U.S. Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess

Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Evolution of Chess Rules
	Swiss System
	Changes in this edition
1. U.S. Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess
	1. INTRODUCTION
		1A. Scope
		1B. Validity.
		1C. Types of events
	2. The Chessboard
		2A. Explanation
		2B. Description
		2C. Placement
		2D. Files
		2E. Ranks
		2F. Diagonals
	3. The Pieces
		3A. Each player’s pieces
		3B. Description of the pieces
		3C. Initial position
		3D. Meaning of piece
		3E. Other expressions involving pieces
	4. Objective and Scoring
		4A. Checkmate
		4B. Other decisive outcomes
		4C. Draws
		4D. Scoring
	5. The Chess Clock
		5A. Time controls and time limits
		5B. Sudden death time controls
		5C. Ratable time controls
		5D. Accumulation of time
		5E. Standard timer for non-sudden death
		5F. Standard timer
		5G. The flag
		5H. Pressing the clock
		5I. Stopping the clock
		5J. Further details
	6. The Right to Move
		6A. The first move
		6B. A player on move
	7. Definition of the Move
		7A. Basic definition
		7B. Crossing an occupied square
		7C. Capturing
	8. The Moves of the Pieces
		8A. The king
		8B. The queen
		8C. The rook
		8D. The bishop
		8E. The knight
		8F. The pawn
	9. Determination and Completion of the Move
		9A. Transfer to a vacant square
		9B. Capturing
		9C. Castling
		9D. Pawn promotion
		9E. Checkmate or stalemate
		9F. Last move of the time control
		9G. Determined moves and completed moves
		9G1. Player still on move for claims
		9H. Stopping the clock
	10. The Touched Piece
		10A. Adjustment of pieces
		10B. Touch-move rule
		10C. Touching pieces of both colors
		10D. Piece touched cannot move
		10E. Accidental touch of piece
		10F. Appearance of adjustment
		10G. Accidental release of piece
		10H. Piece touched off the board
		10I. Castling
		10J. When to claim touch-move
	11. Illegal Positions
		11A. Illegal move during last ten moves
		11B. Illegal move prior to last ten moves
		11C. Accidental piece displacement
		11D. Illegal move
		11E. Incorrect adjourned position
		11F. Incorrect initial position
		11G. Incorrect placement of chessboard
		11H. Director corrects illegal move in non-sudden death
		11I. Spectators
		11J. Deliberate illegal moves
	12. Check
		12A. Definition
		12B. Double check
		12C. Responding to check
		12D. Check by interposing piece
		12E. Moving into check
		12F. Calling check not mandatory
	13. The Decisive Game
		13A. Checkmate
		13B. Resignation
		13C. Time forfeit
		13D. Late arrival for game
		13E. Late arrival for adjournment resumption
		13F. Late arrival by both players
		13G. Players must give notice if withdrawing or skipping a round
		13H. Sealing of invalid move
		13I. Refusal to obey rules
	14. The Drawn Game
		14A. Stalemate
		14B. Agreement
		14C. Triple occurrence of position
		14D. Insufficient material to continue
		14E. Insufficient material to win on time
		14F. The 50-move rule
		14G. Both flags down in sudden death
		14H. Claim of insufficient losing chances in sudden death
		14I. Advice on claims of insufficient losing chances in sudden death under Rule 14H
		14J. Draw declared by director
		14K. Increment Games
	15. The Recording of Games
		15A. Manner of keeping score
		15B. Scorekeeping in time pressure, non-sudden death time control
		15C. Scorekeeping in time pressure, sudden death time control
		15D. Use of opponent’s scoresheet for assistance
		15E. Borrowing not needed
		15F. Reconstruction after time control
		15G. Ownership of scoresheets
		15H. Reporting of results
		15I. Results reported incorrectly
	16. The Use of the Chess Clock
		16A. Allowable time controls
		16B. How to set clocks
		16C. Removing a player’s hand from clock
		16D. Special rules for time pressure
		16E. When flag is considered down
		16F. Evidence provided by flag
		16G. Premature flag fall
		16H. Apparent flag fall can cause forfeit
		16I. Starting the clock
		16J. Black not present
		16K. Both players late
		16L. Possible stipulations
		16M. Equipment needed to start clock
		16N. Beginning the round
		16O. Defective clocks
		16P. Erroneously set clocks
		16Q. Interruption of game
		16R. No time adjustment for reinstated position
		16S. Priority of agreed result over time-forfeit claim
		16T. Both players exceed time control
		16U. Avoiding the need to reset clocks
		16V. One vs. two controls when time is limited
		16W. Resetting clocks when necessary
		16X. Extra minute not added
		16Y. Assisting players with time management prohibited
	17. Scheduling
		17A. Determination of game times
		17B. Delayed games
		17C. Changes in round times
	18. The Adjournment of the Game
