ICC Help: STtourney

              MONTHLY STANDARD TOURNAMENTS!
           Play 4 rounds, one game each Tuesday.
                       P R I Z E S!

110th Tournament: January 10, 17, 24, 31
111th Tournament: February 7, 14, 21, 28
112th Tournament: March 7, 14, 21, 28
113th Tournament: April 4, 11, 18, 25
114th Tournament: May 2, 9, 16, 23

   I.  TOURNAMENT FORMAT:

    Four-round Swiss
    Time Control: 60 0
    Rated Games

  II. SECTIONS:

Six separate sections:   2PM ET:   Open
                                   U1500 (Under 1500)

                         8PM ET:   Open
                                   U1500 (Under 1500)

                        11PM ET:   Open
                                   U1500 (Under 1500)

There are six separate sections to make playing convenient for
people in different time zones, and to allow you to play against
people with a similar rating.  You may enter only one section, and you
will play people only in your section.  To play in the U1500 sections,
your ICC standard rating must be below 1500 at the entry deadline.

III. PRIZES:

Each Open section:   First place -- three months ICC membership
                     Best U2000  -- two months ICC membership
                     Best U1700  -- six weeks ICC membership

Each U1500 section:  First place -- two months ICC membership
                     Best U1300  -- one month ICC membership

Your ICC Standard rating at the entry deadline determines your
prize eligibility.

  IV.  ENTRY:

The 8PM and 11PM sections are managed by the STtourney account.  The 2PM
sections are managed by the STtourneyEurope account.  NOTE: the 2PM
starting time is most convenient for European members, but anyone may
enter and play at that time.

To enter, use the form at
https://www.chessclub.com/activities/sttourney-signup.php
or issue the following ICC command:

   message <account> I want to play in the <month> Standard Tournament
   in the <time>ET <type> section.  I will not use computers, books,
   or assistance from other people during my games. My ICC rating is
   <rating>

   where:
   <account> = STtourney or STtourneyEurope, depending on your preferred
               start time,
   <month> = month of tourney
   <time> = 2PM, 8PM or 11PM,
   <type> = Open or U1500, and
   <rating> = your current ICC Standard rating.  If you don't have one,
              give your Blitz rating.  If you don't have one, put that
              in the message.

If you do not give a <type> in your entry, you will be placed in the
Open section, regardless of rating.

FOR ENTRIES TO STtourney ONLY, if you do not give a start time in your
entry, you will be placed in an 8PM section. So, for example, if you
give no time or section, you will be entered in the 8PM Open section.

Please make sure that the preferred time is correct for the managing
account.  Don't send a 8PM or 11PM start time to STtourneyEurope or a
2PM start time to STtourney.  These will be ignored.

Deadline: 10PM ET on the Sunday before Round 1.  Time and date will
be determined from the time stamp on your message to the STtourney
account.

Confirmation of Entry: Your entry will be confirmed in a message from
the managing account (either STtourney or STtourneyEurope, depending)
verifying your time and section.

   V. DATE/TIME OF GAME AND STARTING A GAME:

All games are scheduled for Tuesday.  Time depends on your section
and is ET.  Type "date" on ICC to see the current ET, for comparison
with your time zone.  It IS possible to reschedule if your opponent
agrees.  See Section VIII.e below.

Procedure For Playing: Show up a 15 minutes prior to the scheduled
time of your game and match your opponent when s/he shows up.  This
tournament is not automated.  You must match your opponent or accept
his/her match request.  See help match if you're new to ICC.

Questions: On Tuesday, ask your questions in channel 32.  It will
usually be monitored by the Director or his representative.

  VI. PAIRINGS:

Pairings will be posted on Monday nights by 10PM ET.  Please  "finger"
the account assigned to your section:

    Open 2PM --- ST2pmOpen

    Open 8PM --- ST8pmOpen

    Open 11PM -- ST11pmOpen

    U1500 2PM -- ST2pmU1500

    U1500 8PM -- ST8pmU1500

    U1500 11PM - ST11pmU1500

Example: type finger ST8pmOpen to see the pairings for the Open 8PM
section.

Pairings are also posted at the same web address given below in VII
for the current tournament crosstables.  The pairing accounts are
official, if there is any difference between the two.  

When the game is ended, please send the results by message to the
managing account (either STtourney or STtourneyEurope, depending) win,
lose or draw.  This guarantees your pairing in the next round, as you
won't be deemed a 'no-show' if your opponent doesn't report the game.
See VIII.h and VIII.i below for more detail on 'no-show'.

NOTE: Send results to the managing account ONLY.  The accounts used for
pairings are NOT checked for results.  A good form to use is below.

Example:
mess STtourneyEurope 2PM Open Round 3 Capablanca-Lasker 0-1

NOTE: Purposely reporting false results could result in expulsion from STtourney. 

VII. STANDINGS:

Standings are posted in the standings accounts as soon as all game
results are reported.  The names are Stand-<time><section>, where:
<time> is 2pm, 8pm, or 11pm and <section> is Open or U1500.
Example: fi Stand-8pmU1500

Crosstables for the current tournament are posted on ICC's web page:
    http://www.chessclub.com/sttourney/stcross.html

Old crosstables are also posted on the ICC web page:
    http://www.chessclub.com/sttourney/stt-old.html

Crosstables for the 4th round of the previous month are posted in the
old crosstables section.

