Rule 1–3
Match Format
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Boards: Each match is decided by the results of the top 5 boards. An advisor must be present for home and away matches.
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Start time: Play begins at 4:00 PM. Late players' clocks may be started at 4:00.
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Time control: 75 minutes per player in the regular season; 90 minutes in playoffs.
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Colors: Visiting team has white on odd-numbered boards (1, 3, 5).
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Minimum players: Fewer than 5 players = forfeit per missing board. Fewer than 3 players = full match forfeit, no games played.
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Postponements: Allowed for weather, school closing, eve of finals, or advisor absence — notify the opposing team.
Rule 5–6
Board Lineup & Ratings
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Rating system: Board order is set by LSCL ratings (not USCF) — best player on board 1, second-best on board 2, etc.
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Season start: Initial order comes from a preseason team tournament, or advisor ranking if no tournament was held.
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Coach adjustment: Advisors may shift players up or down one board from their rated position if the list doesn't reflect current ability.
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Protests: Lineup disputes must be raised before play begins. Playing out of order costs one forfeit point per board misplaced.
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Results: The home team advisor reports match results to the secretary within 24 hours.
Rule 4
Eligibility & Roster
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Enrollment: Players must be bona fide students of the school they represent. No guest players.
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Roster: Advisors submit team rosters to the secretary before the season begins.
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Top boards: Boards 1–3 require at least four prior rated LSCL matches, unless the team doesn't have three such players.
Rule 7
Scoring & Standings
Win
1 pt
Per match won
Draw
½ pt
Per match drawn
Loss
0 pts
Per match lost
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Match result: Most board points wins. Equal board points = a draw.
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Dropped teams: Results against a team that withdraws don't count in standings, but do count for individual ratings.
Rule 8–9
Playoffs & Tiebreakers
Round 1 — First Round
1 hosts 8
2 hosts 7
3 hosts 6
4 hosts 5
Round 2 — Semifinals
Winner (1/8) vs. Winner (4/5)
Winner (2/7) vs. Winner (3/6)
Higher seed from regular season is the host team.
Round 3 — Championship
Winners of Round 2
Higher seed is host. Host chooses color on boards 1, 3, and 5.
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Host advantage: Higher seed hosts and chooses color on boards 1, 3, and 5.
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Trophy: The champion holds the league trophy for one year and is responsible for engraving it.
Tiebreakers — Playoff Seeding
- Head-to-head result
- Total board wins overall
- Playoff between the tied teams
Tiebreakers — During Playoffs
If a playoff match ends tied, boards are counted starting from board 5 upward. The first board result that differs determines the winner. Board 1 is the final tiebreaker if needed.
Tiebreakers — Championship Match
If both finalists finished in the same regular season place (e.g. both 1st in their division):
- Regular season record
- Regular season total board wins overall
- Regular season head-to-head result
- Regular season record against opponents in the opposite division
Rule 10–11 · 14
Conduct & Game Rules
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No communication: No talking, texting, or nonverbal signals while a game is in progress — for players and observers alike.
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No coaching: Advisors and spectators may not advise players during a game.
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Earphones: Allowed, but the device must stay visible on the table.
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Notation app: The league app ChessNotationClock is permitted. Other electronic notation devices require both coaches' agreement beforehand.
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Authority: "The Official Rules of Chess" (David McKay, Inc.) governs all play. The league president rules on anything not covered.
Rule 13
Dues & Awards
Division champion clock
Awarded to each division champion
Permanent trophy
Maintained by dues; held by champion for one year
Highest-rated player trophy
Awarded to the top-rated student in the league
Best record on board 1
If different from the highest-rated student
Most Valuable Player
One per team; selected by the coach
Preseason tournament winner
One per team, if a preseason tournament was held
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Dues: $150 per team, due to the treasurer by January 15.
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MVP deadline: Submit MVP and preseason tournament winner names to the treasurer by February 19.