A Modest Proposal (which doesn't involve eating children)

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

That's a linear version of the Elo formula, so it should work

It's just a simple model which assumes that the game from twenty games ago which drops out when the new game is graded is a draw against someone with the same grade as the person currently has.

Obviously it could be open to abuse, but I really don't think we should worry unduly about an eight year old Alexandru Crisan lookalike emerging from the school stage of the UKCC.

[Roger de Coverly]

The technical reason is that it contradicts the Laws of Chess, which says you need a game of chess to be played with a clock.

Using clocks is an ECF grading eligibility rule and really it's only proper competition chess which needs a clock. Any set of results can in theory be used to calculate relative performances.

Every so often you hear ugly rumours that some of the games in junior events aren't played in accordance with the rules on legal moves. Any such games should surely be excluded from national rating.