Scheveningen system

The Scheveningen system () is a method of organizing a chess match between two teams. Each player on one team plays each player on the other team. The team with the highest number of games won is the winner. This system was a popular way to create title norm opportunities. However, effective from March 2024, it is no longer be possible to achieve title norms from Scheveningen tournaments.

The system was first used in a tournament in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1923. The idea behind it was that a team of ten Dutch players could face ten foreign masters. This has the intention of giving the players on the team experience against strong competition.

Standard Scheveningen Tables

Match on 2 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 Round 2 B2-A1 B1-A2

Match on 3 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 B3-A3 Round 2 B2-A1 A2-B3 B1-A3 Round 3 A1-B3 B1-A2 A3-B2

Match on 4 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 B3-A3 B4-A4 Round 2 B2-A1 B1-A2 A3-B4 A4-B3 Round 3 A1-B3 A2-B4 B1-A3 B2-A4 Round 4 B4-A1 B3-A2 A3-B2 A4-B1

Match on 5 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 A3-B3 B4-A4 B5-A5 Round 2 B2-A1 B3-A2 A3-B4 A4-B5 B1-A5 Round 3 A1-B3 A2-B4 B5-A3 B1-A4 A5-B2 Round 4 B4-A1 A2-B5 A3-B1 B2-A4 B3-A5 Round 5 A1-B5 B1-A2 B2-A3 A4-B3 A5-B4

Match on 6 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 B2-A2 B3-A3 A4-B4 B5-A5 A6-B6 Round 2 B2-A1 A2-B3 A3-B5 B6-A4 A5-B4 B1-A6 Round 3 A1-B3 B5-A2 B1-A3 A4-B2 A5-B6 B4-A6 Round 4 B4-A1 B6-A2 A3-B2 A4-B1 B3-A5 A6-B5 Round 5 A1-B5 A2-B4 A3-B6 B3-A4 B1-A5 B2-A6 Round 6 B6-A1 A2-B1 B4-A3 B5-A4 A5-B2 A6-B3

Match on 7 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 A3-B3 A4-B4 B5-A5 B6-A6 B7-A7 Round 2 B2-A1 B3-A2 B4-A3 A4-B5 A5-B6 A6-B7 B1-A7 Round 3 A1-B3 A2-B4 A3-B5 B6-A4 B7-A5 B1-A6 A7-B2 Round 4 B4-A1 B5-A2 A3-B6 A4-B7 A5-B1 B2-A6 B3-A7 Round 5 A1-B5 A2-B6 B7-A3 B1-A4 B2-A5 A6-B3 A7-B4 Round 6 B6-A1 A2-B7 A3-B1 A4-B2 B3-A5 B4-A6 B5-A7 Round 7 A1-B7 B1-A2 B2-A3 B3-A4 A5-B4 A6-B5 A7-B6

Match on 8 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 A3-B3 A4-B4 B5-A5 B6-A6 B7-A7 B8-A8 Round 2 B2-A1 B3-A2 B4-A3 B1-A4 A5-B6 A6-B7 A7-B8 A8-B5 Round 3 A1-B3 A2-B4 A3-B1 A4-B2 B7-A5 B8-A6 B5-A7 B6-A8 Round 4 B4-A1 B1-A2 B2-A3 B3-A4 A5-B8 A6-B5 A7-B6 A8-B7 Round 5 A1-B5 A2-B6 A3-B7 A4-B8 B1-A5 B2-A6 B3-A7 B4-A8 Round 6 B6-A1 B7-A2 B8-A3 B5-A4 A5-B2 A6-B3 A7-B4 A8-B1 Round 7 A1-B7 A2-B8 A3-B5 A4-B6 B3-A5 B4-A6 B1-A7 B2-A8 Round 8 B8-A1 B5-A2 B6-A3 B7-A4 A5-B4 A6-B1 A7-B2 A8-B3

Match on 9 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 A3-B3 A4-B4 A5-B5 B6-A6 B7-A7 B8-A8 B9-A9 Round 2 B2-A1 B3-A2 B4-A3 B5-A4 A5-B6 A6-B7 A7-B8 A8-B9 B1-A9 Round 3 A1-B3 A2-B4 A3-B5 A4-B6 B7-A5 B8-A6 B9-A7 B1-A8 A9-B2 Round 4 B4-A1 B5-A2 B6-A3 A4-B7 A5-B8 A6-B9 A7-B1 B2-A8 B3-A9 Round 5 A1-B5 A2-B6 A3-B7 B8-A4 B9-A5 B1-A6 B2-A7 A8-B3 A9-B4 Round 6 B6-A1 B7-A2 A3-B8 A4-B9 A5-B1 A6-B2 B3-A7 B4-A8 B5-A9 Round 7 A1-B7 A2-B8 B9-A3 B1-A4 B2-A5 B3-A6 A7-B4 A8-B5 A9-B6 Round 8 B8-A1 A2-B9 A3-B1 A4-B2 A5-B3 B4-A6 B5-A7 B6-A8 B7-A9 Round 9 A1-B9 B1-A2 B2-A3 B3-A4 B4-A5 A6-B5 A7-B6 A8-B7 A9-B8

