However, ... if By Geurt Gijssen The following is a very important sentence in the Laws of Chess: However, the game is drawn if the position is such that the opponent cannot checkmate the player’s king by any possible series of legal moves. This sentence is written in Article 6.9 and Article 7.5b. Also important are the sentences written just before this one in the same Articles: Article 6.9: If a player does not complete the prescribed number of moves in the allotted time, the game is lost by that player. Article 7.5b: For the second completed illegal move by the same player the arbiter shall declare the game lost by this player. I will paraphrase Article 6.9 for illustrative … [Read more...]
An Arbiter's NotebookBy Geurt Gijssen
The Return of the Aeroflot Festival in Moscow
The Return of the Aeroflot Festival in Moscow By Geurt Gijssen After a break of some years there was again an Aeroflot Festval in Moscow, and again at the Hotel Cosmos, a large hotel with 1,700 rooms. The main organiser of the event is Alexander Bakh, who deserves praise for his efforts to revive the Festival. Without him it would not have been possible. There were again three tournaments: Tournament A was for players with a rating over 2549; Tournament B was for players with a rating higher than 2299 and lower than 2550; and Tournament C for those with a rating lower than 2300. Each tournament had a different time control: Tournament A: 100 minutes for 40 moves, then 50 … [Read more...]
Adjourned Games
Adjourned Games By Geurt Gijssen In the FIDE Handbook it is written in the Rating Regulation: For a game to be rated, each player must have the following minimum periods in which to complete all the moves, assuming the game lasts 60 moves. Where at least one of the players in the tournament has a rating 2200 or higher, each player must have a minimum of 120 minutes. Where at least one of the players in the tournament has a rating 1600 or higher, each player must have a minimum of 90 minutes. Where all the players in the tournament are rated below 1600, each player must have a minimum of 60 minutes. Based on the first sentence of this Article, it is logical to assume that adjourned … [Read more...]
Rules for Blind and Visually Disabled Players
Rules for Blind and Visually Disabled Players By Geurt Gijssen Question: I recently served as deputy arbiter in the Central American Chess Team Championship for blind and disabled players; and I have some doubts about the special rules for blind people and their relationship with the Laws of Chess. I searched on the Internet, but I did not find any related topics, so I would appreciate your opinion about the issues in the questions below. FA Carolina Muñoz (Costa Rica) Answer and Two Preliminary Remarks: 1. For twenty years I was chairman of the Rules Committee/Commission. Every time that we had the possibility to revise the Laws of Chess, and, of course, the Appendices as well, … [Read more...]
Quickplay Finishes and an Old Incident
Quickplay Finishes and an Old Incident by Geurt Gijssen Question: Hi Geurt. I refer to the Quickplay Finishes rules now defined in the Appendix G, and in particular to the Article G.4: If the player having the move has less than two minutes left on his clock, he may request that a time delay or cumulative time of an extra five seconds be introduced for both players, if possible. This constitutes the offer of a draw. If refused, and the arbiter agrees to the request, the clocks shall then be set with the extra time; the opponent shall be awarded two extra minutes and the game shall continue. In Italy some problems occurred with it. On occasion in rapid games (15 minutes without … [Read more...]
Chess Tables
Chess Tables by Geurt Gijssen Regarding chess tables, the FIDE Handbook sets forth the following in the Tournament Regulations: The size of a table should have a minimum length of twice the length of the chessboard and a width of 15 – 20 cm more than the chessboard. It is recommended to use tables with a minimum size of 120 x 80 cm for top level FIDE tournaments. The height of a table and the chairs should be comfortable for the players. Any noise when moving the chairs should be avoided. During the meeting of the Technical Commission in Tromsö it was discussed to change this Article as follows: For all official FIDE Tournaments the length of the table is 110 cm (with 15% tolerance). … [Read more...]
Some Observations and Interesting Cases
by Geurt Gijssen I recently arbitrated at a chess tournament that included many “amateurs”. I made some observations and in some cases I had to take decisions and then explain them, although they seemed very obvious to me. Notation 1. There were some players who wrote the moves in their own scorebook, although official scoresheets were put on each board before the start of the round. In my opinion only scoresheets provided by the organiser may be used during the game. The reason is that a player who uses his own scoresheet may refuse to show this to the arbiter and even refuse to deliver it after the finish of the game. This means that some checks to some claims are impossible. To … [Read more...]
What are the Preferred Tiebreak Criteria?
by Geurt Gijssen Question Dear Geurt, In Blitz games without an increment, you often see players try to flag the opponent by aimlessly shuffling pieces around. I have often wondered why this way of winning games, without showing any plan, can be allowed. The old 10.2 (now G.5) was designed to avoid this in all types of positions, but is only available in Standard/Rapid games without increment, or if all the Blitz games are supervised by a dedicated arbiter. In the final Armageddon game Socko-Foisor of the 2008 World Women Chess Championship, N vs. N occurred on the board, and Foisor tried to appeal to the arbiters for a draw with hand gestures. The arbiters, after flag fall, declared the … [Read more...]
Still Many Things to Explain
Question Can an Italian Regional Arbiter with a FIDE Licence officiate a FIDE Rapid/Blitz tournament in another country? Regards! Arbitro Regionale Vincenzo Zaccaria (Italy) Answer I refer to Article 0.3 of the Introduction of the FIDE Rating Regulations effective from 1 July 2014 in the FIDE Handbook: All arbiters of a FIDE rated tournament shall be licensed otherwise the tournament shall not be rated. Based on this Article, yes it is possible, in my opinion, because I do not see any restriction regarding the nationality of the arbiter in a FIDE-rated event. The only requirement is that he needs to be licensed. Question Hi Geurt, Regarding the very last question in your August … [Read more...]
What is a Push Counter, and What is a Standard Game?
Question Dear Geurt, In light of new regulations taking effect from 1 July 2014, I have a question regarding the flag fall in a Rapid or Blitz game. In article A.4.c it is written: To claim a win on time, the claimant must stop the chess clock and notify the arbiter. For the claim to be successful, the claimant must have time remaining on his own clock after the chess clock has been stopped. However, the game is drawn if the position is such that the opponent cannot checkmate the player's king by any possible series of legal moves. According to this rule, it is obvious that a player having a right to claim a win on time is obliged to stop the chess clock and summon the arbiter, and he … [Read more...]