League Rules

Rules for the Dorset League

1.  The League shall be managed by the Executive Committee. It shall be open to any club affiliated to the County and paying the League fees as laid down in the Annual General Meeting.

2.  The Young Bournemouth trophy shall be awarded to the club winning Division 1; the Second Division board to the club winning Division 2, and the Third Division board or trophy to the club winning Division 3.

3.  The League shall comprise such a number of divisions as shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting. Each team shall consist of four players who shall be bona fide members of their club. Players in each team shall normally be arranged in current grading order except that a ten point displacement shall be allowed. Before matches commence the two captains should each fill in player’s names and grades on the match score sheet and any discrepancy should be resolved before play commences. Clubs who enter teams in the third division must ensure that the sum of each player’s grade must not exceed 540, with the playing average being a maximum of 135. Clubs who enter teams in the second division must ensure that the sum of each player’s grade must not exceed 600, with the playing average being a maximum of 150. There is no grading limit or restriction in division one.

Grades for the 2013/14 season will be those current at the beginning of the season and any amended grades part way through the season will be ignored as far as the Dorset League grading limits are concerned.

If any team’s total grading points in any division, except division one, exceeds the agreed total relevant to that division, then the following penalty will apply:

Team total exceeded limit by up to and including 5 points (ie 605 points in div 2) then the team will default one board.

Team total exceeded limit by more than 5 points (ie 606 points or more in div 2) then the team will concede two boards.

However all games will still count for grading purposes.

If a team in division 3 or 2 includes an ungraded player then that player will assume the grade of 135 if division three and 150 if division two. With regard to ungraded players a team captain can request a lower or higher grade (either of which may be a fairer estimate of that players playing strength) for that player provided this has been agreed in advance with the league controller. No player shall represent more than one team in each division in the course of a season, but players from lower divisions may play as reserves in higher divisions.

4.  Clubs participating shall be supplied with a fixture list and a copy of the rules at the start of the season. These fixtures shall be observed, except that, by mutual agreement of both team captains and the League Controller, a match may be delayed by up to one month, provided five days notice is given. (NB-see rules 7a and 7b).

5.  The result of each match, showing individual names, grades and results, shall be sent to the Controller within three days of the match. Both captains are required to submit results. All games are subject to quickplay finish (NB- see rule 7c). In these games the normal rules of chess shall apply until the first time control is reached, thereafter the following rules shall be observed.

6.  Clocks should be started at 7.15pm, unless another time is previously agreed by the match captains, and each match shall have a minimum of three hours play. The rate of play in both divisions shall be: a first time control at 35 moves in 75 minutes per player; at the completion of black’s 35th move both clocks shall be set back by 15 minutes and the game must then be completed within the remaining time. (NB- see rule 7c).

7.  In exceptional circumstances the League Controller shall have the discretion:

(a) To permit one game in any match to be played in advance

(b) To permit the postponement of any match by more than one month

(c) To permit an alternative to the quickplay finish