Cincinnati Open
After three years, the Cincinnati Open returns!
April 1–3, 2022 ♦ Embassy Suites Hotel, Blue Ash
- 5-round Swiss in four sections
- Classical time controls
- FIDE-rated top section
- Our unique weekend format in the Under sections
- $8,000 prize pool based on 150 paid entries
- No smoking, no computers
Use the navigation links below to go directly to particular information:
Tournament Overview
Prizes
Entry
Details for FIDE Section
Details for Under Sections
Venue
More Information
Tournament Overview
The Cincinnati Open comprises four sections. The top section has conventional five-round, two- and three-day schedules, and will be rated by both USCF and FIDE. In 2019 this section had 26 players, of whom 15 were rated as National Masters or higher. There are three under sections: U2100, U1700 and U1300. In our uniquely flexible format, six rounds are scheduled for these sections, of which all players choose one round for a zero-point bye, so as to play a five-game schedule. The FIDE section differs from the under sections with respect to schedule, time control, some rules, and certain other respects. See Details for FIDE Section and Details for Under Sections below for specifics.
Prizes
The total tournament prize pool is $8,000, based on 150 paid entries. If there are fewer than 150 paid entries, prizes will be paid in proportion but not less than 50% of the amounts listed below. Prizes will be split among tied players except that a player who qualifies for more than one prize will be paid the larger prize for which he or she qualifies.
- FIDE: $950 – 650 – 475 – 350; top under 2200: $325 – 275
- U2100: $650 – 475 – 350 – 250; top under 1900: $225 – 175
- U1700: $475 – 350 – 250 – 200; top under 1500: $150 – 150
- U1300: $350 – 250 – 200 – 175; top under 1100: $150 – 150
Entry
Entry Fees and Discounts
The entry fees for all sections are $115 in advance, $130 onsite, and $60 to re-enter. Each re-entry counts as ½ paid entry for prize purposes. See the respective section descriptions below for more information pertinent to re-entries. For GMs, IMs, WGMs, WIMs there is no entry fee; $115 less any applicable discount will be deducted from any prize won.
Veterans of the Cincinnati Open may apply one (but not both) of the following loyalty discounts to their entry fee:
- A List Discount: Those who played in the 2019 Cincinnati Open, entered the 2020 Cincinnati Open (which was cancelled), or played in the 2021 Cincinnati Open Quads tournament may take a $10 discount.
- B List Discount: Those who do not qualify for an A List Discount but played in the Cincinnati Open in any year from 2012 through 2018 may take a $5 discount.
To confirm your eligibility for either discount, click here to see if you are listed: A & B Lists.
Advance Entry
Players may enter by mail using this entry form and paying the entry fee by check payable to “Cincinnati Scholastic Chess”. Players may also enter online, paying by means of a credit card or PayPal account. All advance entries must be received by noon on Friday, April 1.
Onsite Entry
Players may enter onsite and pay with cash, credit card, or check payable to “Cincinnati Scholastic Chess”. Onsite entries will be taken during the following periods:
- Friday, April 1, 5:00–6:30 pm to enter any section and any schedule.
- Saturday, April 2, 8:00–10:00 am:
- To enter the FIDE section 2-day schedule.
- To enter the FIDE section 3-Day schedule with a half-point bye for the Friday, 7 pm round.
- To re-enter the FIDE section (i.e., change from the 3-day to the 2-day schedule) after playing the Friday, 7 pm round. See Details for FIDE Section below for more information pertinent to re-entries.
- To enter the U2100, U1700 or U1300 section with a zero-point bye for the Friday, 7 pm round. Players must enter before 9:00 am to be paired in the Saturday 9:30 am round. Players entering after 9:00 am will be given a half-point bye for the Saturday 9:30 am round.
- To re-enter the U2100, U1700 or U1300 section with a zero-point bye for the Friday, 7 pm round. Players wishing to re-enter an under section must do so before 9:00 am. See Details for Under Sections below for more information pertinent to re-entries.
