The $10,000

 

 HOUSTON OPEN - JEAN TROENDLE MEMORIAL

 November 22 - 24, 2019

Houston, TX

(b/200 full-paid entries, 50% 85% guaranteed!) 

5SS - US Chess Rated - GPP:  30

"OPEN" & "U2000" SECTIONS are FIDE RATED using FIDE Rules - 5SS, G/90, i30 (US Chess Ratings used for pairings)

ALL OTHER SECTIONS - 5SS, G/120, d5 

Free entry for GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs  

(EF deducted from winnings) 

3-Day or 2-Day Schedules Available

PLEASE BRING YOUR CHESS SET AND CLOCK.  THOSE ARE NOT PROVIDED BY THE TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS.  FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, THERE WILL BE A CHESS STORE ON LOCATION SELLING CHESS RELATED ITEMS, INCLUDING THESE.

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Scroll Down for SIDE EVENTS
(Houston Open Scholastic and "Cajun Knock-Out " Blitz) 

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 SPECTATOR POLICY 

 PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL BE ADHERING TO THE FIDE RULES CONCERNING SPECTATOR POLICY:

SPECTATORS (NON-PLAYING INDIVIDUALS) WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE TOURNAMENT ROOM DURING TOURNAMENT PLAY.   PLAYERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR GAMES MAY STAY IN THE TOURNAMENT ROOM TO WATCH OTHER GAMES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY LEAVE THE PLAYING HALL AND TURN IN THEIR PLAYER'S BADGE, AT WHICH POINT THEY ARE CONSIDERED SPECTATORS AND MAY NOT RE-ENTER THE TOURNAMENT HALL UNTIL THE NEXT ROUND.

FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION OF THESE RULES, PLEASE GO TO THE FIDE ARBITERS' MANUAL BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW, AND THEN GO TO

Article 11.2 on Page 26
and
Article 11.4 on Page 28

http://arbiters.fide.com/images/stories/downloads/2019/Arbiters-Manual-2019-v1.pdf


 $10,000 HOUSTON OPEN


  DETAILS & REGISTRATION

LOCATION

DoubleTree by Hilton

15747 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

Houston, TX  77032

(take the JFK exit off of Beltway 8 in north Houston near IAH Airport)
SPECIAL HOTEL CHESS RATE:   $91 & tax
Mention Houston Chess Tournament and reserve by Oct. 31st to assure rate. Extended until Nov. 17!!!
  • Complimentary Hotel Self-Parking; 
  • Free Shuttle Service from Bush Int'l (IAH) Airport to/from Hotel - please call hotel for pick-up service (281-848-4000);
  • Basic Internet in Each Room!
  • Discounted Hot Breakfast Coupons for hotel guests ($12, exclusive of tax and gratuity)

SPECIAL HOTEL CHESS RATE:   $91 & tax

NOTE:  PLEASE RESERVE BY OCT. 31 NOV. 17 TO ASSURE GROUP RATE.  IN ADDITION, PLEASE PUT "CAJ" in group code to get special $91 rate.

To Reserve  your Hotel Room on line, please click on:

DoubleTree by Hilton Chess Tournament Reservation

BE SURE TO PUT "CAJ" IN THE GROUP CODE BOX OR YOU WILL NOT GET THE SPECIAL CHESS RATE OF $91 PER NIGHT!

To Reserve your Hotel Room by Phone

Please call the hotel's direct line at

281-848-4000

and mention Houston Chess Tournament.


FORMAT

5SS - US Chess Rated - GPP: 30

OPEN & U2000 Sections Only (US Chess-Rated and FIDE- Rated using FIDE Rules):  G/90, i30

 All other Sections: (US Chess Rated):  G/120, d5


SECTIONS & PRIZES

$10,000 Prize Fund b/200 full-paid players; 50% 85% gtd.

NOTE:  OPEN & U2000 Sections are FIDE Rated using FIDE Rules.

OPEN: $1400 + plaque - $800 - $500 - $300 - $200

 (U2200):  $700-400
U2000: $800 + plaque - $400 - $200 - $100 - $50
U1800: $800 + plaque - $400 - $200 - $100 - $50
     U1600/Unr*: $800 + plaque - $400 - $200 - $100 - $50
 U1300: $400 + plaque - $300 - $200 - $100 - $50

* Unrated players may only play in the U1600/Unr or the Open; however, in the U1600/Unr they may only win 50% of the prizes awarded unless they play in the Open where they must pay the full entry fee and are eligible for full prizes awarded.

In the event of a tie, plaque winners will be determined by US Chess-recommended tiebreaks (MSCO).  Official November 2019 Rating Supplement used.


