Kent County Chess Association

CONSTITUTION – TOURNAMENT RULES – SUMMER QUICKPLAY RULES

KENT COUNTY CHESS ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION

(Amended 8^th September 2024)

1. Title

This Association shall be called the “Kent County Chess Association” (KCCA).

2. Objects

The Association shall encourage the establishment of chess clubs throughout Kent and foster the playing of chess generally.

3. Constitution

(a) The Members of the Association shall be:

(i) The President, who shall be elected at each Annual General Meeting;

(ii) Honorary Vice-Presidents, who may be elected at any General Meeting and who normally hold their office for life;

(iii) Vice-Presidents and unattached members who pay an annual fee;

(iv) Members registered by their Clubs under Rule 6.

(b) All chess clubs in Kent and any other chess Club or Association which accepts an invitation made in accordance with a resolution of a general meeting of the Kent County Chess Association to compete in, or affiliate with, the Kent Chess League shall be eligible for affiliation to the Kent County Chess Association.

4. Association

The Association shall be affiliated to the English Chess Federation(ECF), to the British Chess Federation (BCF), and to the Southern Counties Chess Union (SCCU).

5. Officers

The Officers of the Association, to be elected at every Annual General Meeting, shall be the President, the Chairman of the Committee, one or more Match Captains, Secretary, Treasurer, one or more Tournament Secretaries; and any other Officer elected.

6. Fees

• All fees shall be fixed at each Annual General Meeting.

• Club entry fees.

(i) An Entry Fee is payable for each team a Club enters in any KCCA Competition. The entry fee for each team, must reach the KCCA Treasurer at least seven days before the Club’s first match of the season and at any rate no later than the 31st October.

       (c) ECF Rating Fees

(i) Clubs shall be liable for rating fees attributed to any of their players who are not ECF members on 30 June at the end of each season.

7. General Meetings

(a) The following General Meetings shall be held:

(i) An Annual General Meeting which shall be held in September: in even-numbered years in Metropolitan Kent, and in odd-numbered years in Mid Kent. For definitions of these Areas, see Tournament Rule 2.

(ii) A Special General Meeting which shall be held within six weeks at the written request to the Secretary of not less than 20 members of the Association. A Special General Meeting may also be held at the discretion of the Committee.

(b) At General Meetings the quorum shall be 10 members.

(c) All members of the Association shall have the right to attend General Meetings.

(d) The Rules or Tournament Rules of the Association (excluding the Appendix to the Tournament Rules) may be changed only at a General Meeting.

(e) The Secretary (or if this is impossible the Chairman of the Meeting) shall send at least 21 days written notice of Meetings to all members, except that notice to their Club Secretaries shall be deemed sufficient notice to members affiliated through Clubs. Such notice shall include a full agenda of items to be considered and full details of any proposed changes in the Rules or Tournament Rules or alterations in fees.

(f) The President of the Association or the Chairman of the Committee shall take the chair.

(g) Voting shall be restricted to members present. Each shall have one vote; except that in the event of an equality of votes the Chairman of the Meeting shall have a second, casting vote.

(h) All decisions shall be taken by a simple majority vote; except that the Rules or Tournament Rules may be changed only if at least two-thirds of votes cast are for the change.

(i) Annual General Meeting

The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:

(i) Consideration of the financial report for the previous year ending 31st May. Copies of the financial report, independently examined if possible, shall be sent with the agenda of the Meeting.

(ii) Consideration of a budget for the current year.

(iii) Other Reports from Officers, which may be submitted orally.

(iv) Election of the President, the Officers and not more than five members of the Association to serve on the Committee.

(v) The appointment of an Independent Examiner.

(vi) The presentation of Trophies

(vii) Any matter in respect of which the Secretary has received written notice from a member of the Association by the 1st July.

(viii) Any other business which the Chairman sees fit to accept.

(j) Special General Meetings

Only matters on the agenda shall be considered.

8. The Committee

(a) The Committee shall be responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Association.

(b) The Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Association and those members elected at the Annual General Meeting.

(c) If an Officer dies, fails in the opinion of the Committee to fulfil the duties of his Office, or gives notice that he wishes to relinquish his Office, the Committee may appoint another member of the Association to fill the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting.

(d) The Committee shall meet within one month at the request of the Chairman or Secretary or any three Committee members.

(e) The Secretary (or if this is impossible the Chairman of the Committee) shall send at least 14 days notice of Meetings to all Committee members, giving an agenda of items to be considered.

(f) The President of the Association or the Chairman of the Committee shall take the chair.

(g) At Committee Meetings the quorum shall be four members.

(h) Voting shall be restricted to Committee members present. Each shall have one vote; except that in the event of an equality of votes the Chairman of the Meeting shall have a second, casting vote.

