Just The Rules: How Common Is This?

Time Control Hack?

Remember this from the old days? You were on move 37 of a 40/90 (40 moves must be made in 90 minutes) contest. Your time was running very low. It was the era before time delay, increment, and sudden death. The position is complicated. You decide to force the position to be repeated twice: a small two step dance. Why? That gains you two more moves on your scoresheet. You are now on move 39 and one step away from making move 40 on time. You are one step away from that fatal flag fall. This hack still works the same way with something like a 40/90, d. 5 game time control.

This two-step dance also works with increment. While the result is slightly different (you gain time), the idea is still the same. Given a time control of G/90, inc. 30 (sudden death in 90 minutes with a 30-second add on for each move) you see a way to force a two-move position repetition. That adds a valuable extra sixty seconds to your thinking time. How common is this?

Electronic Notation Devices?

They were all the rage: MonRoi, eNotate, PlyCounter, ChessnoteR, etc. They were craved by many. US Chess even certified them. Some of those approved electronic device manufactures have even shut down. One major problem was that several of those game scoring devices were housed in old cell phone cases. That, of course, led to speculation of outside contact (cheating), which was never proven. One manufacturer faced a parts shortage. The sale of these gizmos has fallen short of expectations. Plus, some events ban all electronic gear, including approved notation devices. So, how common are these devices at tournaments?

An Empty Section?

Did you ever show up at a tournament and noticed one of the sections had no players? What happens to that prize money? According to the rulebook it does not need to be distributed (rule 32C3). Be aware that sometimes a wood-pusher will notice that zero entries section, withdraw from their section and then enter the no-player section. Why? Because rule 32C2 will insist that the sole wood-pusher in that section can take home a prize. How common is this?

Membership Expiration During the Tournament?

The tournament was a two-day affair. After day one your friend withdraws. Why? It turns out that their US Chess membership expires at midnight on the first day of the event. They can’t afford to renew right now. Their membership will be expired on day two of the tournament. The problem is that US Chess requires that all memberships must be active throughout the entire event, even for withdrawn players. The tournament will not be rated if there is even one lapsed membership at the end of the event. The TD or Organizer can pay a fee — okay, a small fine — to get the tournament rated. That process does have some hoops to jump through. How common is this?

The free, updated US Chess Rules (Chapters 1+2 + 9 + 10 +11 from the 7th edition rulebook) are now downloadable and available online.

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 US Chess podcast “One Move at a Time.”

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, which are both available from US Chess Sales and Amazon/Kindle. 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.