US Chess Federation membership is required and must be current as of December 1, 2024. (This year’s tournament is unique in that it ends in December. Therefore, participants need to have US Chess memberships with expiration date of December 31, 2024 or after)

Play Up

For Expert section, Sections A, B, C, and Under 1400, players can only play one section up.

• Expert (2000 – 2199)
• Section A (1800 – 1999)
• Section B (1600- 1799)
• Section C (1400 – 1599)
• Under 1400

Refund Policy

If you cannot attend the tournament, please let us know through the Contact Us page at least 7 days before the start of the tournament.
Refund for the entry fee will be less $25 service charge for refunds for the main tournament/event and the scholastic. 

You may also give notice of withdrawal in writing (by post mail or email) at least 7 days before the first round. NO REFUND, full or partial, will be given after round 1 has started and/or once you have started playing your game in the first round.

Bye Policy

0 point bye notifications are welcomed anytime. Please notify us if you want a 0-point bye, but will be playing the following round(s). These are useful in situations where a 0.5 point bye is too late to be requested but you still wish to play the remaining rounds. 

Rules for HALF-POINT (0.5 point) byes

In order to protect players from unfair half-point (0.5) bye requests the following policy is in place for all players.

1. Last round byes MUST be requested before the start of the second round for the main event (before the first round for the Scholastic, Blitz, and Action tournaments).
2. All other rounds, bye request must be made before the start of  the previous round of the intended bye round (and at least 24 hours for first round bye request) i.e. to request Round 7 bye, request must be submitted before Rd 6 starts). For last round half-point bye request, see point #1 above.
3. Requesting for a bye is not grounds for receiving a refund.
4. Maximum of two half-point (0.5) bye.
5. All byes requested after the the maximum two allowed for half-point, or after the previous round of the intended bye round has started, will be zero (0) point byes.

Rules for FULL-POINT (1.0 point) Bye

1. A full-point bye, which is received due to an odd number of players at the time of pairing a section, is an unplayed game. The recipient will not receive credit for rating or for norms.
2. Getting a bye is not grounds for receiving a refund.

Questions and request can be made through the player’s portal. For any exception/emergency requests or questions, please see the information desk at the tournament or direct emails to play(at)americanopen(dot)com. (please change “(at)” to the “@” symbol)

Switching or Making Changes

Depending on the complications of your request, our data entry personnel will need to spend time to look up your information and process them, therefore you may be charged a service fee. An easy way for avoiding this charge is by making sure all your information is filled out correctly during the registration. Players may not switch from one section to the other for the sole reason based on preference changes after viewing the advance list. A valid reason must be provided for changes.

Electronics in the Tournament Hall

Players are not allowed to have a phone or other electronic device capable of chess analysis or communication on their person in the tournament hall. The penalty for possessing such a device is at the discretion of the chief tournament director.