(i) All decisions shall be taken by a simple majority vote.

 9. Matches and Tournaments

• Except as otherwise provided by the Association’s Rules or tournament Rules, all play in competitions conducted by the Association shall be governed by the FIDE Laws of Chess.

• No person shall take part in any competition conducted by the Association (except junior or open competitions) unless he is a member of the Association.

      (c) Trophies for Competitions shall always remain the property of the Association and the names of the winners shall be engraved thereon at the Association’s expense.

10. Rules Disputes

• Any question or dispute concerning the Association’s Rules or Tournament Rules, or concerning matters for which the Rules or Tournament Rules do not specifically provide, will be referred to the Committee whose decision shall be final.

TOURNAMENT RULES

(Amended 7th September 2025)

These Rules apply to the principal Annual Tournaments (County Cup, Lewis Cup, Stevenson Cup, En Passant Cup, Harvey Cup, Tom Fuller Cup, Intro Cup, Foundation Cup) and any similar competition that may be introduced.

GENERAL SECTION

The General Section applies to all Areas. It may be changed only at General Meetings and by a two thirds majority in accordance with Rule 7(h) of the Constitution.

1. (a) These Tournaments will be open to any Club which has paid its fees.

(b) The general conduct of the Tournaments will be vested in the Tournament Secretary and the Committee of the Association. In cases not specifically covered by these Rules, the Tournament Secretary will use his best judgement.

(c) Teams will consist of four players in the Tom Fuller and Intro Cups and six in other competitions; or (in the preliminary round) of such alternative number as the Fixtures Meetings may decide.

2. The County will be divided into two Areas known as Metropolitan Kent and Mid Kent. Special cases will be referred to the Tournament Secretary.

3. (a) The Tournament Secretary will convene Fixtures Meetings in September. There will be one such Meeting for each Area, and every Club will have the right to be represented at the Meeting for its Area. The quorum will be representatives from half the Clubs in the Area. The Tournament Secretary or his representative will take the chair.

(b) In addition to the business of arranging fixtures, each Meeting will have general control of the Tournaments within its Area and may, subject to these Tournament Rules and to the Constitution of the Association, adopt such additional Rules as it wishes for the preliminary round. The additional Rules will form an Appendix to these Tournament Rules and amendments to them may not be made unless due notice of proposals has been given with the Notice of the Meeting concerned.

(c) Each Club represented at a Fixtures Meeting will have one vote for each team entered in these Tournaments. Changes to the Appendix to these Rules may not be made unless supported by at least two-thirds of the votes cast. Otherwise, all decisions will be taken by a simple majority vote and in the event of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting will have a casting vote.

(d) In the event of a combined Meeting for more than one Area there will be separate voting for the different Areas involved, unless an initial resolution to adopt combined voting is supported by over half the votes from each Area separately; provided always that voting will be combined on issues relating to Tournaments where Areas are combined.

(e) A Supplementary Area Meeting will be held at the request of at least half the Clubs in the Area concerned. All rules governing procedure at Fixtures Meetings will apply also to Supplementary Meetings. At least 21 days notice of Supplementary Meetings must be given.

(f) After the completion of the fixtures meeting, the tournament secretary will submit the fixtures in an appropriate form to the LMS administrator to set up the LMS one week before the start of the season.

4. Any Trophy awarded by the Association will be returned to the Trophy Curator not later than Finals Day of the following year.

5. Players will be eligible provided that:

(a) They are included on the Club’s Kent ECF/LMS Player List. Each Club has the responsibility for maintaining and updating it’s own Player List on the Kent ECF/LMS Database.

(b) They are not disqualified under Rule 6.

(c) They are not disqualified under any supplementary Rules currently applicable to the relevant Area.

Any game played by an ineligible player will be deemed lost for him by default. However, the actual result of any game played will be submitted to the ECF Graders for Grading purposes. The relevant Match Card will then be adjusted by the Kent LMS Administrator to reflect any applied to the offending Club.

(d) When a Club adds a new player or changes an existing Player’s Local (i.e. estimated) Rating it must inform the Tournament Secretary that it has done so, providing an explanation as to the rationale behind any estimated Rating. Clubs must actively monitor a Player’s progress throughout the Season and adjust their Local Rating if it is apparent that the existing Local Rating does not properly reflect the Player’s true playing strength.

6. (a) No player may play for more than one team in the same Tournament. Exception: where a Club enters more than one team in the same Tournament, then if one of these teams does not reach the semi-finals it is permissible for players to transfer into another of them for the semi-final and Final; and if one of the teams does not reach the Final, it is permissible for players to transfer into another for the Final.

(b) No player may take part in a semi-final who has not played for the club concerned at least once during the current season in these Tournaments. No player may take part in a Final who has not played for the club at least twice during the current season in these Tournaments, one of which may be a Semi-Final.

