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Membership
Membership is free !
FICGS.com - Terms and conditions.
01. Preliminaries
02. Services offered
03. Membership
04. Entry fees
05. Prize money
06. Warranties and limitations of liability
07. Money transfer
08. Security and privacy policy
09. Laws
10. Change history
Annexes
11. General rules
12. Tournament rules
01. Preliminaries
This document describes the "Terms and Conditions" of FICGS,
detailing services offered by FICGS and usage of these services by the members.
FICGS may change these conditions whenever necessary. Members will be notified
about these changes on the website.
The members agree to these conditions when :
- they fill in the registration form for new members and send it to FICGS.
- they continue using the services of FICGS after changes are done.
When a member doesn't agree to the conditions (or changes to the conditions)
anymore, he's free to cancel membership.
02. Services offered by FICGS
FICGS provides the correspondence chess server (www.ficgs.com) to the members
for playing correspondence chess & go tournaments. Members access the server
through the internet. A member must provide all equipment, including a computer
and modem, necessary to establish a connection to the World Wide Web. Additionnaly
he must provide an access to the World Wide Web and pay any telephone service
fees associated with such access.
FICGS organizes correspondence chess, chess variants & go server tournaments.
FICGS administers and distributes money prizes for FICGS tournaments with entry
fee.
FICGS referees all tournaments played on www.FICGS.com.
FICGS offers technical support for members and answer questions about FICGS
on the forum.
FICGS edits, publishes and controls FICGS tournament rules.
FICGS may, whenever it likes, expand, change, or partially discontinue these
services. But the correspondence chess server itself must stay operable and
all running tournaments must be allowed to terminate normally.
FICGS products and expands the server software. Member may propose new features
of the software on the forum, but members couldn't require certain features.
The features offered by FICGS are regarded as the optimum considering costs
and effects.
03. Membership
FICGS membership is free of charge and for life (except for suspension, cancellation
or expulsion). Every member gets a username by FICGS and, in some cases, also
a password. The member could change his password whenever he wants.
Every member must register with his real name. Double registrations are not
allowed. FICGS will close member accounts, when a member violates FICGS rules
badly or acts against FICGS. If the member provides then no reasonable explanation
for his behaviour, FICGS will close his account permanently.
When a member cancels his membership or FICGS closes him out, all his ongoing
games will be rated as a loss for him. FICGS will not pay back any unused tournament
entry fees on his account. FICGS can keep all games played by the member in
the database.
04. Entry fees
All members can enter for free FICGS tournaments without entry fee, but tournaments
organized on invitation by FICGS and tournaments that require a rating that
doesn't fit with member's one.
Any member who wants to enter a tournament with an entry fee must buy tickets
for such tournaments.
Only members aged of 18 years and more, and of age in their country, are authorized
to buy tickets for tournaments with an entry fee.
Tickets are sold on the website to all members on the page 'My account'. When
you buy a ticket or a pack of tickets, a virtual account is created with a limited
lifetime of
365 days, meaning the member can use his tickets when he wants before the end of
this period. Tickets are not paid back.
05. Prize money
Money prizes in a FICGS tournament are published with the entry fees in the
tournament announcement on the 'Waiting lists' page.
Money prizes will be paid to prize winners of a tournament when all games of
the tournament are finished.
Before payment, prize winners will be asked if they want money prizes to be
added to their accounts, meaning buying new tickets according to the amount
and reconducting the account for a new lifetime period.
If there are taxes or social fees in the home countries of the prize winners,
they are responsible for these payments.
06. Warranties and limitations of liability
Members agree that using the server and our services is at members sole risk.
FICGS makes no warranty that the service will be uninterrupted or error free.
FICGS will repair server damages as fast as possible and server down times will
not be recorded for the reflexion time of the players. Members can't make FICGS
liable for server downtimes or data losses.
FICGS shall not be liable for what members will do if they don't
respect these "Terms and Conditions" or for what members will publish
in the FICGS forum or messages to other members.
