Organising a club tournament should not require expensive software. If you have a list of players and a printer, you can run a fair event with our free pairing generator. Here is how to choose a format and avoid the usual headaches.

Swiss or round robin?

Round robin means everyone plays everyone. It is the fairest format, but it only works for small fields. With 8 players you need 7 rounds; with 12 you need 11.

Swiss system pairs players with similar scores and never repeats an opponent. With 5 rounds you can handle anywhere from 20 to 40 players, and the winner is usually clear. It is the standard for opens and school events.

A rough guide for Swiss events: the number of rounds should be at least log2(players) rounded up, so 5 rounds for up to 32 players.

Setting up

  1. Open the tournament manager.
  2. Paste your players, one per line, as Name, rating, federation. Rating and federation are optional, and pasting straight from a spreadsheet works.
  3. Choose Swiss, round robin or double round robin, pick your tie-breaks and press Create tournament.
  4. After each round, enter the results with one tap (1-0, ½, 0-1, or a forfeit) and press Pair next round.

Every tournament is saved on our servers. Sign in and it is attached to your account; stay anonymous and you get a private manager link, so you can carry on from any device.

How Swiss pairings work here

  • Players are grouped by score, strongest first.
  • Nobody plays the same opponent twice.
  • With an odd number of players, the lowest-ranked player who has not yet had a bye receives it (1 point).
  • Colours are balanced so players alternate white and black as far as possible.

Standings and tie-breaks

Standings are sorted by points, then your chosen tie-breaks: Buchholz Cut-1, Buchholz (the sum of your opponents' scores, which rewards a tougher schedule), Sonneborn-Berger, number of wins or progressive score. Byes and forfeits use a virtual opponent, as in the FIDE handbook. A full crosstable shows every result at a glance. For prizes, announce your tie-break rules in advance.

Tips from the organizer's desk

  • Print the pairings and post them on the wall. Players like to see them together.
  • Keep a spare scoresheet pad. Handwritten results are the source of truth in disputes.
  • Start rounds on time and set a clear late-forfeit rule (15 minutes is common).
  • Share the results link on the club chat or project it on a screen: it updates live as you enter results.
  • Export standings and pairings to CSV for your records, or print each round.
  • Use a clock for every board. Our online chess clock is handy as a backup.

The pairing engine is a Dutch-style Swiss system, tested for no repeat opponents and colour balance. For FIDE or federation-rated tournaments, use an approved pairing program for official reports.

Planning a public event? You can list it on Chess Home events so players nearby can find it.