General Information

  • Prizes

    1. Trophies to all players with a plus score (more wins than losses) in each section
    2. Medals to players who do not get a trophy
  • Schedule

    1. Swiss: 4 games - ~ 9:15am-1:30pm - no check-in
    2. Quads: 3 games - ~ 1:45-4:45pm - must check-in 1:30-2pm or no game
  • Time Control

    • G/30 d5 (each player gets up to 30 minutes with a 5 seconds delay on each move before the clock starts ticking)

Basic Orientation

  • How to Register

    • Register online or onsite (online registration closes at midnight before the event date)
    • Reconfirm that we you have your preferred email address in your user profile (so you can receive orientation & other notifications)
  • Before You Come

    • Check entries before the event to confirm registration
    • Contact us to report any errors or omissions
    • Be nice to everyone
  • When You Come

    • Swiss: Report to the TD if you find any errors or omissions (no check-in required)
    • Quads: Must check-in 1:30-2pm with the Tournament Director (TD) or no game
    • Everyone: Be nice to everyone

Limited Time Specials

    Our promotions make tournaments more affordable so we can make chess more accessible.
  • Chess4Less Program

    $6 dollars off Swiss & Quads fees at the following locations:
    • Sacramento: Rancho Cordova Courtyard Marriott (map)
    • San Jose: SJC Airport Fairfield Inn (map)
    • San Jose: Bay Area Chess Center (map)
  • Cash Back Program

    Get $13 back when you register for Swiss & Quads combo on the same day! We are rolling this out to all locations.

Swiss or Quads?

  • Swiss Tournaments

    • Schedule:
      1. Onsite Registration 9-9:15am (check-in not required)
      2. 4 games 9:30am to ~ 1:30pm using Azhar-Langland rolling schedule (next round starts as soon as previous round finishes)
    • 3 sections: Based on current month's USCF Rating Supplement
      1. Booster: unrated-499
      2. Premier: 500-799
      3. Champion: 800-1399
      The TD may merge sections based on registration numbers
    • Fees:
      1. Entry Fee: 39 (onsite 54)
      2. Play-up Fee: 10 (to play in one section higher)
      3. Late Fee: 10 (online 2 days before the tournament
  • Quads Tournaments

    • Schedule:
      1. Must register or check-in 1:30-2pm with the TD or no game
      2. 3 games 2:15pm to ~4:45pm using Azhar-Langland rolling schedule (next round starts as soon as previous round finishes)
    • Palo Alto Quads Schedule: Mandatory check-in 11:30-11:45 or no game - 3 (round-robin) games 12-2:30.
    • Sections: Four players based on latest US Chess Federation Rating (a section may have 5-7 players).
    • Fees: Online Entry 33, Onsite Entry 48, Late Fee 15 (2 days before the tournament or when 80% full)
  • Calendar of Events

    Location
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Cupertino Juniper (map) 1 1, 22 5, 19, 26 3, 17, 31 14
    Foster City Courtyard Marriott (map) 29
    Fremont Marriott (map) 9 1 12, 26
    Palo Alto Unitarian Universalist Church (map)
    Check-in 11:30-11:45am
    15 7Q, 21Q, 28Q 4Q, 11S, 18Q, 25Q 2Q, 9Q, 16Q, 30Q 6Q
    Pleasanton Four Points (map) 23 7 2, 9, 17 21
    Sacramento / Rancho Cordova Courtyard Marriott (map) 7, 28 9 6
    San Jose SJC Airport Fairfield Inn (map) 29 30 27
    San Jose / BAC Center (map) 15, 16S 1, 8, 22Q, 29 5, 12, 19Q, 26 3, 10, 17, 24S, 25, 31 7, 14, 21, 31
    Santa Clara Convention Center (map) 10
    • S indicates Swiss only.
    • Q indicates Quads only.
    • Palo Alto Quads must check-in 11:30-11:45 or no game - Games 12-2:30.
  • Locations

    • Cupertino Juniper (map): 10050 South De Anza Boulevard, Cupertino, CA 95014
    • Fremont Marriott (map): 46100 Landing Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538
    • Foster City Courtyard Marriott (map): 550 Shell Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404
    • Palo Alto Unitarian Universalist Church (map) 505 E Charleston Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306
    • Pleasanton Four Points by Sheraton (map): 5115 Hopyard Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588
    • (Sacramento) Rancho Cordova Courtyard Marriott (map): 10683 White Rock Rd, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
    • (San Jose) SJC Airport Fairfield Inn (map): 1755 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95112
    • (San Jose) Bay Area Chess Center (map): 2050 Concourse Drive #42, San Jose, CA 95131
    • Santa Clara Convention Center (map): 5001 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara, CA 95054
  • Membership Requirement

    • US Chess Federation (USCF) membership is required.
    • Please confirm your membership at bayareachess.com/uscfid and renew it here if expired.
    • US Chess Membership annual fees are based on age:
      1. 12 & under = 17
      2. 13-15 = 22
      3. 16-24 = 26
      4. 25+ = 40
  • Electronic Devices

    1. Phones:
      • Please turn off all phones in the playing area.
      • The TD may forfeit anyone found operating a phone during an active game.
    2. Electronic Recording Devices:
      • Please come to the registration desk 20 minutes before your first round to get an Authorization Tag for any electronic recording device before using it.
      • The TD may confiscate any devices without an Authorization Tag.
  • Accessibility Information

    We are dedicated to making all our events accessible and inclusive for everyone. Please inform us at least two weeks before the tournament if you have any special requirements during the tournament. We will attempt to make reasonable and fair accommodations. We thank you for your continued support in making our events the happiest place on Earth.
  • Staff

    • Chief Organizer: Salman Azhar
    • Other Organizers: Zarina Azman, James Bethany, Rahima Azman, Svetlana Kondakova
    • Chief Tournament Directors: National TD Tom Langland, National TD John McCumiskey
    • Other Tournament Directors: National TD Richard Koepcke, Senior TD Jordan Langland, Arthur Liou, Michael D'Alfonsi, Elena Kondakova, Ryan Cottone, Brendyn Estolas, Matt LeForce, Andrew Mueckenberger, and many others.
Terms and Conditions - Refund policy - Accessibility info