Match on 10 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 A3-B3 A4-B4 B5-A5 B6-A6 B7-A7 A8-B8 B9-A9 B10-A10 Round 2 B2-A1 B1-A2 B8-A3 B3-A4 A5-B10 A6-B5 A7-B6 B4-A8 A9-B7 A10-B9 Round 3 A1-B3 A2-B8 A3-B4 A4-B10 B6-A5 B7-A6 B9-A7 A8-B1 B2-A9 B5-A10 Round 4 B4-A1 B3-A2 B10-A3 A4-B6 A5-B7 B8-A6 A7-B5 A8-B9 B1-A9 A10-B2 Round 5 A1-B5 A2-B4 B9-A3 B7-A4 B1-A5 A6-B10 B8-A7 B2-A8 A9-B3 A10-B6 Round 6 B6-A1 A2-B7 A3-B1 A4-B9 A5-B8 A6-B2 B10-A7 B5-A8 B4-A9 B3-A10 Round 7 A1-B7 B5-A2 B2-A3 B1-A4 B4-A5 B9-A6 A7-B3 A8-B10 A9-B6 A10-B8 Round 8 B8-A1 B6-A2 A3-B5 A4-B2 A5-B9 A6-B1 A7-B4 B3-A8 B10-A9 B7-A10 Round 9 A1-B9 A2-B10 A3-B7 B5-A4 B2-A5 B3-A6 B1-A7 A8-B6 A9-B8 B4-A10 Round 10 B10-A1 B9-A2 B6-A3 B8-A4 A5-B3 A6-B4 A7-B2 B7-A8 A9-B5 A10-B1

Match on 11 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 A3-B3 A4-B4 A5-B5 A6-B6 B7-A7 B8-A8 B9-A9 B10-A10 B11-A11 Round 2 B2-A1 B3-A2 B4-A3 B5-A4 B6-A5 A6-B7 A7-B8 A8-B9 A9-B10 A10-B11 B1-A11 Round 3 A1-B3 A2-B4 A3-B5 A4-B6 A5-B7 B8-A6 B9-A7 B10-A8 B11-A9 B1-A10 A11-B2 Round 4 B4-A1 B5-A2 B6-A3 B7-A4 A5-B8 A6-B9 A7-B10 A8-B11 A9-B1 B2-A10 B3-A11 Round 5 A1-B5 A2-B6 A3-B7 A4-B8 B9-A5 B10-A6 B11-A7 B1-A8 B2-A9 A10-B3 A11-B4 Round 6 B6-A1 B7-A2 B8-A3 A4-B9 A5-B10 A6-B11 A7-B1 A8-B2 B3-A9 B4-A10 B5-A11 Round 7 A1-B7 A2-B8 A3-B9 B10-A4 B11-A5 B1-A6 B2-A7 B3-A8 A9-B4 A10-B5 A11-B6 Round 8 B8-A1 B9-A2 A3-B10 A4-B11 A5-B1 A6-B2 A7-B3 B4-A8 B5-A9 B6-A10 B7-A11 Round 9 A1-B9 A2-B10 B11-A3 B1-A4 B2-A5 B3-A6 B4-A7 A8-B5 A9-B6 A10-B7 A11-B8 Round 10 B10-A1 A2-B11 A3-B1 A4-B2 A5-B3 A6-B4 B5-A7 B6-A8 B7-A9 B8-A10 B9-A11 Round 11 A1-B11 B1-A2 B2-A3 B3-A4 B4-A5 B5-A6 A7-B6 A8-B7 A9-B8 A10-B9 A11-B10

