Chess Tournament Post-Game Etiquette

I recently signed up for chess tournament and I'm not sure of the proper way to act, I understand how to resign and offer a draw, but I couldn't find what you do after that. If you checkmate them do you verbally anounce that you did so? And are you supposed to hit the clock after checkmate? Do you reset the clock after? I don't want to do anything out of line or do something wrong with the clock.

 

You don't have to announce check or checkmate. I usually call checkmate but that is not required . But you should hit the clock after your move, regardless, especially if you are low on time. If the TD comes along, there is checkmate on the board and you have flagged, your opponent may claim you flagged first. In the absence of a neutral observer, you may end up getting a loss.

 

You should not stop the clock unless you are making a draw claim and you need to get the TD or until your opponent agrees to the result.

• So even after checkmate I hit the clock?

one thing i encountered in my first tournament was when my opponent reached his hand across the board

i wasnt sure if he was resigning or offering a draw

although a novice at chess and tournaments i grew up playing tennis tournaments and i learned to never make any assumptions about opponent intentions

i flatly asked what he was offering and he said he was resigning

i could have easily seen something happening where i just shook hands and assumed opponent was resigning only to find out it was a draw offer

(btw- i was up in material and opponent had backrank and hanging piece issues so a draw offer would be in the realm of the scoundrel but i have seen it before in other endeavors)

If you just won the game, why on earth would you not call checkmate? You can certainly stop the clock if the game is over or least hit it if your low on time so you don't flag.

First hit clock.  Then say check.  Pause,  right pinky up right corner of your mouth, slowly say, "ma..ate?" Rising inflection.  Then raise right eyebrow.

Dr. Evil style.