Just the Rules: Rulebook Wanna Be(s)

Getting a new rule into the rulebook — or revising an old time rule — can take different paths before they are considered by the Delegates at their annual meeting. Changes can be proposed as motions at the Membership meeting, on the advanced Delegates' Meeting agenda, or live, at their meeting, by a Delegate. Some rules take a lot of debate, some do not. In the end the Delegates give the new wording a thumbs up, thumbs down, or a thumb that is parallel with the floor (undecided).

A few columns ago we took a look some of the rules changes the 2025 Delegates debated. Once the smoke cleared, a few of those rules got sent off to the Rules Committee for another look see. The committee will report back to the 2026 Delegates about its own thumbs up or down. The Delegates will then give those proposals a second pass-or-fail go around. Those rules have not passed yet, but they might at the 2026 meeting and will go into effect in 2027.

And, what are those proposed adjustments, you ask? Take a peek at these summations:

From the World of Blitz Chess Comes a Proposal for a New Rule 7e:

Current Rule: 7e. An illegal move doesn't negate a player's right to claim on time, provided it is made prior to an opponent's claim of an illegal move. If the claims are simultaneous, the player who made the illegal move loses.

Proposed New Rule: 7e. A player whose opponent’s time has expired can claim a win on time if the player’s last completed move was a legal move.  A player who completes an illegal move cannot claim a win on time unless and until the opponent determines a subsequent move.  If it is not possible to establish whether the opponent determined a move before or after the player claimed a win on time, or if they both happened simultaneously, the player who completed the illegal move loses, provided the opponent has sufficient mating material as defined in rule 7c

TJ Says: Making an illegal move right as time is just about to expire can cause a lot of confusion. The opponent’s time may expire before they can claim the illegality. In short, it is considered a dirty trick. One that needs fixing. 

Standard Equipment

Current Rule: The last sentence of 39A (Choice of equipment) reads: The Director is the final arbiter to whether the equipment in question is standard.

Proposed New Wording: Change the last sentence of 39A (Choice of equipment) to: The Director is the final arbiter to whether the equipment in question is standard, except that no player shall be required to play on a board that has a symbol on a square.

TJ Says: This one has been around in several failed rule changes so far. Objections to those provided boards with a picture on one, or all, of the corner squares generated this current version. If this passes, then some method of replacing, upon request, picture-bearing boards with non-picture-bearing boards would be needed.

Piece Adjustments

Current Rule: 10A. Adjustment of pieces. A player who is on the move and first expresses the intention to adjust (e.g., by saying j’adoube or I adjust) may adjust one or more pieces on their squares.

The Proposed Change is to add a sentence to rule 10A: Adjusting of the opponents’ pieces can only be done on the immediate move after said piece (or pawn) has been moved.

TJ Says: This change is aimed at the opponent that continues to adjust all the pieces on every move.

Scorekeeping

Current Rule: Rule 15A. Manner of keeping score. In the course of play each player is required to record the game (both the player’s and the opponent’s moves), move after move, as clearly and legibly as possible, on the scoresheet prescribed for the competition. Algebraic notation is standard, but descriptive or computer notation is permitted. The player must first make the move and then record it on the scoresheet. The scoresheet shall be visible to the arbiter (tournament directors) and the opponent throughout the game.

Proposed Rule: Add a sentence at the end of 15A: Scorekeeping is not required in time controls that are quick rated but not dual rated.

New Rule: The following section shall be added to the end of Chapter 11, Blitz Chess: 19). Scorekeeping is not required.

TJ Says: These changes would cement the words needed to spell out the current practice which is now absent from the rules.

Chapter 9: Official US Chess Correspondence Chess Rules

New Chapter 9: A US Chess staffer is the current Correspondence Chess Director. He is not a Delegate. I am; so, as a favor I sponsored his procedural and technical motion on all the changes (too long to list here) in Chapter 9. My last email with him indicated that he planned to be at the 2026 convention to answer the Delegates’ questions that zeroed in on the proposed changes to rule 5a. He has a fix for those Delegates that have concerns about their opponent not replying to a move in the allotted time and the penalty involved.

Proposed Change to Rule 5 (bolded) currently being reviewed by the Rules Committee: 5. The following time controls are allowable for US Chess CC events:

a. 30 days reflection time for each 10 moves, with a maximum of 10 days for any one move. You may carry unused time over from one time period into the next time period.

b. A set number of days per move, with a minimum of at least 3 days.

c. International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF) (www.iccf.com) time controls in accordance with ICCF rule 2.4.1 Time Allowed and Penalties and Tournament Announcements.

TJ Says: This is an overhaul of the correspondence rules that are out of date.

Do you have any favorites here? I suspect a whole new set of different rulebook changes will be coming before the Delegates at their 2026 meeting. We can look at them later.

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 his interview hosted by Kathy Lin (Columbus Chess Academy).

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.