4. Internationales Baden-Badener Herbstopen 2026
The 4. Internationales Baden-Badener Herbstopen 2026 takes place from October 29 to November 1, 2026, at Kulturhaus LA8 in Baden-Baden, Germany. Schachzentrum Baden-Baden e.V. organizes four days of classical chess during the Baden-Württemberg autumn school holidays.
Players compete in three sections: the open A-Open, the B-Open for players below 1900 DWZ, and the C-Open for players below 1650 DWZ. All three tournaments use seven Swiss-system rounds with a classical 90+30 time control.
Moreover, the organizer advertises an overall prize fund of €5,000 / approx. $5,850. The Herbstopen also forms part of the Chess Tigers Gold Tour, which gives eligible entry-fee-paying players additional chances in the tour’s year-end prize drawing.
📌 Event Details
| Event Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Tournament | 4. Internationales Baden-Badener Herbstopen 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | October 29 – November 1, 2026 |
| 🌍 Country | Germany |
| 📍 Location | Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg |
| 🏛️ Venue | Kulturhaus LA8, Lichtentaler Allee 8, 76530 Baden-Baden |
| ♟️ Organizer | Schachzentrum Baden-Baden e.V. |
| 🔁 Format | Swiss System |
| 🔢 Rounds | 7 |
| 🎯 Sections | A-Open, B-Open, C-Open |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| ⭐ Rating | DWZ in all sections; FIDE Standard in A-Open and B-Open |
| 🏆 Advertised Prize Fund | €5,000 / approx. $5,850, subject to participation conditions |
| 👤 Tournament Director | Sven Noppes |
| ⚖️ Arbiters | IA Michael Rütten; FA Sven Noppes; WGM/FA Hanna Marie Klek |
| 🌐 Official Tournament Page | https://www.schachzentrum-baden-baden.de/?p=8396 |
| 📄 Official Regulations | https://www.schachzentrum-baden-baden.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AussBadenHerbst-20260816-2.docx.pdf |
| 📝 Registration | https://turnier.schachzentrum-baden-baden.de/registration |
| 👥 Participant List | https://turnier.schachzentrum-baden-baden.de/participants |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The organizer runs seven Swiss-system rounds under FIDE rules. Swiss-Chess handles the computer pairings.
Each player receives 90 minutes for the entire game plus a 30-second increment after every move.
The normal default time is 30 minutes. However, the organizer will announce the specific Round 1 default time during the opening.
Half-Point Bye
Each player may request one half-point bye during Rounds 1–5.
The player must submit the request to the tournament director before the end of the preceding round. Therefore, a Round 1 half-point bye requires both payment of the entry fee and a binding request by October 23, 2026.
Tie-Break
For players who finish on equal points, Buchholz determines the ranking.
Prize money is shared only when players finish with both the same score and the same applicable tie-break result.
🏆 Prize Fund
The organizer advertises a total prize fund of €5,000 / approx. $5,850 across the three Opens.
However, the complete €5,000 should not be interpreted as an unconditional guaranteed cash fund. First place in each Open is guaranteed. The remaining main prizes depend on minimum numbers of paying participants:
| Section | Requirement for Remaining Main Prizes |
|---|---|
| A-Open | At least 30 paying players |
| B-Open | At least 20 paying players |
| C-Open | At least 15 paying players |
Special prizes require at least five participants in the relevant category.
Players cannot receive two prizes. Furthermore, prize winners must attend the award ceremony to receive their prize money.
A-Open
The published A-Open fund is €3,900 / approx. $4,570.
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €1,250 / approx. $1,470 + Trophy |
| 2nd | €1,000 / approx. $1,170 |
| 3rd | €500 / approx. $590 |
| 4th | €300 / approx. $360 |
| 5th | €200 / approx. $240 |
| 6th | €100 / approx. $120 |
| 7th | €50 / approx. $60 |
| Team – 4 players from one club | €100 / approx. $120 |
| Youth – born 2006 or later | €100 / approx. $120 |
| Senior – born 1966 or earlier | €100 / approx. $120 |
| Best Woman | €100 / approx. $120 |
| Elo/DWZ 2000–1 category | €100 / approx. $120 |
B-Open
The published B-Open fund is €800 / approx. $940.