07. Money transfer
Every member has a virtual account at FICGS. If he doesn't buy tickets, his
account is empty : 0 Euro. Tickets for tournaments with an entry fee should
be paid on one of our accounts (see below). When you send us money, please remind
us your player last name, first name and member number (go to 'Preferences')
and send us please a short email to info (at) ficgs.com with these informations
and which account you've paid which amount. If there are any bank fees for the
transfer, the member has to pay them.
The accounts of FICGS are :
(soon)
receiver :
bank name :
bank address :
bank sort code :
account number :
SWIFT :
IBAN :
08. Security and privacy policy
Every member has to register with his real name at the server. Therefore FICGS
will ask for personal data at the registration dialogue and save it. The member
agrees with that at saving by saving his data and using the FICGS services.
FICGS uses this data for internal use only.
FICGS respects the privacy of the players data saved on the server. FICGS will
not disclose member information to other third parties then mentioned above,
especially not for advertising purposes.
09. Laws
This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of France, and the member agrees to submit to the personal jurisdiction of France
for any cause or action arising out of this agreement. In the event that any
portion of this agreement is deemed by a court to be invalid, the remaining
provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
10. Change history
2006, april 19
11. General rules
11. 1. Netiquette
Computer assistance is authorized, as any other kind of help.
No player may send an opponent any voluntary message that contains abusive,
insulting, advertising, vulgar, foul, racist, sexist or other discriminatory
or politically sensitive content.
11. 2. Regulations
All chess play shall be in accordance with The Official Rules Of Chess as defined
by the Federation International Des Echecs (FIDE). The latest version can be
found on the FIDE Homepage. If there is a conflict between those rules and these,
the FICGS rules and regulations shall take precedence.
All go play shall be in accordance with The Official Rules Of Go as defined
by the International Go Federation (IGF). If there is a conflict between those
rules and these, the FICGS rules and regulations shall take precedence. Please
note that players can't pass on FICGS. Both players must play until one of them
resign or call referee.
The rules assume that FICGS referees have the necessary competence, sound judgement
and absolute objectivity. Too detailed a rule might deprive the arbiter of his
freedom of judgement and thus prevent him from finding the solution to a problem
dictated by fairness, logic and special factors. FICGS appeals to all its members
to accept this view.
11. 3. Playing rules
All moves and other communications shall be transmitted through the server.
Graphical interfaces are only used as assistance to write the moves, but it's
up to the player to send a valid move, using correct notation. If you send a
wrong move, your opponent can claim the point calling referee.
a. Chess (and chess 960) moves
require the use of English algebraic notation using PGN (Portable Game Notation).
It is advised to let the graphical interface generate the move. Repetition rule
and 50 moves rule are not implemented, please call referee if an obvious draw
is not accepted by your opponent. Please note that forced checkmates in more
than 50 moves won't be considered as draws. Here is an example of a game :
[Event "FICGS__CHESS__CLASS_B__000001"]
[Site "FICGS"]
[Date "2006.3.8"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rambo,John"]
[Black "Balboa,Rocky"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 exf4 4.Bb5+ Bd7 5.Nf3 Bxb5 1/2-1/2
b. 'Big chess' games
are played on a 16 x 16 chessboard. Moves are given by 'origin square'-'destination
square' with coordinates a1 to q16 (e.g. : m15-m13). Please note that i letter
doesn't exist on the graphical interface, so any move with letter i won't be
understood, consequently the move is false and the game lost. You just have
to let the graphical interface generate the move. Here's a game :
[Event "FICGS__BIG_CHESS__MATCH__000001"]
[Site "FICGS"]
[Date "2006.3.8"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rambo,John"]
[Black "Balboa,Rocky"]
[Result "*"]
1. k2-k4 m15-m13 2.*
c. Go games are played on a 19 x 19
goban. Go moves are given by coordinates a1 to t19 (e.g. : s13), as showed on
the go viewer. Please note that i letter doesn't exist on the viewer, so any
move with letter i (e.g. : i5) won't be understood by the viewer, consequently
the move is false and the game lost. Please let the graphical interface generate
the move. A player can't pass on FICGS, it's up to the players to count the
points and discuss about it. The game ends when a player resigns. The repetition
rule is not implemented, if a player repeats a position several times, the game
will be adjudicated. Usually, komi is half a point. Please call referee if there's
a disagreement. Here's a game :
[Event "FICGS__GO__TOURNAMENT__000001"]
[Site "FICGS"]
[Date "2006.3.8"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rambo,John"]
[Black "Balboa,Rocky"]
[Result "*"]
1.k13 c8 2.j3 c16 3.g10 h12 4.*
A move is legal if it fulfils the international federation laws of the game.
