New FIDE Laws of Chess - Rule Highlights

There are new FIDE Laws of Chess that Jonathan Berry presented and used at the 1997 Financial Concepts Group - North Bay International Open on August 6, 1997. Here's the summary he distributed at the tournament:

RULE HIGHLIGHTS

Here at the Financial Concepts Group 1997 North Bay International Open, the time control is 40 moves in 2 hours, rest of the moves in 1 hour. See Article 10.2 Quickplay finish (below) including 10.2 draw claims.

Notes on Digital Clocks.

An analogue clock presented before the start of the round has precedence.
The move counter must be hidden.
Any audible alarm must be off.
The flage is not considered to have allen unless there is an indication that the players time has gone below 0:00:00.
If both players agree, an incremental time control may be used. The increment may not exceed 20 seconds. EG, in "FIDE" mode it would be 2 h, 50 min, then 20 sec/mov. In "Delay" 40/115. G/1hr (mode 59) with a 5-second delay.

The full text of the new (effective 1 July 1997) FIDE Laws of Chess is available, but here are some important extracts:

1.3 If the position is such that neither player can possibly checkmate, the game is drawn.

Article 6: Chess Clocks.

6.4 The arbiter decides where the clock is placed.

6.7 (a) . . . A player must always be allowed to stop his clock. His move is not considered to have been completed until he has dones so, unless the made move ends the game. (See Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3).

(b) A player must stop his clock with the same hand as that with which he made his move. It is forbidden to keep the finger on the button or to "hover" over it.

6.8 A flag is considered to have fallen when the arbitrer observes the fact or when a valid claim to that effect has been made by either player.

6.11 If both flags have fallen and it is impossible to establish which flag fell first, the game shall continue.

6.12 (a) If the game need to be interupted, the arbiter shall stop the clocks. (b) A player may stop the clocks in order to seek the arbiter's assistance.

6.14 . . . clocks which also show the number of moves, are allowed in the playing hall. However, the player may not make a claim based on anything shown in this manner.

Article 8: Record the Moves.

8.1 . . . A player may reply to his opponent's move before recording it, if he so wishes. He must record his previous move before making another. The offer of a draw must be recorded on the scoresheet by both players.

8.2 The scoresheet shall be visible to the arbiter at all times.

8.3 The scoresheets are the property of the organisers of the event. 8.4 If a player has less than five minutes left on his clock . . ., then he is not obliged to {record moves}.

8.5 (a) If neither player is required to keep score under Article 8.4, {an} arbiter should try to be present and keep score . . .

(b) If only one player {does not keep score, then after the flage falls}, provided itis his move, he may use his opponent's scoresheet. The player is not permitted to move unitl after he has completed his own scorsheet and returned his opponent's.

(c) If no complete scoresheet is available, the players must reconstruct the game on a second chessboard under the control of {an} arbiter . . .

Article 9: The drawn game

9.2 The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by the player having the move, when the same position, for at least the third times (not necessarily by repetition of moves).

(a) is about to appear, if he first writes his move on his scoresheet and declares to the arbiter his intention to make this move, or

(b) has just appeared.

9.3 The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by the player having the move if,

(a) he writes on his scoresheet, and declares to the arbiter his intention to make a move which shall result in the last 50 moves having been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without the capture of any piece, or

(b) the last 50 consecutive moves have been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without the capture of any pieces.

9.5 If a player claims a draw as in Article 9.2 or 9.3 he shall immediately stop both clocks. He is not allowed to withdraw his claim.

(a) If the claim is found to be correct the game is immediately drawn. (b) If the claim is found to be incorrect, the arbiter shall deduct half of the claimant's remaining time up to a maximum of three minutes and add three minutes to the opponents remaining time. The the game shall continue and the intended move must be made.

Article 10: Quickplay Finish

10.1 A 'quickplay finish' is the last phase of a game, when all the remaining moves must be made in a limited time.

10.2 If the player has less than two minutes left on his clock, he may claim a draw before his flag falls. He shall stop the clocks and summon the arbiter.

(a) If the arbiter is satisfied the opponent is making no effort to win the game by normal means, or that it is not possible to win by normal means, then he shall declare the game drawn. Otherwise he shall postpone his decision.

(b) If the arbiter postphones his decision, the opponent may be awarded two extra minutes thinking time and the game shall continue in the presence of the arbiter.

10.3 Illegal moves do not necessarily lose. After the action taekn under Article 7.4, for a first illegal move by a player the arbiter shall give two minutes extra time to his opponent; for a second illegal move by the same player the arbiter shall declare the game lost by the player who played incorrectly.

10.4 If both flages have fallen and it is impossible to establish which flage fell first, the game is drawn.

Jonathan Berry IA Tournament Director

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