Match on 12 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 A3-B3 A4-B4 A5-B5 A6-B6 B7-A7 B8-A8 B9-A9 B10-A10 B11-A11 B12-A12 Round 2 B2-A1 B3-A2 B4-A3 B5-A4 B6-A5 B1-A6 A7-B8 A8-B9 A9-B10 A10-B11 A11-B12 A12-B7 Round 3 A1-B3 A2-B4 A3-B5 A4-B6 A5-B1 A6-B2 B9-A7 B10-A8 B11-A9 B12-A10 B7-A11 B8-A12 Round 4 B4-A1 B5-A2 B6-A3 B1-A4 B2-A5 B3-A6 A7-B10 A8-B11 A9-B12 A10-B7 A11-B8 A12-B9 Round 5 A1-B5 A2-B6 A3-B1 A4-B2 A5-B3 A6-B4 B11-A7 B12-A8 B7-A9 B8-A10 B9-A11 B10-A12 Round 6 B6-A1 B1-A2 B2-A3 B3-A4 B4-A5 B5-A6 A7-B12 A8-B7 A9-B8 A10-B9 A11-B10 A12-B11 Round 7 A1-B7 A2-B8 A3-B9 A4-B10 A5-B11 A6-B12 B1-A7 B2-A8 B3-A9 B4-A10 B5-A11 B6-A12 Round 8 B8-A1 B9-A2 B10-A3 B11-A4 B12-A5 B7-A6 A7-B2 A8-B3 A9-B4 A10-B5 A11-B6 A12-B1 Round 9 A1-B9 A2-B10 A3-B11 A4-B12 A5-B7 A6-B8 B3-A7 B4-A8 B5-A9 B6-A10 B1-A11 B2-A12 Round 10 B10-A1 B11-A2 B12-A3 B7-A4 B8-A5 B9-A6 A7-B4 A8-B5 A9-B6 A10-B1 A11-B2 A12-B3 Round 11 A1-B11 A2-B12 A3-B7 A4-B8 A5-B9 A6-B10 B5-A7 B6-A8 B1-A9 B2-A10 B3-A11 B4-A12 Round 12 B12-A1 B7-A2 B8-A3 B9-A4 B10-A5 B11-A6 A7-B6 A8-B1 A9-B2 A10-B3 A11-B4 A12-B5

Match on 13 Boards Round 1 A1-B1 A2-B2 A3-B3 A4-B4 A5-B5 A6-B6 A7-B7 B8-A8 B9-A9 B10-A10 B11-A11 B12-A12 B13-A13 Round 2 B2-A1 B3-A2 B4-A3 B5-A4 B6-A5 B7-A6 A7-B8 A8-B9 A9-B10 A10-B11 A11-B12 A12-B13 B1-A13 Round 3 A1-B3 A2-B4 A3-B5 A4-B6 A5-B7 A6-B8 B9-A7 B10-A8 B11-A9 B12-A10 B13-A11 B1-A12 A13-B2 Round 4 B4-A1 B5-A2 B6-A3 B7-A4 B8-A5 A6-B9 A7-B10 A8-B11 A9-B12 A10-B13 A11-B1 B2-A12 B3-A13 Round 5 A1-B5 A2-B6 A3-B7 A4-B8 A5-B9 B10-A6 B11-A7 B12-A8 B13-A9 B1-A10 B2-A11 A12-B3 A13-B4 Round 6 B6-A1 B7-A2 B8-A3 B9-A4 A5-B10 A6-B11 A7-B12 A8-B13 A9-B1 A10-B2 B3-A11 B4-A12 B5-A13 Round 7 A1-B7 A2-B8 A3-B9 A4-B10 B11-A5 B12-A6 B13-A7 B1-A8 B2-A9 B3-A10 A11-B4 A12-B5 A13-B6 Round 8 B8-A1 B9-A2 B10-A3 A4-B11 A5-B12 A6-B13 A7-B1 A8-B2 A9-B3 B4-A10 B5-A11 B6-A12 B7-A13 Round 9 A1-B9 A2-B10 A3-B11 B12-A4 B13-A5 B1-A6 B2-A7 B3-A8 B4-A9 A10-B5 A11-B6 A12-B7 A13-B8 Round 10 B10-A1 B11-A2 A3-B12 A4-B13 A5-B1 A6-B2 A7-B3 A8-B4 B5-A9 B6-A10 B7-A11 B8-A12 B9-A13 Round 11 A1-B11 A2-B12 B13-A3 B1-A4 B2-A5 B3-A6 B4-A7 B5-A8 A9-B6 A10-B7 A11-B8 A12-B9 A13-B10 Round 12 B12-A1 A2-B13 A3-B1 A4-B2 A5-B3 A6-B4 A7-B5 B6-A8 B7-A9 B8-A10 B9-A11 B10-A12 B11-A13 Round 13 A1-B13 B1-A2 B2-A3 B3-A4 B4-A5 B5-A6 B6-A7 A8-B7 A9-B8 A10-B9 A11-B10 A12-B11 A13-B12

Note for all tables:

In the n-th round the player A1 plays with the player Bn.

Player A1 changes color in the next round.

In the first round the player An plays with the player Bn.

Use in other sports In rugby union, the Nations Championship sees each competing team from the Northern Hemisphere play against each competing team from the Southern Hemisphere in a Scheveningen-style system. Teams from the same hemisphere do not play against each other in this tournament. At the end of the series, the top-ranked Northern Hemisphere team and the top-ranked Southern Hemisphere team will play against each other in a grand final.

Scheveningen system

Bron en licentie