An illegal or ambiguous move provokes the loss of the game. It's strictly forbidden
to play simultaneously the same game with black on a board and white on the
other, against two players or the same one, playing black moves like the opponent
in the game with white and playing white moves like the opponent in the game
with black.
11. 4. Time rules
Any move in any game shall be played in a maximum period of
60 days, otherwise the game will be adjudicated on time. Time accumulated in a
game can't exceed
100 days. It is possible to take a maximum of
30 days leave per year.
11. 5. Adjudication
In some cases, the game continues but the result is obvious. If a player doesn't
want to resign or accept draw, his opponent may call referee. An analysis submitted
by a player should contain sufficient information so that a proper analysis
is possible. This may include a sequence of moves, but in some circumstances
it may be sufficient to claim a win or a draw on the basis of material or positional
advantage. Final decision belongs to referee.
There are no time limit for games else but the clocks, but it may be announced
that certain multi-stages tournaments will have one. At the end of this time
limit, the referee will adjudicate games.
11. 6. Withdrawals
There is no withdrawal. All games are played until a player resign, accept draw,
or loose on time. If a player forfeits without giving an explanation to the
referee (or cases of obvious cheating), games are not rated for the winner.
11. 7. Rating rules
The FICGS rating scheme is a numerical scheme, in which percentage results can
be exchanged into rating differences, and rating differences into percentage
performance probabilities. It is mainly based on the principles of rating calculations
of prof. Arpad Elo.
The rating formula : New Elo = ((16 x Elo) + (Games x Perf)) / (16 + Games)
The rating period is 2 months. The first period of a year starts on January
1st. For ratings calculations, the opponents' Tournament Entry Rating (TER),
which are valid on the day of the rating run, are used.
A player has an established rating, if he finished at least 9 games before the
last rating calculation, otherwise his rating is called provisional. A new player
with an established rating (and title) from ICCF or IECG automatically gets
an established equal rating on FICGS (and title). A new player with an established
rating (and title) from FIDE gets a provisional equal rating (and title). Titles
not from FIDE / ICCF will be renamed as FICGS titles. A new player with a rating
> 1700 from another organization get a provisional 1700 rating.
11. 8. Titles
Titles, like ratings are calculated by FICGS. Titles are obtained with 3 title
norms. Titles are :
FICGS Grand Master (FGM)
FICGS Senior International Master (FSM)
FICGS International Master (FIM)
FICGS Email Master (FEM)
It is possible to update titles obtained out of FICGS just by sending an email
to info (at) ficgs.com
12. Tournament rules
FICGS CHESS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP :
FICGS world chess championship is a 5 stages tournament. The 8 players with the
strongest ratings at the start of the tournament play a 3 stages (quarter-final,
semi-final, final) knockout tournament. The others play a 3 stages single round-robin
tournament. All games during the whole cycle are played in 30 days + 1 day / move.
Norms are only possible in the round-robin tournaments.
The round-robin tournaments are groups of 9, 11 or 13 players. In case of equality
at the end of a tournament, the winner is the player with the strongest tournament
entry rating (TER).
