A simultaneous exhibition: how to organize one

The tables are laid out in a horseshoe or a closed rectangle. The participants sit on the outside, the exhibitor walks the inside and plays one move at each board in turn. Having completed the circuit, they return to the first board, and so on.

The key rule: a participant moves when the exhibitor arrives at their board. You may think for as long as it takes them to go round the others, but you may not hold them up. Passing a circuit is usually allowed a few times - the number is announced in advance.

The exhibitor has White on every board and moves first; that is the standard. Clocks are not used - the circuit sets the pace.

A practical guide: the weaker the opponents, the faster it goes - games finish earlier and the circuit shortens. Against experienced players, twenty boards can stretch to three hours.

Account for the physical load separately: over two hours the exhibitor walks several kilometres around the tables. That is worth remembering when choosing the number of boards and the height of the tables.

The exhibitor can be any noticeably stronger player: a strong club player, a national master, a FIDE master or a grandmaster. Pick the level to match the audience.

• For schoolchildren and beginners a strong club player is enough: they will beat everybody comfortably and will not want a large fee.
• For a club audience you need a master: otherwise several participants win and the effect is lost.
• For a flagship event invite a grandmaster - at that point the name is part of the announcement.

Where to look: the regional chess federation, a local club, coaches at junior chess schools. The fee is negotiated individually and depends on level, city and length; for a school event people often do it free or for a token amount.

What to agree beforehand: the number of boards, the length, whether a talk or a post-session analysis is included, who brings the equipment and whether travel is covered.

• Tables in a horseshoe. At least a metre of walkway inside, or the exhibitor is squeezing past chairs.
• One set per board. All identical: a mixture makes it harder for the exhibitor to keep their bearings.
• Chairs only on the outside. Nothing stands inside the perimeter.
• Water for the exhibitor. The detail everybody forgets.
• An entry list. Sign-ups in advance: there are usually more volunteers than boards.
• A scoreboard. A final «+18 −1 =1» is announced at the end and photographs well.

Room requirements - choosing a venue, equipment - boards and pieces.

• A prize for a draw or a win. The classic device: the stakes rise instantly.
• A commentator. Somebody with a microphone explaining what is happening on the boards turns the session into a show.
• Analysis afterwards. Fifteen minutes where the exhibitor goes over a couple of interesting games is the best part for the participants - analysis after an event.
• A photographer. A simul is the most photogenic format in chess: a long row of boards, movement, faces.
• Combine it with a tournament. A simul as the opening or the finale of a tournament day works better than a standalone event.

Where the format particularly fits - at a school, at a family day, at a conference or offsite.

• A clock simul. The exhibitor is given a total time for all the games - the format for strong opposition.
• A blindfold simul. The exhibitor plays without sight of the boards. The most impressive version, and within reach of very few - blindfold chess.
• A tandem. Two exhibitors alternate moves, which allows more boards.
• Knockout seating. Players who lose give their place to somebody waiting - good at a festival with a queue.
• Consultation games. A team plays the exhibitor, discussing their moves - well suited to company events.