Tri-State Junior Chess Open
Saturday January 7, 2006

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Rangos Ballroom, 2nd Floor, University Center Building.
Directions: The University Center Building is located near Forbes Avenue between Morewood and Beeler. It is next to the parking garage at Forbes Ave and Beeler St. If the garage is open, you may park there. Otherwise, you may park free at the Morewood Gardens lot, located just across Forbes Ave. (Ignore the sign that lists restrictions on who may park there; we have permission.) If you wish to see a map, follow this link: Campus Map Directions for out of towners are available here: CMU directions

9 Sections:
(Kids are automatically placed in the correct section based on their official December 2005 ratings.) To check your rating on the USCF's website, follow this link and be sure to look for the official December rating: USCF Ratings, Membership Numbers,& Expiration dates

Grades K to 2 Beginner:		Open to those Rated Under 600 or Unrated in Grades K to 2
Grades 3 to 4 Beginner:		Open to those Rated Under 600 or Unrated in Grades 3 & 4
Grades 5 to 12 Beginner:		Open to those Rated Under 600 or Unrated in Grades 5 to 12 
Rated 600 - 749:			Open to Kids Rated 600 to 749 in all grades
Rated 750 - 874:			Open to Kids Rated 750 to 874 in all grades 
Rated 875 - 949:			Open to Kids Rated 875 to 949 in all grades
Rated 950 - 1049:			Open to Kids Rated 950 to 1049 in all grades
Premier Section:			Open to those Rated from 1050 to 1249 in all grades
Championship Section:		Open to those Rated 1250 and over in all grades

Schedule: Everyone should bring a chess set, board and pencil and be at the playing site by 9:30am. Rounds begin approximately 10am, 11:15am, 12:45pm, and 2:00pm. One hour is alloted for each game, with the results of unfinished games by judged by the directors. For parents whose children are old enough to drop off, most games will probably done by 2:45, but can go on till 3:00pm. Award ceremony will be from approximately 3:00 to 3:45pm.

Playing Format: No eliminations. Everyone plays 4 games. Pairings are made using a method called the Swiss System, which matches players together who have the same number of points each round. Your opponents get tougher if you keep winning, and easier each time you lose. For this tournament, use of chess clocks and recording of your moves is only required in the Championship, Premier, and 950-1049 sections. If you do not own a clock, you are not required to purchase one. However, if you are playing in one of the 3 sections listed above and either player has a clock, you are required to use it. Using a clock protects you from stalling by your opponent. Recording your moves will not be required in other sections but failure to do so can limit certain claims to tournament directors. Since keeping notation allows you to review your games, it is recommended that all players learn to use it.

Team Competition: When four or more students from one school play in the tournament, they will automatically be considered a team. They do not need to all sign up at once or register in any special way to be counted as a team. If less than 4 students from one school enter, they play only for individual prizes. There is no maximum to the number of students who can play on your team. However, each team's score will be computed by summing the results of the 4 highest scoring players on the team. Having a large team increases your odds of winning and cannot hurt you. Team members can play in different sections. Teams from all grade levels will be competing against one another. You will not be paired against other members of your team. The top 3 teams will each receive a trophy for their school and a ribbon for each member of their team. The members of the 4th place team will also receive ribbons.

Individual Prizes: In each section, trophies to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th place winners. Ribbons to the 6th place finishers, top girl and top unrated player. Ties for trophies will be broken using the following tiebreaking systems in the order given: Solkoff, Modified Median, and the Cumulative Points method. These methods all attempt, in different ways, to determine who played the toughest field of opponents. The idea is that in the event of a tie, the person who played tougher opposition should come out ahead of the person who played easier opponents. All players tied for ribbons will receive one.

A minimum of 50 trophies will be awarded, along with countless ribbons. It is highly likely that Extra trophies will be added based on additional early entries. Get more trophies for your section by entering early.

Cost: Entry fee is $15 if postmarked by 12/23/05. Later entries pay $5 more and are accepted until 7pm on 1/6/05. US Chess Federation (USCF) membership is required of all entrants. Students age 14 and under may purchase an Economy membership (which includes no magazine) or a Scholastic membership (which includes Chess Life magazine every other month. If age 15 and older, the USCF requires a $25 Junior membership, which includes Chess Life every month. Chess ratings are also a benefit of membership. As a special promotion, Pittsburgh Public School (PPS) students receive basic USCF membership free (if expired or non-member), thanks to the generousity of The Buhl Foundation, The Grable Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments. This applies to City of Pittsburgh Public school students only.

Questions: Call Chessmaster Jerry Meyers at (412) 422-1770.
Financial aid is available for low income families. Click here for application form.

Registration Info: Please mail entry form before December 23, 2005. Entries mailed after December 23 will be charged a $5 late fee and must be received by January 6. No refunds after 12/23. Bad check fee is $20. There will be no on-site registration.

We have great classes for kids at the Pittsburgh Chess Club. Sundays: Advanced Beginners (under 650 or Unrated) from 2:30 -3:30pm; Intermediate (650-850) from 1-2pm. The next set of Sunday classes will start 1/8. Monday nights: Advanced class (kids & Adults 850-1400) from 7pm-8:30. Monday classes start 1/9. 6 weeks, $35 Sundays, $40 Monday nights. $5 Discount for Pittsburgh Chess Club members. Learn a lot, have fun, meet new friends. Call Jerry Meyers at (412) 422-1770 for registration form and details.