Welcome to the 2025 Grade Nationals Puzzle Contest! We're glad your kids are competing in this fun event. It's a great warmup for the main event and also one of the very few times you are allowed in the room while your kids compete!
Since this is much different than a normal chess event, please read all of the instructions carefully before tomorrow's puzzle competition. It begins at 3pm but you must check in from 2:00-2:45pm. The location of both the puzzle competition and check-in is Convention Center 300A, located on the floor below the main playing hall.
Puzzle rules and procedures:
- You must bring your own device. Phones and tablets are preferred. Computers are allowed, however.
- Parents are allowed in the room and to watch the live scoreboard being refreshed. You cannot stand near your child but rather off to the side.
- Your child will need an internet connection. For devices with data plans, you may choose to use this if you have good service. This generally is the preferred option since you aren't competing for Wifi bandwidth. For devices that are Wifi-only, you may connect to the convention center's Wifi, or tether to a personal hotspot of your own. As a last resort, you can connect to "Verizon M2100-3914." There is a limit to the number of devices on this hotspot, so either of the other options is generally preferred. Please raise your hand if you need the password for the Verizon hotspot. We are trying to limit the number of people who choose this option and not giving it out openly.
- We are NOT able to provide power outlets. Make sure your device has enough charge.
- Please have the ChessKid app downloaded. If using computer, you may use the web version at chesskid.com. We do not recommend using the mobile browser -- the app is much easier to use if on a phone or tablet.
- Note that no part of this competition is on chess.com -- it is chesskid only.
- Sign out of your existing account if signed in. This can usually be done by clicking the "cog wheel"or "three bars, then cog wheel" and scrolling down to "sign out."
- Once everyone has completed the above steps, we will pass out slips of paper with "one-time use" logins and passwords. You must use this account for the contest since everyone starts with a fresh account. Note that you are not getting your account until just before 3:00pm. This is to prevent false starts.
- K-6 kids your account should have "spokanelilacs" in the username. In the 7-12 yours should have "spokanesnowfalls" in the username.
- Keep this slip of paper, since it will prove at the end you are the owner of the account.
- Once you sign in with this new account, DO NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE. If you do, you may end up voiding your account by false-starting.
- When the competition begins, you will have 15 minutes to get the highest puzzle rating that you can. That will determine the winners and the standings.
- You will click puzzles, then "solve puzzles/play puzzles" (do not do "puzzles by theme" and do not do "puzzle duel")
- The app *may* ask you after the first puzzle to "rate it" - just click out of that and ignore. The site *thinks* you are a first-time user even though you are not!
- Keep solving for 15 minutes and don't give up! If you get a hard puzzle, make your best guess and move on. Don't spend 5 minutes on a single puzzle!
- Don't ever click "hint" since that will result in your rating being lowered. It's better to guess a move than click hint.
- If your device freezes, you can either refresh the web page, or trying closing and re-opening the app. It is allowed for a parent/grownup/tournament staff to help you with a technology issue.
Good luck to everyone and see you Thursday for the Puzzle Championship!