A team will consist of 4 players, but they do not need to be from the same club.

Ideally your team should have a great team name and it should aim for an average rating of between 1751 and 1785 but to introduce a level playing field there will be:

• Bonus points added to your team’s total score when it has an average rating below 1751.

• Penalty points deducted to your team’s total score when it has an average rating above 1785.

This is detailed in the following table …

This has in the past made the team event very exciting as the handicap system is a great leveller!

A few examples:

• If the team’s average rating is 1890.5 then this is rounded up to 1891 which means it is in the 1891 to 1925 category, and the team will receive a 2 point penalty from its combined score.
• If the team’s average rating is 1540.25, then this is rounded down to 1540 which means it is in the 1506 to 1540 category so it will receive a 3½ point bonus to its combined score!

What this could mean is that a team with an average rating of 1450 which scores 10 points (from its 28 games) will receive a bonus of 4½ points = 14½ points and will come ahead of a team with an average rating of 1950 which scores 16½ points (from its 28 games) as it will receive a penalty of -2½ points = 14 points! If two teams come equal first after the adjustments then the team with the lower average rating will be deemed the winners!

There is a £40 prize for the top team.

Please let Martin Simons know your team, either in person on the day or in advance by email.