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €250 / approx. $300 + Trophy |
| 2nd | €150 / approx. $180 |
| 3rd | €100 / approx. $120 |
| 4th | €50 / approx. $60 |
| Team – 4 players from one club | €100 / approx. $120 |
| Senior – born 1966 or earlier | €75 / approx. $90 |
| Best Woman | €75 / approx. $90 |
C-Open
The published C-Open fund is €300 / approx. $360.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €150 / approx. $180 + Trophy |
| 2nd | €100 / approx. $120 |
| 3rd | €50 / approx. $60 |
♟️ Sections / Groups
A-Open
The A-Open is open to all players.
It receives both DWZ and FIDE Elo rating.
B-Open
The B-Open is for players with a DWZ below 1900.
It receives both DWZ and FIDE Elo rating.
C-Open
The C-Open is for players with a DWZ below 1650.
It receives DWZ rating.
Rating Eligibility
The published DWZ limits are binding. The organizer uses the ratings valid at the start of the tournament and specifically asks players to take the July 2026 DWZ adjustment into account.
If a player has no DWZ, Tournament Director Sven Noppes decides whether that player belongs in the A-, B-, or C-Open. Therefore, unrated players should register in advance.
Players in the A-Open and B-Open must have a valid FIDE Identification Number.
Players with German citizenship and/or residence in Germany can find the German Chess Federation’s FIDE ID information here:
https://www.schachbund.de/fide-identifikationsnummer.html
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, October 29 | 16:30 | Playing hall opens |
| Thursday, October 29 | By 17:30 | Mandatory attendance confirmation / check-in |
| Thursday, October 29 | 18:30 | Round 1 |
| Friday, October 30 | 10:30 | Round 2 |
| Friday, October 30 | 15:30 | Round 3 |
| Saturday, October 31 | 10:30 | Round 4 |
| Saturday, October 31 | 15:30 | Round 5 |
| Sunday, November 1 | 10:30 | Round 6 |
| Sunday, November 1 | 15:30 | Round 7 |
| Sunday, November 1 | After Round 7 | Award ceremony |
All times are local time in Baden-Baden.
📝 Registration
Online pre-registration is available through the Schachzentrum Baden-Baden tournament system:
https://turnier.schachzentrum-baden-baden.de/registration
After registering, players must transfer the entry fee to the bank account stated in their registration confirmation. Payment should reach the organizer by October 23, 2026.
The payment reference must include:
- Player’s name
- Date of birth
- Chess club
Entry Fees
| Player | A-Open | B-Open | C-Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults | €65 / approx. $80 | €60 / approx. $80 | €45 / approx. $60 |
| Youth – born 2006 or later | €50 / approx. $60 | €45 / approx. $60 | €35 / approx. $50 |
Players with Elo 2400 or higher enter free. The regulations specify that no additional special entry conditions apply.
Registration after October 23 adds €10 / approx. $20 to the applicable fee.
Players who withdraw receive a refund minus a €20 / approx. $30 processing fee.
On-Site Registration and Attendance Confirmation
On-site registration remains possible on Thursday, October 29 until 17:30.
Importantly, every participant must confirm attendance by 17:30, including players who registered in advance.
Players may confirm:
- In person at the venue; or
- Through online check-in.
Online check-in is available only to players who registered online and paid their entry fee by October 23.
Current participant list:
https://turnier.schachzentrum-baden-baden.de/participants
🏛️ Organizer
| Contact Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organizer Name | Schachzentrum Baden-Baden e.V. |
| Contact Person | Sven Noppes |
| gf@schachzentrum-baden-baden.de | |
| Phone Number | +49 172 7258738 |
📍 Venue
Kulturhaus LA8 – Lichtentaler Allee 8, 76530 Baden-Baden, Germany.
Kulturhaus LA8 stands on Baden-Baden’s central Lichtentaler Allee, close to the theater, Kurhaus and the city’s museum district. Its restored historic society halls regularly host conferences, lectures, concerts and other events.
The venue has a long connection with chess in Baden-Baden and serves as the home venue of the Schachzentrum Baden-Baden.
