Tim, I wonder if some TDs are stating “Score sheet will be furnished” as a method of preventing the use of electronic devices. I understand that they can produce a score sheet. If a TD allows players to use their own scorebook, then should he require them to submit a copy of their game on the scoresheet furnished? Is a duplicate scoresheet a better way to require this restriction? There are some players and Organizer/TDs very hostile to their use. Is there a middle ground if a TD is not flexible as advised in the TD Tip? Does a player with such a device have the “right” to insist on using it since it IS certified by USCF ?
As long as the TD/organizer announces in advance the scoresheet proceedure then players are bound to follow it, or pay the price. That does not prevent players from ALSO using their electronic recording devices. TDs can insist that copies of the game be turned in even if a player uses thier own scorebook/electronic recording device; however, that is a tough one to enforce.
most of the tournament players that I know are somewhat on the “cheap” side 
and the idea of spending $300 or more for a MonRoi would send most of them into cardiac arrest
since the rule book states that the game scores are the property of the tournament organizer, I suspect that players who want to use an electronic score sheet ought to consider lugging a small printer along with their chess board so that a legible score sheet can be printed out on demand
it used to be that a park meadow with picnic tables was enough to hold a tournament; now the tournament site needs a electrical outlet for each board
And Internet access.
Why not just the ability to download the game in pgn format, put on a flash drive, hand it to the td/organizer to copy the game off of? Or better yet the organizer / td having a flashdrive to store them on? Or to email it to the td / organizer?
That does make it easier to check on recent memberships. At one scholastic tournament the organizer had some PCs available so that parents could go on-line and immediately take care of new or expired memberships for their kids.
because not every TD/organizer has an e-mail account?
So can’t put it on a flash drive? Are you saying not every TD has a flash drive?
Ok what about having the player let the TD borrow the flash drive just to download the game? Or does the TD not have a USB port or not have a computer?
Please the constant excuses of not embracing technology in a game that has been electronified is ridiculous.
Get upgraded or get antiquated. Those that get antiquated get replaced.
Actually I think what he’s suggesting is that not every TD is going to have a computer. (And some of those that do may not want to take the time to handle score sheets that way.)
Beyond that, I have at least one laptop computer that cannot accept flash drives because it has no USB ports. I haven’t tried one in my son’s new XO (OLPC) yet, but it runs a variation of Linux, so I suspect it’d handle most flash drives. (In fact, if what my son was telling me yesterday is correct, it actually uses a 1GB internal flash drive as its memory AND instead of a disk drive.)
It seems to me that those fancy electronic scoresheet devices rarely show up at events where the TD does not have a computer (or whatever…). At the smaller events or at the club level does it really matter? I think problems are being made here that don’t exist ( or are at the very least rare) or don’t really matter. What if, what if, what if…
Tim
Why is it the responsibility of the organizer to provide a computer and printer, and flash card reader?
It’s the player’s responsibility to produce a hard copy score of the game.
Today’s nanny-culture has often put all responsibilities in the hands of those with positions of authority, even those responsibilities that are specifically given to others.
Also, people have gotten used to technology being used for everything. In my club people are sometimes surprised when I don’t bring in my computer during the final weeks of a round-robin tournament, and only understand after I explain that the pairings for all rounds are decided at the same time (the beginning). Newcomers are sometimes surprised that our (slighly modified) 1 vs 2 (non-USCF-rated) ladder pairings are done by hand with the results tallied on a spreadsheet (the season runs about 36 weeks, which is a bit long for pairing programs, but even if that wasn’t a consideration there isn’t really a need for a computer to do those fairly simple pairings).
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If the player uses his MonRoi, HOW does he transfer a .PGN file to the TD who does Not have the expensive server software/hardware also sold by MonRoi?
I have vaguely thought that the MonRoi device has no USB port for a flash drive, tho I would love to be wrong about that.
It is reasonable to expect a TD to have an email account. It is unreasonable to expect the TD to have a laptop computer on site.
The TD has a right to demand a copy of the game (paper or electronic) before you leave the venue. So how are you going to email your game to the TD?
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Perhaps you can make a copy by hand on the provided scoresheet after the game is over. And, I hope the TD/Organizer insists that players who have their own scorebooks make a copy for him as well. Atlanta Chess Center usually provides a scoresheet with a carbon copy and requires anyone in contention for a prize to submit at least 2 game scores. To the best of my knowlege, they do NOT try to prevent players from using a Monroi.
chesshouse.com/monroi_person … review.asp
And here’s USCF thoughts about it:
If the TD has a computer with a USB port I’m going to dump my game from my Mon Roi to an SD card. Then using my SD card reader I can copy the game to whatever folder the TD would like.
If the TD doesn’t have a computer and wants the game before the tournament is done, I’ll get a score sheet and copy the moves down for him. What’s the big deal? It seems like much ado about nothing.
And are you (and the TD) willing to do that in the middle of the game to verify a 3 move draw claim or any other claim that requires a scoresheet?
Wouldn’t one simply use the device itself and scroll through the move list?
It seems like people are nitpicking reasons to not like these devices.
I think the real reason to be a little shy about them is one of simple reliability.
What happens if the digitizer goes bad on one during a game? Input becomes iffy. It isn’t like going and getting another pen or pencil. Or maybe it is, you simply get a regular scoresheet and continue to keep score.
I think I mentioned on another thread that something like this occurred in the U.S. Championship this year, with a 50 move claim. There’s a button that you can press on the Monroi that turns it into a scoresheet so you can very quickly get one to use, if necessary.
Alex Relyea
Nope. Hand copying is no small task.
Time yourself hand copying a 90 ply game score onto paper. It ain’t no 5 minute task (more like 10-15 tedious minutes).
And while you are copying it, imagine the person you carpooled with keeps telling you to hurry up.
And when you give the TD your hand copy of the game, the TD reminds you that you played two games today (unless it was a Quad).
To be clear, I am a big fan of the MonRoi concept.