Scheveningen system

The Scheveningen system (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsxeːvənɪŋə(n)] ^ⓘ) is a method of organizing a chess match between two teams. Each player on one team plays each player on the other team.^[1] The team with the highest number of games won is the winner. This system was a popular way to create title norm opportunities.^[2] However, effective from March 2024, it is no longer be possible to achieve title norms from Scheveningen tournaments. ^[3]

Final standings of Kings vs. Queens 2011, tournament under Scheveningen system.

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.^[4]

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.

See also

• Round-robin tournament