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Backstory

Some people are under the gross misconception that because Chess is a "thinking man's game" that it is not proper to imbibe alcohol. Some people think that a chess board has no place in a bar or pub. We at HMFY have laughed in the face of such silly notions for a long time now, and feel it is time to find out whom amongst us should be crowned Drunken Chessmaster.

Setup

First, choose a location to hold the tournament. Pubs and Microbreweries are perfect for providing a constant supply of beverage that comes in Liter and Imperial Pint sizes. This is not something to be held at a private residence. Playing at a bar guarantees that you will always have the right temperature of beer, that you will never need to cleanup after yourself, and that taxi service will be on call if necessary. Playing in public may draw an audience, which creates potential to meet people interested in future tournaments.

If you fear puking or spilled beer, get a vinyl mat and some jumbo plastic pieces. This is not a time for the nice $300 chess sets to be broken out.

Beverage Selection

All players must be drinking a beverage of the same or similar alcohol content. While some people can choose a beer with less alcohol content than another, they are not in the spirit of the tournament. However, choosing a beer different with an alcohol content than your opponent because of taste preference is allowed. If the difference is great enough, such as in a Corona vs. Guinness game, a judge may declare that the Corona drinker must drink more than the standard match drink requires.

There is no handicapping due to weight or tolerance permitted. There are also no rules on what may be eaten before the tournament or any other outside factor that could influence the effects of alcohol.

The beverage of choice for us is beer, but any alcohol would suffice. We play with two amounts: for the opening match, one liter or two Imperial Pints; for round play, one half-liter or one Imperial Pint. These will be referred to as "liter" and "pint" for the rest of the rules.

Drinking rules

During a match, you must begin your opening moves will a full glass of beer (aside from any toast you wish to make with your opponent prior to the opening moves). During or after each move you make, you should drink some from your glass - even a small sip is enough to fulfill this requirement. You opponent may enforce this by refusing to move until you have drunk from your glass. In a timed tournament, your move is only considered over when you move your piece and drink from your glass.

Once the match is over, any player who has any remaining beer must immediately pound it.

Exhibition Round

Before the drunken tournament begins, all players must become inebriated. This is drunken chess, and we mean it. There will be a one game exhibition round during which both players must drink a full liter. For the exhibition match your opponent may not be the same that you will play in the first round. The exhibition round continues until all games are complete or one hour has passed. At this time, all games stop, any amount of the remaining alcohol must be pounded, and the first round begins.

Round Play

From this point on players must consume one pint per game, otherwise the drinking rules are the same as stated above. Drunken Chess Tournaments are single elmination. You lose, you're out.
If a player passes out during a game, the judge may attempt to revive the player. If the player does not wake, it is considered the same as the player resigning and the game at an end. If a player passes out prior to his next game and cannot be revived, they are considered having forfeited that game, and the other player must down their drink. Just because the game is over before it started does not excuse the player from alcoholic obligations.

Judges

There should be at least one person knowledgeable about the game of chess to remain sober as an official judge and designated driver. This person should also have a camera on them to document this event, because some of the participants may very well not remember it.

A judge is there to settle any disputes between players, make sure they are drinking when they should, and to sometimes point out that "the horsey doesn't move like that". While other drunken masters could be available to consult on a rule question, they might get caught up and start making moves for you, completely forgetting that they're playing another game.

Kibitzing, Timed play, Touch-Move, etc.

As this is a drunken chess tournament, you my find it hard as the match goes on to keep quiet, hit a timer clock, or any of the other rules that makes for a "civilized" tournament. It is up to the event coordinator whether to allow for rules like these or Touch-Moves or what not, but it should be kept in mind that as the players become more intoxicated, following the standard rules of chess might be trial enough.

It is suggested that these rules are thrown out the window, and the judge regulates when someone gets out of hand.

That's all folks

Have fun with Drunken Chess Tournaments! If you host any, email me (ryan@hmfy.com) and let me know how they go.