Just the Rules: Contradictory Rules Quiz

Our rulebook has some rules that require a face-off: apparently contradictory rules that each claim they are top dog. A pair of rules, in other words, that require a TD as the referee. Can you navigate the tension and ace this quiz?

1) Draw Offers Versus Annoying Behavior

Your game is a contest of one exclamation-worthy move after another. For every move, there is an equal, opposite countermove from your opponent. As the time control approaches, you have a notion. A series of steps that give you a slight advantage. You are making progress. Your plan will, at the very least, give your opponent pause to think.

Your challenger’s response is to move quickly and offer a draw — over and over and over and over.

Of course, you decline each of the seemingly uncountable offers. Yes, your rival properly makes his move and then immediately offers the draw before starting your timer, as the rulebook specifies, but enough is enough. You stop the clocks and summon the TD to complain that the repeated draw offers are annoying (Rule 20G). Your opponent insists he is allowed to offer draws (Rule 14B1).

A) Your opponent can continue to offer draws, it’s his right.
B) Your opponent must stop offering draws.
C) Your opponent is warned. He can only offer draws when the position has significantly changed.
D) None of the above.

2) Piece Adjustments Versus Annoying Behavior

After each of your moves, your opponent (on his turn) adjusts several pieces on the board (both yours and his). He especially does not like chess soldiers that are not centered perfectly on their squares. Knights facing the wrong way really frost his cookies — he likes them faced sideways so they appear as they do in chess puzzles. You like your knights faced forward. Your rival does utter, “I adjust,” for each individual adjustment, as the rulebook specifies.

But all this adjusting often prevents you from seeing the board. You file a 20G (annoying behavior) complaint with the TD. Your opponent points out that rules 10A and 10F allow piece adjustments when it is his turn.

A) Your opponent can continue to adjust when it is his turn, but only the piece that you just moved.
B) Your opponent must ask permission from the TD to make any piece adjustments.
C) Either of the above.
D) None of the above.

3) No Electronic Equipment Versus Possible Exemptions

You are considered a tech wiz by a lot of fellow chess enthusiasts. Your club revels in the cell phone pictures you post on your club’s social media. The club is sponsoring this one-day weekend event. Before your contest starts, you explain to your adversary that, during the game you will be taking pictures of the event — with your phone — and posting them online. You even offer to pause the game timer to allow your opponent to watch every action you take to get the job done. You were given permission to do this by the TD.

“You can’t have electronic communication equipment turned on in the tournament room,” exclaims your opponent (Rule 20N). The TD is called over. She explains that she has given permission for you to take pictures and then post them online. Is she correct?

A) No: You may not use your phone for any reason during the game. Turn it off and put it away.
B) Yes: You may use your phone to take pictures and then post them online.
C) None of the above.

Solutions

1) There is even a special rule about this case; i.e., Rule 14B5, Repeated Offers. That rule acknowledges that repeated draw offers can be “construed” as annoying. Penalties may be imposed by the TD. Typically, the TD will first issue a warning, along with an explanation, before imposing penalties for any subsequent behavior. Since this is the first complaint, answer C is the correct choice.

2) Sometimes wood-pushers push the limits of a rule too far. This is one of those cases. Answer C looks out for the rights of both players.

3) The TD gave her permission. The first words of Rule 20N, Electronic communication devices: Without the permission of the director… You clearly have permission from the TD. Answer B works here.