(c) In exceptional Seasons, where there are no Semi-Finals played in a Competition, then for qualification purposes a player needs only to have played once during the current Season in any of these Tournaments in order to take part in a Final.

7. Ratings Limits

All Tournaments except the County Cup will be rating-restricted as follows:

(a) A Club entering any of these Tournaments will be shown on the LMS with the ratings of all its

players. Special cases:

(1) If a player has more than one rating, the rating used will be the one appearing highest in this list:

(i) ECF Standard OTB September Rating at A or K Category.

(ii) First ECF Standard OTB Rating at A or K Category achieved later than September of the current Season. P Category Ratings may or may not be taken into account, at the Tournament Secretary’s discretion, as they are calculated from between 1-9 games and may be an unreliable indicator or true playing strength.

(iii)current FIDE rating;

(iv) current national rating or rating other than ECF;

(v) current ECF Rapid play rating.

If other than (i), the source must be indicated. If a rating is known to be inaccurate this must be stated, and the Tournament Secretary may substitute a corrected Rating whether it is stated or not.

(2) If a player has no current rating the Club must give its best estimate of strength, indicating any previous rating and other relevant information. The Tournament Secretary, on receipt of this information, may revise this estimate if he has good reason to do so, but must consult and inform the Club.

(3) Clubs must keep this estimate under review and revise it by adjusting the Player’s Local Rating if they believe the estimate is not an accurate reflection of their player’s true playing strength. They must then advise the Tournament Secretary of any action taken. If the Tournament Secretary decides, during the season, that the estimate is inaccurate he may still revise it and the revision will take effect seven days after the Club receives notification (or earlier if the Club so chooses). He may, exceptionally, revise it retrospectively if satisfied of deliberate deception on the Club’s part.

(b) (1) Mean rating limits (unless otherwise decided by the AGM) are as follows:

County Cup: none ; teams of six

Lewis Cup: 2000; teams of six

Stevenson Cup: 1850 ; teams of six

‘En Passant Cup: 1700 ; teams of six

Harvey Cup: 1550 ; teams of six

Tom Fuller Cup: 1400; teams of four, with no player to be rated above 1650

Intro Cup: 1250; teams of four, with no player to be rated above 1500

Foundation Cup: 1100; teams of four, with no player to be rated above 1350

These competitions are separate. If the County and Lewis Cups were combined in the previous season, they shall continue to be combined in the same manner in the following season unless an AGM decides otherwise

(2) In no match may a team’s mean rating exceed the stated limit.

(3) Any player whose rating falls short of the limit by more than 400 rating points will be deemed, for the purpose of Rule 7(b), to be graded 400 rating points below the limit.

(4) Defaults: if a player who is named on the team list defaults, whether through absence or ineligibility, his rating will count towards the mean rating of the team. Where an unnamed player defaults, the mean rating will be the mean rating of the named players.

(5) Penalties: In a six board match for every 20 rating points, or part thereof, by which a team’s mean rating exceeds the limit, one half game point will be deducted from the team’s score in that match. In a four board match for every 30 rating points or part thereof, by which a team’s mean rating exceeds the limit, one half game point will be deducted from the team’s score in the match.

Note: exceeding the limit is against the rules. The penalties are not to be seen as a licence to do it. They are intended for the case where exceeding the Ratings Total is accidental. However, exceeding the Ratings Total (with a penalty) may sometimes occur with the opponents’ prior agreement. While no team is entitled to exceed the limit, the opponents’ prior agreement would in practice be taken as justification. It is stressed that the penalty would still be applied.

If the Tournament Secretary, having regard to the above paragraph, feels that a team is offending too often he may, after a written warning, take whatever action he thinks fit. This may include applying a sliding scale of punishments where penalties are doubled for each subsequent breach of Ratings Limits and this doubling of the penalty imposed is backdated to include matches where previous breaches occurred. So for a first offence the penalty imposed will be as outlined in (5) above and for a second offence the penalty will be a full game point per 20/30 breach, or part thereof, which will include upgrading the first punishment from a one half game point per 20/30 breach, or part thereof, to a full game point per 20/30 breach, or part thereof. For a third offence the punishment would be two full game points, backdated to offences 1 & 2, and so on. These punishments are designed to be significantly draconian to ensure Captains and Clubs respect the integrity of these Competition Ratings limits and may extend even to the removal of the team from the Tournament. Where a team is removed from a Competition any matches already played by that team in that Competiton will be null and void. However, the results from games played in those matches will still be submitted for Rating by the KCCA LMS Administrator.

