Note: These rules are built on the Lichess4545 Terms of Service. They are neither set in stone nor meant to be punitive. Their overriding principle is to allow the league to function smoothly. To that effect, league moderators reserve the right to add and/or modify the rules when necessary.

 If you have any questions about the rules, ask in Slack! If you don’t get an answer, or if your question is urgent, you can contact the moderators by typing "@chesster summon mods" in the #general channel. Please do not contact individual mods directly.

 

I. Player eligibility

Anyone who wishes to play in the Lichess4545 league must:

• Comply with the Player Eligibility requirements set out in the Lichess 4545 Terms of Service
• Have an established classical rating on Lichess.

II. Teams

1. Team sizes will be chosen depending on the number of registrations.
2. Teams will be assigned by moderators to minimize rating disparity.
3. Teams will have a private Slack channel created automatically for their team.
4. Captains: 
   1. Each team must choose a Team Captain.
   2. The Team Captain will be responsible for ensuring that their teammates schedule their games and show up to play.
   3. If a player cannot play on any given week, the Team Captain will be responsible for updating the player's availability so an alternate can be found.
5. Each team must choose a team name. The team name cannot violate the Lichess ToS, cannot be hostile or offensive, and cannot be unreasonably long.
6. Friend requests to be on the same team must be made on the provided form for the given season. 
   1. Not all requests can be accommodated.
   2. Updates to friend requests can be made prior to team formation by editing your registration.

III. League

1. The Lichess4545 League format will be as follows:
   1. An open tournament with eight rounds.
   2. For each game that a player wins, their team accrues 1 game point. For each draw, 0.5 points. For each loss, 0 points.
   3. Any team with more points than their opponent wins that round, and receives 2 match points. Any team with the same number of points as their opponent draws, and receives 1 point. Any team with fewer points loses, and receives 0 points.
   4. All rounds will be paired using the Swiss System.
   5. Each round starts on Mondays at 12:00 UTC and ends on the following Monday at 12:00 UTC. Moderators might decide to extend the duration of individual rounds of an upcoming season before registration for that season is opened.
   6. The time control for the games is 45 minutes and 45 seconds increment per move starting from the first move (45+45).
   7. Initial seeding of teams will be determined by team average rating.
   8. If necessary, the following tiebreakers will be used to determine the winner:
      1. Match points
      2. Game points
      3. Head-to-head score
      4. Number of games won
      5. Sonneborn-Berger score
2. You can reach the moderators by using the @chesster summon mods command in the #general channel on slack. Do not message the moderators directly.
   1. Moderators will make binding decisions regarding:
      1. Disputes between players or teams
      2. Rule clarifications
      3. Player/team forfeiture
      4. Any other issue of importance to the League as a whole
   2. In the event of a dispute involving one of the Moderators, that Moderator will not have the power to decide the issue and will be left out of deliberations.
   3. In the event of a dispute involving a team of which a Moderator is a part of, that Moderator will not participate in the discussion or ruling of the issue.
   4. In the event of a dispute involving two of the Moderators, the two sides of the dispute will agree upon a neutral third-party to decide the issue.
   5. When applicable, moderators will refer to the rules and regulations of the USCF and FIDE to resolve disputes. As a group, moderators act as the Tournament Director in all decisions.
3. The league is organized in our Slack workspace at lichess4545.slack.com in the channels #general, #team-scheduling, and #team-games. Players are required to join these channels while playing in the league.

