers to the amount of time each player has for play to avoid being forfeited. For example, G/30 means each player has 30 minutes for the game, so an entire game will last one hour or less; this is the most common time control for scholastic events.
First, a rating is only meaningful relative to other ratings. Two players with the same rating should have an equal chance of winning against each other. The same rating difference implies the same chance of winning. For example, a player rated 2400 playing against a player rated 2200 has the same chance of winning as a 1400 against a 1200. The rating difference is 200 points in both cases. The rating then fluctuates based on the outcome of every game that player plays in a rated tournament.
In Washington State scholastic tournaments, there are two main rating systems: WSRS and USCF. The Washington High School Chess Association runs the Washington State Rating System (WSRS) and rates the majority of local scholastic tournaments. The USCF has adopted the rating system most widely used nationally, which is known as the Elo system.
Typically, student ratings range from 0 to 2200. A rating of 2200 signifies mastery of the game and anyone rated 2200 or above is considered a chess master— you can think of this as a “chess black belt.” The average rating of adults is about 1550.
A word of advice to student players: Chess ratings for developing and improving players change rapidly over time. Your current strength is no doubt greater than your current published rating. Don’t be intimidated by another player based on their rating! Your actual strength could be greater than the rated strength of your seemingly higher-rated opponent. Student players should not base their expectation for the result of any game they play on the respective ratings of player and opponent. Student chess players should disregard ratings when it comes to playing their game! Play your best and have fun. That is what is important!
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