Details for FIDE Section
The information under this heading pertains only to the FIDE section. If you intend to play in the U2100, U1700 or U1300 section, scroll down to Details for Under Sections.
Tournament Rules
Play in the FIDE section will be governed by current FIDE rules, except with respect to some points where USCF rules apply. Everyone intending to play in the FIDE section should be thoroughly familiar with these rules. Click here for a two-page Summary of the rule differences. For details review the Comparison of FIDE and USCF Rules. Except for the rules cited in this comparison, relevant FIDE and USCF rules are effectively identical.
The Electronic Device Policy and Other Rules and Policies documents provide additions to and clarifications of standard USCF or FIDE rules that will be in effect for the Cincinnati Open.
Membership and Rating Requirements
Players must be current members of the USCF and have a FIDE Identification Number (FIN). USCF memberships may be purchased or renewed in conjunction with entering the tournament, or directly from the USCF by clicking here. With respect to players who (i) do not have a FIN and (ii) qualify for FIDE membership under the US Federation, the information provided on their entry form will be forwarded to the USCF, which will obtain a FIN for them. Players who do not have a FIN and do not qualify for FIDE membership under the US Federation must obtain their FIN through their own national federation prior to entering the tournament.
Players with a USCF rating must be USCF rated 1700 or higher as of April 1, 2022. Official April 2022 ratings will be used for eligibility and pairing purposes unless a player’s rating increased to 1700 or higher after the data cutoff date for the April 2022 rating cycle. Players who do not have a USCF rating must have a FIDE rating of 1600 or higher as of April 1, 2022; their rating for purposes of this tournament will be their FIDE rating plus 100 points. Players who are not rated by either USCF or FIDE are not eligible to play in this section.
Time Control and Schedule
Players play all of five rounds in either a 3-day or 2-day schedule as indicated below.
3-Day Schedule — The time control for all rounds is 40/90, SD/30; +30. All rounds are FIDE rated. Round start times are:
- Friday: 7:00 pm
- Saturday: 11:00 am & 6:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:30 am & 3:00 pm
2-Day Schedule — The time control for rounds 1 and 2 is G/75; d5. The time control for rounds 3, 4 and 5 is 40/90, SD/30; +30. Only rounds 3, 4 and 5 are FIDE rated. Round start times are:
- Saturday: 11:00 am, 2:00 pm & 6:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:30 am & 3:00 pm
Byes
Players may take one or two optional half-point byes for any round(s). Players may request, change or cancel byes for future rounds until 5:00 pm on Saturday, April 2, at which time they are committed to their selected bye rounds. Players may select byes on their entry form, or, after entering in advance, by email to info@chesscincinnati.com. Once onsite, players are required to submit to the tournament director a completed Bye Request Form provided by the organizers to request, change or cancel byes.
Re-Entry
Only players who play round 1 of the 3-day schedule (the Friday, 7 pm round) are eligible to re-enter, and anyone wishing to do so must re-enter before 10:00 am on Saturday, April 2. Such players may re-enter only the FIDE section even if they are eligible to play in the U2100 section. Players who re-enter abandon their original entry; only the re-entry will be carried forward into later rounds regardless of the first-round score related to either entry.
Equipment
The organizers will provide all pieces, boards, clocks and scoresheets. Players are required to use the scoresheets provided by the organizers, and are required to submit to the tournament director at the conclusion of each game the originals of their completed scoresheets, signed by both players and correctly indicating the game result. The scoresheets thus submitted are the only way to report game results officially.
Details for Under Sections
The information under this heading pertains only to the U2100, U1700 and U1300 sections. If you intend to play in the FIDE section, scroll up to Details for FIDE Section.
Tournament Rules
Play in the U2100, U1700 and U1300 sections will be governed by the U.S. Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess, 7th Edition, ©2019 as amended. For additions to or clarifications of standard USCF rules that will be in effect for the Cincinnati Open, click here for the Electronic Device Policy or here for Other Rules and Policies.
