Ladder Rules

Challenge other club members to gain club rating points and move up the ladder!

Make your challenge in-person at one of our events or online. You can send a message directly to one of our members via private message on Chess.com or via our automated email form to protect the privacy of members. 

If challenging online – Pick a name on the Ladder within four spots of your position and send them a challenge via the button above. 

Details

• • Challenge anyone up to four spots above your position.

  • Challenges can be made in person, online via our form, or via direct messages on Chess.com

  • Play may occur in person or online.

  • The defender chooses color.

  • Players may have one active challenge and one active defense at a time.

Eligibility & Ratings

• • Must be a member of the MVCC in good standing.

  • Players must have a rating on file through the Membership Form on the website.

  • All ladder games are rated (Club Ratings).

  • New players who the ladder will be placed in the bottom position, regardless of rating. 

Game Formats

• • Any live game of 10 minutes or more per player (10/0), online or in person. Any time control equal to or greater is acceptable. 

  • Online daily games played on Chess.com.

Scheduling

• • Unless on an approved vacation, if a player is challenged and does not begin play within two weeks, they forfeit the challenge and switch positions with the challenger. 

  • In a forfeited challenge, no rating changes occur.

  • Players are expected to communicate promptly and schedule in good faith.

  • Players can only participate in one challenge (you initiated) and one defense (someone challenged you) at a time. 

Results & Ladder Movement

• • If the challenger wins, players switch positions (defender moves down to challenger’s old position and challenger moves up to defender’s old position).

  • If the defender wins or the game is a draw, ladder positions do not change.

Reporting

• • The winner must report the result to the Ladder Director and ensure the ladder is updated.

Issues Not Covered In Rules

• • Not every potential situation can be covered in informal rules. Therefore, players are encouraged to work out disputes on their own in a reasonable manner. Other issues will be decided by the club administration as they arise.

Conduct

• • Show respect, play with integrity, and handle all results with grace.

Have Fun! Play Hard!