Just the Rules: FYI

1. If a tournament is both FIDE and US Chess rated there are bound to be some rules conflicts. If your TD follows a FIDE rule when it bumps up against a similar, but slightly different, US Chess rule, then the tournament stands a good chance of being rated in both systems. 
    
2. If you wait to file a claim after your game is finished, the chances decrease that your quest will be successful. The time to make a claim is when the infraction occurs.
    
3. Take your time finding your pairing. Take your time locating your assigned board. When your opponent beats you in the race to that area, they will typically set up their standard equipment first. That saves you the time and trouble of not only setting things up, and it also saves you the time and trouble of putting things away. 
    
4. If your TD or organizer does not publicize re-entries, ask anyway. If your TD/organizer does not publicize the availability of anything (byes?...), ask. 
    
   1. Backup Story: Our club’s weekend event broke even. We did not lose a cent. After the top-rated player dropped his first contest he requested to re-enter. Re-entries were not publicized plus there was only one playing schedule. He offered to pay a half-entry fee if he could re-enter with a half point bye for round one. We granted his request. We made a profit while he got a new start towards claiming tournament gold. 
       
5. Do you have specialized health equipment? How about some special health needs? Make sure you contact the TD or organizer BEFORE attending the tournament. This step will help ensure your needs are met. 
    
6. While it is most efficient to collect your winnings at the event site, it is not required. Waiting until ALL of the contests impacting your prize are finished is not necessary. Only your contact info is needed. 
    
7. TDs, sign up to be on staff at a major Super Swiss tournament. You might get paid, or not. More importantly you will get free mentoring from the more experienced staffers. The TD tales you will pick up from them will result in more TD tools being added to your TD toolbox.
    
8. MUIR hiccups: For the latest news and updates about the new MUIR (Member Uploads, Information, and Reporting system), sign in — or up — to the US Chess Forums via the dashboard link on the US Chess home page. Since the first MUIR introduction there have been a few changes. Many new tools are available. The forum is filled with “how-to” effectively use those implements. With more MUIR equipment still traveling your way, the forum is the place to keep up to date. 

Want more? Past columns can be found here or by searching the Chess Life Online archives. 
Plus, listen to Tim when he was a guest on “One Move at a Time”, “The Chess Angle” and his interview hosted by Kathy Lin (Columbus Chess Academy).

TDs are the rock that our tournaments are built on. Now, you can check out the latest list of TDs that recently upgraded: Introducing TD Upgrades Chart | US Chess.org

Tim Just is a National Tournament Director, FIDE National Arbiter, and editor of the 5th, 6th, and 7th editions of the US Chess Rulebook. He is also the author of My Opponent is Eating a Doughnut & Just Law, the latter of which is also available from US Chess Sales. Additionally, Tim revised The Guide To Scholastic Chess, a guide created to help teachers and scholastic organizers who wish to begin, improve, or strengthen their school chess program. US Chess awarded the 2022 Tournament Director Lifetime Achievement Award to Tim. He is also a member of the US Chess Rules Committee plus the Tournament Director Certification Committee (TDCC). His new column, exclusive to US Chess, “Just the Rules” will help clarify potentially confusing regulations.