FSVL

Since we are becoming a fairly big and even more fabulous group of legionaires, I think we should consider joining the FSVL (Fortnight speed vote league). The rules are stated as follows:

1. The FSVL is open to 20 teams per season.
2. These teams will be divided into four “conferences” of 5 teams each.
3. Each season lasts 17 weeks. 
   1. The First Season will run from Monday, June 22 thru Sunday, October 18. 
   2. The Second Season will run from Monday, October 19 thru Sunday, February 14.
4. Each fortnight begins and ends at midnight (Universal Time) and runs from Monday thru Sunday.
5. At some point during each fortnight (14 days total), each team will complete one game of Vote Chess against the team on their schedule for that fortnight.
6. It is the responsibility of the Team Administrators to coordinate start times with their opposing teams each fortnight.
7. There is a maximum of 5 days for admins to issue a challenge to their opposing team stating their desired start time, and a maximum of 3 days for the other team to respond.  If no start time can be agreed upon, then the FSVL will have to step in and set a time for them.
8. Once the start time has been agreed upon, a team will forfeit the match if they do not accept the challenge within 1 hour of the scheduled start time.
9. Every team will play every other team in their conference once.
10. Each team will have one “bye” week with no scheduled game.
11. Every Vote Chess game will be played at 10-minutes per turn.
12. Every Vote Chess game will be played with random color settings.
13. The first 10 weeks will be the “Regular Season” with the next 6 weeks being the “Post Season” or “Playoffs.”
14. Teams will be ranked according to this point system:
    1. Win = 3 points
    2. Draw = 1 point
15. Ties are broken via the “First Blood” system (if two teams have the same number of points, the team that scored their points first is ranked higher)
16. The leaders in each conference will automatically be seeded #s 1-4 in the playoffs.
17. There will be 4 “Wild Card” spots available to the 4 non-division-leaders with the best records.
18. Week 11/12 will be the Quarter Finals with only the Top 8 teams competing.
    1. The #1 team will play the #8 team
    2. The #2 team will play the #7 team
    3. The #3 team will play the #6 team
    4. The #4 team will play the #5 team
19. Week 13/14 will be the Semi-Finals between the four Quarter-Final winners.
    1. The #1 team will play the #4 team
    2. The #2 team will play the #3 team 
20. Week 15/16 will be the FSVL Finals between the winners of each Semi-Final game.  The winner of this game will be the Champion for that Season.
21. Week 17 is the “Off Season.”  Everybody gets to take a break.

The times for the games are as follows:

At 10-minutes/turn, each team will make 3 moves per hour.  This means that an average game (21-30 moves) will last only 7-10 hours.  Granted, it is possible for someone to timeout in the first hour or two.  It is also possible that a game could drag on for 60 moves or so (which would take 20 hours).

But no one will be playing for the entire weekend (unless the game lasts for 288 moves).  ;-)

The idea is that you have a total of 96 hours in which to play this game.  It does not matter if you play the game on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday (or even Thursday or Monday depending on your time zone), as long as the game is completed sometime within those 96 hours (12am Friday (GMT+14) thru 12am Monday (GMT-10).

It is always the same time, but different days, in time zomes +14 and -10.  When it is Midnight there (the International Date Line), it is 6am here in Detroit (Eastern Daylight Savings Time).  That means that the weekend in my time zone lasts from 6am Thursday thru 6am Monday.

If you live in London (British Summer Time), then the weekend will run from 11am Thursday thru 11am Monday.

Every time my group has played a Speed Vote Game, I have been online from start to finish, as have many other players.  Obviously no one is required to be online for the whole 7-10 hours, as long as there is one person willing to keep the game from timing out, but it's not out of the question either.

This is where communication is going to be VERY IMPORTANT, and why I am posting contact info for each group.  If, for example, Chess Unlimited is scheduled to play Chess Empire, then Jaller435718 or Falling-upwards will have to arrange a mutually agreeable start time with Kacparov or Chuzzlechamp, and both sides will need to inform their respective groups as to when this game will start.

I'm sure that some games will be played on Friday, some on Saturday, and some on Sunday.  Some will start early in the morning, and some will start late at night (depending on your time zone).  If you're in more than one group, it's possible that you could be playing with The Dark Knights on Saturday and The Chess Nuts on Sunday (as long as they're not playing each other of course).

Every game will be completed in less than one day (unless it lasts for more than 72 moves), and it is very possible for any given individual to be present for the entire game.

Here is a SAMPLE time grid to give you an idea of what time it will be in each time zone at various points in the game.  This grid has a start time of Midnight on the International Date Line to also help you see what time that is in your time zone, but as I said, the start time can be whatever time and day the two teams decide upon.

Now that everything is cleared up, we should consider making a team. For now, post here if you are interested and WANT TO BE ON THE TEAM. I don't want people posting and then not being interested. For this to work, I need commitment.