What is allowed by the organizer (& TD) if it is not listed in the Tournament Life Announcement [TLA]? At one time you were required to announce in advance [i.e. in the TLA] if accelerated pairings would or might be used. Now the TD or organizer can decide at the site to use accelerated pairings, even if there really is no need. If byes (or a limit on number and when they can be requested) is not listed in the TLA can they be given to players if other players object? I always tell players that if both agree they may start a game early [prior to announced round time], but they may get disturbed during the game by players entering or announcements.
I know a 1 year ban on having a TLA can be imposed for violations, such as failure to adhere to prize fund specification [i.e. not paying guaranteed money in usual circumstances]. But for those new to US Chess I think a list should be posted about what is required, and what is allowed with regards to TLA listings and actual running of a tournament. US Chess does not want players going away from rated events disappointed due to what they may view as disinformation.
If such a list is developed, IMHO its bye policy (if no policy is announced in the TLA) should be something moderate, such as limiting each player to one bye, and allowing last-round byes only if requested one full round ahead of time.
I am not the greatest fan of 1/2 point byes, but I understand they are a necessary evil in order to increase attendance. On several occasions I have given someone as many as two half point byes at the beginning of an event to a late entrant, but that was to ensure that we had an even number of players. Even so, giving the byes gave that player a better chance of winning a prize. I do not grant 1/2 byes for a last round unless requested at registration. To do so during an event may give an unfair advantage for prize purposes. OTOH, a 0 point bye for a round, even a last round, can be granted at any time.
As for accelerating pairings, I was told a long time ago to do it only if the number of entries in a section was more than double the number of rounds squared. Accelerating may avoid mismatches for one or two rounds, but does not necessarily mitigate the tiebreak problems at the end of the event. You may get one final winner, but the mess in the middle gives headaches and you still get complaints about the unfairness of the pairings. I don’t believe you have to announce acceleration in a TLA.
If you have to put so many variations in your TLA just to assuage the feelings of a few players who could ask the organizer/TD what the conditions are, then the TLA for a small event could equal in size the TLA for a World Open. Who wants to pay for that type of TLA? Most if not all of the potential variations made at the site by the TD are based on reasonable problems that have to be addressed due to the number of entries. Some of us provide sets, board, some clocks, pens/pencils, and scoresheets for our events. We may even provide snacks and drinks. Expecting organizers to cater to whims when they have a system and standard way of doing things is too much. If you want something special, ask in advance. A TLA is not going to cover everything.
I suspect this is in a less-frequently read section of the rule book; many readers are probably done once they have gotten past rule 16 (The Use of the Chess Clock) and their eyes glaze over when they see “scheduling”. “the adjournment of the game”, and “resumption of the adjourned game”.
This is just a very bad idea. The overwhelmingly massive size of the rulebook is an attempt to solve a similar problem, and has failed miserably. We have certainly learned by now that it is impossible for us to anticipate every stupid thing that players or organizers will try to do and any list, no matter how extensive, is just begging for some bright boy to come up with something omitted just to get around the rules.
My list is two lines. Variations that are likely to cause some players to not attend must be announced in all pre-event publicity and at the site. Other variations are only required to be announced at the site.