My son will be playing in the Nationals to be held in Atlanta, in the K-5 section. We were thinking of taking a bye in the 5th round (to be able, at least, to eat dinner and get a good night’s rest!). Would this be counted as a half point bye? I can’t find the relevant rules.
yes, as long as you request it in advance.
uschess.org/tournaments/2010 … page=ABOUT
“1/2 pt bye any round except seven if requested in advance of Round One (limit one).”
Under NO circumstances may any player receive a half-point bye in the last round.
Are you speaking of only this tournament or are you making a statement for all tournaments?
Because I’ve seen it. Used it. Done it. Both as a player and TD.
That rule is specific to national scholastic events. Other organizers do allow 1/2 point byes in last round as long as it’s requested by the bye bye deadline. The bye deadline varies from tournament to tournament. Players need to read TLA or listen to director’s announcement regarding byes.
Personally I think last round byes at nationals should be allowed if requested with entry only. Some players may not be able to get a late enough flight, or can’t stay over Sunday night. Somebody who is flying to and from the tournament will know ahead of time if they need the last round bye.
Technically last round byes are already allowed at nationals.
Allowing last round half-point byes can be brought up with the scholastic committee/council.
I’m reminding of one 9-round NYA where a player asked how many byes were allowed and I responded by saying up to nine were allowed since there was no limit on zero-point byes.
But it won’t do any good, as they do not allow half-point byes in the last round under ANY circumstances.
What Steve is hinting at is that by not allowing last round byes, they are losing entries. I agree and believe there is no downside to allowing a last round bye if notice must be given well in advance. Before round 2 would be fine. I don’t like before round 1 because then you will get a lot of people taking or canceling byes when the TDs are the busiest.
Bill Goichberg
I don’t recall any reports about players not entering a National Scholastic because of the USCF’s no-last-round-half-point-bye policy.
Even if there had been a few of them, there comes a time when the integrity of the event is more important that trying to squeeze out a few more entries.
Those reports would not go to you. But when the tournament is held in the West, you might notice a dropoff in entries after it’s over.
How is the integrity of the U.S. Open, the National Open, or even the U.S. Junior Open compromised by allowing pre-declared, irrevocable half-point byes in the last round?