OTB Rules of Chess.

I have done a search on google but i cant find an answer to this question. Is it against any rule to write notes down during an OTB game? what im talking about is maybe writing 3 or 4 candidate moves down after a minute or so, then looking more deeply into each one in turn, this would be done on my scoresheet. I know people will say ' can't you just do that in your head?' and yes i could, but for clarity and to make it easier it would be better to do it on paper. What are the rules concerning what you can or cannot write down on your scoresheet during a game? If you ARE allowed to write down say 3 or 4 'candidate' moves whilst you are thinking, would you also be allowed to add analysis to this also? So you could see the lines before you choose one? I know it probably sounds a bit silly, but its something i have thought about quite a bit over the years, and ive never managed to find an answer.

No I'm pretty sure there's no reason you can't do this (I've seen a few people copy moves to their own scoresheet so I can't see why you can't put candidate moves down), and it's a good idea as long as your opponent can't see what moves you've refuted :)

I wouldn't do it on your scoresheet though, just bring along a notepad or buy your own scoresheet to do it with (notepad's probably easier for this..). If you want to double check, ask at your club or e-mail the ECF and let me know what the outcome is. I think it's probably courteous to ask your opponent if they don't mind you doing it before games as well.

Also, where the hell would you have space to write this on your scoresheet!!?

Really? That's a shame :[ What's the reasoning behind it?

Definitely not allowed to do this. It is even not allowed to write move, before playing it, which was recommended in old books like Kotov's "Think  like a Grandmaster".

You can't make notes during a game. For some reason computers can consult tablebases and other junk and get away with it.

According to the FIDE laws of chess, Article 12 concerning player conduct: -

12.2 During play the players are forbidden to make use of any notes, sources of information, advice, or to analyse on another chessboard..
The scoresheet shall be used only for recording the moves, the times of the clocks, the offer of a draw, and matters relating to a claim.

Sorry Gumpty,

Against the rules.

US Chess Federation rule book [also complies with FIDE rules]  See Rule 15 & 15A covering electronic notebooks

"In the course of play each player is required to record the game (both the player's and the opponent's moves), move after move, as clearly and legibly as possible, on the scoresheet prescribed for the competition. 

Algebraic notation is standard, but descriptive or computer notation is permitted. The player must first make the move, and then record it on the scoresheet."

That says nothing about TAKING notes, as far as I can see.  I read that as "No notes may be brought into the match."

I see your point but I think the main point of the above article is to say that you can't use anything to aid your analysis. 'Making notes' in the manner that gumpty described seems to me to be the same as 'making use of notes' in order to clarify your analysis (ass opposed to just recording moves already made) and therefore illegal.

Anyway, I refuse to spend anymore of my Sunday looking through the FIDE rulebook! I'm going back to the game itself I think :)...............

forbidden to make use of any notes

If I were the TD directing, I would consider this to mean, "forbidden to make use of ANY notes" ! Which would include ANY NOTES created by the player during the course of the game. Any being ANY

whats OTB?

 I never checked that but I believe that it stands for On The Board chess.

Over-the-board chess.

Basically you can only write down the move and this is a must (disregarding time trouble stages where things are a bit different depending on the tournament), the process of writing the move must take place AFTER the move has been made though it doesn't really matter for the vast majority of tournaments.

It saves time to write your move down after you've played it and hit the clock. Even if it takes only 1 or 2 seconds to write it that adds up.

Players above who quoted the USCF Rule book are right and are probably aware:  USCF changed their rule to match FIDE rules.

    Reasoning as it was explained to me:  it was decided that the process of writing down a move and then analyzing the 'follow-on' logical moves, then erasing that move and writing down a different one, etc etc...   constituted some form of "analysis"    by the lawyers who seem to infest every facet of our world today....      to prevent any arguments about it, the rule about writing your move first and then making it, was changed to "make the move and then record it"  first by FIDE and subsequently by USCF.

most USCF TDs over the past year or so were generous and would give a warning once before enforcing a penalty on those who don't follow it...  due to human nature - - - inertia - and the fact that for many years, players were allowed to write a move, erase it and write another one....

Some players 'used'   (abused?) this in the extreme, doing it several times on every move.... and were accused of "analysis notes"....  by others...

the lawyers ruled.

   ((( never mind what you or others might think about the mind that cannot keep track of the move it just analyzed and determined was good or not good ... while analyzing a different one.... )))

Its a shame too ... I used to like to "write down my move" while thinking, then cross it off, write down the move i was really thinking about, then make it. A bit of subtrafuge for opponents that like to peek at my score sheet. This was my improvement on the "usual" technique, which was to lay your pencil across your move.

Yeah this is a bummer...  I'm thinking about getting back into tournament play but I'm just not that good at analysis OTB.  It would probably help to write down my next move.  I never did it as a kid but I really underestimated how important analysis was.

Oh well