Playoff

A play-off breaks a tie by making the tied participants play additional chess. This distinguishes it from calculated methods applied after the tournament, such as combining opponents' results or comparing the tied players' direct encounter.

The tie-break regulations of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) separate play-offs, which are settled through played games, from off-the-board tie-breaks. The event regulations should determine in advance who qualifies, the format, pairings, colours, time control, schedule, and the procedure used to reach a decision. A play-off can contain several stages and different rates of play. An event may use several additional games and finish with Armageddon, but that sequence is not part of the definition. Tiebreak is the broader everyday concept; a play-off is one way to resolve a tie.