		18A. Description
		18B. Sealing a move early
		18C. When to adjourn
		18D. The sealed move envelope
		18E. Custody of sealed move envelope
		18F. Problems of the next-to-last round
		18G. Adjudications
	19. Resumption of the Adjourned Game
		19A. Setup
		19B. Opening the envelope
		19C. Opponent of sealing player absent
		19D. Sealing player absent
		19E. Sealed move envelope missing
		19F. Sealed move ambiguous
		19G. Sealed move invalid
		19H. Game resumed with wrong times on clock
		19I. Game resumed with incorrect position
		19J. Agreed result of adjourned game
	20. Conduct of Players and Spectators
		20A. Conduct of players
		20B. Use of recorded matter prohibited
		20C. Use of notes prohibited
		20D. Use of additional chessboard or computer prohibited
		20E. Soliciting or using advice prohibited
		20F. Analysis in the playing room prohibited
		20G. Annoying behavior prohibited
		20H. Long absence during play
		20I. Discussion of games
		20J. Last round discussion
		20K. Penalties
		20L. Manipulating results
		20M. Behavior of spectators
		20N. Electronic communication devices
	21. The Tournament Director
		21A. The chief tournament director
		21B. Duties and powers
		21C. Delegation of duties
		21D. Intervening in games
		21E. The playing director
		21F. Player requests for rulings
		21G. Evidence
		21H. Appeals
		21I. Appeals committee
		21J. The Special Referee
		21K. Use of director’s power
		21L. Appeal to USCF
	22. Unplayed Games
		22A. Games forfeited due to nonappearance
		22B. Full-point byes
		22C. Half-point byes
	23. Organization and Membership
		23A. Responsibilities of organizer
		23B. Determination of game times
		23C. USCF membership requirement
	24. Interpretation of the Rules
		24A. Rules Committee
		24B. Appeals to USCF
2. Official Rules of Chess Tournament Section
	25. Introduction
	26. Variations and Exceptions
		26A. Notification
		26B. Major variations
	27. The Swiss System tournament
		27A. Basic Swiss system rules
	28. Swiss System Pairings, Procedures
		28A. Pairing cards or program
		28B. Numbering late entrants
		28C. Ratings of players
		28D. Players without USCF ratings
		28E. Assigned ratings for rated players
		28F. Validity of wall-chart ratings
		28G. Old ratings
		28H. Revising ratings after tournament begins
		28I. Opponents of expelled players
		28J. The first round
		28K. Late entrants
		28L. Full-point byes
		28M. Alternatives to byes
		28N. Combined individual-team tournaments
		28O. Scoring
		28P. Unplayed games
		28Q. Pairing unfinished games
		28R. Accelerated pairings in the first two rounds
		28S. Reentries
		28T Variation. Players may request a non-pairing against each other
	29. Swiss System Pairings, Subsequent Rounds
		29A. Score groups and rank
		29B. Order of pairing score groups
		29C. Method of pairing score groups
		29D. The odd player
		29E. Color allocation
		29F. Last-round pairings with unfinished games
		29G. Re-pairing a round
		29H. Unreported results
		29I. Class pairings
		29J. Unrateds in class tournaments
		29K. Converting small Swiss to round robin
		29L. Using round robin table in small Swiss
		29M. Recommendations
	30. The Round Robin Tournament
		30A. Description
		30B. Scoring
		30C. Withdrawals
		30D. Penalties for withdrawals
		30E. Effect of withdrawals on colors
		30F. Double round robins
		30G. Quads
		30H. Holland system
		30I. Unbalanced Holland
	31. Team Chess
		31A. Combined individual-team tournaments
		31B. Player rankings
		31C. Team ratings
		31D. Pairing cards
		31E. Pairing rules
		31F. Wall charts
		31G. Team captain
	32. Prizes
		32A. Announcement
		32B. Distribution
		32C. Payment
		32D. Minimum penalty for violation of 32C4
		32E. Partial guarantees
		32F. Trophies
		32G. Other non-cash prizes
	33. Some Notes About Prize Funds
		33A. First prize
		33B. Place prizes and class prizes
		33C. Classes
		33D. Non-monetary (indivisible) prizes
		33E. Prizes based on points
		33F. Unrateds
	34. Breaking Ties
		34A. Introduction
		34B. Announcement
		34C. Monetary prizes
		34D. Choice of tiebreak methods
		34E. Calculating Swiss tiebreaks
		34F. Round robin tiebreaks
		34G. Team tiebreaks
		34H. Reentry tiebreaks
	35. Rules For Disabled And Assisted Players
		35A. Purpose
		35B. Equality of treatment
		35C. Eligibility for USCF events
		35D. Analogous situations
		35E. Access
		35F. Rules for visually impaired and disabled players
	36. Rules and Regulations For Computer Participants
		36A. Membership
		36B. Purchase of membership
		36C. Computer participation must be advertised in advance
		36D. Player may not object
		36E. Computer vs. computer
		36F. Prize eligibility