VIII. RULES:

    a.  USCF rules will be used for cases not handled automatically by
        ICC code.

    b.  Players are allowed 2 half-pt byes, which must be requested
        before 10PM Sunday before the round.  Byes for Rounds 3 and
        4 MUST be requested before Round 2.  Late entry is permitted
        up to the second round with a half-pt bye for the first round.
        Withdrawing after a game is played and reentering is NOT
        permitted.

    c.  A player who does not appear for a round (or a rescheduled
        match) without prior notification is automatically forfeited
        from the tournament unless s/he presents a valid excuse to the
        tournament director.

    d.  Provisionally Rated Players:
        If 2 players are unable to play a rated game due to ICC's rule
        on provisionally rated players, the game must be played as an
        unrated game.

    e.  Rescheduling policy:

       1. Contact your opponent.  Your opponent does not have to agree
          to reschedule.  We ask both players to be considerate, and
          please try to reschedule if your opponent asks!  The purpose
          is to play!

       2. When a time has been agreed upon, BOTH players must send
          the managing account (either STtourney or STtourneyEurope,
          depending) a message regarding the time and date the game
          will be played.  Failure to do so will result in a double
          forfeit for the round.  Both players will be considered
          'no-shows' as described below.  Note that messages which
          contain "POTZY and I wish to reschedule our game" (or along
          similar lines) will be ignored.

       3. Rescheduled games must be played and reported in a message
          to the managing account (either STtourney or STtourneyEurope
          depending) before 10PM ET on the Sunday before the next
          round.  You have 6 days after pairings to play a rescheduled
          match.  That is plenty of time!

    f. Disconnections:

       If a player disconnects, s/he is given 15 minutes to reconnect.
       If the player does not return, s/he is forfeited from the
       tournament unless a valid excuse is presented to the tournament
       director.

    g. Computers And/Or Other Assistance

       Absolutely no aid from computer-playing programs is allowed.
       If ICC management suspects (we do not need to prove) computer
       use, you may be banned from all future Standard Tourneys.
       Also, people who have ever been "busted" by the ICC computer
       detection group are ineligible to play, even if they are no
       longer using computer programs on the ICC.

       You may not receive assistance from other chess players during
       your games.  You may not have someone else play on your ICC
       account for you.  Either of these violate not only the tourna-
       ment rules, but also the ICC user agreement, and may result in
       banning from the ICC.

    h. Forfeits

       If your opponent fails to arrive 15 minutes after the round has
       begun (2:15 PM or 8:15PM or 11:15PM ET) you may claim a win on
       forfeit.

       Players may give up their right to claim this win and
       reschedule if they wish.  However, their game will be treated
       as a rescheduled game and is subject to the policy on
       rescheduling games.

       If both players fail to arrive 15 minutes after the round time
       and have not messaged STtourney about rescheduling, then both
       players are forfeited and considered 'no-shows'.

    i. Incorrect Colors

       Games played with the wrong color assignment will count as
       the official game. The colors will be taken into account in
       pairings and corrected for if possible. There is no obligation
       to replay the game. If 3 moves have not been played by each 
       side (before white's fourth move) the game should be aborted 
       and restarted with the correct colors if possible. 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!                                                                    !
!                       A T T E N T I O N                            !
!                                                                    !
! The 15-minute forfeit time is for LATECOMERS ONLY! If both players !
!                                                                    !
! are present and one refuses to start the scheduled tourney game    !
!                                                                    !
! (e.g. waiting until 8:14 to issue challenge, playing other games,  !
!                                                                    !
! etc), a warning will be issued by the tournament directors for the |
!                                                                    !
! first offense.  Any subsequent offense will result in ejection from!
!                                                                    !
! the tournament.  Moreover, additional sanctions may be imposed by  !
!                                                                    !
! tournament directors.  Possible sanctions include prohibition from !
!                                                                    !
! participating in future Standard Tourneys.                         !
!                                                                    !
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    i.  'no-show' policy

        A 'no-show' is any paired player that does not arrive by 15
        minutes after round time and has not messaged STtourney
        about a reschedule of that round game.

        A 'no-show is also any player who fails to arrive to complete
        2 rescheduled games.  The 2 rescheduled games need not be in
        consecutive rounds.

        'No-shows' will be forfeited from the month tourney and will
        be ineligible to join the next monthly tournament.

        This policy is designed to separate those who are serious
        about playing in the tourney from those who aren't.  It is
        inconsiderate to show up late for your scheduled game as it
        wastes your opponent's time.

TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS:

       Chief TD: CogitoErgoSum
       Admin TD: dro
       Assistant TDs: kicksacan, djlogan, EeEk
       Section TDs: Morad-Magdy(2pm), CogitoErgoSum(8pm), MrGolden(11pm)

       The tournament directors reserve the right to use discretion
       (or their judgment) in special circumstances.  Their decision
       is final.

       If any of your questions are not answered here, try reading
       help STtourneyFAQ

See also: STtourneyFAQ, tournaments, Tomato