The Summer Cup Competition and the associated Plate Competition, for first round losers, is a team event which takes place between March and September. Each team consists of six players. Normal Chess Rules concerning Adult Matches apply, but a handicap system allows weaker teams to compete.

To give all teams an equal chance of winning a handicap system operates as follows: A player graded over 200 points below his/her opponent is awarded a handicap bonus of 3/4 point and a player graded between 100 and 200 points below his/her opponent receives a handicap bonus of 1/2 point.

An additional factor to consider, is that juniors have an addition to their calculated handicap grade:
age 12 or less add 120 points,
age 13 add 110,
age 14 add 100,
age 15 add 85,
age 16 add 65,
age 17 add 45,
age 18 add 40,
age 19 add 35 and for
age 20 add 20 points.

Badgers Brooke (Away, 24 June) Semi-Final

The team won all games and are through to Final.
Once again, the maximum handicap of -4.75 (6 * 3/4) was applied. Although the grade differences on each board were large, all it takes is for one game to go astray or two to draw and its over.

Jim and Ben had some wobbly moments with Ben starting the opening with a nice bishop sac on f7, which was declined, followed up with a strong attack. In the simplifications however, the piece dropped and the attack was gone. Ben played some safe chess after that and got into a winning end game a piece up (R-N v R and some pawns). Instead of simplifying to a N advantage Ben chose another path, leading to a rook ending with even pawns. Ben then converted this drawn position with some nice rook manoeuvres.

Jim played the Dutch and later found out his opponent had been reading up on the Staunton gambit, which can be very dangerous. Jim was aware of the line and played out of the gambit line to an even position. As Jim played to create a strong queenside attack, he ignored the opponent's kingside attack and allowed a very dangerous pawn to get to h6. This gave his opponent some sacrificial tactics which did not work but it looked pretty scary. Jim missed a few strong moves in the heat of the moment but saw enough to ensure the win.

Another strong team result.

Tiger Cubs (Home, 4 June)

The team won all games and are through to the next round. The maximum handicap of -4.75 (6 * 3/4) was applied.
Four of the games (boards 2-5) ended quite quickly with a piece dropped or missed in tactics.
This was in keeping with the large grade difference.
On board 1, Isaac was facing strong resistance but decided to simplify into an endgame where he
showed the real difference with some nice endgame tactics.
On board 6, John had gone a piece up but his young opponent had a dangerous attack brewing against
his castled king with a fianchettoed bishop pointing at his king, a rook and queen facing his king
and loads of threats. John stayed calm and coolly defended his way to exchange off the danger, finishing
with a mate on his dangerous opponent.

A great team performance by all.

Edinburgh West (Home, 13 May)

The team won 4-2 on the night and we also had a plus 2 on the handicap.
Elliot got a +0.5 on 1, Ben and John got a +0.75 on 5 and 6.

A great team performance meant that we did not need the handicap addition.

Elliot, Captain: "The big swing on board #5 of 1.75 points shows advantage of lower graded players. We would have won with 2 board wins (unless it was board 6 due to tie break rules). So it can be good when players are playing on form. All games were tight with no quick wins. First result at 10pm, even on short time
control we use in the summer cup."