Just the Rules: January's Rulebook Updates 2026

Editor's note, Dec. 3, 2025: The section on the TDAC (formerly TDCC) has been slightly revised on a technical level.

What rules updates, changes, deletions, and additions can you expect starting in January of 2026? Fasten your seat belts, here we go.

Delegate me this, Delegate me that:

The Delegates only passed one rule improvement for 2026!

The upgrade was so good it eliminated the need for the old rule’s TD TIP. Just nine little words (in italics) made everything crystal clear in the Blitz rules:

18. Subject to the right of appeal to US Chess, the decision of the chief tournament director is final.

FYI, the old rule plus the gone-baby-gone TIP:

Old Blitz Rule: 18. The decision of the tournament director is final.

TD TIP: This rule’s intent stated more accurately could be: “The decision of the chief tournament director is final.” Many Blitz events have a staff of TDs. The decision of a floor TD can obviously be appealed to the chief TD. An “appeals committee” or a “special referee” would unnecessarily delay the tournament. Players may appeal directly to US Chess, via their appeals process, after the event is over.

From the Powers That Be (AKA The Executive Board):

The TDCC has a new moniker: TDAC. The Tournament Director Certification Committee (TDCC) had their name changed to Tournament Director & Arbiter Committee (TDAC) to deal with FIDE arbiter certification and Arbiter directing miscues (Chapter 7).

The TDAC is currently adding official regulations regarding USA Tournament Directors obtaining the Arbiter of National Level (FIDE NA) license. FIDE confers Arbiters of National Level via paperwork/recommendations from US Chess. There are some hoops for the candidates to jump through on the US Chess side, the current version of which can be viewed here. Candidates then must pay a FIDE fee that US Chess passes along to FIDE. Those FIDE NA license requirements are scheduled to be available in January at this link. Note: Link subject to change without notice.

Housekeeping:

5C’s TD TIP changed “standard” to “ratable:” “Examples of ~~standard~~ ratable time controls:”

Rule 15C has a revised TD TIP that deleted wording that is obsolete.

Rule 21E deleted a “See also” that is now invalid.

Rule 28D1 updated the links in the TD TIP regarding ratings conversions to US Chess from foreign countries.

The link in Chapter 10 rule 2B was updated.

There were some “See also” additions to Blitz rules 1a, 1b and 2b. The “See also” of each rule now refers the reader to more possible info in the classic chess rules in chapter 1.

A shoutout to Micah Smith for his help with these housekeeping chores.

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 “One Move at a Time”, “The Chess Angle” and my interview hosted by Kathy Lin (Columbus Chess Academy).

Tim Just is a National Tournament Director, FIDE National Arbiter, and editor of the 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th 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.