Are Opens a little too open?

[David Buckley]

In my experience beating 'major' players isn't usually a trivial task. Playing 'independent' or 'minor' players is more likely to feel like a waste of time but even so I don't resent them entering open sections if they want. If I'm playing well I'll get to play someone good sooner or later.

[Roger de Coverly]

at the St Albans Congress (which was very well-run)

After what's been discussed on the forum recently, I couldn't help observing how retro it all was.

So you've got

large school hall
mechanical clocks
pairing boards with pairing cards ( manual pairings as far as I could tell)
multi-colour wall charts

[IM Jack Rudd]

at the St Albans Congress (which was very well-run)

After what's been discussed on the forum recently, I couldn't help observing how retro it all was.

So you've got

large school hall
mechanical clocks
pairing boards with pairing cards ( manual pairings as far as I could tell)
multi-colour wall charts

And if you have enjoyed this experience, why not revisit it by coming to the Yeovil Congress in June? It is a nice, friendly congress, and I'm sure it will be one we can all share and enjoy. Share and enjoy!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

at the St Albans Congress (which was very well-run)

After what's been discussed on the forum recently, I couldn't help observing how retro it all was.

So you've got

large school hall
mechanical clocks
pairing boards with pairing cards ( manual pairings as far as I could tell)
multi-colour wall charts

You missed out:

lovely view across a verdant valley towards the cathedral
chess bookstall
school cafeteria-cooked food

OK, you had to step outside to see the view, and the food wasn't that bad.

Which thread is it where the space-age chess tournaments are being discussed?

[Rob Thompson]

Share and enjoy!

As said the coffee machine produced by the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation...

As to the point, there's a player from Plymouth who, despite being graded in the 120s regularly plays in opens. I think he got 2/5 at exeter open this year. If the section is called "Open" then it should be open to all. Otherwise it's not what it's advertising itself to be.

[Richard Bates]

at the St Albans Congress (which was very well-run)

After what's been discussed on the forum recently, I couldn't help observing how retro it all was.

So you've got

large school hall
mechanical clocks
pairing boards with pairing cards ( manual pairings as far as I could tell)
multi-colour wall charts

You clearly didn't hang around for the "printed cheques 'to save time' and delay the prize-giving by 45 minutes"

I suppose having a prize giving at all is a bit retro these days, and justifiably so, especially when not paying out in cash!

The "multi-colour wall charts" seemed to suffer from a lack of an obvious codification system for the colours

[Christopher Kreuzer]

The "multi-colour wall charts" seemed to suffer from a lack of an obvious codification system for the colours

I missed the little coloured boxes around the leaders from round 2 or 3 onwards. You can have those with wall charts, but not with printed leader-boards. It's always nice to see a coloured square around your score at some point...

[Richard Bates]

The "multi-colour wall charts" seemed to suffer from a lack of an obvious codification system for the colours

I missed the little coloured boxes around the leaders from round 2 or 3 onwards. You can have those with wall charts, but not with printed leader-boards.

True, but i was more referring to the fact that three three standard colours were used - black, red and green (for byes) - but the black and red seemed to be used randomly rather than to signify black/white!

As for shaded boxes - it isn't so much an advantage of wall charts, rather a necessity caused by their inflexibility. Printed leaderboards of course don't need the shaded boxes because the order of players isn't fixed at the start of the tournament!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

True, but i was more referring to the fact that three three standard colours were used - black, red and green (for byes) - but the black and red seemed to be used randomly rather than to signify black/white!

I hadn't noticed that. Some people took pictures. If you see one, let us know and we can all look. My colour sequence went BBWWB, which wasn't too bad, except by getting 2 blacks in row in the first two rounds, I realised I was guaranteed three blacks - unless someone can say whether is is permissible to have a colour sequence that goes BBWWW?

[IM Jack Rudd]

True, but i was more referring to the fact that three three standard colours were used - black, red and green (for byes) - but the black and red seemed to be used randomly rather than to signify black/white!

I hadn't noticed that. Some people took pictures. If you see one, let us know and we can all look. My colour sequence went BBWWB, which wasn't too bad, except by getting 2 blacks in row in the first two rounds, I realised I was guaranteed three blacks - unless someone can say whether is is permissible to have a colour sequence that goes BBWWW?

Permissible (but very much a last resort) under ECF rules, forbidden under FIDE rules unless it's the 5th round is the last and you're in the top half of the draw.

[Roger de Coverly]

unless someone can say whether is is permissible to have a colour sequence that goes BBWWW?

That depends whether you are using FIDE rules or ECF/CAA ones. It's a top level not allowed, like playing the same person twice, under FIDE, but permitted under CAA ( Chess Arbiters Association).

There was an example in one of the non-international sections in Canterbury at the British. I think it was that two players were given BB and had lost both games. Should they be paired or floated?

[Adam Raoof]

Some people took pictures. If you see one, let us know and we can all look.

You probably mean Brendan O'Gorman's great pictures - here is his gallery!

https://picasaweb.google.com/bpogorman

P.S. Sorry about my photo... and that was only move one!

[Alex Holowczak]

There was an example in one of the non-international sections in Canterbury at the British. I think it was that two players were given BB and had lost both games. Should they be paired or floated?

That's right, I was the arbiter of that section. I can't remember the ins and outs of it now, but both options were discussed, and it was decided to keep the scoregroups together.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Some people took pictures. If you see one, let us know and we can all look.

You probably mean Brendan O'Gorman's great pictures - here is his gallery!

https://picasaweb.google.com/bpogorman

P.S. Sorry about my photo... and that was only move one!

Thanks for the link! I'm in this picture!

https://picasaweb.google.com/bpogorman/ ... 0574209570



No pictures of the wall charts, though!

[Brendan O'Gorman]

No pictures of the wall charts, though!

I photograph wall charts only when they contain the words '1st prize' after my name.