These extracts are for guidance only.  The exact rules are stated in the current edition of the League Constitution and Playing rules

Location
All clubs within a radius of 20 miles of Queen Square, Wolverhampton are eligible for entry - subject to approval.

Structure
The league season runs from September to late March, and is currently organised in 3 divisions.  Divisions 1 and 2 have 6 boards per team, Division 3 has 5 boards per team.  There are no grading limits.

Each opposing team is played once each season, with about half the fixtures for each team at home, the remainder away. At the end of each season, the top two teams in each division are promoted, the bottom two are relegated.

Rate of play
Teams have a choice of 3 time limits.  The two in general use are:

• 42 moves in 90 minutes (or 36 moves in 75 minutes if either team insist), followed by 24 moves in the next 60 minutes.  At the conclusion of black's 70^th move, both clocks are wound back 15 minutes for a quickplay finish.

  Any games unfinished at the end of the evening may be either adjourned until a later date, sent for adjudication, or decided by agreement between the players.

• 30 moves in the first 65 minutes.  At the conclusion of black's 30^th move, both clocks are wound back 15 minutes for a blitz finish.  All matches will finish on the evening of the match - no adjournements.

In divisions 1 & 2, the first option applies - unless both team captains agree otherwise.  In division 3 (and below), the second option applies - unless both team captains agree otherwise.

Aims
The Wolverhampton & District Chess League was set up to "Arrange Chess Championship Contests among the clubs associated, and generally to promote the interests of chess within the district".

At the start of the season, the following 18 clubs entered teams in the league:

• Boldmere St Michael
• Brewood
• Bushbury
• Halesowen
• Kidderminster
• Lichfield
• Mercia
• Northfield
• Rugeley
• Rushall
• St George´s (Birmingham Settlement)
• Shifnal & Telford
• Stafford
• Stourbridge
• Walsall Kipping
• Warley Quinborne
• West Bromwich
• Wolverhampton

Pittaway Cup
An 8 board knockout tournament starting in September each year, with the final in April.  Each club may enter a team, and there is no grading limit.  Clubs are handicapped according to which division their top team competes in.

Rate of play: 30 moves in 65 minutes.  At the conclusion of black's 30^th move, both clocks are wound back 20 minutes for a blitz finish.

Humphreys Cup
A 4 board knockout tournament starting in September each year, with the final in April.  Each club may enter a team, and all players must be graded under 110.

Rate of play: 30 moves in 65 minutes.  At the conclusion of black's 30^th move, both clocks are wound back 20 minutes for a blitz finish.

Rock/Bidgood Cup
This tournament is for individual players.  The first round is in September, with the final in April.  After the first (seeded) round, this becomes a knockout tournament - first round winners compete for the Rock Cup, while first round losers compete for the Bidgood Cup.

Rate of play: as given in the first option for league play given above.

Team Lightning
A 4 board Swiss tournament played over 1 evening each year, usually in May.  Entries are usually grouped into 3 sections:

• Trophy: Combined grade of team over 510.
• Major: Combined grade of team between 410 and 510.
• Minor: Combined grade of team under 410.

Rate of play: 10 seconds per move to move 40, then 5 seconds per move to move 80.  At the end of move 80, unfinished games are adjudicated.