Table Tantrix Tournament Rules:

 

The rules of Tantrix as shown in the latest Tantrix Game Pack booklet apply as do the following tournament rules:

 

 

Who starts?

 

Unless otherwise stated by the tournament controller, you should use the rule in the Game Pack booklet about the player who picks the higher numbered tile being the one who starts.

 

 

Colours:

 

Please use the colour registered as your first preference if possible.

 

If both players have registered the same first preference colour or neither player has registered a preference, we encourage people to agree on alternative colours. If you cannot agree, refer to the Controller.

 
If one player has not registered a first preference colour, they cannot stop the other player from playing with their first preference colour but can choose any of the other three colours.

 
You should ensure that it is completely clear which colour each player will be playing with before either player selects their first six tiles, e.g. by filling in your names and colours on the results slip before the game.

 

Time limit:

 

Players pick their first six tiles before starting the clock. The time limit is 20 minutes per player per game. If a player goes over the limit, the game should carry on. However, at the end, a player who takes 20:00 or more loses 1 Tournament Point (TP) from their total and their opponent gains 1 TP. This is repeated for every full minute by which the time taken exceeds the time limit.

 

The Controller can adjust the times on either or both clocks if he feels that either player has been trying to abuse the system, eg. by making illegal moves and starting the opponent's clock to try to gain extra thinking time. The Controller’s decision regarding the number of time penalties to be applied is final.

In order to keep the tournament running to time, if a player’s time exceeds 25 minutes, the Controller can stop the game and adjudicate the final result, with the benefit of any doubt given to the faster player.

 

 

Situations specific to table tournaments:

 

a)       Players must draw tiles from the bag quickly to avoid any potential for cheating.

b)       Players may place tiles around the edge of the tiles already played (the ‘Tantrix’) while trying out moves, but if a tile touches the Tantrix, it must be played there (and in that orientation) if possible.

c)       If you get too close to the edge of the table, stop both clocks and move the tiles into the centre.

d)       If a player wishes to count the tiles left in the bag, they must do so in their own time and without looking at the tiles. The bag must be shaken up to mix the tiles afterwards.

e)       If a player notices that their opponent has made an illegal move or has failed to fill a forced space, they can restart their opponent's clock and force them to correct the mistake as long as they notice it before they have made another move of their own

f)        If a player notices that a move was illegal after making another move themselves, the error may not be corrected except by mutual consent.

g)       If a player notices that their opponent has more than six tiles in their hand, they can choose which tile the opponent must return to the bag.

h)       If a player notices during their own turn that their opponent has less than six tiles in their hand, they can choose whether the opponent draws a new tile immediately or at the start of the opponent's next turn.

Disputes:

 

If a dispute requiring discussion arises, both clocks should be stopped. Please try to resolve disputes amicably without involving the Controller. If all else fails, contact the Controller, whose decision will be final.

Tournament scores:

 

Positions will be based on Tournament Points (TPs), awarded as shown on the result submission slips. They are based on sharing 20 TPs for each game. In addition to TPs based on the tile scores in the game, 1 TP is deducted from a player’s total and added to the other player’s TP total if they hit the time limit, with an extra TP changing hands for each whole minute by which they exceed the limit. This is subject to the maximum possible TP score for a game being 20–0 TPs.

 

 

Byes and defaults:

 

If a player does not arrive for a game within 5 minutes of the time it is meant to start, their clock will be started. After 10 more minutes, they can be defaulted.

 

If someone defaults more than two games in an all play all event, all of their results are ignored.

 

In table tournaments, a bye or a default win is worth 15.0–5.0 TPs.  However, the Controller can increase the number of points awarded for a default if in his opinion a player has defaulted deliberately to help their own position or that of someone else by avoiding the possibility of a heavier loss.

 

 

Tiebreaks:

 

If two or more players are tied, they will be separated on the basis of the TPs scored in the game / games which was / were played between them, then by who has scored the most tiles overall ignoring opponents’ tiles.

 

 

Cheating:

 

As well as spoiling an event for the other players, cheating severely devalues your own performance in a tournament. In case it is not clear, cheating includes:

a)       getting help from someone else

b)       taking notes of any kind during the game

c)       making deliberate errors to gain an advantage in the hope that your opponent will not notice in time

d)       deliberately losing a game (or just deliberately playing badly) to help a friend to win a tournament, to ensure that another player does not win a tournament or simply because you are not bothered by a result which nevertheless affects the final positions or Elo ratings of other players

e)       talking excessively during a game in order to try to distract your opponent or otherwise putting undue pressure on them, eg. by telling them to play faster

f)       anything else (however 'clever' it may seem) which is aimed at securing an unfair advantage for you or another player

Anyone caught cheating risks being banned from all future tournaments and we reserve the right to 'name and shame' them on the Tantrix website. Please do not be tempted to cheat even if you think (hopefully mistakenly) that someone else is cheating - that kind of reaction just makes things worse for everyone in the end.

 

In all matters, the Tournament Controller's decision is final:

 

This rule may be invoked to deal with disputes and any unforeseen circumstances, but it is not intended to be used more than is absolutely necessary.