An American Classic!
A Heritage Event!
December 26-30, 26-29 or 27-29, 2026 Nevada
US Chess
Grand Prix Points: 300 (enhanced)
36th annual North
American Open
Open Section, Dec 26-30: 9-SS, 40/90, SD/30; d30, GM & IM
norms possible, FIDE rated.
Other sections, Dec 26-29 or
27-29: 7-SS, 40/90, SD/30; d30 (3-day
option, rounds 1-2 G/60 d10). U2300 and U2100 sections are also FIDE rated.
Horseshoe Casino Resort, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas NV 89103.
$130,000 GUARANTEED
PRIZES!
8
sections.
Open Section: $10,000-5000-3000-2000-1300-1000-800-700-600-500,
clear winner or 1st
on tiebreak bonus $300, top FIDE Under 2400/Unr
$3000-2000-1000. FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible.
Under 2300 Section: $7000-4000-2000-1200-800-600-500-500-400-400. FIDE rated.
Under 2100 Section: $7000-4000-2000-1200-800-600-500-500-400-400, no unrated may win over $2000. FIDE rated.
Under 1900 Section: $7000-4000-2000-1200-800-600-500-500-400-400, no unrated may win over $1500.
Under 1700 Section: $6000-3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-500-400-400,
no unrated may win over $1000.
Under 1500 Section:
$5000-2500-1300-1000-700-600-500-400-300-300, no unrated may win over $700.
Under 1300 Section: $4000-2000-1000-800-600-500-400-400-300-300, no unrated may win over $500.
Under 1000 Section: $1500-1000-600-400-300-300-300-200-200-200, no unrated may win over $300.
Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: Best male/female combined 2-player team score across
in Rounds 1-7 across all sections: $2000-1000-500-300-200. Team must average under 2200; may play in
different sections and schedules; register (no extra fee) by 3 pm 12/27;
at least one member of team must be rated (teams with an unrated limited to
$300), other prize limits do not apply to Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes.
Prize limits:
1) Unrated limits, see above. 2) Players with under 26 OTB regular games
played as of Dec 2026 official list may not win over $800 in U1000, $1500
U1300, $3000 U1500 or U1700. Games rated too late for Dec. 2026 list not counted.
3) If any post-event USCF Regular OTB or Regular Online rating, from any USCF
tournament ending 12/20/25-12/20/26, or current USCF Online Regular Rating, was
more than 40 points over section maximum, prize limit $1500. 4) Balance of any
limited prize goes to next eligible player(s) in line.
Top 7 sections entry fee:
Online at
chessaction.com: $245 by 9/20, $275 by 12/23.
Online 12/24 to 1 hour before round 1, or at site 12/26 to 1 hour before round
1: $300.
Open Section entry fee $800 additional surcharge unless USCF-rated 2300/over or FIDE
rated 2100/over.
If Dec 2026 FIDE
rating is under 2100 but peak FIDE since Dec 2025 is 2100 or over, see peakrating.us.
Under 1000 Section entry fee: All $150 less than above.
Seniors 65/over in U1300/above: All $100
less than above.
Re-entry $120; not
available to go from Open Section to Open Section.
Open
Section foreign GMs: Free ($200 from prize), minimum prize $800 if playing
all 9 games with no byes; no deduction from minimum prize.
Open
Section US GMs, foreign IMs/WGMs: Free ($200 from prize).
Open Section US IMs/WGMs, foreign
FMs/WIMs: All entry fees $100 less.
Players
forfeiting without proper advance notice are subject to fine are loss of entry
privileges.
All: No checks, credit cards OK.
USCF membership required. Special 1 year
USCF dues with magazine if paid online with entry at chesstour.com, Adult $54,
Senior (age 65+) $48, Young Adult $33, Youth $24. International online
membership for foreign players, $20/year. USCF membership is not required for
GMs, foreign IMs, foreign WGMs, foreign WIMs.
5-day late
reg. ends 12/26 10 am, rounds 12/26-28 11 am & 6 pm, 12/29 10 am
& 4:30 pm, 12/30 10 am. Open
Section only.
4-day late reg.
ends 12/26 5 pm, rounds 12/26 6 pm, 12/27-28 11 am & 6 pm, 12/29 10
am & 4:30 pm. U2300 through U1000
Sections only.
3-day late reg.
ends 12/27 10 am, rounds 12/27 11 am, 2:30 pm & 6 pm, 12/28 11 am
& 6 pm, 12/29 10 am & 4:30 pm. U2300 through U1000 Sections only.
Half Point Byes: OK all, limit 3, limit 2 in last
4 rounds; must commit before round 3.
Chess
Rate Hotel Room Reservations Link
Hotel rates: $109-109-139-169,
plus $20/day additional charge for hotel’s required resort fee, use
above link (or call 800-833-3308, 702-739-4111, mention Chess Rate); rate may
increase after 12/2 (Chess rate rooms subject to availability and may sell out in
November). Reservations link also posted at chessevents.us. Free parking for
hotel guests and tournament participants.
Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.
Special rules: CCA electronic devices rules used.
PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELLPHONES DURING PLAY. Please leave your phone home, or in
your hotel room or car, or in a bag at your table.
For all tournaments,
adjusted FIDE or foreign ratings, if higher than USCF, may be used. Players
must disclose FIDE or foreign ratings when entering, or may later be expelled.
Other over the board ratings such as club, league, scholastic, state or
province, etc, adjusted if appropriate, may be used
at our discretion if above USCF. No rating below the latest official USCF
rating, on the list corresponding to the ending date of the tournament, will be
used. For 9 round events offering title norm possibilities, only FIDE ratings
are used. Click here
for further details.
Ratings
for Open Section: FIDE ratings used.
Ratings, for Under 2300 and lower sections: December 2026 official USCF ratings used.
Unofficial uschess.org ratings or USCF Online Regular Ratings usually used
if otherwise unrated. Players must reveal foreign, FIDE and other over the
board ratings, and these ratings, adjusted if necessary, may be used, if higher
than USCF. See also above. Players cannot play below Online Regular
rating minus 100 points in Under 2300 Section and below.
Bring set, board, clock if possible- players are responsible for
supplying their own Chess equipment.
Enter
online: chessaction.com. No mail entries.
Info: Director@Chess.us, www.chesstour.com.
Advance entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list" after
entering). $15 service charge for refunds.
Prizes not claimed at site usually paid by Paypal
(may take about 3 weeks).
NORTH AMERICAN OPEN BLITZ,
DECEMBER 29