Whats the difference between a Local Club Tournament and an Open Rated Tournament?
The North American SCRABBLE Players Association sanctions two different types of tournaments: Open Rated Tournaments (ORT) and Local Club Tournaments (LCT). ORTs are fully rated, whereas LCTs are rated using 1/3 the value of an ORT. This means that your rating will only change by 1/3 as much in an LCT as it would in an ORT. Another difference is that you must be an NSA member in order to play in a LCT (although you don’t have to be rated), but ORTs are open to unrated players and players who are not NSA members. Each ORT must be approved by the NSA at least 8 weeks before it is held. There is no time restriction on LCTs.
