It’s time to ban people from leaving the board in OTB play

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TakeThisPawn
I played in a chess tournament this week and my opponent left the board constantly. He would go and talk to people he knew, bathroom breaks, smoke breaks. This is all very off putting and shouldn’t be allowed. You should be allowed one bathroom break per game unless you have a note from your doctor.

I notice young people tend to leave the board more often to walk around. Probably because most have the attention span of a goldfish. I can’t be the only one who’s annoyed by this. It’s time to clamp down on such behaviour.
TakeThisPawn
Pretty disrespectful to your opponent but ok.
TakeThisPawn
I’m suggesting that you shouldn’t be able to do as you please. You came to play chess not watch other sports on tv. There should be a rule where you are only allowed to leave the board once per game to use the bathroom. Any more without a doctors note and you forfeit the game.
TakeThisPawn
I find it rude. What can possibly be more important than the game you’re playing? I make my move, press the clock and then have to wait for you to decide when you want to come back to make your move? Sometimes my opponents come back stinking of cigarette smoke. I just find it very off putting.
daxypoo
isnt talking to others whilst in a game not allowed?
lfPatriotGames

I think you find it rude because you are playing the opponent, not the board. In  a friendly game, I like to do both. But in a tournament maybe it would help to think of it like a golf tournament. Dont play the opponent, play the course. 

If you are worried about something that has nothing to do with the position on the board, then you are very easily distracted. Now I might understand you wanting me to stay at the board so you could be distracted, but it's probably not going to help your chances of winning. I'm not a serious chess player, but if I was I would probably rather have the opponent leave so I could concentrate on the board better.

TakeThisPawn
Do you do this to try and gain some sort of psychological edge over your opponent or do you genuinely think it’s an acceptable way to behave?
Kraig

I would be more suspicious they were trying to cheat by constantly going on a bathroom break multiple times during the one game, than anything else, but I'm cynical and skeptical all the same lol.

lfPatriotGames
TakeThisPawn wrote:
Do you do this to try and gain some sort of psychological edge over your opponent or do you genuinely think it’s an acceptable way to behave?

Chess is a game that's supposed to be enjoyed. I only play with people I enjoy being around. So they dont have much reason to leave the board, neither do I unless I have to pee or tend to something else more important. 

Depending on the player I think I would have a much better psychological edge by staying at the board. If I leave, again, depending on the player, they wouldn't be distracted. But really leaving or staying are the same thing. It makes no difference unless the other person has a hard time paying attention to the board. Whether I leave or stay, how does that affect the position on the board?

Martin_Stahl

At the last tournament I played in, I probably left the  board four or five times, at least, in multiple games. The games could last up to four hours and bathroom breaks are part of it, sometimes more than one. Got up to get something to eat, to stretch my legs, or to calm nerves.

 

You have to get used to it and no organization/organizer is going to prevent players from leaving the board. If they are not back by the time it's their move, they are the only one losing out.

 

Some events may not allow leaving a designated zone, such as the playing hall and bathrooms, but beyond that, players are free to move around.

lfPatriotGames
IMBacon wrote:
TakeThisPawn wrote:
Do you do this to try and gain some sort of psychological edge over your opponent or do you genuinely think it’s an acceptable way to behave?

I am just an ordinary class player.  Im not a GM...IM..NM..or any of those good player titles.  Psychology doesnt count in my games.  The only thing that decides my games are blunders.  You sound like you allow things to easily annoy you.  Maybe serious tournament chess is not for you.

I was thinking the exact same thing. If I remain at the board, I can do all kinds of things that are distracting or even rude. I could cough, sneeze, needlessly adjust things, scratch certain areas that dont really itch, etc. Even a hint of the right perfume could make a difference. It seems like a serious chess player would rather have the opponent not there.

fpon

omg.   it is absurd to consider banning players from leaving the board during a game in tournament chess.   IF you leave the board and lose time as a consequence, it's your own fault.   4 to 6 hour games necessitate leaving the board, bathroom breaks, water breaks - it's important to stay hydrated during play, dehydration can lead to reduced concentration; eye breaks, and just natural stretching are also important.   Sometimes, an opponent can be very slow; when you know what your plan is and you think you've analyzed all options, and he still doesn't move, time to go walk around.   Now, when I walk around, I don't go very far, you move, as a rule I return quickly.   An International Master told me breaks are important; most especially after you reach time control; say move 40.   Maybe you've been in time pressure for moves 36-40; at TC, take a break, give your brain a short rest; the brief rest is more important than the time lost.   It is also extremely important to NOT PERMIT ANY BEHAVIOR of your opponent to annoy you.   unless he's cheating, then you report it.     if you can be annoyed by little things, such as leaving the board, you'll lose concentration, and likely the game.   Note; you are not permitted to intentionally irritate or annoy your opponent; if you do he can complain; the TD will watch; if the TD agrees, he'll warn you first and on second offense, he'll take time off your clock.

