Just the Rules: Short Quiz Time!

1. Whose Pick Is It Anyway?

You arrive at your board before the game has started. Your opponent, playing white, has set up their equipment. The set and board are the standard chess warriors we have all come to know and love. The only issue is that their timer occupies your left side of the playing arena — your opponent’s right side. Since you were assigned to lead the black pieces, you point out that you can choose the placement of the game clock; i.e., on your right-hand side of the board. Your opponent protests. Your adversary points out that since they set up the equipment first, they get to choose the clock placement. Time for some TD intervention:

A. The TD allows your opponent to place the clock anywhere they want for this contest. They set up the equipment first, so they get to choose.
B. The TD allows you to set up the clock on your right-hand side of the board.
C. The TD tells you two to work it out between yourselves.
D. Any of the above is correct.

2. Looking For Help in All the Wrong Places.

Pieces are being slammed onto the playing field with the force of Thor’s hammer. Each chess general has five minutes to enter the winner’s circle. You sloppily continue to scribble down both your and your opponent’s maneuvers — despite the fact that, at this point, you are not required to. Your adversary is noting nothing on her scoresheet — instead her dad, spectating off to the side, is notating the game for her. You ask him to stop. He refuses, saying, “My daughter needs a copy of the game for later analysis.” He continues to keep notation for her. A couple of moves later he makes a claim using the scoresheet as proof. Time for TD intervention:

A. The TD allows the parent to notate and warns him that the score cannot be used in any claim.
B. The TD tells the parent to stop taking notation for his daughter.
C. The TD removes the dad from the playing area.
D. Any of the above is a ruling the TD has the authority to make.

3. You Are So Beautiful to Me.

Before the first pawn or piece is deployed, you call the TD over to your board. You claim your opponent’s board and pieces are not regulation. Your counterpart points out that he is essaying the black pieces, as per the pairings, and can choose the equipment. While the board is made up of bright, flowing, light-lime-and-rouge-red squares, the chess armies are also unexpected colors. His black pieces are really light blue. Your white army is bright yellow-green (chartreuse). What should the TD do?

A. The TD notes that while the board and pieces are regulation sizes, their colors make them non-standard and a distraction. The equipment needs to be replaced.
B. Your opponent is allowed to use his equipment.
C. The TD allows the board but disallows the pieces.
D. The TD allows the pieces and disallows the board.

SOLUTIONS

1. Rule 29A1 in chapter four (Equipment Standards) in the current rulebook applies here. Why? You were not late for the game. You came before the start of the round. You may choose where to set up the chess clock. Here Option B is correct.

2. Your rival’s dad is a spectator. The dynamic duo of Rule 20M1 (Spectators have no special privileges) and 20M5 (Spectators cannot make claims) applies here. Those two regulations essentially give the TD the authority to go in just about any direction--A, B. or C could all apply. So, Option D (any of the above…) is the correct answer. On a personal note, I would lean towards option A. The claim will be denied if the daughter makes the same claim as her dad. Why? There is no score (proof) to back her up. IMHO a good warning and explanation to dad is something of a win-win here.

3. We are again back into Chapter four (Equipment Standards). Option A is the right way to go. 

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).