Chess Tournament Rules

Tournament chess has rules and regulations in addition to the standard rules governing the movement of pieces and order of play. Being familiar with these rules is essential to your success in a tournament setting. The prestige and potential prizes available in a tournament separate it from the casual game of chess played at the dining room table. Knowing what to expect will allow you to concentrate on your game without being surprised.

Timing

To avoid having games that last for days, tournament games are timed using a chess clock. The chess clock contains two clocks connected so that when one is stopped, the other starts. Both players are given a set amount of time to complete the game or a specific number of moves. The clock is started for white before the first move of the game. As a player makes his move, he stops his clock, which starts the opponent's. A flag falls when time expires. The clock must be stopped with the same hand used to make a move to ensure that the other hand is not hovering over the clock to gain a few seconds. Keeping track of your time is important so as not to be forced to make hurried moves late in the game. Awareness without focusing on your time to the detriment of your game is vital to winning tournament chess.

Touch Move

Once a piece is touched, it must be moved. Keep your hands well away from the board until you are ready to make your move to avoid inadvertently or compulsively touching a piece you really do not want to move. In most cases, you will not be forced to make a move if you accidentally brush a piece with your hand. If you want to adjust a piece that is not centered on a square, announce, "I adjust," before touching it.

Recording Moves

Tournament rules usually require you to record both your and your opponent's moves during the game. You may reply to a move with your own before recording the opponent's move, but you must record your own move before making another. These regulations are relaxed with less than five minutes left on your clock. When the flag falls, you are required to update your score sheet.

Etiquette

High standards of etiquette are expected of players. Players are expected to refrain from distracting or annoying their opponents in any way. Cell phones should be turned off. Players are not to make use of any notes or advice during the game and are not permitted to analyze moves on another board. Players are not permitted to leave the venue without the arbiter's permission. The player with the move cannot leave the playing area without permission.

Tournament Formats

Chess tournaments can be organized in a variety of ways. One of the most popular is the Swiss tournament, in which players are initially paired with opponents of similar skill level. Winners advance, culminating in a final match between the two surviving competitors. In round-robin play, players are divided into sections and play all other players in that section. The player with the highest score when all games in a round are complete advances in the tournament. A knockout tournament is one in which groups are formed and a player continues until she loses a game and is eliminated. Group winners then form another group and continue until only one player remains.

References

• ChessBoss.com: Chess Tournaments