IV. Scheduling

1. Pairings for a round are published on the league’s website. Players will also receive a pairing message from the league bot @chesster that puts them in touch with their opponent. Once the pairings for a round have been released players must contact their opponents by replying to @chesster’s pairing message in order to schedule the game.
   1. Games must be completed by 12:00 UTC on Monday (or whatever time the pairings for the next round are released, if not 12:00 UTC Monday). As a reference we suggest that game time be scheduled at least 150 minutes in advance of this time.
2. Each player must make an initial offer to their opponent, consisting of a minimum of 3 distinct times across at least 2 separate days. Suggested times must be separated by at least 2 hours. If a time range is provided it will only count as two offers if the time range is at least 2 hours long.
   1. Note: This means to qualify for reasonable effort, each player should give 3 distinct times across at least 2 days. If you are the second to respond, the best response would be, “No, those do not work for me. I am free ___” and provide your three times. Distinct times must be at least 2 hours separated. For example, "Wednesday 18:00 until 19:00 and Thursday 19:00" does not constitute 3 distinct times. However, "Wednesday 18:00 until 20:00 and Thursday 19:00" does.
   2. "Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 19:00" is also a valid offer, as it contains of three distinct offers across three days.
3. If a player is not available at least 3 different times on at least 2 separate days, or if they cannot play that week’s game for any reason, it is the responsibility of the team captain to update the player's availability so an alternate can be found.
   1. If an alternate cannot be found and no teammate plays up a board (see rules X and XI), and the original player was set unavailable before the start of the round, the game will be ruled a draw.
4. If an agreed time cannot be reached after both players have made their initial offer, both players should continue to offer times until an agreed time is found. Both players should participate in the scheduling discussion regularly until a time is agreed upon or until moderators have been contacted. Players shall not abandon the scheduling discussion as long as there is no resolution to any potential conflicts.
5. If, after making a reasonable effort, two players cannot find a suitable time to play, they may send in their attempts, at which time the moderators will deliberate for awarding a draw of a ½-½ score.
   1. The Moderators will determine if each player has made a reasonable effort based on rules III.B-D.
   2. Players who wish to agree to a draw must send screenshots of their attempts to schedule using this link.
6. If one player does not make a reasonable effort to find a time, they may forfeit their game at the Moderators’ discretion.
7. If neither player provides a reasonable effort to find a time, both will forfeit with a 0-0 score.
8. All players must confirm their scheduled game time. We ask you post your scheduled game time in the #team-scheduling channel of our Slack workspace. The format is “Sat 19:00, Fri 5:00”, etc. Once a time has been agreed to and confirmed, the game can be rescheduled only if both players agree to a new time.
9. All games must be posted in UTC. Chesster responds back with your time in your timezone, so there shouldn’t be any confusion on what time we are discussing.

V. Non-response policy

1. If one player does not contact their opponent in the first 24 hours after their pairing was published, a search for an alternate will start.
2. It is up to the captain of the unresponsive player or the player themselves to update the player's status if the alternate search shall be stopped.
3. If no alternate can be assigned to replace the offending player (see section X), if the team cannot provide an alternative opponent from their own team (see section XI), and if the offending player does not reach an agreement with their opponent to schedule a game, they will forfeit the game. 
4. Please remember that above all, we value games! Players are encouraged to put as much effort into scheduling as possible. Moderators will apply these rules in cases where no game gets scheduled, but may use moderator discretion to make exceptions based on the efforts of both players to schedule a game.
5. If a player does not respond on Lichess or Slack within 24 hours of the release of pairings, the Moderators may issue a yellow card to the offending player.

VI. No-show policy

1. If either player is not online at the appointed time, they will have a grace period of 20 minutes to appear, otherwise they will forfeit the game.
2. If either player is online, but does not challenge or accept the challenge of their opponent and make their first move within 20 minutes of the appointed time, they will forfeit the game.
3. After the 20 minute grace period has expired, and in order to claim a forfeit, players should record a time-stamped screenshot showing one of the following:
   1. Their opponent is offline.
   2. They have issued a challenge, but their opponent has not accepted.
   3. They have issued a challenge, but their opponent has declined.
4. @chesster should message the player who was online. In order to claim a forfeit, the claiming player must follow the instructions and attach the screenshot above. This claim will automatically be approved. @chesster will offer the other player the right to appeal.
5. In case chesster does not make contact, the claiming player must summon the mods or use  and provide them with the time-stamped screenshot referred to above, or use  this link  and attach the time-stamped screenshot.
6. If the player can prove that they were online, available, attempted to challenge or accept a challenge, or in any other way refute the no-show accusation, their OPPONENT shall lose by forfeit.
7. Any player forfeiting a game due to a no-show  will receive a yellow card.

VII. Cheating

In the Lichess4545 league, cheating is defined as one or more of the following:

• the use of computer assistance
• artificially increasing or decreasing one’s rating
• the use of an opening book (in any medium)
• playing out variations on a Lichess analysis (or other online) board during a game
• playing out variations on a physical board during a game
• discussing any matter relating to an ongoing game, including draw opportunities, with anyone else (including a team captain)
• receiving assistance from any other source during a game, including from stream chat (if streaming)
• observing the spectator chat of one’s own game for any reason
• losing a game terminated due to a “cheat detected” mark

 

Players suspected of violating the Lichess Terms of Service should be reported to Lichess using https://lichess.org/report. When players are suspected of breaking any of the cheating rules that do not necessarily violate Lichess's Terms (such as violating the leagues' streamer guidelines), they should be reported to the league moderators on Slack or Lichess.