		36G. Commercial computers
		36H. Consultation
		36I. Rules for play involving computers
3. Chess Notation
	37. Introduction
	38. Notation Systems
		38A. Algebraic
		38B. Figurine algebraic
		38C. Long algebraic
		38D. Abbreviated algebraic
		38E. Computer notation
		38F. English descriptive notation
		38G. Spanish descriptive
		38H. Sample game
		38I. International correspondence notation
		38J. Telephone and radio notation
4. Equipment Standards
	39. Introduction
		39A. Choice of equipment
	40. Chess Pieces
		40A. Material
		40B. Size
		40C. Form
		40D. Color
		40E. Examples
	41. Chessboards
		41A. Material
		41B. Color
		41C. Proportions
		41D. Borders
		41E. Tables
	42. Chess Clocks
		42A. Basic requirements
		42B. Digital clocks
		42C. Standard clocks in games without sudden death
		42D. Delay clock preferable in sudden death
		42E. Increment clock preferable in increment time controls
	43. Scoresheets
5. Players’ Rights and Responsibilities
	All players have the right to expect
	All players are responsible
6. Uscf Code of Ethics
	Purpose And Scope
	The USCF Ethics Committee
	Standards Of Conduct
	Procedures
	Sanctions
7. Tournament Director Certification
	Purpose
	General Qualifications
		1. USCF Membership
		2. Established Rating
		3. Training
		4. Rules
	TD Testing Procedures
		5. Exams
		6. Applicants
		7. Unsuccessful Senior And Local Applicants
		8. Unsuccessful ANTD And NTD Applicants
		9. Documents And Tests
	Chief TDs, Assistant TDs, and Tournament Aides
		10. Chief TD
		11. Co-Chief TD
		12. Assistant TD
		13. Tournament Aides
	Tournament Categories
		14. Category I
		15. Category N
		16. Category A
		17. Category B
		18. Category C
		19. Category D
		20. Category R
		21. Category T
	The Club Director
		22. Experience Requirement
		23. Testing Requirement
		24. Limitations
		25. Expiration
	The Local Director
		26. Experience Requirements
		27. Testing Requirement
		28. Limitations
		29. Expiration
	The Senior Director
		30. Experience Requirements
		31. Testing Requirement
		32. Limitations
		33. Expiration
	The Associate National Director (ANTD)
		34. Experience Requirements
		35. Testing Requirement
		36. Limitations
		37. Expiration
	The National Director (NTD)
		38. Experience Requirements
		39. Testing Requirement
		40. Limitations
		41. Expiration
	The International Arbiter (IA) and FIDE Arbiter (FA)
		42. Title
		43. Qualifications
		44. Testing Requirement
		45. Limitations
		46. Expiration
	Waivers
		47. Special Consideration
	Certification Restrictions
		48. Restrictions
		49. Due Process
		50. Penalties
		51. Appeals
	Uniform Code of Discipline
		52. Technical Incompetence
		53. Partiality
		54. Professional Misconduct
		55. Inefficiency
8. The Uscf Rating System
	USCF Rating Classification
	USCF Rating Regulations
		1. Rated games
		2. Time controls
		3. Order of ratings
		4. Matches
		5. Rating floor
		6. Rating entire events
		7. Imposed rating adjustments
		8. Lifetime titles
		9. Rating system adjustments
		10. Estimating your approximate rating
9. Official Uscf Correspondence Chess Rules
	Your Pledge
	Your Responsibilities as a Player
	Reflection Time
		E-mail reflection time
	Transmitting Moves
		Five-day penalty
	Loss on Time Overstep
	Excused Time
	Submitting Time Complaints
	Reporting Game Results
	Thirty-Month Limit and Adjudications
	Ratings
	Penalties
	Appeals
	Player Replacements
	Postal Chess Glossary
10. Internet Chess
	Guidelines for Internet tournaments and matches
		Chief and assistant tournament directors
		Time keeping
		Touch and completed move
		Scorekeeping
		Illegal moves
		Identities of the players
		Playing from home
		Starting and resumption of a game
11. Blitz Chess
	USCF Blitz Rules
		Standard timer for blitz chess
		Defining a Win
		Defining a draw
12. Round Robin Pairing Tables
	Table A, 3 or 4 players
	Table B, 5 or 6 players
	Table C, 7 or 8 players
	Table D, 9 or 10 players
	Table E, 11 or 12 players
	Table F, 13 or 14 players
	Table G, 15 or 16 players
	Table H, 17 or 18 players
	Table I, 19 or 20 players
	Table J, 21 or 22 players
	Table K, 23 or 24 players
	The Scheveningen System
	Tables for the Scheveningen System
		Match on Four Boards
		Match on Six Boards
		Match on Eight Boards
13. About the United States Chess Federation
	What Is the USCF?
	A Short History of the U.S. Chess Federation
	Benefits of Joining the USCF
		Chess Life magazine
		Chess Life for Kids magazine
		Play in tournaments
		Chess rating service
		Correspondence chess
		Chess product discounts
		Free literature
		Play chess locally
		Build your mind
		Support chess
		Indulge yourself
	Affiliation
14. Fide Laws of Chess
15. Fischer 960 Chess
Index