Rating Range Restrictions
SwissSys accepts any class setup and calculates it correctly. This page lists what that covers, the three entries SwissSys refuses, and how it handles a player who fits two classes.
You set class ranges in Reports > Prizes, on the Class prizes tab, with Set class rating/age ranges… (see Prize class rating ranges).
Setups That Work
You don’t need to follow any rule about how classes are listed or how they meet. All of these are calculated correctly, and none produces a warning:
- True Under prizes on any floor, such as U1800 = 1799-100 over U1600 = 1599-100.
- Under prizes on a Low of 0 or 1.
- Partly overlapping classes, such as 1700-1999 and 1600-1799, or grades 1-3 and K-2.
- Strict classes, with or without gaps between them.
- Unders mixed with regular classes, such as U2000 over A and B.
- Classes in any order.
- An Unrated 0-0 class anywhere in the list.
The one reason to keep an order is the Highest class first priority button for trophies, which treats Class 1 as the top class. See Non-Cash Priorities.
Players Who Fit Two Classes
A player whose rating (or age or grade) falls in two classes is eligible for both. SwissSys gives them the best prize they can win (US Chess rule 32B1). If players tie, SwissSys divides the prizes by rules 32B2 and 32B3. Overlapping classes need no action from you.
The only ranking decision SwissSys makes for you is which trophy a player receives when they can win several of equal value (rule 33D1a). It follows your Pri numbers, and the Prizes window tells you when that order cost a lower-ranked player a trophy. See Messages in the Report.
Unrated Player Handling
Best practice, recommended by US Chess, is to put unrated players in a separate class. Add a class with a High of 0 and a Low of 0 and name it something like “Unr”. Both default buttons in the ranges dialog set up the classes this way.
The Low of a class decides whether unrated players can win it:
- 0 admits unrated players.
- 1 or higher excludes them.
If your advertised prizes call for it, you can instead include unrated players in existing classes:
| Where unrated players compete | How to set it up |
|---|---|
| Bottom class only | Use 0 as the Low of the last class. |
| Top class only | Check Put unrated in top class only. No other class can have a Low of 0. If one does, SwissSys shows Settings in conflict and you must change that class first. |
| Every class | Use 0 as the Low of every class. This is typical for Under prizes that are open to unrated players. |
What SwissSys Refuses
When you click OK in the ranges dialog, SwissSys refuses only three things. There are no Ignore or Cancel prompts. Fix the entry and click OK again.
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
Error in numeric format. followed by the class | Enter whole numbers in the High and Low rows. |
Settings in conflict. | Change the Low of every class other than the top one to 1 or higher, or clear Put unrated in top class only. |
Class 3 has a High of 1600 below its Low of 1799, so no player could win it. followed by Put the highest rating (or age) in the High row and the lowest in the Low row. | Swap the two numbers. See the screenshot. |
If a File Shows CHECK CLASS SETUP
A tournament file saved in an older version can still contain a class whose High is below its Low. The standings, the Prizes report, and exports then show:
CHECK CLASS SETUP - Class 3 (1600-1799) has its High below its Low, so no player can win it.
The Prizes window’s top line shows the short form, CHECK CLASS SETUP - a class range admits no players. Overlapping classes never cause this message. It isn’t related to PARTIAL RESULTS, which goes away when the tournament is finished. CHECK CLASS SETUP stays until you fix the range.
To clear it:
- Open Reports > Prizes, go to the Class prizes tab, and click Set class rating/age ranges….
- Put the higher number in High and the lower number in Low for the class the message names.
- Click OK.
Class ranges are set per section, and the check applies to the section you’re viewing. When Show all sections is checked in the Prizes report, each class warning starts with its section’s name.
Older versions also showed Rating distribution not recommended with Ignore and Cancel buttons, and a Probable Prize column header. Those no longer appear. See If You Saw This in an Older Version.
Verification Responsibility
This feature has been tested extensively, but you are responsible for making sure the awards you distribute are accurate. Always double-check the results by hand.
Related Topics
- Prize class rating ranges - The ranges dialog, field by field
- Prizes - Prize setup, the Prizes report, and what every prize message means
- Standings Formatting - Showing the prize column in the standings