For example, if a player suspects that another player has consulted an engine during a league game, they should report that player to Lichess.

Any player whose account is banned by Lichess for any Lichess ToS violations will immediately be banned from the leagues, removed from the league Slack workspace, and have their results in any current season(s) revised to forfeit losses. Any such player may only become eligible again for the leagues if their ban is removed by Lichess, after which they may request re-entry via the contact page.

Any player determined to have broken one or more of the leagues' cheating rules for actions that do not violate the Lichess ToS is likely to receive a warning for a first offence, but subsequent or repeated infractions will likely lead to a temporary or even permanent league ban, depending on the impact and severity of the player's actions. Banned players are immediately removed from the league Slack workspace and may have their results in ongoing season(s) revised to forfeit losses.

VIII. Closing Lichess Accounts

Players are not allowed to close their Lichess accounts while a season is still ongoing in which they have participated, even if they withdrew before closing their Lichess account. If a player closes their Lichess account, all their games of the ongoing season will be turned into forfeit losses. See the respective section in our Terms of Service for details.

IX. Game play policy

1. Game settings
   1. Both players are responsible to ensure they are playing with the correct colours and in the correct time control, 45+45.
   2. All league games must be rated games played on Lichess.
   3. If one player notices an error in their game’s settings before White has played their tenth (10th) move, the game must be restarted with the correct settings.
   4. If an error in the time control or colour assignment is only noticed after White has played their tenth (10th) move, the game will be considered official and both players must play on. This rule is based on USCF Rule 11F: “If an incorrect starting position or the game was started with colors reversed within the first 10 moves, the game is annulled and started over. If discovered after Black's 10th move, the game continues.”
   5. If a game is played unrated, it will be at the league moderators’ discretion to decide if the game can be accepted as an official league game.
2. Draws without reasonable effort
   1. If league moderators determine that a game was drawn without either player making reasonable effort, the game will be treated as invalid and given a 0F-0F result. This rule is based on USCF Rule 14B6: “It is unethical and unsporting to agree to a draw before a serious contest has begun. The same is true of all arrangements to prearrange game results. In case of clear violations of the moral principles of the game, penalties should be imposed at the director’s discretion.”
3. Not using the “Claim Victory” and “Claim Draw” features
   1. In all leagues, players are not permitted to use the “Claim Victory” or “Claim Draw” features of Lichess if/when an opponent disconnects.
   2. If a player uses this feature to erroneously claim victory in a league game, the game should be continued from the terminated position with the same amount of time remaining for each side as in the game.
   3. If a player claims victory in this manner and does not return to continue the game, they will forfeit the game.
   4. Conversely, any player disconnecting from a game with the intention of wasting their opponent’s time will receive a warning from league moderators. Action may be taken for repeated offences up to and including expulsion from the league. Players who experience such behaviour from opponents in league games should notify league moderators and also report incidents of stalling to Lichess using https://lichess.org/report.
4. Takebacks are not mandatory
   1. It is not mandatory to allow takebacks in league games.
   2. In other words, if a player makes an unintended move in a league game, they may request a takeback if they so wish, but their opponent has the right to refuse the request for any reason without incurring any penalty.
   3. Players who wish to reduce the risk of blundering by “mouseslip” in their league games are therefore advised to turn on Lichess’s move confirmation feature before the start of their games.
5. Respect rule 
   1. Players are encouraged to take their league games as seriously as possible in order to respect their opponents (and their team, if applicable). Players are free to use their time as they wish during a game, but league moderators will warn players if they determine that games are not being taken seriously, and players can be banned if their behaviour doesn't change.

X. Alternates

1. All non-league players will be added to an alternate list as per their rating and ordered by date of registration.
   1. This order rotates as alternates are used. This encourages new alternates throughout the season.
2. In the event that an alternate is required, it is the responsibility of the captain of the team, or the player that requires an alternate to update the player's  availability so an alternate can be found.
   1. By updating a player's availability, Chesster will automatically message alternates in order to find a replacement (starting 48 hours before each round).
   2. In unusual circumstances, manual searches for alternates may be done at moderator discretion.
3. Any player responding but declining the spot as an alternate will retain their spot in the list order of alternates.
4. Any player not responding within 24 hours of an offer will be moved to the bottom of the list as an alternate and be marked as unresponsive.
5. Alternate boards shall be adjusted as their rating changes.

