Tie-break definitions
When two or more players finish on the same score, tie-breaks decide the ranking order. Chesstide computes tie-breaks according to the FIDE Tie-Break Regulations. This page defines each tie-break you can configure in the cockpit's Standings tab.
Buchholz
The sum of the final scores of all your opponents. A higher Buchholz means you faced opponents who scored well, so your points were harder to earn.
For rounds you did not play over the board (byes and forfeits), FIDE rules replace the missing game with a virtual opponent so that players who received byes are not unfairly advantaged or penalized.
Buchholz Cut 1 / Cut 2 / Median
Variants of Buchholz that reduce the impact of outliers:
- Buchholz Cut 1 — Buchholz minus the lowest-scoring opponent.
- Buchholz Cut 2 — Buchholz minus the two lowest-scoring opponents.
- Median Buchholz — Buchholz minus both the highest- and lowest-scoring opponent.
Sonneborn-Berger
The sum of the final scores of the opponents you beat, plus half the scores of the opponents you drew against. Unlike Buchholz, it weighs opponent strength by your result against them. In team tournaments, Sonneborn-Berger multiplies each opponent team's match points by the game points you scored against them.
Direct encounter
If all tied players have played each other, the results of those mutual games decide the order. If they have not all met, this tie-break cannot separate them and the next configured tie-break applies.
Number of wins
The total number of games won, including wins by forfeit.
Number of games with Black
The number of games played with the black pieces. Unplayed games do not count.
Koya system
The number of points scored against opponents who themselves scored at least 50%. Used mainly in round-robin tournaments.
Average Rating of Opponents (ARO)
The average rating of the opponents you played. Variants cut the lowest-rated opponents (ARO Cut 1) or use performance-based averages (APRO, APPO). Opponents without a rating are counted with a substitute rating.
Tournament Performance Rating (TPR)
A rating computed from your score percentage against the average rating of your opponents, following the FIDE performance tables.
Configuring tie-breaks
Choose the order of tie-breaks in the cockpit's Standings tab. The order matters: the second tie-break is only consulted for players still tied after the first, and so on. FIDE recommends specific sequences per tournament format — see the tournament regulations of your federation or event.