8. Player Rating Variances

(i) If a player has an ECF Standard OTB September Rating which subsequently changes by ± 400 Rating Points during the playing Season the Tournament Secretary reserves the right to instruct that player’s Club to use the player’s ECF Standard OTB Latest Rating until further notice.

9. Preliminary rounds

(a) Within each Area, teams will play in a preliminary round to decide the Area Champion for each Tournament.

(b) Any play-off match, or other special procedure for resolving ties, will be deemed to form a part of the preliminary round.

(c) All matches will be played by the 31st March unless otherwise provided by the Tournament Secretary.

10. Semi-Finals and Finals

(a) All the Finals will be played at the same venue on Finals Day. Control of Finals Day will be vested in the KCCA Committee, who will appoint an Organiser to organise the semi-finals and Finals Day. An Arbiter will be appointed for Finals Day.

(b) If a Tournament is contested in only one Area, the Area Champion will be also the Tournament Champion.

(c) If a Tournament is contested in two Areas, these Areas will be designated “A” and “B”. Four teams will be admitted to the semi-finals as follows:

(i) A1 and B1: the Champions respectively of Areas A and B;

(ii) A2 and B2: the teams placed second in the two Areas, with any tie-splitting performed as for A1 and B1.

(d) The pairings for the semi-finals will be Al at home to B2, B1 at home to A2.

(e) The winners of the semi-finals will meet on Finals Day to decide the Tournament Champions.

(f) All semi finals will be played at the standard time controls unless the two captains agree to a longer time controls. See 11(f)

(g) An independent Arbiter must be in attendance. For the semi-finals the Tournament Secretary will provide a list of approved Arbiters. Where no Arbiter on the list is available, the home team may apply to the Tournament Secretary for another to be appointed or for the match to go ahead without an Arbiter.

(h) If a semi-final or a Final is drawn, the result will be determined by board count; or, if this fails, by bottom board elimination. Should every game be drawn, the winner will be the team which had Black on board 1.

11. Rules governing matches

(a) Mobile phones and other electronic devices (including smart watches) are permitted in the playing room but must be switched off and either placed on the table or left in a bag.  During a game no player may leave the playing area with a mobile phone or other device in their person or they will forfeit that game. A player whose phone or device rings, vibrates or otherwise makes a noise in the playing room while his game is in progress will also forfeit the game. Electronic devices used purely for medical reasons are exempt, but the player must report these to the opposition captain before the stat of the match. However, the penalty cannot be applied unless a warning has been given by the match captains. It should be given at the start of the match and will apply even to players who have not yet arrived. If no such warning has been given, the player who first offends will receive a warning. Thereafter any such offence, by any player, will incur loss of the game.

(b) The members of each team will play in descending order of known current playing strength; except for substitutes who may play as provided by Rule 11(g). ‘Known current playing strength’ will be taken to mean their last published ECF Standard OTB Rating unless there is no significant (i.e. less than 100 points) difference between that and their fixed September Standard OTB Rating. However, Captains may adjust Board Order within the parameters of Rule 11(c)

(c) Captains additionally, at their discretion, may place players out of strict Rating order as long as the Players are within 75 Ratings points of each other (150 points for Juniors).

(d) Match captains will exchange team lists before tossing for colours. It is not permitted to include the names of players who are not expected to attend. If a list includes less than a full team, the consequent default(s) will be placed on the lowest board(s).

(e) The team winning the toss will choose to have White on either the odd or the even numbered boards. If either match captain is absent at the time agreed for the start of a match and no substitute is available, the other team will be deemed to have won the toss.

(f) Clocks will be used.

Each player will be given an initial time between 1:00 hour to 1:15 minutes, with variation depending on the time available at the venue. A 15 second increment will be added after each move from the first move.

When a player`s time is reduced to 5 minutes they will no longer be required to write their moves down even if subsequent time is gained with increments making it above 5 minutes.

(g) Sixty minutes grace will be allowed for an absent player if the playing period is four hours or more, and thirty if it is not. If at the end of this time the player is still absent and no substitute is provided, the game will count as a loss for that player by default. Once a match has started no substitute may replace an absent player until at least 15 minutes has been registered on that player’s clock.

(h) No substitute may play on a lower board than that on which he would have played had he been a member of the original team.

(i) Points will be scored as follows:

(1) Game points: one point for a game won, half point for a game drawn;

(2) Match points: one point for a match won half point for a match drawn.

(j) The score of each match will be entered on the LMS by the Home captain within one week of the completion of the match. In the event the captain is unable to do this then the club secretary will do it or ask a member of the club with access to the LMS to do it. The opposition captain will verify the result as soon as possible so that results can be graded.

(k) Any protest by one Club against another will be submitted in writing, and without unnecessary delay, to the Tournament Secretary who will inform the other Club, also in writing and without unnecessary delay, before any decision is made.