XI. Playing Up or Down a Board

1. If a player cannot schedule a game for any reason, a team mate is allowed to play up a board in their team mates place.
2. The moderators encourage captains to try to find an alternate if possible as this both increases alternate participation and ensures competitive games.
3. The decision to play up a board is made by the team captain and the player playing up a board, with input from the team.
4. Players are allowed to play up multiple boards.
5. The player who is playing up a board will play both their individual board game and the game that they are playing up for, TWO total games.
6. Please notify moderators, the opposing captain and the opponent when a decision is made to have a player play up a board.
7. Players may play down ONE board when all the below requirements are met. The procedure is otherwise the same as playing up a board.
   1. No alternate can be found
   2. No player can play up a board instead
   3. The opponent team grants permission

XII. Penalties

• The league enforces a system of yellow and red cards for players who either fail to contact their opponents within a certain time following the release of pairings or fail to show up to their games.
• These penalties can be easily avoided by familiarising oneself with the league rules and clearly communicating any issues ahead of time with opponent(s) and league moderators, as well as team captain(s) and teammates where applicable.
• A yellow card may be awarded for:
  • Missing a scheduled game, which will also typically result in a forfeit loss. However, if a player provides evidence to league moderators that they gave advance notice to their opponent, in most cases the game will still be forfeited but the yellow card will not be awarded.
  • Not contacting an opponent on Slack within 24 hours of round pairings being released. Also, if the game is eventually played despite the late initial contact, a warning may be given to the player instead, especially if it's a first offence.
  • Insufficient effort to schedule a game, as determined by the league’s scheduling rules.
• Yellow cards and warnings may be given for other offences at league moderators’ discretion.
• A second yellow card offence will automatically result in a red card.
• A player with a red card will be withdrawn from the current season of the league. Should they choose to register for another season of the league, they will carry over a yellow card into the next season they play.
• Players will typically be notified by @chesster and/or league moderators when they receive a yellow card. Yellow cards are indicated next to players’ names in the league rosters. 
• Players who consistently receive cards over several seasons may be banned from playing the next season (or even permanently).

 

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Rules changelog (since May 2017)

• I.A.2 Rule added. (01-Jun-2017)
• XI.D "the next season" changed to "their next season". (04-Jun-2017)
• I.B and VII.A.1 Added reference to sandbagging. (12-Jun-2017)
• III.B updated to reflect current moderator status. (02-Jul-2017)
• IV.B.1 clarified definition of "distinct times" for scheduling purposes. (08-Aug-2017)
• I.A updated to non-provisional classical rating without 20 game requirement due to increased time control. (06-Dec-2017)
• X.G Rule added for playing DOWN a board, effective Season 11 (21-Jan-2018)
• VII Updated cheating policy, all reports should be made directly to Lichess (08-Apr-2018)
• I.D Compliance with Slack ToS required (08-Apr-2018)
• V Updated response requirements to <24 hours from <48 hours (08-Apr-2018)
• VI Updated procedures for claiming win after no-show (02-May-2018)
• VII.A Added note on stream chat interaction (14-Oct-2018)
• IV.C 1 Updated to change ruling from forfeit to draw if original player set unavailable before round start (20-Oct-2018)
• I.B Replaced "accounts" by "players" (03-Dec-2018)
• II.A Teams up to eight players (06-May-2019)
• Added links for claiming draw and claiming forfeit win (04-Jun-2019)
• III.B updated to remove reference to specific moderators (14-Jun-2019)
• XI.E Rule added for players who consistently receive cards (27-Jul-2019)
• VI.B Rule updated to include "and make their first move" (17-Nov-2019)
• VII.A. Clarified that playing moves on a board to assist calculation is not allowed (19-Nov-2019)
• Corrected several small errors through the document.  Specified not to contact moderators directly in several sections, and specified in several sectionsthat one must use chesster’s group DM for scheduling. (2-May-2020)
• Removed I.E and replaced it by finally putting in writing that multiple accounts are not permitted. (25-Aug-2020)
• Added rule VII.F about closing accounts (06-Feb-2021)
• II.A changed from "Teams will consist of six to eight eligible players." to "Team sizes will be chosen depending on the number of registrations."
• Added link to the additional notes for streamers (06-Apr-2021)
• Replaced content of sections I, VII and VIII with links to the Terms of Service, and removed previous section XI as these are now included in the Lichess4545 Terms of Service (16-Apr-2021)
• Added back in section XI (penalties) (27-Apr-2021)
• Copied eligibility and cheating rules from the Terms of Service (13-Aug-2021)
• Added clarifications to scheduling rule IV (15-Jun-2023)
• Moving game play policy and penalties from ToS to rules document (14-Jul-2025)