Thank you Scottk74, are the entrance and tournament fees high in the States?
HELP ISSUES on over the board amateur chess tournament
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That seems alright, cost wise, but you have to pay a USCF annual fee? That's what I understand, for players that wish to participate in a USCF rated tournaments? Maybe I got that wrong, but what is a cheaper tournament? Non-rated?
I did not know that, with two different ratings, one tournament?
Shadowknight911, it is more like a communal gathering for young people and their extra-curricular activities in one place.It is called a community center. It is not a building specifically meant for a chess club to conduct their daily and weekly affairs.
There are some senior citizens with their stuff and activities too.
In that community center, there is a gym, a tennis court, a basketball court that will double up as a badminton hall and for table tennis events, there are dance studios, it can and will get noisy on weekends.
Maybe at the international chess events, where image and tourism plays a role, the competition venue might get better attention, like one of those grand ballrooms at a nice hotel in the city. I have not been to one of those events.
The local events where amateurs and school kids have their chess competitions are so very average in everything including equipment.
scottk is a little off on about all of them :p
a. You're not supposed to write your move first in USCF tourneys although many TDs will let it slide. You make your move, press the clock, write it down.
b. Yes, but it's not correct. If they persist to interrupt you on your time in this way they can be penalized.
c. Both are required to submit their signed scoresheets regardless of if there are carbon copies or not.
d. No. If no one sees you then it's your word against his and the TD would have to make a judgement call.
e. Yes.
f. No. You can complain if it bothers you and they can be warned and penalized.
g. No. On your time the opponent isn't allowed to distract you for any reason... of course if you're ok with it then it's no problem.
Agree with making the move, and then stopping the clock.
On the draw issue, I had a problem once. Opponent offered a draw, but because of the mingling with other players in the tournament hall, her friends had advised her to play on. With the offer now rejected, there was nothing for me to say as I had failed in attaining the signature of my opponent.
And yes the continual request to adjust is common and seems like a cheap ploy. Again, sometimes, when the TD is called, it comes down to the opponents words against mine issue.
Thank you wafflemaster.
It does save some seconds from the clock, if you move first, and then stop the clock. Then we write down the move.
For if you do write down the move, and then move the piece, and then stop the clock, seconds are wasted.
And you hardly feel the seconds wasted away when you are playing one of those standard live chess, on any server, because we do not get the feel of writing and stopping the clock when we play live chess.
Just a H.A.O.C.T [ Humble Anna's Opinion of Chess Things ;) ]
And thanks for the USCF link, Scottk
I am glad I found this
Q: Why?
A: If the player’s mobile phone produces any sound during the game, that player’s game shall be instantly declared as lost (FIDE Laws of Chess). Even if switched off, a mobile phone may wake up with an alarm. The spectator, whose phone makes a sound, will be requested to immediately leave the tournament venue. Any electronic device with communication capabilities is generally not allowed inside the playing area.
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Shake hands with your opponent before start of each of your game of chess.
Shake hands with your opponent at the end of each of your game of chess.
Q: Why?
A: It is proper chess etiquette to do so. Any player refusing to accept a handshake before the start of a game will be warned, and ultimately defaulted.
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Silence please.
Q: Why?
A: It is proper chess etiquette to do so. Chess players need to concentrate, to be able enjoy all benefits of practising the sport of chess and to create their chess art over-the-board. Any noise in the tournament area, and especially during game play, either from the player or the spectator, will not help towards these efforts.
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Press the button on the chess clock with the same hand with which you have played your move.
Q: Why?
A: It is proper chess etiquette to do so. Pressing the clock with the other hand is not allowed (FIDE Laws of Chess). Pressing the clock with a captured chess piece is considered as very poor chess etiquette.
If your opponent, after playing a move, forgets to press the clock, it is considered poor chess etiquette to remind them to do so. You should not interfere, and ignore.
If your opponent is taking a very long time to play a move, it is considered very poor chess etiquette to request them to play.
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Arrive in time to your chess match.
Q: Why?
A: To avoid the inconvenience of being “zero-started” and losing the match without play.
FIDE (World Chess Federation) new regulation stipulates that the beginning of the playing session/s (respective rounds) shall be announced by the Chief Arbiter or by a single acoustic signal. At this instant, any Player who is not seated at his/her Match (board) shall be defaulted immediately. Where both Players are absent at the beginning of the playing session, both Players shall lose the game by default.
