5SS : 5 round Swiss Style (as opposed to knock-out/elimination style) tournaments.
G/90 with 30 second increment : Time control, i.e. 90 minutes on each clock with a 30-second increment after you make each move.
EF: $30 ($25 Jr/Sr/Hcap), plus $10 non-DCC mbr fee if applicable.: Entry Fee, which varies based on your situation and if you are a regular club member.
$$ Prizes based on entries 60 % returned: The prize money is 60% of the entry fee, i.e. more people sign-up and there's more money to give back. The TD/Club absorbs the other 40% for club dues/maintenance costs or in rare cases => profit.
Amateur: Open to U1800. : Everyone rated under USCF 1800 at the time of entry can play in this section.
Novice: Open to U1400 and unrated.Everyone rated under USCF 1400 at the time of entry can play. Of course a 1400 player can play in the higher section if he feels he needs higher levels of competition!
Two half-point Byes if requested before rd 2 (and if requested before receiving a full point bye,) withdrawals and last round zero point byes are not eligible for prizes.
Given that you may provide advance notice to the TD/organizer and state that you can NOT play round 1 (you are going to be late) or round 5 (you have to head home early), you are normally given a half-point bye. The DCC has its own policies of issuing byes and they are making it clear. Of course, half-point byes (which equate to draws) would often restrict your chances of playing for a prize (to make it fair on people who actually earned the draw in a real game!)
Finally => Unless it says "Scholastic", the tournament is open to adults and kids. You'll typically see mentions of K-12 sections etc. or trophies and these tend to be the "adults, stay away" type of tournaments .
Hope this sort of helps.
I'm toying with the idea of playing in a local tournament, but I just don't understand all the stuff in the listing. For example, if it is a junior grand prix, does that mean it is not open to adults? I emailed them for info almost a week ago, and I'm sure I will get a response eventually, but I need to make plans now. What does all this stuff mean, and what do I have to do in order to play novice?
[quote]Chess Magnet School Junior Grand Prix!
OCT. 12-13 Dallas Amateur and Novice
5SS, G/90 with 30 second increment. Dallas CC, 200 S. Cottonwood Dr. Ste C, Richardson, TX 75080. EF: $30 ($25 Jr/Sr/Hcap), plus $10 non-DCC mbr fee if applicable. $$ Prizes based on entries 60 % returned. Amateur: Open to U1800. Novice: Open to U1400 and unrated. Reg.: 9:45-10:15am. Rds.: 10:45-3:10-7:16, 10:45-3:10. Two half-point Byes if requested before rd 2 (and if requested before receiving a full point bye,) withdrawals and last round zero point byes are not eligible for prizes. Ent: Dallas Chess Club, C/O Barbara Swafford, 2709 Longhorn Trail, Crowley, TX 76036. Info: 214-632-9000, info@dallaschess.com, www.dallaschess.com. NS. NC.[/quote]