How Junior Chess Tournaments Work: Rounds, Pairings and Scores Explained

Last updated: October 2026

Most junior chess tournaments use the Swiss system. Nobody is knocked out: every player plays in every round, and each round pairs players who have similar scores. A win is worth 1 point, a draw ½ and a loss 0. The player with the most points at the end wins the section.

What is a Swiss-system tournament?

A Swiss-system tournament is a set number of rounds in which every player keeps playing to the end, whatever their results. It is not a knockout, so a child who loses in the first round still plays in every round after that.

Under the FIDE Handbook's basic Swiss rules, the number of rounds is announced beforehand and two players never meet more than once. Every child gets the same number of games, and by the later rounds most are playing opponents close to their own level.

How are players paired each round?

Each round, players are generally paired with others on the same score. Before round one everyone has zero points, so the first pairings usually come from a starting list, which is often ordered by rating.

After that, the pairings follow the scores:

1. After each round: players are grouped by score. For example, players on 2 points are paired with each other where possible.

2. No repeat games: if two players on the same score have already met, the pairing moves on to someone else.

3. Odd numbers: if the number of players is odd, one player sits out that round and receives a bye.

The next round can only be paired once every game in the current round has finished, which is why children sometimes wait between rounds.

How is a chess tournament scored?

Unless the event's rules say otherwise, the FIDE Laws of Chess score a win as 1 point, a draw as ½ and a loss as 0.

Result	Points
Win (including a win because the opponent did not turn up)	1
Draw	½
Loss (including not turning up to play)	0
Pairing-allocated bye (odd number of players)	Usually 1, unless the event rules say otherwise

A player who has already had a bye is not given another. Some events also allow a requested bye for a round a player cannot attend, which may be worth a different number of points; the event rules say which byes are allowed and what each is worth.

Why does my child play White one round and Black the next?

Swiss pairings try to keep each player's colours balanced. In general, a player gets whichever colour they have had less often, and if the counts are even, they get the opposite colour to their last game.

The FIDE basic rules also say a player should not get the same colour three times in a row, and their White and Black games should not differ by more than two, with some exceptions allowed. So White twice in a row is normal, not a mistake.

How are ties broken?

Tie-breaks vary from event to event, and they are listed in each event's rules. The event rules say whether tied players share a place or how they are separated.

FIDE's tie-break regulations describe many methods. Some look at the result of the game between the tied players. Others, such as the Buchholz method, add up the scores of each player's opponents. Some events use play-off games instead. If a placing matters to your child, check the event rules before the day.

How do ratings change after a rated tournament?

After a rated event, each child's results are used to update their rating. Beating a higher-rated opponent usually gains more points than beating a lower-rated one, and losing to a lower-rated opponent usually costs more.

A rating is an estimate of playing strength, not a school mark, and it tends to move more for a new player. NSWJCL ratings are published at chessratings.com.au. For a fuller explanation, see our NSWJCL ratings page.

What do parents do while the rounds are on?

At most junior events, parents wait outside the playing area while games are in progress.

• Stay out of the playing area unless the organiser says otherwise. Talking to or signalling a player during a game is not allowed.

• Check the pairings with your child before each round, so they know their board and colour.

• Keep between-round talk short: some water, a snack and a word of encouragement. It is not the time to go over every move.

• Leave disputes to the arbiter. Encourage your child to raise a hand and ask the arbiter, rather than stepping in yourself.

For packing lists and tournament manners, see our first chess tournament checklist.

Where can my child play a rated tournament in Chatswood?

Trainstein runs NSWJCL-rated junior tournaments in Chatswood on most Sundays during school term, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm. The sections are U8, U10, U12, U400, U600 and Team, and entry is $50 per section.

Students enrolled in Trainstein classes receive one free NSWJCL-rated tournament entry per term as part of their term fee. For upcoming dates, see our tournaments page.

Frequently asked questions

Does my child get knocked out after losing a game?

No. In a Swiss-system tournament every player plays in every round, whatever their results.

Can my child play the same opponent twice?

No. Under the FIDE basic rules for Swiss systems, two players must not play each other more than once in the same tournament.

How many points is a draw worth?

A draw is worth half a point. A win is worth 1 point and a loss is worth 0, unless the event rules say otherwise.

What is a bye in chess?

A bye is a round in which a player has no opponent, most often because there is an odd number of players. A pairing-allocated bye is usually worth 1 point, but the event rules set the exact value.

How are ties decided at a junior chess tournament?

Tie-break rules vary between events, and they are listed in each event's rules. Common methods include the result between the tied players and the combined scores of each player's opponents.

Next step

If you have questions about how our Sunday tournaments run or which section suits your child, call 0415 228 088, email trainsteinchess@gmail.com or visit our contact page. If your child is not yet ready for tournaments, our chess classes combine teaching with supervised play.

Sources

• FIDE Handbook, C.04.1 Basic rules for Swiss Systems (effective from 1 February 2026): https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/C0401202507

• FIDE Handbook, Laws of Chess (taking effect from 1 January 2023), Article 10: Points: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023

• FIDE Handbook, C.07 Play-Off and Tie-Break Regulations (effective from 1 March 2026): https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/TieBreakRegulations032026