The knockout tournament is played into 8 games matches. The special
rule (avoiding short draws) is that in case of equality (4-4), the winner is the player
with the strongest tournament entry rating if all games are draw, or the player with the
lower tournament entry rating if not all games are draw.
The winner of the knockout tournament will play (stage 4) the winner of the round-robin cycle
in a 8 games match. In case of equality (4-4), the knockout tournament winner is qualified for
stage 5 if all games are draw, the round-robin cycle winner if not all games are draw.
At last, the player qualified is the challenger for world champion title. If current world
champion defends his title, they will play a 24 games match. In case of equality (12-12),
the winner is the former world champion.
FICGS CHESS CLASS TOURNAMENTS :
FICGS chess class tournaments are rated single round-robin tournaments, involving
7 players. All games are played in 40 days + 40 days / 10 moves. Norms are possible.
FICGS CHESS RAPID TOURNAMENTS :
FICGS chess rapid tournaments are rated single round-robin tournaments, involving
7 players. All games are played in 30 days + 1 day / move. Norms are possible.
FICGS CHESS MONEY TOURNAMENTS :
FICGS chess tournaments with entry fee are rated single round-robin tournaments,
involving 13 players. All games are played in 40 days + 40 days / 10 moves. In
case of equality, the prize is divided. Norms are possible.
FICGS CHESS MONEY MATCHES :
FICGS chess matches with entry fee are rated 8 games matches, involving 2 players.
All games are played in 30 days + 1 day / move. In case of equality (4-4) and
if all games are draw, the winner is the player who proposed the challenge and
entered the waiting list first. This player plays white in the first game of the
match. In case of equality (4-4) and if not all games are draw, the winner is
the player who accepted the challenge and entered the waiting list second. Norms
are not possible.
FICGS GO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP :
FICGS world go championship is a 4 stages tournament.
Players are first involved into a 3 stages single round-robin tournament involving
groups of 9, 11 or 13 players.
In case of equality, we consider points between the winners. (if 2 players have the
same score in a tournament, the winner is the one who beat the other in their game)
If this rule doesn't give a unique winner, the winners are all qualified excepted at
stage 3, where they will have to play an extra stage single round-robin tournament until
it designs a challenger)
At last, the player qualified is the challenger for world champion title. If current
world champion defends his title, they will play a 6 games match. In case of equality
(3-3), the winner is the former world champion. All games during the whole cycle
are played in 30 days + 1 day / move. Komi is half a point. Please note that players
can't pass. Both players must play until one of them resign or call referee.
FICGS GO TOURNAMENTS :
FICGS go tournaments are single round-robin tournaments, involving 7 players.
All games are played in 30 days + 1 day / move. Komi is half a point. Please note
that players can't pass. Both players must play until one of them resign or call
referee.
FICGS GO MONEY TOURNAMENTS :
FICGS go tournaments with entry fee are single round-robin tournaments,
involving 13 players. All games are played in 30 days + 1 day / move. Komi is half a point.
In case of equality, the prize is divided.
FICGS go matches with entry fee are one game matches, involving 2 players. The
player who entered first the rating list plays first. All games are played in
30 days + 1 day / move. Komi is half a point. Please note that players can't pass.
Both players must play until one of them resign or call referee.
FICGS SPECIAL BIG CHESS TOURNAMENTS :
FICGS big chess matches are one game unrated matches with entry fee, involving
2 players. All games are played in 30 days + 1 day / move. Norms are not possible.
Big chess is a FICGS chess variant, on a chessboard 16 x 16. Coordinates are a1
to q16 (no letter i). Please use only 'xy-xy' notation generated by the graphical
interface. Special rules are no castling possible, and pawns starting on the 3rd
line can only advance one line ahead at their first move.
The player who entered first the waiting list is white.
FICGS SPECIAL THEMATIC CHESS TOURNAMENTS :
FICGS chess thematic tournaments are unrated single round-robin tournaments, involving
7 players. First moves are announced. All games are played in 40 days + 40 days
/ 10 moves. Norms are not possible.
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