Tournament rules
Article 6: The
chess clock
- “Chess clock” means a clock with two time displays,
connected to each other in such a way that only one of them can run
at one time. “Clock” in the Laws of Chess means one
of the two time displays. “Flag fall” means the expiry
of the allotted time for a player.
- When using a chess clock, each player must make a certain number or
all moves in an allotted period of time and/or may be allocated an additional
amount of time after each move. All this must be specified in advance.
The time saved by a player during one period is added to his time available
for the next period, except in the “time delay” mode.
In the time delay mode both players receive an allotted “main
thinking time”. They also receive a “fixed extra
time” for every move. The count down of the main time only
commences after the fixed time has expired. Provided the player stops
his clock before the expiry of the fixed time, the main thinking time
does not change, irrespective of the proportion of the fixed time used.
- Each time display has a “flag”. Immediately after
a flag falls, the requirements of Article 6.2 must be checked.
- The arbiter decides where the chess clock is placed.
- At the time determined for the start of the game the clock of the
player who has the white pieces is started.
- The player shall lose the game if he arrives at the chessboard more
than one hour after the scheduled start of the session (unless the rules
of the competition specify or the arbiter decides otherwise).
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- During the game each player, having made his move on the chessboard,
shall stop his own clock and start his opponent's clock. A player
must always be allowed to stop his clock. His move is not considered
to have been completed until he has done so, unless the made move
ends the game. (See Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3) The time between
making the move on the chessboard and stopping his own clock and
starting his opponent's clock is regarded as part of the time allotted
to the player.
- A player must stop his clock with the same hand as that with which
he made his move. It is forbidden to keep the finger on the button
or to “hover” over it.
- The players must handle the chess clock properly. It is forbidden
to punch it forcibly, to pick it up or to knock it over. Improper
clock handling shall be penalised in accordance with Article 13.4.
- A flag is considered to have fallen when the arbiter observes the
fact or when a valid claim to that effect has been made by either player.
- Except where Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 apply, if a player does not
complete the prescribed number of moves in the allotted time, the game
is lost by the player. However, the game is drawn, if the position is
such that the opponent cannot checkmate the player by any possible series
of legal moves, even with the most unskilled counterplay).
- Every indication given by the clocks is considered to be conclusive
in the absence of any evident defect. A chess clock with an evident
defect shall be replaced. The arbiter shall use his best judgement when
determining the times to be shown on the replacement chessclock.
- If both flags have fallen and it is impossible to establish which
flag fell first, the game shall continue.
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- If the game needs to be interrupted, the arbiter shall stop the
clocks.
- A player may stop the clocks in order to seek the arbiter's assistance.
- The arbiter shall decide when the game is to be restarted.
- If an irregularity occurs and/or the pieces have to be restored to
a previous position, the arbiter shall use his best judgement to determine
the times to be shown on the clocks.
- Screens, monitors, or demonstration boards showing the current position
on the chessboard, the moves and the number of moves made, and clocks
which also show the number of moves, are allowed in the playing hall.
However, the player may not make a claim based on anything shown in
this manner.
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Article 7: Illegal
positions
-
- If during a game it is found that the initial position of the
pieces was incorrect, the game shall be cancelled and a new game
played.
- .If during a game it is found that the only error is that the
chessboard has been placed contrary to Article
2.1, the game continues but the position reached must be transferred
to a correctly placed chessboard.
- If a game has begun with colours reversed then it shall continue,
unless the arbiter rules otherwise.
- If a player displaces one or more pieces, he shall reestablish the
correct position on his own time. If necessary the opponent has the
right to restart the player's clock without making a move in order to
make sure the player reestablishes the correct position on his own time.
- If during a game it is found that an illegal move has been made,
or that pieces have been displaced from their squares, the position
before the irregularity shall be reinstated. If the position immediately
before the irregularity cannot be identified the game shall continue
from the last identifiable position prior to the irregularity. The clocks
shall be adjusted according to Article 6.13 and, in the case of an illegal
move, Article 4.3 applies to the move replacing the illegal move. The
game shall then continue.
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Article 8: The
recording of the moves
- In the course of play each player is required to record his own moves
and those of his opponent, move after move, as clearly and legibly as
possible, in the algebraic notation (Appendix
E), on the scoresheet prescribed for the competition. A player may
reply to his opponent's move before recording it, if he so wishes. He
must record his previous move before making another. The offer of a
draw must be recorded on the scoresheet by both players. If a player
due to physical or religious reasons, is unable to keep score, an amount
of time, decided by the arbiter, shall be deducted from his allotted
time at the beginning of the game.
- The scoresheet shall be visible to the arbiter at all times.
- The scoresheets are the property of the organisers of the event.
- If a player has less than five minutes left on his clock and does
not have additional time of 30 seconds or more added with each move,
then he is not obliged to meet the requirements of Article 8.1. Immediately
after one flag has fallen the player must update his scoresheet completely.
- If neither player is required to keep score under Article 8.4,
the arbiter or an assistant should try to be present and keep score.
In this case, immediately after one flag has fallen, the arbiter
shall stop the clocks. Then both players shall update their scoresheets,
using the arbiter's or the opponent's scoresheet.
- If only one player is not required to keep score under Article
8.4, he must update his scoresheet completely as soon as a flag
has fallen. Provided it is the player's move, he may use his opponent's
scoresheet. The player is not permitted to move until after he has
completed his own scoresheet and returned his opponent's.
- If no complete scoresheet is available, the players must reconstruct
the game on a second chessboard under the control of the arbiter
or an assistant, who shall first record the actual game position
before reconstruction takes place.
