Return link to: HBGP 2023-24 series page
The third event in the 5-event Handicap Blitz Grand Prix 2023-24 (“HBGP”) series takes place in the Club Room on 5 March 2024, at 7.30 pm. The Entry Form is available now – just hit the button.
The handicap is a time adjustment: minutes taken off the higher-rated player’s clock and donated to the lower-rated player’s clock. Players are placed in a rating group according to their Rapid rating.
Note re ratings: The ECF is now rating Blitz games and for the first time, we used Blitz ratings in our Blitz Championsip. However, since the current HBGP used Rapid ratings in the first two events, we will continue to use Rapid ratings for the rest of the current series. Games in the Handicap Blitz Grand Prix which are played with even time (8 min v 8 min) will be submitted for ECF Blitz rating; but the games which are played with handicap times cannot be rated and will not be submitted.
- There are seven rating groups, numbered 0-6 (where zero is the highest and 6 is the lowest);
- To apply the handicap for each player per game, take the difference between the players’ respective rating groups, call this figure minutes: deduct those minutes from the higer-rated player’s clock and add them to the lower-rated player’s clock;
- The core time for each game is 8 minutes, so, for instance, if a player in rating group 3 meets a player in rating group 5, the difference between these groups is 2 so the adjustment is plus and minus 2 minutes, i.e. 6 mins v 10 mins; (8-2) v (8+2);
- Players in the same rating group will play with equal time, 8 minutes each – such games will be submitted for ECF Blitz rating;
- Games where the clock times at the start of the game are different will NOT be submitted for ECF Blitz rating;
- FIDE Laws of Chess, Blitz Rules apply (given further down this page);
- Ratings to be used will be ECF Rapid 1 March 2024;
- We will play seven rounds.
Rating groups
0 – 2151+
1 – 2001-2150
2 – 1851-2000
3 – 1701-1850
4 – 1551-1700
5 – 1401-1550
6 – 1400 and below
Formulae
h=rg2-rg1 pt1=8-h pt2=8+h Where rg1=rating group of higher-rated player; rg2=rating group of lower-rated player; h=time handicap (rating group difference in minutes); pt1=playing time of higher-rated player; pt2=playing time of lower-rated player.
Each event is a stand-alone tournament, so members may play in as many or as few events as they wish. Points scored in each event are aggregated throughout the 5-event series; highest overall total wins the Grand Prix.
The full HBGP conditions and the current Grand Prix standings are linked below. Entry is via the Entry Form.
Links: HBGP Conditions (with rating groups) | HBGP1 Entry Form | 2023-24 Series
The FIDE Laws for Blitz games
Being an extract of the Laws of Chess published by FIDE and applying to events starting on or after 1 January 2023.
Link: Full FIDE Laws of Chess
Appendix B. Blitz
B.1 A ‘blitz’ game is one where all the moves must be completed in a fixed time of 10 minutes or less for each player; or the allotted time plus 60 times any increment is 10 minutes or less for each player.
B.2 The Competitive Rules of Play shall apply if:
B.2.1 one arbiter supervises one game and
B.2.2 each game is recorded by the arbiter or his/her assistant and, if possible, by electronic means.
B.2.3 The player may at any time, when it is his/her move, ask the arbiter or his/her assistant to show him/her the scoresheet. This may be requested a maximum of five times in a game. More requests shall be considered as a distraction of the opponent.
B.3 Otherwise, play shall be governed by the Rapid chess Laws as in Article A.2, A.3 and A.5.
B.4 The regulations of an event shall specify whether Article B.2 or Article B.3 shall apply for the entire event.
In accordance with Article B4, as we will not have one Arbiter for each board, B3 applies for the entire event, i.e. Articles A.2, A.3 and A.5 of the Rapid Laws, which are quoted below.
FIDE Guidelines III (games without increment, including the ‘2 minute draw claim’ rule) will NOT apply.
Appendix A. Rapid Chess
A.1 A ‘Rapid chess’ game is one where either all the moves must be completed in a fixed time of more than 10 minutes but less than 60 minutes for each player; or the time allotted plus 60 times any increment is of more than 10 minutes but less than 60 minutes for each player.
A.2 Players do not need to record the moves, but do not lose their rights to claims normally based on a scoresheet. The player can, at any time, ask the arbiter to provide him/her with a scoresheet, in order to write the moves.
A.3 The penalties mentioned in Articles 7 and 9 of the Competitive Rules of Play shall be one minute instead of two minutes.
A.4 The Competitive Rules of Play shall apply if:
A.4.1 one arbiter supervises at most three games and
A.4.2 each game is recorded by the arbiter or his/her assistant and, if possible, by electronic means.
A.4.3 The player may at any time, when it is his/her move, ask the arbiter or his/her assistant to show him/her the scoresheet. This may be requested a maximum of five times in a game. More requests shall be considered as a distraction of the opponent.
A.5 Otherwise the following apply:
A.5.1 From the initial position, once 10 moves have been completed by each player,
A.5.1.1 No change can be made to the clock setting, unless the schedule of the event would be adversely affected.
A.5.1.2 No claim can be made regarding incorrect set-up or orientation of the chessboard. In case of incorrect king placement, castling is not allowed. In case of incorrect rook placement, castling with this rook is not allowed.
A.5.2 If the arbiter observes an action taken under Article 7.5.1, 7.5.2, 7.5.3 or 7.5.4, he/she shall act according to Article 7.5.5, provided the opponent has not made his/her next move. If the arbiter does not intervene, the opponent is entitled to claim, provided the opponent has not made his/her next move. If the opponent does not claim and the arbiter does not intervene, the illegal move shall stand and the game shall continue. Once the opponent has made his/her next move, an illegal move cannot be corrected unless this is agreed by the players without intervention of the arbiter.
A.5.3 To claim a win on time, the claimant may pause the chessclock and notify the arbiter. However, the game is drawn if the position is such that the claimant cannot checkmate the player’s king by any possible series of legal moves.
A.5.4 If the arbiter observes both kings are in check, or a pawn stands on the rank furthest from its starting position, he/she shall wait until the next move is completed. Then, if an illegal position is still on the board, he/she shall declare the game drawn.
A.5.5 The arbiter shall also call a flag fall, if he/she observes it.
A.6 The regulations of an event shall specify whether Article A.4 or Article A.5 shall apply for the entire event.
Link: Full FIDE Laws of Chess