Strategem Cup Series, Season 1

Strategem Cup Series, Season 1: Thursday Night Blitz and the Cup Final (Online)

Dates: Thursdays October 29, November 5, November 12 and November 19, 2026, plus the Final on Sunday, November 22, 2026
Location: Online, on Strategem Play (play.strategem.us)

Not US Chess rated (club-rated on Strategem Play). Free entry. All ratings welcome; US Chess membership is not required.

Thursday Night Blitz: four weekly online arenas, Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:00 PM CT (October 29, November 5, 12 and 19). Game in 5 minutes with a 3-second increment, in a 60-minute arena: join any time during the hour and play as many games as you like.

Season points each week: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 for the top 8, plus 1 for everyone who plays. Missing a week does not eliminate you. The weekly top 3 win club prizes.

Strategem Cup Final: Sunday, November 22, 2:00 PM CT. The top 8 in season points qualify. Knockout of two-game matches at Game in 10 minutes with a 5-second increment; ties are broken by two 3+2 blitz games, then Armageddon.

Final prizes: $100, $50, $25 (free for qualifiers).

Fair play: every game is engine-reviewed, and prizes are paid after the fair-play review is certified. Camera on (Zoom) for the Final.

Register free: strategem.us/strategem-cup/ (a free strategem.us account is required). Standings on Strategem Play.

Information: Click here to show mail address. Organizer: Jay Bhatt, Strategem Club (Katy, Richmond and Sugar Land, TX).

Also from Strategem Club: the US Chess online-rated Strategem Rated Quick (November 21) and Black Friday Blitz (November 27): strategem.us/events/