Houston, TX
(b/200 full-paid entries, 50% 85% guaranteed!)
"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.
* * * * * * * *
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
http://arbiters.fide.com/images/stories/downloads/2019/Arbiters-Manual-2019-v1.pdf
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.
BE SURE TO PUT "CAJ" IN THE GROUP CODE BOX OR YOU WILL NOT GET THE SPECIAL CHESS RATE OF $91 PER NIGHT!
NOTE: OPEN & U2000 Sections are FIDE Rated using FIDE Rules.
OPEN: $1400 + plaque - $800 - $500 - $300 - $200
* 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.
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.
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.
(Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)
2019 Houston Open Registration for All Sections
By Phone: You may register with a credit card by phone at (713) 530-7820.
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).
No checks accepted at site (cash or credit cards only).
For questions or more info, please call 713-530-7820
OR email
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.
(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:
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.
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!