When your tournament game ends there are typically three results: a win, a draw or a loss. It turns out there is a fourth option: split results!
Understanding Split Results
Split results is a tool in a TD’s or US Chess committee’s toolbox that adjusts an inequitable game result. It upgrades an unjust game result into something fair for both players: a 1–0 game score could be changed into 1–½, etc. See the cases below for some examples.
Split results can be rated. The TD simply uses special codes when reporting those games to US Chess: N for a Win, R for a Draw and S for a Loss.
Split results are not required to be rated. Rather, it is up to the TD.
Split results are used for both prizes and pairings.
If a case is appealed to US Chess, one of their committees could impose a split result to resolve the appeal. The organizer might be required to redistribute the prize fund.
Example 1
You make a claim that the position has repeated three times. You are essaying the white pieces. Your opponent disagrees. It is time for the TD to get involved. After checking your scoresheet, etc., your friendly tournament official does not uphold your claim. While your scorekeeping ability — and penmanship — are not ideal, it is clear to you that there was a threefold repetition. Now, you are required to keep on pushing wood. Your opponent eventually checkmates you. The game ends with a score of 0–1. After all, it is hard to think when you know your claim was denied.
After your contest ends, you appeal the TD’s decision. Your scorekeeping ability is good enough to prove to the Chief TD that the threefold repetition claim should have been upheld. The Chief TD is on your side. The Big Kahuna declares the game a draw for you. Your opponent objects. She deserves her win, she argues, as it is not her fault that the initial TD made a bad call. The Chief TD declares a win for your opponent. The result is a split results of ½–1 as the new outcome of the game.
Example 2
You are the general of the black pieces. In time trouble you and your counterpart are banging on the game timer. Pieces are racing from one square to another. Some pieces are flying off the board. No one seems to have an advantage. An audience gathers around to watch the show. And then it happens: you blunder. Instantly, someone in the crowd yells out, “Take the Knight, it’s free!” The bystander is removed from the playing room. The knight capture is obvious. Your opponent grabs your errant stead. You are down a piece. A few moves later you lose. The game score is 1–0 in your opponent’s favor. You protest.
Your opponent had help, and that’s not fair. If the clear knight capture had been overlooked by your counterpart, the game was headed towards a draw. You point out that the bystander helped him find that move. The TD’s solution is a split results score: 1–½. Your opponent keeps their win. You get the half-point. Equity!
Bill Smythe, Jeff Wiewel and Mike Nolan contributed to this month’s column. Thanks guys!
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 podcasts “One Move at a Time” and “The Chess Angle.”
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.
Categories
Archives
- September 2024 (3)
- August 2024 (27)
- July 2024 (44)
- June 2024 (27)
- May 2024 (32)
- April 2024 (51)
- March 2024 (34)
- February 2024 (25)
- January 2024 (26)
- December 2023 (29)
- November 2023 (26)
- October 2023 (37)
- September 2023 (27)
- August 2023 (37)
- July 2023 (47)
- June 2023 (33)
- May 2023 (37)
- April 2023 (45)
- March 2023 (37)
- February 2023 (28)
- January 2023 (31)
- December 2022 (23)
- November 2022 (32)
- October 2022 (31)
- September 2022 (19)
- August 2022 (39)
- July 2022 (32)
- June 2022 (35)
- May 2022 (21)
- April 2022 (31)
- March 2022 (33)
- February 2022 (21)
- January 2022 (27)
- December 2021 (36)
- November 2021 (34)
- October 2021 (25)
- September 2021 (25)
- August 2021 (41)
- July 2021 (36)
- June 2021 (29)
- May 2021 (29)
- April 2021 (31)
- March 2021 (33)
- February 2021 (28)
- January 2021 (29)
- December 2020 (38)
- November 2020 (40)
- October 2020 (41)
- September 2020 (35)
- August 2020 (38)
- July 2020 (36)
- June 2020 (46)
- May 2020 (42)
- April 2020 (37)
- March 2020 (60)
- February 2020 (39)
- January 2020 (45)
- December 2019 (35)
- November 2019 (35)
- October 2019 (42)
- September 2019 (45)
- August 2019 (56)
- July 2019 (44)
- June 2019 (35)
- May 2019 (40)
- April 2019 (48)
- March 2019 (61)
- February 2019 (39)
- January 2019 (30)
- December 2018 (29)
- November 2018 (51)
- October 2018 (45)
- September 2018 (29)
- August 2018 (49)
- July 2018 (35)
- June 2018 (31)
- May 2018 (39)
- April 2018 (31)
- March 2018 (26)
- February 2018 (33)
- January 2018 (30)
- December 2017 (26)
- November 2017 (24)
- October 2017 (30)
- September 2017 (30)
- August 2017 (32)
- July 2017 (27)
- June 2017 (32)
- May 2017 (26)
- April 2017 (37)
- March 2017 (28)
- February 2017 (30)
- January 2017 (27)
- December 2016 (29)
- November 2016 (24)
- October 2016 (32)
- September 2016 (31)
- August 2016 (27)
- July 2016 (24)
- June 2016 (26)
- May 2016 (19)
- April 2016 (30)
- March 2016 (37)
- February 2016 (27)
- January 2016 (33)
- December 2015 (25)
- November 2015 (23)
- October 2015 (16)
- September 2015 (28)
- August 2015 (28)
- July 2015 (6)
- June 2015 (1)
- May 2015 (2)
- April 2015 (1)
- February 2015 (3)
- January 2015 (1)
- December 2014 (1)
- July 2010 (1)
- October 1991 (1)
- August 1989 (1)
- January 1988 (1)
- December 1983 (1)