Venue information:
🚆 How to Get There
| Option | Information |
|---|---|
| Train | Travel to Baden-Baden railway station. |
| Bus from Railway Station | LA8 lists direct bus lines 201, 208, 216 and 245 to Augustaplatz. |
| From Augustaplatz | Kulturhaus LA8 is only a few minutes away on foot toward Lichtentaler Allee. |
| By Car | The organizer recommends Kurhaus-Parkhaus on Kaiserallee or the underground car park at Augustaplatz. |
| Parking to Venue | Both recommended parking facilities are approximately a three-minute walk from Kulturhaus LA8. |
| Airport | Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB) is the nearest airport, approximately 17 km from central Baden-Baden. Public transport connects the airport with Baden-Baden railway station. |
The organizer recommends leaving the car at the hotel or using the Park & Ride area on the west side of Baden-Baden railway station when practical.
Public transport information:
https://www.baden-baden.com/en/getting-to-baden-baden/public-transport
Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport public transport information:
https://www.baden-airpark.de/en/passengers-visitors/directions-parking/arrival-by-rail-and-bus/
ℹ️ Other Information
Chess Tigers Gold Tour
The 4. Internationales Baden-Badener Herbstopen 2026 is an official event of the Chess Tigers Gold Tour.
Eligible players receive one Tiger Gold ticket for every full point scored in an official Gold Tour tournament. These tickets enter the player into the tour’s year-end drawing.
Players who do not pay an entry fee because they qualify for free entry, such as applicable titled or 2400+ players, do not receive Tiger Gold tickets from this tournament.
Gold Tour information:
https://chess-tigers.de/pages/chess-tigers-gold-tour
Electronic Devices
Players may bring electronic devices into the tournament hall only when the devices remain completely switched off and stored in a separate bag.
During a game, a player may not touch that bag or device without permission from an arbiter.
Awards Ceremony
The organizer holds the awards ceremony immediately after Round 7 on Sunday, November 1.
Players who qualify for cash prizes must be present at the ceremony to receive them.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $5,850
Organizer Name - Schachzentrum Baden-Baden e.V.
Organizer Phone - +49 172 7258738
Organizer Email - gf@schachzentrum-baden-baden.de
Regulations -
Organizer
♟️ About Schachzentrum Baden-Baden e.V.
Schachzentrum Baden-Baden e.V. is a major German chess organization based in Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg. The organization promotes chess at every level, from school and club chess to national-team and elite-level training. Moreover, it plays an important role in maintaining Baden-Baden’s reputation as one of Germany’s leading chess centers.
The organization combines tournament management with structured chess development. Its activities include school chess, club training, regional squad training, national squad programs, training camps, seminars, and competitive events. Therefore, players can progress through several levels within an established chess environment.
In addition, Schachzentrum Baden-Baden supports high-performance chess through the Bundesstützpunkt Schach Baden-Baden. The center hosts training programs for talented juniors, national squads, and leading players. It also cooperates with important chess institutions and supports training programs involving experienced international coaches and grandmasters.
🏆 Tournaments and Chess Activities
Schachzentrum Baden-Baden e.V. has extensive experience in organizing open tournaments and major chess events. Among its recurring competitions are the International Baden-Badener Faschings-Open and the International Baden-Badener Herbstopen, both held in Baden-Baden.
The Faschings-Open has grown considerably in recent years. The first edition in 2022 attracted 96 players, while the 2025 tournament reached 307 participants. Moreover, the fifth edition in February 2026 welcomed 297 players across three sections and offered a total prize fund of €7,150.
The organization is also closely involved with the grenke chess events. These competitions bring together elite grandmasters, ambitious tournament players, juniors, and amateur competitors. Consequently, Schachzentrum Baden-Baden contributes to both international top-level chess and large-scale open tournament chess.
📜 History and Development
The organization’s roots date back to 1996, when the Karpow-Schachzentrum was established in Baden-Baden. The initiative aimed to create a strong regional, national, and international chess center while expanding the city’s long chess tradition.
In 1998, the chess center moved into dedicated premises and established the Schach-Akademie Baden-Baden. Over the following years, its activities expanded significantly. Furthermore, Baden-Baden developed into an important location for tournaments, training camps, national squad preparation, and high-performance chess.
Today, Schachzentrum Baden-Baden e.V. continues this tradition from the Kulturhaus LA8 on Lichtentaler Allee. Through tournaments, training programs, youth development, and elite chess initiatives, the organization remains an important part of the German chess landscape.
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