Fixed board order

A fixed board order is the official list that places a team's players on board 1, board 2, board 3, and so on. The numbering creates an ordered lineup structure for the competition. When the regulations require it, the captain submits the order before play begins and cannot freely rearrange it during the event.

The order does not mean that every registered player must appear in every round. A captain may choose a round lineup from regular players and reserves, but that selection must follow the event's rules about who may occupy each board and how players move up when someone is absent. Board order and round lineup are therefore different: one is the stable structure, while the other identifies who actually plays that round.

Board 1 is not automatically the highest-rated player unless the event requires that arrangement. A rating is a numerical estimate of playing strength. Some competitions prescribe a strength order; others let teams choose. The specific regulations control. In team formats such as the Hutton System, a board number may also help determine which opposing team or player someone faces.