- If the scoresheets cannot be brought up to date showing that a player
has overstepped the allotted time, the next move made shall be considered
as the first of the following time period, unless there is evidence
that more moves have been made.
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Article 9: The
drawn game
- A player can propose a draw after making a move on the chessboard.
He must do so before stopping his own clock and starting his opponent's
clock. An offer at any other time during play is still valid, but Article
12.5 must be considered. No conditions can be attached to the offer.
In both cases the offer cannot be withdrawn and remains valid until
the opponent accepts it, rejects it orally, rejects it by making a move,
or the game is concluded in some other way. The offer of a draw shall
be noted by each player on his scoresheet with the symbol (=).
- The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by the player having the
move, when the same position, for at least the third time (not necessarily
by repetition of moves)
- is about to appear, if he first writes his move on his scoresheet
and declares to the arbiter his intention to make this move, or
- .has just appeared.
Positions as in (a) and (b) are considered the same, if the same player
has the move, pieces of the same kind and colour occupy the same squares,
and the possible moves of all the pieces of both players are the same.
Positions are not the same if a pawn could have been captured en passant
or if the right to castle immediately or in the future has been changed.
- The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by the player having the
move, if
- he writes on his scoresheet, and declares to the arbiter his intention
to make a move which shall result in the last 50 moves having been
made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without
the capture of any piece, or
- the last 50 consecutive moves have been made by each player without
the movement of any pawn and without the capture of any piece.
- If the player makes a move without having claimed the draw he loses
the right to claim, as in Article 9.2 or 9.3, on that move.
- If a player claims a draw as in Article 9.2 or 9.3 he shall immediately
stop both clocks. He is not allowed to withdraw his claim.
- If the claim is found to be correct the game is immediately drawn.
- If the claim is found to be incorrect, the arbiter shall deduct
half of the claimant's remaining time up to a maximum of three minutes
and add three minutes to the opponent's remaining time. Then the
game shall continue and the intended move must be made.
- The game is drawn when a position is reached from which a checkmate
cannot occur by any possible series of legal moves, even with the most
unskilled play. This immediately ends the game.
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Article 10: Quickplay
Finish
- A “quickplay finish” is the last phase of a game,
when all the remaining moves must be made in a limited time.
- If the player has less than two minutes left on his clock, he may
claim a draw before his flag falls. He shall stop the clocks and summon
the arbiter.
- If the arbiter is satisfied the opponent is making no effort to
win the game by normal means, or that it is not possible to win
by normal means, then he shall declare the game drawn. Otherwise
he shall postpone his decision.
- If the arbiter postpones his decision, the opponent may be awarded
two extra minutes thinking time and the game shall continue in the
presence of the arbiter.
- Having postponed his decision, the arbiter may subsequently declare
the game drawn, even after a flag has fallen.
- Illegal moves do not necessarily lose. After the action taken under
Article 7.4, for a first illegal move by a
player the arbiter shall give two minutes extra time to his opponent;
for a second illegal move by the same player the arbiter shall give
another two minutes extra time to his opponent; for a third illegal
move by the same player, the arbiter shall declare the game lost by
the player who played incorrectly..
- If both flags have fallen and it is impossible to establish which
flag fell first the game is drawn.
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Article 11: Scoring
- player who wins his game scores one point (1), a player who loses
his game scores no points (0) and a player who draws his game scores
a half point (1/2).
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Article 12: The
conduct of the players
- High standards of etiquette are expected of the players.
- During play the players are forbidden to make use of any notes, sources
of information, advice, or to analyse on another chessboard. The scoresheet
shall be used only for recording the moves, the times of the clocks,
the offer of a draw, and matters relating to a claim.
- No analysis is permitted in the playing area when play is in progress,
whether by players or spectators. Players who have finished their games
shall be considered to be spectators.
- The players are not allowed to leave the “playing venue”
without permission from the arbiter. The playing venue is defined as
the playing area, rest rooms, refreshment area, area set aside for smoking
and other places as designated by the arbiter. The player having the
move is not allowed to leave the playing area without permission of
the arbiter.
- It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever;
this includes the persistent offer of a draw.
- Infraction of any part of the Articles 12.2 to 12.5 shall lead to
penalties in accordance with Article 13.4.
- The game is lost by a player who persistently refuses to comply with
the Laws of Chess. The opponent's score shall be decided by the arbiter.
- If both players are found guilty according to Article 12.7, the game
shall be declared lost by both players.
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Article 13: The
role of the arbiter (see preface)
- The arbiter shall see that the Laws of Chess are strictly observed.
- The arbiter shall act in the best interest of the competition. He
should ensure that a good playing environment is maintained and that
the players are not disturbed. He shall supervise the progress of the
competition.
- The arbiter shall observe the games, especially when the players
are short of time, enforce decisions he has made and impose penalties
on players where appropriate.
- Penalties open to the arbiter include:
- a warning,
- increasing the remaining time of the opponent,
- reducing the remaining time of the offending player,
- declaring the game to be lost,
- expulsion from the event.
- The arbiter may award either or both players additional time in the
event of external disturbance of the game.
- The arbiter must not intervene in a game to indicate the number of
moves made, except in applying Article 8.5, when at least one player
has used all his time. The arbiter shall refrain from informing a player
that his opponent has made a move, or that he has failed to press his
clock.
- Spectators and players in other games are not to speak about or otherwise
interfere in a game. If necessary, the arbiter may expel offenders from
the playing venue.
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Article 14:
FIDE
- Member federations may ask FIDE to give an official decision about
problems relating to the Laws of Chess.
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