Finishing Games

The home club will set a specific and agreed finishing time for the games ( eg 10.30, 10.45) taking into account venue restrictions.

For any game not finished by this time:

1. The players can agree a result on the night (preferable) OR

2. The players can agree a result within 48 hours OR

3. The game goes to Adjudication

12. Unfinished games

If a game is unfinished at the time agreed at close of play, and a result cannot subsequently be agreed, the game will then be determined using either a seven piece table base, if there are seven or fewer pieces remaining on the board, or by adjudication when there are more than seven pieces.

(a) Positions for unfinished games will be sent to the Tournament Secretary by both sides, within ten days of the game, together with the match score sheet. They must be accompanied by a £10 fee from each team in respect of each unfinished game. If a team’s claim is upheld its fee will be refunded (provided that the claim is not subsequently rejected upon appeal).

(b) Each position for an unfinished game must be note:

(i) the number of pieces for each player;

(ii) if it cannot be inferred from the diagram, whether or not castling for either side is possible, and whether or not an en passant capture could be the next move;

(iii) the player who has the move;

(iv) the names and teams of the players;

(v) the claim being made.

If either team claims that a possible sequence of moves would allow a draw by repetition, that team must send a copy of the complete game score, signed as correct by both the player and team captain.

(c) If either team fails to comply fully with the provisions of Rules 12 (a) and (b), and in particular if the position and information does not reach the Tournament Secretary within the period prescribed in Rule 12 (a), the Tournament Secretary may rule that the opposing team’s claim be upheld without proceeding.

(d) Appeals against adjudication decisions

(i) Notice of appeal must be sent to the Tournament Secretary so as to arrive within 10 days of receipt of the decision.

(ii) the appeal must reach the Tournament Secretary within 14 days of receipt of the decision.

(iii) the Tournament Secretary will inform the opposing Club of the appeal without delay.

(iv) the appeal must be accompanied by a copy of the original diagram, the appropriate fee (£20), and analysis in support of the appeal.

(v) the opposing team may also send analysis if it wishes.

(vi) if an appeal is successful the appeal fee will be refunded (together with the original adjudication fee, if the original claim is now upheld).

(vii) the decision of the appeal adjudicator will be final.

(viii) notwithstanding Rule 12 (d) (i) and 12 (d) (ii), any appeal lodged after 19th March must reach the Tournament Secretary within five days of the receipt of the decision.

KENT COUNTY CHESS ASSOCIATION

APPENDIX TO TOURNAMENT RULES

(Amended 8th September 2024)

The provisions of the Appendix may be modified independently by the several Fixtures Meetings as provided by Tournament Rule 3. Any change made by a Fixtures Meeting will remain in force until annulled or modified.

A1 A Club may enter more than one team in any Tournament.

A2 Fixtures Meetings (Metropolitan Kent)

(a) Entries for the Tournaments shall be submitted to the Tournament Secretary before the Fixtures Meeting.

(b) The Tournament Secretary shall give at least 10 days notice of each Fixtures Meeting to the Secretaries of all Clubs concerned, specifying any proposed amendments to Appendix Rules.

(c) At each Fixtures Meeting the Tournament Secretary or a representative shall take the chair.

A2 Fixtures Meetings Mid Kent

(a) Entries for the Tournaments shall be submitted to the Tournament Secretary at or before the

Fixtures Meeting, except at the discretion of the Tournament Secretary.

(b) Proposed amendments to the Rules shall be submitted to the Tournament Secretary by the 7th August.

(c) The Tournament Secretary shall give at least 21 days notice of each Fixtures Meeting to the Secretaries of all Clubs concerned, specifying any proposed amendments to Appendix Rules.

(d) At each Fixtures Meeting the Tournament Secretary or a representative shall take the chair.

(e) Any Club not attending the Fixtures Meeting without good reason may be required by the Fixtures Meeting to play all its matches away from home.

A3 Preliminary rounds (Metropolitan Area only).

Not more than three teams from any one Club shall be eligible to take part in any one Tournament.

A4 Preliminary Rounds (general)

(a) Each team shall play all other teams in its area.

(b) In each Tournament, the meeting will decide how many rounds the teams are to play. There may be any number of rounds. However:

(i) Where play is set as single-round, any pair of teams may instead agree to play double-round between themselves provided they inform the Tournament Secretary at least two weeks before playing. The Tournament Secretary will inform the other clubs in the Tournament. Points scored in such matches will be halved, whether or not both matches are played.

(ii) Where play is set as a double-round, any pair of teams may instead agree to play a single round between themselves provided they inform the Tournament Secretary at least two weeks before playing. The Tournament Secretary will inform the other clubs in the Tournament. Points scored in single-round matches will count double.

