I'm sure this question has been asked before.  I coudn't find the answer upon search.

 

If one side times out in a rated game, how many moves need to have been made in order for the game to count?  Similarly, if one side resigns in a rated game, is there a minimum number of moves that needed to have been made in order for the game to count? If there's a FAQ or rule list for rated games, please point me to it.  

 

Thanks,

Paul 

Hi Paul

 

4 moves each need to made before it will affect the ratings of either player, regardless of the player resigning or timing out. That is for correspondence chess. With live chess the game can be aborted by either side before he/she made a move but from there on it affects the ratings of both players.

 

Willie

 

I can add that the game (with less that 4 moves) will count towards your wins and losses. Only the ratings will not be affected.

How about if the fools mate happens? It's less than 4 moves, should it be counted?

 

1. f3 e5

2. g4 Qh4# 

Thanks for the quick replies. 

Well have a look at this game of mine some time ago:

 

http://www.chess.com/echess/game.html?id=942471

 

As much fun as it is winning like this, it doesn't count....

 (not towards your rating anyway)

Wow, I thought it pretty likely that a mate in less than 4 would count, not that I expect to run into that on either side :).  Mate in 7, maybe .  OT, but I'd been playing a rough approximatino of the Phillidor, and just recently learned about Legal's mate (not the hard way.)  Learning about traps tends to cause me to want to play the openings strictly by the book.