Strategic Decision-Making in Swiss-System Chess Tournaments

Abstract

This study delves into the decision-making strategies of chess players in the final round of Swiss-system chess tournaments. This paper first introduces the basic rules and characteristics of Swiss-system tournaments, as well as the objectives of players in the competition. Subsequently, this paper analyzes the strategies adopted by players in the final round under different circumstances, including scenarios without tied players, with tied players but leading or trailing in rankings, and situations where players are tied and have similar rankings. Through theoretical analysis and validation with empirical data, this paper derives optimal strategies for players in different situations to ensure achieving the highest possible ranking in the final round. Starting with a simple four-player championship model, the study provides important insights and guidance for player decision-making in Swiss-system chess tournaments, while also offering valuable exploration into understanding the decision-making process of players. The strategies are well discussed in Section 3.