SCHEDULES & ROUND TIMES 

 3-Day Schedule

On-site Registration: Friday (11/22) from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

3-Day Round Times:

 Friday, Nov. 22:          8pm
            Saturday, Nov. 23:     2pm & 7pm
               Sunday, Nov. 24:        10am & 3pm

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2-Day Schedule

On-site Registration: Saturday (11/23) from 8:00-8:30 a.m.

2-Day Round Times:

                        Saturday, Nov. 23:     9am & 2pm & 7pm
              Sunday, Nov. 24:       10am & 3pm
NOTE:  Both Schedules merge at Round 2.

 BYES

Two 1/2-point byes are available for any round.  You must advise the Chief Tournament Director and commit to any byes prior to the beginning of Round 3 After the start of Round 3, no voluntary byes may be added, changed or rescinded.


 ENTRY FEES

Titled Players:  GMs, IMs, WGMs, and WIMs pay no Entry Fee; however, the regular early Entry Fee ($95) will be deducted from any winnings.  IF YOU ARE A TITLED PLAYER, register online normally. The entry fee amount is adjusted with the title.

REGISTRATION FOR TITLED PLAYERS (GM, IM, WGM, WIM) - $0

*** (EARLY ENTRY FEE DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9) ***

Upper FIDE Sections (OPEN & U2000, including Unrated Players in the OPEN Section): $95 by 11/5/19 11/9/19; $105  by 11/12/19; $120 thereafter and at site.

Players in the U1800, U1600, and U1300 Sections$95 by 11/5/19 11/9/19; $105 by 11/12/19; $120 thereafter and at site. 

Unrated  Players (USCF members playing in the U1600/Unr.): $69 by 11/5/19 11/9/19; $79 by 11/12/19; $95 thereafter and at site. 

Juniors (under 19 years of age) playing in the U1300 or U1600 Section): $69 by 11/5/19 11/9/19; $79 by 11/12/19; $95 thereafter and at site.

Juniors (under 19 years of age) playing in the U1300 Section of the Main Event and in the Scholastic Tournament: $79 by 11/5/19 11/9/19; $95 by 11/12/19; $125 thereafter and at site.


RE-ENTRY FEE

 $35

Re-entry is available prior to the start of Round 3 EXCEPT THE OPEN

For prize fund calculations, Re-entries = 30%; Jr. Entries and Unr in U1600 = 70% of full entry.


 ELECTRONIC NOTATION DEVICES

 The only four electronic chess notation devices which are approved for and allowed in a US Chess rated tournament are the Monroi, the e-Notate PDA, Plycount and the Chess NoteR. You may use any of these devices, but the device must remain on top of the table at all times (you may not hold it under the table in your lap or under the tablecloth). The tournament director has the right to request to see your notation device at any time before, during or after your game.


 ADVANCE REGISTRATION

 (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)

On-lineYou may register with a credit card on-line by clicking on the following

2019 Houston Open Registration for All Sections

By PhoneYou may register with a credit card by phone at (713) 530-7820.

By Mail: You may send a check with registration info to:

Francisco Guadalupe

305 Willow Pointe Dr.

League City, TX 77573

If you wish to mail in your entry with a check (or credit card info), please be sure to include the player's name, full address, phone number, email contact, US Chess ID number, section, schedule (2 or 3-day) and byes(if any).  Please make checks payable to "F & B Trophies" (not Cajun Chess).


 ON-SITE REGISTRATION

Friday, Nov. 22:       5:30pm - 7:00pm
Saturday, Nov. 23:   8:00am - 8:30am
Once registration is closed at 8:30 a.m. you will receive a
1/2-point bye for Round One.

No checks accepted at site (cash or credit cards only).

On-line registration will close at 10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION

For questions or more info, please call 713-530-7820

OR email

flguadalupe@aol.com


  SIDE EVENTS INFO

SCHOLASTIC K-12 INDIVIDUAL & TEAM CHESS TOURNAMENT

4SS - G30 d5

Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 - First Round at 10:00 a.m.

OPEN TO ALL INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS FROM K-12

Sections:        K-2       K-5      K-8       K-12

NOTE: This is a US Chess-rated tournament; each player will need to have a current US Chess membership. For membership rates, please scroll down below. US Chess membership may be purchased or renewed on site at the tournament.

Site Location: 

DoubleTree by Hilton (near IAH Airport), 15747 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Houston, TX  77032.  Separate room for scholastic tournament players.

Format: 4SS, G/30, d5 - US Chess Rated (4 rounds will be played using Swiss-Sys computer pairings; each opponent has 30 minutes to complete his/her game; digital chess clocks, if available, should be set to Game in 30 minutes with a 5-second delay for each move).

Round Times:  On-site Registration on Saturday, Nov. 23rd between 8:30 - 9:30am. Rounds at 10am & 11:30am & 1:15pm & 2:30pm. Awards ceremony following completion of last round. 

