Given the standard USCF sold roll-up vinyl boards…
What would you consider the optimal width of a playing table?
What is the optimal distance between players next to one another, without being too crowded, or wasting too much space?
Thank you for your opinions.
Standard practice is two boards on a 6’ x 30" table. Three boards on an 8’ x 30" table is acceptable in terms of space but usually awkward because of the table struts.
If the question is “optimal,” I would have to say the width should be enough so that a player of average reach could move to the eighth rank without stretching. Most “standard” arrangements leave both players with limited space on their side of the board, which I would consider less than optimal.
Spacing between boards should be as much as practical. The further away the boards are, the less likely one game’s players are to disturb the others.
36-inch width is OK too. The greater width makes a little less space necessary between boards, because then the players can place their scoresheets in front of the boards instead of beside them.
Bill Smythe
True, but 36" usually means two 18" tables back-to-back, which is not desirable.
Norris Center at Northwestern University used to have 36-inch tables (not two 18-inch tables) for all their meeting areas. I agree that two 18-inch tables is highly undesirable. The two tables never seem to be quite the same height.
Bill Smythe
It’s more common to find 18" or 30" tables as those are standard tables used in classroom setups that hotels, academic institutions or meeting spaces use. Traditional classroom setup uses 18" tables unless otherwise requested.
On a 6’ x 30" table (which is the most common found from banquet groups) I get 2 boards with ample space for both players.
I believe Yoda (aka Tim Just) states also 20 sq ft per person for players to be considered for space requirements.
If you were to use a 36" table, some younger players may have problems reaching the far side of the board. You also need to consider the chair that is used with the table. Folding chairs vs. non-folding, banquet room type chairs.
3 boards at an 8’ table is something that I only use if absolutely necessary.
The 4th edition of the rulebook had a whole chapter of advice on tournament setup. I kept my copy even after I got the 5th edition. Here is an excerpt:
46A4. Types of tables. Tables measuring 6 feet by 30 inches are ideal for chess, seating four players, two on each side. But many facilities have other sizes which are of varied value.
Tables sized 8 feet by 30 inches give the director the choice between four to a table (comfortable but space consuming) or six to a table (which most players tolerate but some dislike).
Tables sized 6 feet by 18 inches or 8 feet by 18 inches are too narrow for chess but can be used if two are pushed together to make one 36-inch wide table. This is acceptable though far from ideal.
Round or half-round tables are fairly useless, except in a headquarters or book sales room, or possibly a skittles room (see 46C2) if space is abundant.
Mostly this has already been answered by other posters, but I’ll give my own personal view:
Personally, I think two boards per 8 foot table is ideal from the players perspective. Give them any more space, and things are too spread out to be convenient (you end up walking further than necessary every time you get up from the table).
Three boards to an 8 foot table should be avoided whenever possible. It’s just too close. Especially if you ever have a left-handed player sitting to the right of a right-handed player. They need to use the same 10 to 12 inches to keep score and that’s just not enough room for two players.
6 foot tables are minimally acceptable at two boards to a table, but you get too spread out at one board per table. Slightly better would be alternating: two boards on first table, one board on the second, two boards on the third, etc. (but then this becomes a little bit of a pain for the organizer to get set up). This averages to the same amount of space as two boards per 8 foot table.
18" tables are enough of a pain that I actually carry a folding board just for the rare instances when I have to play on 18" tables (a folding board is better able to “smooth over” uneven table heights).
36" wide tables are slightly better than 30" but I wouldn’t go outside that range. I’ve played on 24" tables and they’re just too narrow to be comfortable. More than 36" becomes a strain even for some adults. (I wouldn’t go beyond 30" for a scholastic, if I had a choice).