Wouldn’t this same argument apply to other scoring systems like 3 for a win, 1 for a draw? Or even to last round games where one player needs a draw and the other a win?
Or even simpler - team events.
In fact GM Larry Kaufman has a letter to the editor in the latest issue of New in Chess (2012/7) arguing that 3-1-0 tournaments should not be rated for exactly this reason.
To finally answer the question posed in the title of this thread:
I wouldn’t.
Bill Smythe
Not rated? No problem. If enough people in your club or circle of chess friends think it would be fun and want to do it, go for it.
Our club is holding a handicap event on November 14. We call it the “Pilgrims vs Turkeys” match. It pits our adult members versus the kids. Several of the “turkeys” will lose a leg (rook) or a wing (knight or bishop) before the game starts to make the games equal. Since some of our juniors are improving rapidly, we might have to take something from the “Pilgrim” to make the games fair! We have been doing this for the last four years. It is a fun way to celebrate the club’s growth. There will be cupcakes and brownies to fatten up the poor “turkeys”. The thought of rating this has never arisen. Not all chess activities have to be rated. I think that is a point that clubs should remember. If you build a strong social sense into your club, you have a better chance of being successful. This helps to build your base for holding rated events.
The Pilgrims vs. Turkeys match is finished. The malevolent Turkeys were rampant and won numerous games in spite of the many “legs” and “wings” we took from them. Several mothers and a couple of dads brought cupcakes, brownies, and some rather tasty ethnic delicacies for all to share before and during the match. All of the spectators and players had a good time. We were grateful for the many donations made to the club at the end of the evening.
Some of the “rules” we used:
- Anyone could pause the clock at any time in order to get something to eat or drink.
- Higher rated players had one or more pieces removed before the game to even up the match. Generally, a rook or knight was removed. In several cases two pieces were removed.
- The Pilgrims could switch and play someone else after playing one game.
- The Pilgrim team captain selected which player would face each Turkey.
- The Pilgrims received the option of picking what time control to use. They chose Game 20, d5.
- Everyone was to eat as much as possible. The mothers were thrilled to see how much we all enjoyed their homemade creations.
The Pilgrims teased the Turkeys that the games would be rated. That backfired as the Turkeys played harder. It was funny, though, to see several adults sweat it out trying desperately to win even or worse positions against the little ones. Next year, we will allow the Pilgrims to seek help from the Indian Chief (moi) whenever they need it. I may have to remove more minor pieces and Queens. I will also have to quietly explain to the Turkeys once again that the real object of the event is that the Pilgrims are supposed to win!
I really like this concept… thanks for sharing it.
Thanks, Kevin. Next year we might redo the play the kids and I wrote and put on at Borders Books at Halloween several years ago. The play involved a demonstration of the Frankenstein-Dracula variation in the Vienna Opening. We incorporated some of the story from Stoker’s and Shelley’s works into the chess play. It was hammy but fun to do for the crowd. We had vampires and other “creatures of the night” tease Dracula as he explained how he won a game from Frankenstein’s creation. Dracula, of course, played Black. We had capes and fangs, too. At the end of the evening, the two HS girls, “vampire brides”, who helped to write the play, explained the stories and helped Borders sell some copies of the classic tales of horror. Borders was great and gave out hot chocolate to the spectators.
Chess should be fun. Handicap tournaments, whether using time differences or excising pieces, are an interesting way to even the competition. I have seen too many clubs where ratings mattered too much and stratified the social relationships and interactions. I would rather see players in clubs eat brownies and goof around together than be concerned with silly rating points.