The “Zero Start” ruling is made mandatory for all FIDE events from 1st July 2009. The Singapore Chess Federation has implemented the “Zero Start” for all our tournaments to help our players adjust to this new ruling.
If a Player is defaulted for one round due to the “Zero Start” rule, he may ask the Chief Arbiter to reinstate him for subsequent rounds.
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Q: Why?
A: Maintain the tournament & training venues clean. Only mineral water is allowed.
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Q: Adjusting Pieces?
A: Once the game has started, only the player with the move may touch the pieces on the board.
- Adjust any piece (yours or opponent’s) which is not properly centered – on your own time only.
- Never adjust pieces (yours or opponent’s) on your opponent’s time.
- If a player with the move wishes to touch a piece (their or opponent’s) with the intention of adjusting its position on a square, the player must first alert their opponent of their intention by saying “Adjusting” or “J’adoube”. If adjusting more than one piece at the same time, say “Adjusting” beforehand only once. Adjust the misplaced piece with your pen, rather than by hand.
- Adjusting pieces on your opponent’s time, and also frequently adjusting pieces on one’s own time, are both considered as very poor chess etiquette and may also be subject to arbiter’s penalties in tournament games, as described in the FIDE Laws of Chess.
- True chess masters will always keep all their pieces centered on squares, without the need for adjusting them.
- Be a true winner!
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Q: Touch-Move?
A: In both tournament and casual play, if a player having the move touches one of their pieces as if having the intention of moving it, then the player must move it if it can be legally moved.
- So long as the hand has not left the piece on a new square, the latter can be placed on any accessible square.
- Castling is considered as a “King’s move”. When castling (either Kingside/Short Castling or Queenside/Long Castling), the King must be the first piece touched. When intending to castle, if the player touches their Rook first, they must play with the Rook instead, if it can be legally moved.
- If the touched piece cannot be moved there is no penalty in tournament games.
- When a pawn is moved to its eighth rank, once the player takes their hand off the pawn, it can no longer be substituted for a different move of the pawn. The choice of the promoted piece of own colour is finalised, when the piece has touched the square of promotion.
- In casual games, violating the touch-move rule (either intentionally or unintentionally) is considered as very poor chess etiquette, while in tournament games it is additionally subject to arbiter’s penalties, as described in the FIDE Laws of Chess.
- The touch-move rule promotes fair play and teaches players good discipline.
- True chess players never violate the touch-move rule, even if it means losing or not winning the game.
- True chess coaches never encourage players to violate the touch-move rule.
- Be a true winner!
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Q: Touch-Take?
A: In both tournament and casual play, if a player having the move touches one of the opponent’s pieces, with the intention to capture it, or without alerting the opponent on adjusting it, then they must capture that piece if it can be captured.
- In casual games, violating the touch-take rule (either intentionally or unintentionally) is considered as very poor chess etiquette, while in tournament games it is additionally subject to arbiter’s penalties, as described in the FIDE Laws of Chess.
- The touch-take rule promotes fair play and teaches players good discipline.
- True chess players never violate the touch-take rule, even if it means losing or not winning the game.
- True chess coaches never encourage players to violate the touch-take rule.
- Be a true winner!
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Q: Check?
A: In a tournament game, when checking your opponent’s King, never say “check”. Why? It is proper chess etiquette to maintain silence instead.
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Q: Checkmate?
A: After checkmating your opponent, never stop the clocks. Press the button on your side of the clock instead. Why? It is proper chess etiquette.
- In a tournament game, never say “checkmate” to the opponent. Why? It is proper chess etiquette. Your opponent should recognise the checkmate, stop the clocks, resign, and congratulate you on a good game.
- Depending on the organiser’s event rules and regulations, you may then summon the arbiter-in-charge or approach the pairing officer to register your game result.
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Q: Draw?
A: Repeatedly offering a draw is considered very poor chess etiquette. It may also be subject to arbiter’s penalties, as described in the FIDE Laws of Chess. Offering the opponent a draw in a clearly losing position is also considered as very poor chess etiquette.
- True chess players never offer a draw in a losing position.
- True chess coaches never encourage players to offer a draw in a losing position.
- Be a true winner!
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Q: Walking?
A: Walking inside the playing area with your game still in progress is generally not recommended. However interesting it may be to watch other ongoing games, this does not help with concentrating on your own game of chess.
