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Terms of Service

Last updated: April 6, 2026

1. Nature of the Platform

QuadChess ("the Platform," "we," "us," or "our") is a competitive skill-based strategy gaming platform that enables players to compete in four-player chess. Chess is universally recognized as a game of pure intellectual skill. Outcomes on this Platform are determined exclusively by each participant's strategic decision-making, tactical execution, positional understanding, and time management — not by chance, luck, or random number generation.

The Platform facilitates peer-to-peer skill-based competitions. The Platform does not operate as a casino, sportsbook, lottery, or game of chance. The Platform does not act as a "house" that plays against users, does not set odds, and does not profit from user losses. Revenue is derived solely from a fixed service fee on competitive prize pools.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, registering on, or using QuadChess, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms in their entirety, you must immediately discontinue use of the Platform.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and the operator of QuadChess.

3. Definitions

  • "Competition" or "Match" means a four-player chess game played on the Platform.
  • "Entry Fee" or "Stake" means the USDC amount a User commits to enter a Competition in Crypto Play mode.
  • "Prize Pool" means the aggregate of all Entry Fees collected for a single Competition.
  • "Service Fee" means the 5% fee deducted from the Prize Pool before distribution, which constitutes the Platform's compensation for providing the service.
  • "USDC" means USD Coin, a regulated stablecoin pegged to the US Dollar, operating on the Polygon blockchain network.
  • "Platform Balance" means the USDC amount credited to a User's account on the Platform.
  • "Elo Rating" means the numerical representation of a User's skill level, calculated using the Elo rating system.
  • "Free Play" means a Competition mode with no Entry Fee, where Users compete for rating changes only.
  • "Crypto Play" means a Competition mode where Users commit Entry Fees and compete for Prize Pool distribution.

4. Eligibility

To use the Platform, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age, or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction, whichever is higher;
  • Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement;
  • Not be a person barred from using the Platform under applicable laws;
  • Not be located in, or a resident of, any Restricted Jurisdiction (as defined in Section 6).

By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet all eligibility requirements. We reserve the right to request proof of age or identity at any time and to suspend accounts pending verification.

5. User Responsibility for Legal Compliance

You are solely responsible for determining whether your use of the Platform complies with all laws and regulations applicable in your jurisdiction. The Platform does not provide legal advice and makes no representations regarding the legality of skill-based competitions in any particular jurisdiction.

Laws regarding online skill-based competitions, digital assets, and cryptocurrency vary significantly across jurisdictions and are subject to change. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that:

  • You have independently verified that participating in skill-based chess competitions with digital asset entry fees is lawful in your jurisdiction;
  • You are not relying on any statement by the Platform regarding the legality of your participation;
  • You accept full responsibility for any legal consequences arising from your use of the Platform.

6. Geographic Restrictions

The Platform is not available in jurisdictions where skill-based competitions with entry fees are prohibited by law, or where the use of cryptocurrency is unlawful ("Restricted Jurisdictions"). Without limitation, this includes jurisdictions subject to comprehensive international sanctions.

We reserve the right to restrict access from any jurisdiction at our sole discretion. The use of VPNs, proxies, or other tools to circumvent geographic restrictions is a violation of these Terms and grounds for immediate account termination and forfeiture of Platform Balance.

7. Account Registration and Security

You register via a third-party OAuth provider (Google or GitHub). You are responsible for:

  • Maintaining the security of your authentication credentials;
  • All activity that occurs under your account;
  • Immediately notifying us of any unauthorized use of your account.

You may not create or maintain more than one account. Duplicate accounts will be terminated and any associated Platform Balance may be forfeited. You may not transfer, sell, or assign your account to any third party.

8. Skill-Based Competition

All Competitions on the Platform are contests of skill. The determining factors in every Match include, but are not limited to:

  • Strategic planning — positional evaluation, piece development, long-term planning across three opponents;
  • Tactical execution — calculating move sequences, forks, pins, skewers, and multi-player tactical patterns;
  • Time management — allocating limited clock time across phases of the game;
  • Threat assessment — evaluating which of three opponents poses the greatest risk and prioritizing responses;
  • Psychological judgment — reading opponents' intentions, managing alliances, and timing attacks;
  • Adaptive strategy — adjusting approach as players are eliminated and board dynamics change.

No element of chance, random number generation, or hidden information influences the outcome of any Competition. All game state is visible to all participants at all times. The initial position is fixed and identical for every Match.

9. Platform Currency and Transactions

The Platform uses USDC on the Polygon blockchain network. By using the Platform's financial features, you acknowledge and agree:

  • USDC is a digital asset, not fiat currency. The Platform does not accept, hold, or transmit fiat currency;
  • All blockchain transactions are final and irreversible once confirmed on-chain;
  • You are solely responsible for ensuring the accuracy of wallet addresses used for deposits and withdrawals;
  • The Platform is not responsible for losses arising from blockchain network congestion, smart contract vulnerabilities in third-party protocols, incorrect wallet addresses, or user error;
  • Transaction processing times depend on blockchain network conditions outside the Platform's control;
  • The Platform may impose deposit limits, withdrawal limits, daily caps, and cooldown periods as described on the Platform.

10. Entry Fees and Prize Distribution

In Crypto Play mode:

  • Each participant commits an equal Entry Fee, which is deducted from their Platform Balance at Match start;
  • Entry Fees are pooled into a Prize Pool for that Competition;
  • A 5% Service Fee is deducted from the Prize Pool;
  • The remaining Prize Pool is distributed to the winner based on Competition results, as determined by the Platform's server-authoritative game replay system;
  • In the event a Match is cancelled (e.g., insufficient players, system error), Entry Fees are refunded in full.

