MCA Rules

CHESS IN THE NORTH WEST

(As approved by the Executive Committee, 1987)

  1. LAWS. All games shall beplayed in accordance with the Laws of

Chess as recognised by F.I.D.E. and as modified by the British

Chess Federation  (B.C.F.), excepting as otherwise laid down in

these rules.

2. NUMBER OF TEAMS. An associated club shall be entitled to enter

one team  only.

3. NUMBER OF PLAYERS. A team shall consist of six players none of

which may  play for a different club in the League Tournaments in

the same season.

4. TEAM DECLARATIONS. The Captains of the opposing teams shall,

before the commencement of a match, exchange lists of their teams

arranged in board order, which shall also be in order of playing

strength. The Captains shall then draw for colour; the team

winning the draw shall take white on board one and the colours on

the remaining boards shall alternate accordingly. A reserve or

reserves may be substituted for a player or players who has not

arrived within 30 minutes of the agreed starting time, otherwise

the game shall be forfeited. If, at the start of play, any

Captains who know that they are unable to field a full team, will

be obliged to default on the lowest board or boards.

If one team is not represented at the agreed starting time then

the team that is present shall be assumed to have won the draw and

to have white on odd numbered boards.

Any team which defaults on any other than the lowest board or

boards will, in addition to losing that game by default, have one

extra point deducted from their score unless it can satisfactorily

explain the default to the Tournament Controller.

If in the opinion of the Tournament Controller a club deliberately

violates any part of this rule it may be  removed from the

competition.

5. Note from D Farley - At the recent Committee meeting (July 2006)

it was agreed that the John Ripley time controls would the same as

for league matches, ie 35 moves in 1¼ hours then all moves in an

additional 15 mins (see Knotty Ash rules above)

In the absence of any other agreed arrangements between the clubs,

play shall commence at 7.15 p.m.

6. HANDICAPS. When deciding the handicap to be applied in a match,

the  divisions the two teams are in should be looked at. Where

there is a difference of:- 1 division -    1 1/2 points to the

team in the lower division

                2 divisions-    2 1/2 points to the team in the

lower division

                3 divisions-    3 1/2points to the team in the

lower division

                4 or more  -    4 1/2 points to the team in the

lower division

7. DRAWN MATCHES. Matches can only be drawn between teams from the

same division. In this event the tie is first resolved on board

count. If this fails to resolve the tie then the elimination rule

is applied. To apply the board count rule, add up the board

numbers won by each team. The team with the lowest total is the

winner.

8. FIXTURES. The first round will be played during the last week

in October  and the second round during the second week in

December.  These weeks will be keptfree of league fixtures.

9. RESULTS. The results shall be sent promptly to the Tournament

Controller.  It is important that where a match is not played

because one of the teams withdraws, the other team should notify

the Tournament  Controller to claim  the win.