Ratings Tab - Environment Options
This tab controls what ratings are loaded with online or database searches and how ratings are calculated for tournament play.
Ratings to use in searches for this section
Controls which rating type is loaded as the primary rating when searching for players.
Available options:
| Rating Type | Description | Use For |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | Standard over-the-board (OTB) rating | Traditional tournaments |
| Quick | Quick chess rating | Rapid/quick time controls |
| Blitz | Blitz chess rating | Blitz tournaments |
When to change: Set this before registration begins to match your tournament’s time control.
Use highest rating
Automatically offers to use a player’s highest available rating during registration.
When to enable: Enable when you want to ensure players compete in the appropriate section based on their strongest rating.
How it works:
- SwissSys compares regular and alternate ratings during database registration
- If alternate rating is higher, prompts: “Highest rating listed: [rating]. OK to use this rating?”
- Select “Yes to all” to automatically use higher ratings for remaining players
- Select “No to all” to suppress prompts
Limitations: Only works when searching USCF databases (disabled for FIDE searches).
Default: Unchecked (off)
Site to search
Selects which online database to search for player ratings.
| Option | Database | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| USCF | United States Chess Federation database | US tournaments |
| FIDE | International Chess Federation database | FIDE-rated and international |
Online event
Indicates that this is an online tournament, enabling searches for online-specific ratings.
When to enable: For internet-based tournaments where online ratings are more relevant than over-the-board ratings.
Missing rating substitutions
Controls how SwissSys handles players when the desired rating type is unavailable.
Available strategies:
| Strategy | Behavior | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Leave it as is | Leave rating blank if unavailable | Strict rating requirements |
| Use the alternate | Automatically substitute alternative rating type | Flexible tournaments |
| Prompt the user | Ask for decision on each player | Maximum control |
| Special handling for online-quick | Apply special rules for online/quick events | Online or quick tournaments |
Substitution rules:
- Blitz ratings are never substituted for regular ratings
- USCF website provides 6 ratings: 3 OTB (regular, quick, blitz) + 3 online equivalents
- SwissSys prioritizes substitutions based on tournament type (OTB vs online)
- If no suitable substitute exists, rating is left blank with OTB rating stored in rating2 field for reference
There are currently no official rules for rating substitutions, but SwissSys takes a sensible approach. Select “Prompt” if you want maximum control over substitution decisions.
Formula for post-event ratings
Selects the rating calculation formula for post-tournament rating updates.
Default: USCF
When to change: Only if using alternative rating systems or special tournament formats.
Scholastic rating setup
Configures point awards for the scholastic rating system.
When to use: Scholastic tournaments using age-appropriate rating calculations.
Get most recent rating from USCF tournament history
Retrieves player’s most current rating from USCF tournament history instead of last-published rating.
Impact:
- When ON: Uses ratings from recently-played but not-yet-published tournaments
- When OFF: Uses last officially published rating
Not recommended for most tournaments. Ratings can change between registration and tournament start, potentially affecting section eligibility.
Default: Unchecked (off)
Provisionally rated
Determines how SwissSys handles players with provisional ratings.
Options:
- Warn me - Display warning for each provisional rating
- Accept without warning - Automatically accept provisional ratings