Enjoy the excitement of competing for Golden Knights cash prizes, meeting new friends, and improving your chess. After the preliminary rounds, Knights semifinal and final assignments are made based on playing scores. When the contest is over, the $8,000 cash prize fund is distributed to the top 50 finalists based on weighted-point scores (not playing scores). But that's not all! Contestants who don't make it to the finals, but finish their first two rounds, receive a special certificate. Contestants who do not make it to the semifinal round receive an invitation to a free class tournament. All entrants, after completing the first round, will receive a special 50th anniversary pin; limit one per person regardless of how many times they enter.

Golden Knights Emblem: All finalists who complete their playing schedules will be awarded a special Golden Knights lapel pin.

How to enter: Your $30 entry fee covers all rounds. In each round, you play six games: three as White, three as Black, (no class level pairings). You may enter up to 10 times. All entries must be postmarked by November 30, 1997. If you are a newcomer, tell us your approximate correspondence-chess strength: Class A is for top-rated players; Class B for strong players; Class C for intermediates; and Class D for novices.

The USCF's 39th U.S. Open Correspondence Chess Championship (50th Golden Knights) is rated and open to all USCF members on the North American continent, islands, and Hawaii, as well as USCF members with an APO/FPO address. USCF membership must remain current throughout the tournament. Entry fees are to be paid in U.S. Dollars. Entries from outside the United States must be postmarked prior to July 1, 1997.

1. The USCF's 39th U.S. Open Correspondence Chess Championship (50th Golden Knights) is open to all USCF members on the North American continent and islands, Hawaii, and to USCF members with an APO/FPO address. USCF membership must remain current throughout the tournament. Entry fees are to be paid in U.S. Dollars. Entries from outside the United States must be postmarked prior to July 1, 1997.

1. The tournament will consist of three rounds (preliminaries, semi-finals, and finals), each of which will probably last 2½ years. Sections for each round will consist of seven players, usually of varying strengths. Each player will play six games in each round, three with White and three with Black.

3. Those who score five or more points (not weighted-point totals) will advance to the Golden Knights semi-finals. Semi-finalists who score five points or more in their semi-final section will advance to their respective finals section. If necessary, the last semi-final section will be filled with one or more players who scored four and a half points. A similar procedure will be used, if needed, for Golden Knights finals. The selection of these players will be on the basis of highest current rating.

4. Players who do not qualify for the finals but have completed their assignments without forfeit losses will be awarded a certificate of participation. Finalists who complete their schedule without forfeit losses will be awarded the gold-colored, enameled Golden Knights pin. Players who do not qualify for the semi-finals will be offered a free Class tournament entry. All players who complete first round receive a 50th Anniversary Pin.

5. A first prize of $2,500 and a plaque - and 49 other cash prizes - will be awarded by the USCF in accordance with the schedule of prizes published in the January 1997 issue of Chess Life. Weighted-point scores (explained in rule 6 below) will be used to determine places. (Each player may win only one cash prize, regardless of the number of sections he or she enters.)

6. For computing total scores to determine the distribution of prizes (not for advancing to the next round), each game won in the preliminary round will count as 1.0. Each game won in the semi-final round will count as 2.2. Each game won in the final round will be scored at 4.5. Draws count as half the weighted-value of a win. Forfeit wins also count. A perfect score for all three rounds is 46.2. If two or more contestants tie for places, they will share equally the sum total of all prizes involved.

7. Upon entering, each contestant agrees that the decision of the USCF staff shall be final in all matters regarding the conduct of the tournament, including the acceptance and classification of entries, the adjudication of games, the distribution of prizes, and all interpretations of the rules and regulations.

8. The entry fee is $30.00 for all three rounds, should the player qualify. A player may enter up to 10 times, paying $30.00 for each, provided he applies early enough to allow placement.

9. Single entries must be postmarked by November 30, 1997; two entries by September 30, 1997; three to four entries by August 30, 1997; five to seven entries by July 31, 1997; eight to 10 entries by June 30, 1997. As stated in Rule 1, if you reside outside the United States, your entries must be postmarked prior to July 1, 1997. Entries to the 1998 U.S. Open Correspondence Championship will not be processed before January 2, 1998.

10. Except as provided in the foregoing rules, this tournament will be conducted under the most recent version of the USCF Correspondence Chess rules, including any amendments or additions thereto.