Please see all the necessary information below, including the "Terms and Conditions," which explain:
When registering, please include your full address. Prizes may be delayed because the address does not include the apartment or unit number. Without this, mailed prizes are typically returned to us.
Playing Site and Room Bookings:
Northbrook Hilton, 2855 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook, Illinois 60062
$5 through April 27
$5 through June 1
$10 through July 20
$10 through July 25
The tournament has one section.
The tournament uses the Swiss System. This system is similar to a bracket system, but a player is never eliminated - they keep moving on to new brackets. Someone who wins and then loses is in the same bracket as someone who loses and then wiins. So, like a standard bracket, divide the "point group" into two, and the upper half plays the lower half.
One difference between the Swiss System and brackets that many people are used to, is that the lower half of a group is not inverted.
For example, in the first round of a ten-player Swiss System, player #1 plays player #6, not player #10
Players are seeded based on their US Chess ratings. Unrated players are placed in alphabetical order following the rated players.
Four. Each player is guaranteed four games (unless they receive a bye.) We will work to provide a "house game" for any bye rounds.
Time Controls & Schedule
G/30; d5
Round Schedule
Round 1 at 1:30. Rounds played as soon as possible. Based on the actual registrations, this is close to one hour between game start times. We anticipate conclusion around 5:30
It is possible to skip some of the games if you have a conflict during the day. However, there are some rules around this procedure. Remember for the following context, wins equal 1-point, draws (ties) equal ½-point, and a loss is 0-points.
A bye is a scheduled, unplayed game. If a player receives a bye due to an odd number of players, they will get a free point. However, in many events, including this one, a player can schedule an unplayed game and receive a ½-point bye.
In this tournament, a player may schedule up to two ½-point byes. Although byes may be scheduled for any round, for fairness, the timing of this schedule must happen while the tournament outcome is still unpredictable. So they must schedule the bye before the end of round 2. Once round 2 is completed, no byes may be added or rescinded. Note that since there isn't a precise round schedule, any half-point byes must be carefully scheduled. To schedule byes, you'll just have to make your best guess. If you guess wrong, you may still have a 0-point bye for any missed rounds.
Byes may be scheduled online during registration or at the tournament site before the end of round 2 by going to Chess Central.
No tournament check-in at the site is needed. Just verify your registration online before the tournament. If there are issues with a chess membership, please use the change/correction procedure (below) to make changes.
This event has no prizes - it is for fun only.
US Chess, the governing body of chess in the United States, rates these tournaments. To participate, you must be a member of US Chess.
If, at the time of the tournament, you are between ages 5 and 18 you can take advantage of a voucher program that provides membership at approximately half price. To purchase a voucher for $11, go to www.cavechess.cc/voucher. When you purchase a voucher, an email will be sent to you within minutes with the voucher code, and instructions about how to go to the US Chess website to purchase a voucher.
If you are older, or want a different type of membership, go to https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess.
Caveman Chess provides sets, boards, and clocks. Equipment will likely be available for purchase at the site.
US Chess rules apply to these tournaments. If you participate in the U1400 or U1200 sections, you will be expected to keep score (write down your moves). We will offer some flexibility in the U700 section. However, to improve at chess, it is important to write down the moves so the game may be reviewed afterward.
You can get the US Chess Rulebook at US Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess: Just, Tim, Just, Tim: 9781797716909: Amazon.com: Books. We recommend an electronic version because you can download updates.
You may find this information helpful if this is your first event:
Food, Parking, Questions
Summary of Key Terms and Conditions
This is a summary of essential Terms and Conditions. To see all Terms and Conditions, go to https://www.cavemanchess.com/terms-conditions
Withdrawals: To withdraw from an event, go to https://cavechess.cc/withdraw and fill out the form. Emails will be ignored.
Refunds: Go to the Terms and Conditions link above for the entire policy. Here are important points:
Registration Corrections and Changes: Please verify the information before submitting the registration. For example, some browsers with persistent "autofill" tools often overwrite a participant's name with the name of the person completing the registration.
Prizes: It is important to see all of our terms and conditions for prize payment at Terms and Conditions for Prizes. Key rules include:
Photographs/Video: By registering, you agree to allow photographs and video of your image to be posted on our websites or related social media.Titled players and players at least age 13 agree to the use of their full name on our websites or social media along with images. Players under the age of 13 must be registered by their parents or guardians who agree that their names can be used in tournament standings or other listings, their first names may be used in general photos or videos, and their full names may be used in prize photos or videos.
Participants or their legal representatives agree to these terms by registering the player.