(c) Where a Club enters more than one team in the same Tournament, these teams shall play all their matches against each other before playing any other matches in the Tournament. This rule also applies to play-offs as defined by A5.

(d) The dates, times and venues of all matches shall be arranged by the Clubs concerned.

(e) Cancelled Matches. Failure to give seven days notice can incur a penalty of 0-6 game points, at the Tournament Secretary’s discretion. The Club rearranging the fixture should, within 14 days, contact the other Club to ensure another date is fixed. N.B. Matches cancelled after 19th March should be rearranged without delay.

(f) If any team plays less than half its matches, or becomes disaffiliated during the season, the results of any matches played shall be disregarded.

(g) At the completion of the preliminary round, teams shall be placed in descending order of match points; where match points are equal, in descending order of matches played or won by default; and, where teams are still equal, in descending order of game points. For this last purpose game points (but not match points) shall exclude points scored in matches won by default. If a tying team has won a match by default, its game points scored in this match shall be discounted. Also discounted shall be game points scored against the defaulting team by other teams involved in the tie.

Should two teams still be tied, the individual match or matches between such teams shall decide, as follows:

(i) If the teams have played one match only, the result of that match shall decide. If it was drawn, the result shall be decided by applying to it the board count rule or, if this fails, the elimination rule. If there is still a tie, the winner shall be the team which had black on board 1.

(ii) If the teams have played two matches, the winner shall be the team which scored more game points in the two matches combined. If game points are equal, board count shall be applied to both matches separately and the results added, and the team with the lower resultant aggregate shall be the winner. If there is still a tie, the elimination rule shall be applied by discounting results two at a time (both board six results then both board five results, and so on) until a result is obtained.

The team placed first in the Area shall be the Area Champion.

A5 Play-offs

(a) If there is a tie for admission to the semi-finals (see tournament Rule 9), each tying team shall play one match against each other tying team to resolve the tie. In such play offs, teams shall be placed in the manner provided by A4 (g) above.

(b) No player may play in a play-off unless he has played for that Club at least once during the current season in these Tournaments.

A6 Rules governing matches

(a) Subject to the Tournament Secretary’s discretion, a team losing six games by default in a season shall forfeit two game points, and a further game point for every further three games defaulted. For this purpose the Tournament Secretary shall disregard complete matches defaulted with at least 48 hours notice to the opposing team. In such cases there is no penalty beyond loss of the match.

A7 Finals Day Time Controls

On Finals Day the Time Control for Matches will be 90 mins per player plus 15 secs increment per move from move 1.When a player`s time is reduced to 5 minutes they will no longer be required to write their moves down even if subsequent time is gained with increments making it above 5 minutes.

A8 COVID 19

Unfortunately COVID will be with us for the foreseeable future. Each Club should carry out their own risk assessment and act accordingly to guidelines that are in place at the time. Club Officials should provide adequate protection for all members and visitors alike, and use their discretion whenever issues arise. There will be challenges but with common sense and respect towards each other, we should be able to move forward and once again enjoy playing chess.

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SUMMER QUICKPLAY RULES

Amended 12/5/2025 

GENERAL RULES (1 – 7) 

1. General 

1. This Tournament will be open to any club, within the geographical bounds of the Kent County Chess Association, which has paid the entry fee. 

2. The general conduct of the Tournament will be entrusted to the Tournament Secretary and the Committee of the Kent County Chess Association. 

3. The Tournament Secretary will decide the start and finish dates each year. 

4. Teams will consist of four players. 

5. A club may enter any number of teams. 

6. The winning team receive the title of Kent Quickplay Champions as well as a prize (usually a DGT Clock) for their club. 

2. Eligibility 

1. Any player may play, unless disqualified under (b) or (c) below. 

2. No player may represent more than one team during a season. 

3. No player may play in the knock-out stage [see Rule 5] or in a play-off [see Rule 4] unless he has previously played in this competition during the season. 

3. The Group Stage 

1. The Tournament Secretary will place teams in local groups, which will as far as possible be of equal size. 

2. Each team in a group will play one match against each other team. 

3. If a club has more than one team in the same group, these teams must play each other first before playing any further matches. 

4. If any team plays less than half its matches, all its results will be discounted. 

5. Points will be scored as follows: 

Game points: one point for a game won, half point for a game drawn. 

Match points: one point for the team scoring more game points in each match; half point each if game points are equal. 

6. At the end of the group stage, teams will be placed in descending order of match points scored and, where match points are equal, in descending order of game points scored. The highest placed team or teams in each group will qualify for the knock-out stage [see Rule 5(a)]. 

4. Play-Offs 

If there is a tie with two teams on equal match points for admission to the knock-out stage, teams will be placed by match points and game points as in the group stage [see Rule 3(f)]. If two teams still tie for admission, the result of the play-off match between these teams will decide. If it was drawn, the result will be decided by applying to this match the provisions of Rule 5(b). 

