Just the Rules: 2025 US Chess Rulebook Update News

After the Delegates Meeting at the U,S. Open, there are bound to be some rulebook changes. After all, the Delegates are in charge of our rules.

The 2025 7th edition rulebook update is slim pickings for this go around. A few wording deletions and changes of note are all we have. In fact, there were so few changes that only the online rulebook will reflect those new words (sorry, no print edition). The link at the end of this column is repeated here: 7th Edition Rule Book Free Chapters: Updated For 2025 | US Chess.org

Or, simply slide down to the bottom of the US Chess homepage and try that connection.

14F1. The 50-move rule.

TJ SAYS: Rule 14F1 removed, “…or pawn move…,” in favor of the clarifying, “…and without any pawn move.”

14F1. Explanation.

The game is drawn when the player on move claims a draw and demonstrates that the last 50 consecutive moves have been made by each side without any capture or pawn move and without any pawn move. If the director wishes to allow more than 50 moves for certain positions, details must be posted at the tournament before the first round. See also 15H, Reporting of results.

28D1. Non-US Chess ratings verified.

TJ SAYS: The 28D1 rule change for 2025 did not pass before the Delegates’ eyes. Instead, your friendly editor picked up on the fact that changes had been made to the official formulas that are used to convert FIDE ratings into US Chess. So, that change is now reflected in our 2025 edition. The old formulas are referenced in an Old TD TIP insertion.

General conversion:

USChess = -1073 + 1.5667*FIDE if FIDE <= 2000

USChess = 20 + 1.02*FIDE if FIDE > 2000

OLD TD TIP: Here are the old formulas for the sake of reference.

1. US Chess = FIDE + 50
   1. US Chess = 0.895 (FIDE) + 367
   2. US Chess = FIDE + 100

OLD Formula (1) represents an average conversion. This means that 50 percent of the time the FIDE-rated player will be stronger than his or her converted US Chess rating would indicate. This becomes important for prize considerations when the FIDE rating is in the low 2100s; i.e., FIDE players between 2100 and 2149 will remain in the US Chess Expert class after their ratings are converted with this formula. By using OLD formula (2), the FIDE-rated player will be stronger than his or her converted US Chess rating only 10 percent of the time, thus providing a degree of protection for the players with established US Chess ratings. OLD Formula (3) provides a great degree of protection for players with established US Chess ratings without compromising the integrity of the FIDE player’s strength compared to their new converted US Chess estimate rating. The above is for players with FIDE ratings but no US Chess ratings.

TD TIP: For more information on conversions go to section 2.1 in the US Chess rating system document: us_chess_rating_system_specs-2024-03-01.pdf (uschess.org)

Chapter 7

TJ SAYS: TD Certification rules 25, 29, 33, and 37 had some new, plus deleted, wording regarding TD certification; i.e., expirations and renewals. The “chief” and “chief assistant” jobs language has vanished from the rulebook. In their place is wording that simplifies those former requirements. Now, only the appropriate number of tournaments worked as a TD — instead of the “chief” or “chief assistant” jobs — is the new standard.

25. Expiration. 

Three-year renewable term. Every three years, the club TD may apply to extend the Club TD Certification for an additional three years. This three-year renewal requires that the applicant pass an objective test of moderate difficulty designed to measure the applicant’s knowledge of basic rules at the 70% level. Except for the first exam, which may not be waived, the testing requirement for re-certification is waived for a Club TD with satisfactory performance as the chief or chief assistant a TD of three tournaments or a TD at three different tournaments during the three-year term. Club TDs meeting the rating and directing experience requirements are encouraged to take the Local TD exam. Club TDs passing the Club TD exam at the 80% level that also meet the experience and rating requirements for Local TD certification may have their Club TD certification automatically upgraded to a Local TD certification

29. Expiration. 

Four-year renewable term: The testing requirement for re-certification is waived for a local TD with satisfactory performance as the chief or chief assistant TD of four tournaments a TD at four different tournaments during the four-year term.

33. Expiration. 

Five-year renewable term: The testing requirement for re-certification is waived for a Senior TD with satisfactory performance as the chief or chief assistant TD of five tournaments a TD at five different tournaments during the five-year term.

37. Expiration. 

Six-year renewable terms: The testing requirement for re-certification is waived for an ANTD with satisfactory performance as the chief or chief assistant TD of six tournaments a TD at six different tournaments during the six-year term.  

TD TIPs.

5A. Time controls and time limits.

TJ SAYS: The rule 5A TIP further explains the differences between a time control with a number of required moves — like 30 moves in 45 minutes — and a time control without any required number of moves — like G/45.

TD TIP: G/45 is an example of a game that ends in a single time control period of 45 minutes. There is no limit on the number of moves that must be made. There is a limit on the allotted time for each player to end their game. There are no new time periods available after the allotted time expires. In this example if a player that does not win their game (regardless of the number moves they made) in 45 minutes, they lose the game when their flag falls.

32b3. Ties for more than one prize.

TJ SAYS: What happens when players qualify for more than one prize and are tied with fellow competitors? The revised TIP for 32b3 addresses which prize to use for the prize pool that is split, like when a wood-pusher is tied for a place prize and may also claim a class prize.

TD TIP: The number of prizes in the pool to be split may not exceed the number of players in the tie. Only the largest cash prize earned by each player is the amount added to the pool for that player.

Want more? Past columns can be found here or by searching the Chess Life Online archives. 

Plus, listen to Tim when he was a guest on the podcasts “One Move at a Time” and “The Chess Angle.”

Tim Just is a National Tournament Director, FIDE National Arbiter, and editor of the 5th, 6th, and 7th editions of the US Chess Rulebook. He is also the author of My Opponent is Eating a Doughnut & Just Law, the latter of which is also available from US Chess Sales. Additionally, Tim revised The Guide To Scholastic Chess, a guide created to help teachers and scholastic organizers who wish to begin, improve, or strengthen their school chess program. US Chess awarded the 2022 Tournament Director Lifetime Achievement Award to Tim. He is also a member of the US Chess Rules Committee plus the Tournament Director Certification Committee (TDCC). His new column, exclusive to US Chess, “Just the Rules” will help clarify potentially confusing regulations.