Tournament Rules

The 2001 TENNESSEE STATE SCHOLASTIC INDIVIDUAL REGIONALS are sanctioned by the United States Chess Federation and conducted by its rules. The following rules are included here to answer frequently asked questions and to remind players of useful information. They are not intended to supersede or modify anything in the USCF Rulebook.

1. TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS (TD). Tournament Directors will be on the tournament floor at all times to assist you in the event of any problem or question. Just raise your hand and keep it in the air until a TD comes to assist you. Remember that a TD will generally not interfere with your game. It is up to you to make a claim. If you think that a TD has ruled incorrectly concerning your game, you should ask to appeal to the Chief TD immediately.

2. CLOCKS AND TIME CONTROLS. The time control for the first two rounds is game in 30 minutes. All clocks should initially be set at 5:00. The time control for rounds 3-5 is game in one hour (60 minutes). For these rounds all clocks should initially be set at 5:30. Each player must complete the entire game before the flag falls at 6:00.

Clocks with move counters and flag fall indicators are legal. Move counters, however, should not be relied upon.

Clocks must remain running at all times, except when a TD is being summoned by either player to resolve a dispute. A player who wishes to make a claim of any sort or see a TD for any legitimate reason may stop both clocks and raise his hand to summon a TD. If a clock is not available at the start of a game, the players must begin without one. If a clock then becomes available during the game, call a TD and he will set the clock for you. Except when stopping their clock upon completion of their move, or stopping both clocks while summoning a TD, players are not permitted to touch a clock while the game is in progress.

A digital clock with time-delay capability is preferable to any other clock in a game with any Sudden Death time control. Therefore, if white has such a clock available and black does not, white’s clock should be used. The only occasions in which black retains the right to use his clock are in games with no Sudden Death time control, in cases where both players have the same type of clock, or if white is late and black has already set up the equipment so long as black’s equipment is standard.

If a digital clock is used, the time delay must be set at 5 seconds from move one but the basic time control remains at either 30 or 60 minutes.

3. RECORDING MOVES. Each Player is strongly encouraged to record the moves. A player who chooses not to do so gives up the right to claim a draw by triple occurrence of position or under the 50-move rule, and gives up the right to challenge such claims by his opponent. In a Sudden Death time control, neither player is obligated to keep score when either player has less than five minutes left on the clock.

4. TOUCH MOVE. If you intentionally touch a piece when it is your turn to move, that piece must be moved if you can do so legally. If you intentionally touch an enemy piece when it is your turn to move, the enemy piece must be captured if you can do so legally. You must say “I adjust” before touching a piece if you want to adjust that piece on the board. You should do so only when it is your turn. If you accidentally release a piece on an unintended but legal square, you must leave it on that square.

5. ILLEGAL MOVES. If it is discovered that one of either player’s last ten moves was illegal, the position will be reinstated to what it was before the illegal move, and the game shall continue by applying the touch-move rule to the move replacing the illegal move. Clocks will not be reset.

In a sudden death time control two minutes will be added to the remaining time of the opponent of the player who made the illegal move. If either player has less then five minutes remaining and the illegal move is not corrected before the opponent of the player who made the illegal move completes two moves, the illegal move stands and there is no time adjustment.

A player must call an illegal move. The TD will not call any illegal moves. Spectators must not point out any illegal moves.

6. CHECK. Announcing check is not required. It is the responsibility of the opponent to notice the check, and a player who does not may suffer serious consequences (See the touch-move rule).

7. TIME FORFEITS. Only a player involved in the game may claim a time forfeit. No other player, parent, coach, spectator or TD may make such a claim or bring the fall of a flag to the attention of the players. No score sheet is required to forfeit an opponent in a Sudden Death time control.