5. The Knock Out stage 

1. The Tournament Secretary will indicate, before the competition starts, the number of teams to be admitted to the knock-out stage from each group. He will make the draw for each round, indicating venues and completion dates. 

2. If any match in the knock-out stage is drawn, the result will be decided by applying the following rules, in sequence, until a result is obtained. 

1. Each no. 1 player’s score [see Rule 8(a)] will be multiplied by 4; each no. 2 player’s score by 3; each no. 3’s score by 2; and each no.4’s score by 1. The team with the higher resultant aggregate will be the winner. 

2. The scores of the no. 4 players will be discounted. If game points are still equal after that, the no 3s’ scores will be discounted; and so on until a result is obtained. 

3. Match captains will decide the result in any mutually agreed manner. 

4. Procedure will be indicated by the Tournament Secretary. 

6. The result of each match must be sent to the Tournament Secretary without undue delay. 

7. Any question or dispute will be referred to the Tournament Secretary. 

8. Match Rules 

1. Within each team, players will be arranged in descending order of known current playing strength and will be numbered accordingly from 1 to 4. 

2. Each player will play one game against each member of the opposing team. Games will be played according to the schedule below. 

Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 Rd4 

Bd 1 1-2 1-4 1-3 1-1 

Bd 2 2-1 2-3 2-4 2-2 

Bd 3 3-4 3-2 3-1 3-3 

Bd 4 4-3 4-1 4-2 4-4 

3. Match captains will exchange team lists before tossing for colours. 

4. The side winning the toss will choose to take white in either the odd or the even numbered rounds. 

5. 30 minutes will be allowed for each round. In each game, this time will be divided between the players according to the difference between their published ratings as shown below. “Published rating” means a rating published in the official ECF list at the month the Tournament begins. If a player has no published rating, or if there is other cause for doubt, the Tournament Secretary will stipulate what rating is to be used. He must be asked to do so before the player plays. 

Rating difference Stronger player Weaker player 

0-74 points 15 min 15 min 

75-149 points 12 min 18 min 

150-224 points 9 min 21 min 

225-299 points 7 min 23 min 

300-374 points 5 min 25 min 

375-599 points 4 min 26 min 

600 points and more 3 min 27 min 

6. If any player is absent at the start of a round, his clock will be started in the usual way, unless agreed between the two captains. 

7. Each team is allowed one reserve. 

Playing Rules (9 – 11) 

[Note: claims and penalties. “Claims” are referred to frequently in Rule 9. They may arise from various causes (for example flag-fall, or an illegal move, or aimless play by the opponent in the hope of winning on time). For detailed coverage of claims and penalties themselves, see Rules 10 and 11.] 

9. General 

1. Except as otherwise laid down by these Rules, play will be in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess and the KCCA’s General Playing Rules  

2. The home team must, and the away team may, provide a non-playing adjudicator [see Note 5 following these Rules]. The adjudicator’s function will be to rule on any claim arising during play. If only one team provides an adjudicator his rulings will be binding. In the event of a dispute between adjudicators then it should first be presented to the tournament controller who will follow the KCCA’s appeal procedures. 

3. Clocks 

1. The player with the black pieces will choose to have the clock on either his right or his left. 

2. It is the player’s responsibility to check the setting of the clock before he makes his first move.  Mistakes cannot be rectified later. 

3. It is forbidden to pick up, or otherwise move, the clock during play. 

4. A player must use the same hand for making his move and pressing his clock. 

5. A player may not press the clock unless all the pieces in play are standing upright and in their correct positions. 

4. Flag Fall 

A player whose clock shows the flag loses the game, except that: 

1. If the position is such that checkmate for the opponent is impossible, the game is drawn. [See Note 1 following these Rules.] 

2. A player whose flag is showing on the clock may be awarded a draw as provided by Rule 9 (e) below. 

5. Declared Draw 

A player with less than two minutes remaining on his clock may claim a draw on the grounds that the opponent is making no progress, or that the opponent’s position affords no reasonable winning chances. The adjudicators may rule at once, or may postpone their ruling until more moves have been played. If in the meantime the player is offered, and rejects, a draw then his claim will lapse. Otherwise the arbiters may still award a draw even after his flag is showing. 

6. Touched Piece 

The “touched piece” rule applies if and only if a piece touched can legally be moved or captured. A move made in violation of the touched piece rule is deemed illegal for the purpose of these Rules 

7. Illegal Moves and positions 

1. An incorrect starting position will be rectified only if a player so requests before making his first move. 

2. A player may not, of his own accord, retract an illegal move once he has released any piece involved. An illegal move will be rectified only if the opponent so requests before touching a piece in reply. (He may also, if he wishes, claim a two-minute penalty.) Otherwise the move stands and the game continues. 

