What Is a Crosstable in Chess?

The Short Answer

A crosstable is a grid that shows every player’s result against every other player in a tournament. Each row is one player, each column represents a round or opponent, and the cells show the result. It’s the complete record of a tournament in a single view.

What a Crosstable Looks Like

In a Swiss-system tournament, a crosstable typically shows:

#	Name	Rating	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Rd 4	Rd 5	Score
1	Player A	1450	W4	W2	D3	W5	W6	4.5
2	Player B	1380	W6	L1	W5	W3	D4	3.5
3	Player C	1320	D5	W6	D1	L2	W4	3.0

Each cell in the results columns shows:

• W = Win, followed by the number of the opponent (e.g., W4 = won against player #4)
• L = Loss, followed by the opponent number
• D = Draw, followed by the opponent number
• B = Bye (no opponent that round, usually ½ point)
• U = Unplayed or forfeit win/loss

The final column shows total points.

Why Crosstables Matter

For players: You can see your exact result in each round, who you played, and how you performed relative to everyone else in the section.

For parents: Crosstables let you verify that your child’s results were recorded correctly before ratings are submitted.

For organizers and federations: Crosstables are the official record submitted to USCF (or FIDE) for rating calculation. They’re the document that makes rated games official.

For norm calculations: In title norm events, the crosstable is used to verify that a player met the performance and opponent requirements for a norm.

Round-Robin vs Swiss Crosstables

Swiss crosstable (most common): Shows results by round. Each cell shows who the player faced in that round and the result.

Round-robin crosstable: Every player faces every other player exactly once. The grid shows the result of each head-to-head matchup, with rows and columns both representing players. A “1” means the row player beat the column player, “½” is a draw, “0” is a loss. The diagonal is blank (a player doesn’t face themselves).

Where to Find Crosstables

After a USCF-rated event: Organizers submit crosstables to USCF. You can find them on:

• The USCF Member Services Area (MSA) at uschess.org — look up your player profile, then click on a tournament to see the crosstable
• The tournament’s own website (many organizers post them directly)

During a tournament: Some organizers post printed crosstables on a bulletin board at the venue at the end of each round.

For FIDE events: FIDE crosstables are available on chess-results.com (a widely used tournament management platform) and on the FIDE event pages at fide.com.

Reading Your Own Line

When checking your results, find your row. Read across left to right — each cell shows your result in that round. Check:

1. Is the result correct? (W/L/D matches what actually happened)
2. Is the opponent number correct? (does it match who you actually played)
3. Is your final score correct? (total points add up)

If anything is wrong, contact the organizer promptly. See our guide on what to do if your tournament result is recorded incorrectly.

---

Also see: How Swiss Pairings Work | How Tie-Breaks Work in Chess Tournaments | When Are Chess Tournament Results Posted?

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the official USCF rulebook?

The official USCF rulebook is available at uschess.org. The current edition is the 7th Edition of Official Rules of Chess. For the most current rules, always check the USCF website directly.

Where can I find the official FIDE laws of chess?

The FIDE Laws of Chess are published at fide.com. FIDE updates the Laws periodically. The current version includes both the standard Laws and additional rules for specific time controls (rapid, blitz).

Do USCF and FIDE rules differ?

Yes, in several areas. The most common differences relate to touch-move interpretation, illegal move penalties, and clock-related rules. If you play in both USCF and FIDE-rated events, familiarize yourself with both sets of rules. This site notes which federation's rules apply where relevant.