The Platform's server-authoritative replay is the sole and final arbiter of Competition results. Client-submitted scores are logged for audit purposes but are never used to determine outcomes.

11. Fair Play and Integrity

The Platform permits both human and AI-assisted play, as disclosed in our Rules. All participants compete under the same rules and with the same access to tools. This transparency is a deliberate design choice — further detailed in our Rules page.

You agree not to:

  • Exploit software bugs, vulnerabilities, or unintended behaviors;
  • Collude with other players to manipulate Competition outcomes;
  • Use multiple accounts to enter the same Competition;
  • Intentionally lose (match-fixing) or manipulate ratings;
  • Interfere with other Users' connections or gameplay experience;
  • Reverse-engineer, decompile, or tamper with the Platform's software.

We reserve the right to investigate suspected violations, suspend accounts during investigation, and permanently terminate accounts found in violation — with or without prior notice.

12. Withdrawals

Withdrawal requests are processed to a Polygon wallet address you provide. You acknowledge:

  • You are solely responsible for providing a correct and compatible wallet address;
  • Withdrawals sent to an incorrect address cannot be recovered;
  • Withdrawals are blocked while you are in a lobby or active Match;
  • The Platform may impose per-transaction limits, daily limits, and per-user cooldown periods;
  • The Platform reserves the right to delay withdrawals for security review or compliance purposes.

13. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use the Platform to:

  • Engage in money laundering, terrorist financing, or any illegal financial activity;
  • Circumvent geographic restrictions or access the Platform from Restricted Jurisdictions;
  • Harass, threaten, or abuse other Users;
  • Create multiple accounts or impersonate another person;
  • Attempt to manipulate matchmaking, ratings, or Competition outcomes;
  • Upload or transmit malicious code, viruses, or harmful content;
  • Use the Platform for any purpose other than legitimate skill-based competition;
  • Violate any applicable law or regulation in connection with your use of the Platform.

14. Intellectual Property

All content, software, design, graphics, logos, and other materials on the Platform ("Platform Content") are owned by or licensed to QuadChess and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Platform for personal, non-commercial competitive gaming purposes.

You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or create derivative works based on Platform Content without prior written consent. The rules of chess are in the public domain; our specific implementation, scoring system, and user interface are proprietary.

15. Assumption of Risk

By using the Platform, you expressly acknowledge and assume the following risks:

  • Competition risk: You may lose your Entry Fee in any Competition. Skill-based competitions inherently involve the possibility of loss to more skilled opponents;
  • Digital asset risk: The value of USDC, while designed to be stable, may fluctuate. Blockchain networks may experience congestion, forks, or failures;
  • Smart contract risk: While our smart contracts are designed with security safeguards (operator rate limits, daily caps, per-user cooldowns), no smart contract can be guaranteed free of vulnerabilities;
  • Regulatory risk: Changes in laws or regulations may affect the availability of the Platform in your jurisdiction;
  • Technical risk: Internet connectivity issues, device failures, or Platform downtime may affect your ability to complete a Competition.

16. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW:

  • The Platform is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement;
  • We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure;
  • We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or digital assets;
  • Our total aggregate liability arising out of or in connection with these Terms or your use of the Platform shall not exceed the amount of USDC in your Platform Balance at the time the claim arose, or USD $100, whichever is greater;
  • We are not liable for any losses resulting from blockchain network failures, smart contract vulnerabilities in third-party protocols, third-party service provider outages, or force majeure events.

17. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless QuadChess, its operators, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:

  • Your use of the Platform or participation in any Competition;
  • Your violation of these Terms or any applicable law or regulation;
  • Your violation of any rights of a third party;
  • Any claim that your use of the Platform was unlawful in your jurisdiction.

18. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution: Before initiating any formal proceedings, you agree to contact us at support@quadchess.com and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days.

Binding Arbitration: Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the Platform that cannot be resolved informally shall be settled by binding arbitration, rather than in court. Arbitration shall be conducted on an individual basis — class actions and class arbitrations are not permitted.

Exceptions: Either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement of intellectual property rights.

19. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Platform operator is incorporated, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. You consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of that jurisdiction for any proceedings not subject to the arbitration clause above.

20. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via the Platform at least 14 days before taking effect. Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.

If you do not agree with the modified Terms, you must cease using the Platform and withdraw any remaining Platform Balance before the effective date.

21. Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform at our sole discretion, with or without cause, and with or without notice. Grounds for termination include, but are not limited to:

  • Violation of these Terms or any Platform rules;
  • Suspected fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity;
  • Failure to respond to identity verification requests;
  • Inactivity for an extended period;
  • Requests by law enforcement or government agencies.

Upon termination, you may withdraw any remaining Platform Balance, subject to applicable limits, verification requirements, and legal holds. Sections 5, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and this provision survive termination.

22. Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations under these Terms due to causes beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, government actions, blockchain network failures, internet outages, cyberattacks, or changes in applicable laws or regulations.

23. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or if modification is not possible, severed from these Terms. The remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

24. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and the Rules, constitute the entire agreement between you and QuadChess regarding your use of the Platform and supersede all prior agreements, representations, and understandings.

25. No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. A waiver of any term shall not be deemed a continuing waiver of that or any other term.

26. Contact

For questions, concerns, or disputes regarding these Terms, contact us at:

support@quadchess.com