The answers might depend on the scope of the events you intend to direct – scholastic vs open, large vs small, etc.
In small open tournaments, problems with rules violations are likely to be non-existent, or nearly so. Instead, you should worry about how to make pairings properly, how to get rounds started reasonably on time, etc.
For small tournaments, use pairing cards rather than pairing software. You’ll learn MUCH more that way.
Close registration 30-60 minutes before the start of the first round. (If, unfortunately, you are directing a tournament designed by somebody else, this may be outside your control.)
There are various “small” tricks you can use when directing using pairing cards. These tricks, individually, may seem like no big deal, but taken together, they can make a big difference in the efficient running of a tournament. Here are the steps:
- Make the pairings.
Some TDs make the mistake of laying all the cards out on the table, so that all are visible simultaneously. Unfortunately, this requires too much table space, if there are more than a handful of players. And it’s poor technique, anyway.
Instead, in the first round, simply arrange all the cards in a single pile, highest-rated on top. Split the pile in half by counting from both ends toward the middle. Put these two piles side by side, with the top-half pile on the left, bottom-half on the right.
Decide (via coin toss or whatever) who gets the white pieces on board 1. Grab the top card from each pile, one with each hand, then put one card on top of the other (the card of the player getting the white pieces goes on top of the card of the player getting the black pieces). This is your first pairing. Put these two cards face down, in a third pile off to one side. Do not write anything on the pairing sheet or pairing cards at this point.
Grab the next card from each pile, and pair them similarly. Remember to alternate colors – if the higher-ranked player had white in the first pairing, then the lower-ranked should have white in the second pairing. Put these cards, again face down, on top of that same third pile off to the side.
Continue in this manner, remembering to alternate colors. The easiest way is just to alternate which of the two cards goes on top of the other – e.g. first pair right on top, second pair left on top, third pair right on top, fourth pair left on top, etc.
In no time you’ll have all the cards in that face-down pile off to one side. This pile of cards is now in “pairing order”.
- Write the pairing sheet.
Turn that face-down pile face up, and begin writing the pairings on the pairing sheet. First card has white on board 1. Second card has black on board 1. Third card has white on board 2. Fourth card has black on board 2. Etc. There is no need to “think” here – this is a purely mechanical process. As you write each pairing, turn the corresponding card face down into another pile. That way the cards remain in pairing order after you have written the pairings. Write the pairings only on the pairing sheet, not on the cards, at this point.
- Start the round.
Post the pairing sheet, announce that pairings are up, make your opening announcements, and start the games.
- Write the pairings on the cards.
After the games have started, retire to the now relatively quiet TD table and write the pairings on the pairing cards. Remember that the cards now come in pairs. If the top card is player number 23 and the second card is player number 1, write “W1” on the top card and “B23” on the second card, to show that player 23 has white against player 1, and player 1 has black against player 23. Put these two cards, together, face down in a pile to the side, so that again the cards will remain in pairing order.
- Make the wall chart.
Go through the pile, starting at the top, looking for player number 1 (he’ll be either the first or second card, depending which player has the white pieces). Write this player’s name, rating, ID number, and first-round pairing on the wall chart. Continue through the pile looking for player number 2 (he’ll come up pretty soon, either immediately or with two other cards intervening). Write this player’s wall chart entry. Continue in this manner to the end of the pile. (Keep the cards in pairing order, by putting each card face down to the side as you encounter it.)
You’ll need to go through the pile twice, once for the top-half players, once for the bottom half.
- Post the wall chart.
Post the wall chart next to the pairing sheet. This is better than posting them far apart, or in different rooms. Posting them side by side allows the players to look at both simultaneously, and eases the TD’s task of keeping the wall chart up to date as games finish.
Keep steps 1, 2, and 4 separate. Do NOT try to write each pairing on the pairing sheet (or on the cards) as you make that pairing. Additionally, do not combine writing the pairing sheet with writing the cards – this slows things down. There is no need to write anything on the pairing cards until after the round has started.
Well, that’s a start. In subsequent rounds, similar (but not identical) techniques can be used. (More later, if anybody wishes to continue this discussion.)
I never cease to be amazed by how many club, local, and even senior TDs – even some with years of experience – operate less efficiently, by combining steps, or by spreading the cards out all over the table, etc. It gives the operation kind of an amateurish look.
Bill Smythe