lfPatriotGames
KyanBui wrote:

I played a match a couple of weeks ago, where my opponent spent less time at the board than he did away! He would make his move very quickly, and then he would get up and walk around the move, with seemingly no purpose other than to try and psychologically assert dominance. I don't really mind if my opponent does this, I play the pieces, not the opponent.

OK, I admit I dont understand something. How does leaving the board, literally walking away, assert dominance? I've seen the fight commercials where two guys are standing toe to toe. Neither one leaving, or walking away. I would think staying would assert dominance, not leaving.

glamdring27

It's ridiculous to expect people to stay sat at a chess board for 4-6 hours.  It's not a military camp or prison.  So long as people aren't cheating they should be able to walk around as much as they like.  I haven't played an over the board tournament for quite a few years, but when I did I liked to see what was going on in other games too.

Plus sitting down in one place for a long period is extremely bad for your health.

It would no doubt increase your chances of winning though since the number of entrants would reduce drastically, possibly to only you!

uri65
Napoleon-Blownapart wrote:

the fix is to keep playing your moves immediately after your opponent leaves the board.

I think it's pretty bad idea, you should play your moves when you are ready to play them, it doesn't matter if your opponent is present or absent.

As for the original post - I never stay at the board for more than 15 minutes, I go to the bathroom, walk around, do some excersizes and stretching (making sure it doesn't disturb anybody), take a snack or drink. I am just unable to sit for more than 15 minutes when playing, chess is such a nervous game :-)

uri65
Napoleon-Blownapart wrote:
uri65 wrote:
Napoleon-Blownapart wrote:

the fix is to keep playing your moves immediately after your opponent leaves the board.

I think it's pretty bad idea, you should play your moves when you are ready to play them, it doesn't matter if your opponent is present or absent.

As for the original post - I never stay at the board for more than 15 minutes, I go to the bathroom, walk around, do some excersizes and stretching (making sure it doesn't disturb anybody), take a snack or drink. I am just unable to sit for more than 15 minutes when playing, chess is such a nervous game :-)

in practice, it gave me an advantage on the clock as well as leading to the opponent not being so distracting. horses for courses.

Let's say you are playing a slow OTB game, your opponent makes a move and walks away, do you reply immediately?

BlueHen86

I also like to walk around when I play OTB, especially if I sense that my opponent is going to be thinking for a while. There is nothing wrong with it,

TakeThisPawn
I have no objection to an opponent stretching their legs. I would go so far as to say maybe allowing an opponent to walk around an area of say a 4 metre circumference. Enough for them to stretch their legs but not enough for them to be obnoxious and leave the area of play completely.

It’s really quite laughable reading people say they leave the board to get something to eat. Eat before you play! The longest game of chess I ever played lasted 6 hours. If you can’t commit to not eating in that time then maybe stick to playing blitz online. It’s not like you’re going to starve to death.

My own opinion is that those that leave the board constantly are doing so to annoy their opponent, especially when in a losing position. Rules should be in place to stop such behaviour. It would also make the game more interesting as it would be more of an endurance sport when it comes to long time controls.
uri65
TakeThisPawn wrote:
I have no objection to an opponent stretching their legs. I would go so far as to say maybe allowing an opponent to walk around an area of say a 4 metre circumference. Enough for them to stretch their legs but not enough for them to be obnoxious and leave the area of play completely.

It’s really quite laughable reading people say they leave the board to get something to eat. Eat before you play! The longest game of chess I ever played lasted 6 hours. If you can’t commit to not eating in that time then maybe stick to playing blitz online. It’s not like you’re going to starve to death.

My own opinion is that those that leave the board constantly are doing so to annoy their opponent, especially when in a losing position. Rules should be in place to stop such behaviour. It would also make the game more interesting as it would be more of an endurance sport when it comes to long time controls.

Rules are not going to change, but you are free to pick another hobby.

ANOK1

i smoke , otb is indoors , so to smoke i go outside , rain or shine , this may mean i leave the board 4 times in a match , but this is on my clock , so i dont think im being disrepectful to the game or my opponent ,