Team Info:  A team will consist of three players from the same school or home-school district.  However, the top FOUR scores will count for final team standings, so it would be to your advantage to find a fourth team member (no “maximum” limit of number of players on a team).  Team and individual games will be played simultaneously.

Prizes: Trophies to the top 5 Individuals and top 2 teams in each section; Participation Medals to all individual non-trophy winners. 

Electronic Notation Devices: The only four electronic chess notation devices which are approved for and allowed in a USCF-rated tournament are the Monroi, the eNotate PDA, Plycount and the Chess NoteR. You may use any of these devices, but the device must remain on top of the table at all times (you may not hold it under the table in your lap or under the tablecloth). The tournament director has the right to request to see your notation device at any time before, during or after your game.

Tiebreaks: US Chess-recommended computer tiebreaks will decide trophy and medal placements for winners in each section, if necessary.

Byes (1/2-point): You may take a 1/2-point bye for any Round. There is a limit of one bye per player for the 4 rounds of the Scholastic Tournament, and you must commit to take any bye prior to the start of Round 1.

Entry Fee: $20 if received by 11/5/19 11/9/19; $30 by 11/12/19, $40 thereafter and at site.

 

Pre-registration:

(Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express & PayPal accepted)

On-Line: To pre-register on line with a credit card for the Scholastic Tournament only, please click on:

Houston Open Scholastic Tournament Only Registration

Scholastic players may play in both the Scholastic Tournament AND in the U1300 (if rating eligible) of the main event.  In order to do so, they must register in the 3-Day Schedule of the U1300 with a 1/2-point bye on Round 2 (of the U1300).  This option is not available is registering in other sections of the Main Event.  To pre-register in both tournaments (the U1300 Section only of the Main Event and in the Scholastic tournament), there is a discounted Entry Fee of $79 by 11/5/19; $95 by 11/12/19; $125 thereafter and at site.  TO REGISTER FOR BOTH OF THESE SECTIONS, PLEASE SELECT THE "U1300 + Scholastic" SECTION WHEN REGISTERING.

 

By Phone: To pre-register by phone, please call 713-530-7820

By Mail: Please send check or credit card info and player information to:

Francisco Guadalupe

305 Willow Pointe Dr.

League City, TX 77573

If you mail in your entry, please be sure to include the player's name, full address, phone number, email contact, US Chess ID number, school, grade, date of birth, and section in which he/she will be playing.

On-site Registration
Saturday, November 23, 2019 - 8:30-9:30am
                               FIRST ROUND STARTS AT 10 A.M.
You may register on-site from 8:30am - 9:30am on Saturday, Nov. 23rd.  Once registration is closed at 9:30am you may still register but you will receive a 1/2-pt. bye for Round 1, and you will be paired for Round 2 and all later rounds. No checks accepted at site (cash or credit cards only).

 Miscellaneous Scholastic Info

  • Players should bring their chess boards, chess pieces and clocks, as well as pencils and/or pens to record chess notation. Individual score sheets will be available to the players.
  • If a player knows chess notation, it is highly recommended that he/she notate the games.
  • US Chess Tournament rules (e.g., touch move rule, etc.) will be enforced for all sections.
  • Chess Vendor will be on site.
  • Awards ceremony will be held immediately after the last round.
  • For those scholastic players who are also playing in the Main Event, the Scholastic schedule is timed so that it will end with enough time for those players to get dinner prior to playing in the 3rd round of the Main Event.
  • Please bring a sweater or light jacket as it does tend to get cool in the hotel ballrooms.

 "CAJUN KNOCK-OUT BLITZ" Tournament

(Double-point Elimination - Not US Chess-Rated)

Saturday, November 23, 2019
OPEN TO ALL - First Round after Round 3 of Main Event (approx. 11 p.m.)

Format: G/5 d0 (unrated games with each opponent having 5 minutes to complete his/her game). Number of sections will be determined on site by number of participants.  Double-Point Elimination: You play until you lose a total of 2 points: i.e., if you play your first game and draw, you have only lost 1/2-point. You continue playing and, the next game that you lose you will have only lost 1.5 points. You continue playing until you lose a total of 2 points. Last man standing is declared Knock-Out Blitz Champion!

Pairings:  Usually there are two sections - Upper and Lower - if there are enough players to make two separate sections.  Regular US Chess ratings are used for pairings/prizes.

Time: Round 1 of the Blitz begins after the completion of Round 3 of Main Event (approximately 11 p.m. on Saturday evening).

Site Location: DoubleTree by Hilton (near IAH Airport), 15747 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Houston, TX  77032. 

Entry Fee: $20 per player.

Prizes: 75% of Entry Fees returned as cash prizes.

Registration: Register on site anytime before Round 1 of the Blitz Tournament is paired!


 FOR MORE INFORMATION...

 Please call  713-530-7820
OR email
flguadalupe@aol.com