February “Mud Month” Mini-Marathon, Round 1

The Menlo Park Chess Club will hold our first rated tournament of 2023 beginning Thursday, February 2nd, at 7pm, a four round USCF-rated Swiss-system event over four weeks using the dual-rated G/45 d/5 time control. This tournament is suitable for experienced players as well as newer US Chess members seeking to establish an over-the-board rating. (“Mud Month” comes from the Old English “Solmonath,” another name for February—it may also signify “Hearthcake Month” if you prefer Bede, though the former is more apropos to the Bay Area at present.) Details follow:

• Format: Four round Swiss-system tournament in one section, one game per evening
• Rounds: February 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd—games begin promptly at 7:00pm
• Control: G/45 d/5 (dual-rated game of 45 minutes for each player plus a 5-second delay per move)
• Entry Fee: $5 (PayPal: mark@drury.com; Venmo: @Mark-Drury-12), entire entry fee goes to the prize fund.
• Prizes: Players will be divided into 3 or more groups based on rating and number of participants; the top scorer in each group wins the group’s share of the prize fund (any ties will split the cash prize).
• Byes: Half-point byes are available for any round except the last
• Register: Please sign up in advance using the ‘Register’ button above
• Boards, sets and clocks will be provided by the Menlo Park Chess Club (bring a clock if you own one)
• All tournament participants must be current US Chess members
• Our tournament chess rules summary is worth perusing if you’re new to tournament play
• For more information please send email to info@menloparkchess.club or tweet @MenloParkChess
• Join our Facebook group to stay abreast of future club tournaments and events