Effective: June 2026 · Format: Alternating kickboxing rounds and chess games with a single, scaled clock link. Same Clock Engine as Roll Chess v1.2, applied to ring performance.
1. Overview
KICK CHESS is the striking variation: ring performance sets the clock you take to the board. Competitors alternate between a Ring Phase (timed sparring or technical rounds) and a Board Phase (standard chess, rapid or blitz per tier). One ring score drives one clock adjustment — no second penalty system.
2. Match Structure
2.1 Default Format
| Segment | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ring Round 1 | 3 min | Neutral start, controlled contact |
| Board Game 1 | 10+5 base | Clock adjusted by Ring 1 |
| Ring Round 2 | 3 min | Neutral start |
| Board Game 2 | 10+5 base | Clock adjusted by Ring 2 |
2.2 Sprint Format
One 2-minute ring round → one 5+3 blitz game.
3. The Clock Engine
3.1 One ring score (RMS)
Each ring round produces a single Round Ring Score from −25 to +20. This is the only ring output.
| Round outcome | RMS |
|---|---|
| Clean counters / ring control | +15 to +20 |
| Solid defense, good exits | +5 to +10 |
| Neutral exchange | 0 |
| Poor defense, eating shots | −5 to −10 |
| Bail, stalling, or foul | −15 to −25 |
3.1.1 Bail timing (anti-gaming)
An immediate bail is the maximum −25; the penalty eases the longer you genuinely work the round, down to a floor of −15 in the final stretch.
3.2 Conversion to board time
RMS converts continuously into a starting-time adjustment as a fraction of base time.
max = 20 for gains, 25 for losses
| Tier | Gain cap | Loss cap |
|---|---|---|
| Light | +3% of base | −5% of base |
| Medium | +5% of base | −8% of base |
| Heavy | +6% of base | −12% of base |
3.3 Floor
Starting time never drops below 60% of base.
4. Readiness Spectrum
A 0–100 gauge starts at 50 and is nudged by RMS ÷ 2 each round. Display and tiebreak only — the Clock Engine owns time.
5. Winning the Match
Most board points (win = 1, draw = 0.5 each). Tiebreakers: aggregate spectrum, total RMS, Armageddon blitz.
6. Trainer Alignment
The Kick Chess Trainer v0.2 simulates these rules with 12 ring scenarios, timed rounds, bail-out curve, and live RMS readout.
KICK CHESS v1.2 — One ring score, one scaled clock. Ring performance is board preparation.