8. LATE ARRIVAL. A player who is more than 30 minutes late for rounds 1-2 and a player who is more than one hour late for a rounds 3-5 loses the game by forfeit and will normally be dropped from the tournament. The hour is measured from the actual starting time of the round which may not be the scheduled starting time. A player should start his opponent’s clock once the TD announces that the round has begun. If the player with the white pieces is present and black is absent, white shall start his own clock, make his move on the board, and start black’s clock. If a clock is not available at the start of a round, any elapsed time before one becomes available will be split between both players. If both players are late for the start of a round, the first to arrive must split the elapsed time before starting the opponent’s clock.

9. DRAWS. If you want to offer a draw to your opponent, you should do so after you make a move but before you start your opponent’s clock. Your opponent may decline the draw by saying so or by moving a piece. A draw offer is valid until it is turned down by the opponent. If both players agree to a draw, the game is over. A reasonably complete and accurate scoresheet is required to claim a draw by triple occurrence of position or under the 50-move rule. If such a claim is found to be incorrect, two minutes will be added to the opponent’s remaining time.

10. SUDDEN DEATH RULES. A player may claim a time forfeit in sudden death only if he stops the clock before both flags fall. If both flags are down, the game is drawn upon the claim of either player or upon a ruling by the TD under USCF Rule 14G2. Upon request of a player a TD may rule that the game is drawn if the position is clearly drawn, if the player has insufficient losing chances, or if neither player is making progress. To make such a request, a player should stop both clocks and call a TD to rule on the claim.

A claim of a draw based on insufficient losing chances will be upheld if the TD believes that a Class C player would have little chance to lose the position against a Master with both having ample time. Such a claim can only be made by a player with less than five minutes remaining on his clock. If the TD believes that the claim is clearly incorrect, one minute will be subtracted from the claimant’s remaining time. If the TD is uncertain regarding the validity of the claim, the TD may temporarily deny it, make no time adjustment, and watch the game with the intent of awarding the draw if the opponent is making no progress. The TD may also invite a later re-claim if the opponent is making no progress.

As an alternative the TD may, at his discretion, place a digital clock with time-delay capability on the game. If such a clock is placed on the game, the claimant gets half of his remaining time, up to but not exceeding one minute, and the opponent’s time is not adjusted. The time delay is set for five seconds, and the game continues until a result is achieved.

Claiming insufficient losing chances is also considered a draw offer. It is the same as any other draw offer–good for that move only. If the opponent chooses to play on he may win, lose or draw, but cannot say a few moves later, “I’ll take that draw now”. He may offer a draw, of course, but the draw “offer” that automatically came with the original claim is no longer valid.

11. ANALYSIS OF GAMES. Do not analyze your games in the tournament room. Analyze your games outside.

12. REPORTING RESULTS. Immediately upon completion of the game the players should mark their result on the pairing sheet for their section. Both players are responsible for seeing that their result is posted correctly.

13. PAIRINGS. The Pairing Program will be chosen by each Regional Coordinator for this tournament. Individuals will generally be paired with other individuals who have the same score each round. Individuals should not receive the same color three times in a row unless there is no other way to pair the score group or unless necessary to equalize colors. If you believe there is a pairing error, report it to a TD immediately! Once the round starts, it will probably be too late.

14. HALF-POINT BYES. Half-point byes may be allowed for the first two rounds of the tournament at the TD’s discretion. All requests for half-point byes must be made before the end of registration.

15. CONDUCT OF PLAYERS. Try to keep as quiet as possible on the tournament floor so you do not disturb other players. You may not speak to anyone while your game is in progress unless a TD is present. If there is a problem of any kind during your game, call a TD immediately. If you wait until after your game is over, the TD will probably be unable to change the result, even if your claim was correct. You may not consult any chess books, computers or other material during the game. If you leave the tournament room during your game, such as to go to the bathroom, you should not speak with anyone.

16. INTERFERENCE. NO interference in any game by spectators, other players, coaches, or parents will be tolerated. Penalties include expulsion from the tournament. Only the player involved should point out irregularities to a TD. This should be done by raising your hand to summon a TD.