Tournament Terms and Abbreviations

Confused by all of the abbreviations in tournament descriptions?  Find definitions and other tournament-related information here.

$$G: guaranteed prizes.

b/ or $$b/: based-on prizes. The number of paid entries needed to pay full prize fund follows. At least 50% of the advertised prize fund must be awarded if over $500 is advertised.  See each tournament for exact guarantees, including Terms and Conditions

BLZ: Blitz rated

Bye: indicates which rounds players who find it inconvenient to play may take ½-point byes instead. For example, Bye 1-3 means ½-point byes are available in rounds 1 through 3.

C: computers are allowed to participate. Lack of this symbol means computers are not allowed.

CC: chess club.

EF: entry fee.

Ent: to enter in advance.

FIDE: results submitted to FIDE for possible rating.

GPP: Grand Prix Points available.

Hex: 6-player round robin sections; similar strength players.

HR: hotel rates. For example, 60-65-70-75 means $60 single, $65 twin, $70 3 in room, $75 4 in room.  Typically only a maximum of two beds are included, and rollaways must be requested if you want them.

JGP:  Junior Grand Prix.  A yearlong contest for players under 21. Includes all ages events, but not fast time control events (G/60 d10 qualifies, but not G/60 d5 or G/55 d10). Availability of JGP points does not mean the tournament is only for juniors.

Mem Req: membership required; cost follows. Usually refers to state affiliate.

NC: computers are not allowed to participate.

Norms:  Results needed to qualify for the FIDE titles of International Master or International Grandmaster.  Only tournaments of at least nine rounds can offer norms, and even with this many rounds, the tournament must also have sufficient foreign, titled, and FIDE rated players for a player to have a chance for a norm. 

NS:  No smoking.  This is most events today.

Open: a section open to all. Often has very strong players, but some who are eligible for lower sections can play for the learning experience.

OSA: other states accepted. Refers to state dues.

Play up:  To play in a higher section than necessary.  For instance, a player rated 1700 who enters the Under 2000 Section (or Under 2200 Section or Open Section) when an Under 1800 Section is offered is "playing up." There is often an addiitonal fee to do this.

PHBF: Professional Players Health and Benefits Fund.

Quad: 4-player round robin sections; similar strength players.

QC: Quick Chess only events (Game/11 to Game/29)

Rds: rounds; scheduled game times follow. For example, 11-5, 9-3 means games begin 11 am & 5 pm first day, 9 am & 3 pm second.

Reserve (Resv, or Class names, or perhaps a name such as gold, silver, etc.): A section open only to specified ratings. This could be Reserve” Below 1800, or Class Sections A-D and below, etc.

Reg: registration at site. If it doesn’t appear, there is no site registration

RR: round robin (preceded by number of rounds).

S: smoking allowed. Lack of this symbol means no smoking allowed.

SASE: for more info, send self addressed stamped envelope.

Section: a division of a tournament, usually excluding players above a specified rating. Players in a section face only each other, not those in other sections.

SS: Swiss System pairings (preceded by number of rounds).

Unr: unrated.

USEF: combined entry fee and USCF dues.

W: site is accessible to wheelchairs.

WEB: tournaments that will use a player's online rating, even if unofficial.

Time References:

+X: seconds of time added per move per player. For example, G90+30 means the game is 90 minutes per player, plus 30 seconds per player per move

M/T, SD/T, dX: Moves in time, Sudden Death in Time, delay per move, for example: 40/100, SD/30 d10 is 40 moves in 100 minutes, sudden death in an additional 30 minutes, ten second delay for each move.

G/: game in. For instance, G/75 means each side has 75 minutes for the entire game.

dX: X seconds delay. After your opponent presses the clock, X seconds elapse before your side starts running.

SD/: sudden death time control (time for rest of game follows). For example, 30/90, SD/1 means each player has 30 moves in 90 minutes, then the rest of the game in an hour.

T/dx: time delay (replace x with a number). If no symbol, 5 second delay (T/D5) is standard.