Memberships and Rating Requirements
US Chess Federation (USCF) membership is required to play in any of these three sections. USCF memberships may be purchased or renewed in conjunction with entering the tournament, or directly from the USCF by clicking here.
Section eligibility and pairings will be based on April 2022 official USCF ratings, except that unofficial ratings, if available, will be used for players who are officially unrated. Players may choose to play up but may not play up more than one section.
Schedule and Time Control
All players play five rounds out of six rounds that are scheduled. The time control for all rounds is G/120; d5. Round start times are:
- Friday: 7:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:30 am, 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:30 am & 2:00 pm
Six rounds are scheduled. Players must select any one round of the six for a zero-point bye so that all players play a five-round schedule. This schedule provides the flexibility for players to choose a bye round and still play five games all at the same time control. As best suits their individual circumstances, therefore, players can:
- skip the Friday night round and still play a complete schedule on Saturday and Sunday,
- sleep in Saturday morning,
- take Saturday evening off,
- take a long break between morning and evening rounds on Saturday,
- skip the Sunday morning round,
- skip the Sunday afternoon round to leave for home earlier without giving up a game, or
- by electing a zero-point bye for Sunday morning and a half-point bye for Sunday afternoon, play a two-day schedule on Friday and Saturday and still play four games.
Byes
Players must select any one of the six scheduled rounds for the required zero-point bye so that all players play a five-round schedule. In addition players may elect to take one or two optional half-point byes for any of the remaining five rounds.
Whenever byes are requested for multiple rounds (the required zero-point bye plus one or two optional half-point byes), the zero-point bye will apply to the earliest of the requested bye rounds and the half-point bye(s) to round(s) later than the zero-point bye round.
Players may request, change or cancel byes for future rounds, provided that they satisfy the requirement for one zero-point bye, until 5:00 pm on Saturday, April 2, at which time they are committed to their selected bye rounds. Players may select their required zero-point bye round as well as one or two optional half-point byes on their entry form, or, after entering in advance, by email to info@chesscincinnati.com. If no bye is selected on the entry form, the organizers will assign a zero-point bye for the Friday evening round. Once onsite, players are required to submit to the tournament director a completed Bye Request Form provided by the organizers to request, change or cancel byes.
Re-Entry
Only players who play the Friday evening round are eligible to re-enter, and any wishing to do so must re-enter before 9:00 am on Saturday, April 2. Any player who played up in the Friday evening round may re-enter the same section or the next lower section as he or she chooses. Players re-entering must take the Friday evening round as their zero-point bye for the re-entry. Players who re-enter abandon their original entry; only the re-entry will be carried forward into later rounds regardless of the first-round score related to either entry.
Equipment
Players should bring pieces, boards and clocks. Scoresheets will be provided, but players may use their own scoresheets or scorebooks, including USCF-approved electronic scoresheets, if they choose. Players are not required to submit copies of their game scores to the tournament director.
Venue
The tournament will be held at the Embassy Suites, 4554 Lake Forest Drive, Blue Ash, OH 45242. The hotel is located approximately three miles from the intersection of I-71 and I-275. Click here for a map. The Embassy Suites offers a made-to-order breakfast and dinner in its restaurant adjacent to the playing hall, and a two-hour evening reception for overnight guests. Arrangements are being explored for having the restaurant open for lunch as well, or for an alternative food concession for the benefit of tournament participants. For more information about the hotel, click here or visit the hotel’s website. For those wishing to stay overnight, the rate is $107 for a king suite and $117 for a suite with two double beds. All suites also include a sofa bed. Reserve by March 23, 2022 to ensure room and rate; reservations received after this date will be accepted only on a space-available basis and at rates available at that time. For reservations call 513-733-8900 or 800-362-2779, or book a room online.
More Information
Email questions to info@chesscincinnati.com, or text/call Alan at 513-600-9915.