- Standing behind your opponent is considered as very poor chess etiquette.
- After ending the game, both players assume roles of a spectator and are not allowed inside the playing area until before the start of a next round.
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Q: Appeal?
A: If there is a dispute, the Chief Arbiter or the Chief Organiser as appropriate should make every effort to resolve matters by reconciliation. It is possible that such means fail and the dispute is such that penalties are appropriate, but not specifically defined by the FIDE Laws of Chess or the event’s Regulations. In these situations, the Chief Arbiter or Chief Organiser shall have discretionary power to impose penalties. They should seek to maintain discipline and offer other solutions which may placate the offended parties.A player may appeal against any ruling made by the Chief Arbiter or the Chief Organiser or one of their assistants, provided the appeal is accompanied by a fee and submitted in written form not later than the deadline. Both fee and deadline shall be fixed in advance. The decisions of the Appeals Committee shall be final. The fee is returnable if the appeal is successful. It may also be returned if the appeal is unsuccessful but considered reasonable in the view of the Appeals Committee. ____________________________________________________________________________________
Q: Player’s conduct?
A: Once a player has formally registered for a chess event, they must play except in cases of force majeure, such as illness or incapacity. Registering for another event is not considered a valid reason for not participating or withdrawing from an event already registered in.
- A player who does not wish to continue a game and leaves without resigning or notifying the arbiter is discourteous. He may be penalised, at the discretion of the Chief Arbiter, for poor sportsmanship.
- A player may speak only as permitted by the FIDE Laws of Chess and event’s Regulations. A player may not speak about his game while it is in progress.
- Any complaints concerning the behaviour of players (or captains, if with a team event) must be made to the arbiter-in-charge. A player is not permitted to complain directly to his opponent.
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Q: Prompting?
A: A player or spectator heard or seen (by an arbiter-in-charge) prompting to another player may be expelled from the tournament immediately. The Chief Arbiter or the Chief Organiser shall have discretionary power to impose additional penalties for the chess offender.
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Q: Dress Code?
A: All participants of a chess event should be dressed in a suitable manner.
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Q: Endgame?
A: After your game has ended, reset all the pieces to their starting positions. Why? It is proper chess etiquette to do so. It also shows respect to the organizer and their efforts in setting up the chess boards prior to your game arrival.
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If wishing to learn more on Chess Etiquette and the FIDE Laws of Chess, register your interest with the Singapore Chess Federation. The SCF annually organises a Seminar for Arbiters, where these and many other related topics are covered in detail and lectured by World Chess Federation (FIDE) certified International Arbiters. FIDE-accredited Chess Arbiters Registered in Singapore
page posted 19 March 2011
last updated 31 March 2012
Web page http://www.singaporechess.org.sg/new/?p=8776
a. Do we move the piece, stop the clock, and then write the move down or, can we write our move down, move the piece, and then stop the clock?
b. If my opponent makes a request for a draw, can the request be made on my time?
c. And if a draw is agreed, do both opponents submit their scoresheet? Or do we both sign on one scoresheet, and submit that?
d. Can a player, after agreeing to a draw, retract his or her decision for a draw? What measures do we take to prevent or what action here is needed in the event it happens?
e. Is my opponent allowed to socialize, mingle with other players, while in the midst of a game in progress?
f. The concept of adjust or j'adoue, can this be done on my clock? Example, the opponent consistently declares adjust while my clock is running?
g. And can the opponent make a request for me to adjust my pieces on my clock?
I am sorry if these questions seem over the board dramatic, it's just that I have been through slamming pieces on the chess clock then on the vinyl board, unbelievably fake tourette syndrome gestures, unusual grunting noises, clumsy fingers dropping pieces on floor then bumping his head under the table, grrrrrrr
The Amateur Tournaments here are sometimes run by semi-clueless hyper teens that are multi-tasking Grand Theft Auto or Final Fantasy or Call of Duty behind the registration counters, while managing their own tournament games, it's really hard to imagine the unimaginable kiosk.
The seniors are around, somewhere, some place, but they seem to make themselves unavailable once the VIP's take their leave after the opening ceremony in the morning.
It's hard to get the answers on the regulations or queries on the FIDE handbook. Anyhow, that was my brief experience some years back. I am intending to play again, but I do not know if it is worth the time as my playing strength is still nothing to be desired as over the board game worthy. My job is the other factor hmmmmm
Thanking the chess community of chess.com in advance