8. Checkmate 

In principle, checkmate ends the game and no claim is required. However, if a player who has been checkmated replies with an illegal move, the game continues unless the opponent claims his win before touching a piece in reply. He may claim it even if his flag is showing since the checkmate occurred. 

9. Stalemate 

The principle of (h) above applies equally to stalemate. If a player who has been stalemated makes an illegal move, the opponent may play on. Alternatively he may claim: 

1. a penalty on the ground of the illegality, provided that his flag is not showing since the stalemate occurred; or 

2. a draw by stalemate, whether or not his flag is showing since the stalemate occurred. 

10. Scores 

Keeping score is not obligatory. However, a player who is not keeping score may not claim a draw by repetition or under the “50 move” rule. [See Note 2 following these Rules.] 

11. Advice 

A player may not receive advice, whether requested or not and whether given deliberately or not, from any member of his own club. It is permissible to receive advice from a member of the opposing club. 

10. Claims 

1. A player may claim: 

1. a win or draw, or correction of an illegality, in accordance with 9(d), 9(e), 9(g), 9(h) or 9(i), or with the Laws of Chess as in force for this tournament. 

2. a penalty in accordance with Rule 11. 

2. Claims may be made only by the player himself. A claim made by another member of his club counts as advice and may be penalised. 

3. Method of making a claim: The player must first stop the clock. A claim is deemed to have been made, nor any infraction committed, until this is done.  An infraction by the opponent cannot be claimed if a player touches a piece, intending a move, since it occurred. If he does, his claim is invalid for the purpose of Rule 11(b)2 below. [For “king-taking”, see Note 3 following these Rules.] 

11. Penalties 

1. No penalty will be imposed unless the opponent claims as provided by Rule 10. 

2. If claimed by the opponent, penalties will be imposed for the following offences: 

1. Any infraction of Rule 9, including infractions of the Laws of Chess as in force for this tournament. 

2. Any claim found to be invalid. [See Guidance Note 4 following these Rules.] 

3. The penalty for any offence is: 

1. For a first or second offence, of whatever kind, by the same player in the same game: two minutes will be added to the opponent’s remaining time. 

2. For a third offence, of whatever kind, by the same player in the same game: the player loses the game.  

[See Guidance Notes overleaf.] 

GUIDANCE NOTES 

1 Mating force 

You can win on time provided that checkmate for you is legally possible. Apart from freak positions involving unavoidable stalemate, or checkmate for the opponent, it comes down to the material on the board. A lone pawn on the second rank will win against nine queens. King and knight will win against anything except bare K, or K and Q(s) alone. Naturally K and two Ns wins against anything at all, including bare K. King and bishop (or strictly, K and any number of same-colour Bs) can mate only if the opponent has a N, or another- colour B, or a P. A pawn on the “defending” side is fatal because Ps can promote to Ns and if the opponent has a N anything except bare K can win. 

2 Draws by repetition 

Although you cannot claim a draw by repetition unless you are keeping score, it should be borne in mind that in clear cases of repetition it would be open to either side to claim a draw under Rule 9(e). 

3 King-hacks, claims, and the clock 

Rule 10(c) is clear that you have to stop the clock in order to claim. Merely saying “Your flag’s showing” or “That’s an illegal move” is not enough.  It may be enough, if your opponent accepts it but a player who is short of time or on the point of getting mated should beware. If your own flag shows, or you get mated, before you have stopped the clocks your verbal “claim” will not count. The taking of the opponent’s king is not allowed. 

4 Rejected claims 

Note that an invalid claim cannot be penalised unless the opponent so requests. If he does, arbiters should use the following guidelines. 

A rejected claim counts as “invalid”, and will be penalised, if it is factually wrong; but not if it is rejected merely for lack of evidence, or because the adjudicators disagree. A claim requiring subjective judgment on the adjudicators part, for example under 9(e), will not be penalised unless the adjudicators agree that it was frivolously made. 

5 Providing an adjudicator 

In practice, matches are often played without an adjudicator. The two sides usually seem to sort out any problems that arise. However, if the home side is in breach of Rule 9(b), the Tournament Secretary would be entitled to take this into account if a problem arose which had to be referred to him.  The adjudicators should be a spectator throughout a match. 

6 The role of the adjudicators 

Adjudicators should not intervene uninvited. Even when appealed to, adjudicators can always exercise discretion if they agree that a strict application of the rules would be unfair. Trivial offences, like a slight and accidental displacement of the clock when stopping it, or correction of such displacement, will obviously not be penalised.  The home team adjudicator should understand and know how to add two minutes to a players clock.