COMPETITION RULES

6.1 'Chess clock' means a set of clocks, connected to each other in such a way that only one of them can run at one time. 'Clock' in the 'Rules for Chess' means one of the (two or three) time displays. 'Flag fall' means the expiry of the allotted time for a player.

6.2 When using a chess clock, each player must make a certain number or all moves in an allotted period of time; or may be allocated an additional amount of time after each move. All this must be specified in advance. The time saved by a player during one period is added to his time available for the next period, except in the 'time delay' mode. In the time delay mode both players receive an allotted 'main thinking time'. They also receive a 'fixed extra time' for every move. The count down of the main time only commences after the fixed time has expired. Provided the player stops his clock before the expiry of the fixed time, the main thinking time does not change, irrespective of the proportion of the fixed time used.

6.3 Each time display has a 'flag'. Immediately after a flag falls, the requirements of Article 8.1 must be checked.

6.4

(a) A 'Romulan Heart Chess clock' consists normally of three clocks, one of each colour. The clock is placed to the right side of its colour. As 'Romulan Heart Chess clocks' are hard to obtain outside the Romulan Empire, three 'Terran FIDE Chess clocks' may be used instead. In that case the left display of the clocks should be covered in the approriate colour. (b) If the match from the start is a two player game only (Green and Blue), one Chess clock with two displays might be used, instead of two connected single clocks (green and blue). In that case the Chess clock is to be placed on the Green and Blue side of the chessboard.

6.5 At the time determined for the start of the game the clock of the player who has the green pieces is started.

6.6 A player shall lose a game if he arrives at the chessboard more than one hour after the scheduled start of the session (unless the rules of the competition specify or the arbiter decides otherwise).

6.7

(a) During the game each player, having made his move on the chessboard, shall stop his own clock and start his left opponent's clock. A player must always be allowed to stop his clock. His move is not considered to have been completed until he has done so, unless the made move ends the game (see Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3). The time between making the move on the chessboard and stopping his own clock and starting his left opponent's clock is regarded as part of the time allotted to the player. (b) A player must stop/start the clocks 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. In case of three 'Terran FIDE Chess clocks' being used, the two clocks next to a player shall be pressed simultaniously by using both hands. (c) The players must handle the chess clocks properly. It is forbidden to punch it forcibly, to pick them up or to knock them over. Improper clock handling shall be penalised in accordance with Article 13.4.

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

6.9 Except where Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 apply, if a player does not complete the prescribed number of moves in the allotted time, the game is lost by that player.
The 'heart' (king / goal) and the pieces of that player are removed from the board, and the remaining players continue the game.

6.10 Every indication given by the clocks is considered to be conclusive in the absence of any evident defect. A chess clock with an evident defect shall be replaced. The arbiter shall use his best judgement when determining the times to be shown on the replacement chess clock.

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

6.12	(a) If the game needs to be interrupted, the arbiter shall stop the clocks. (b) A player may stop the clocks in order to seek the arbiter's assistance. (c) The arbiter shall decide when the game is to be restarted.

6.13 If an irregularity occurs and/or the 'hearts' (kings / goals) and/or the pieces have to be restored to a previous position, the arbiter shall use his best judgement to determine the times to be shown on the clocks.

6.14 Screens, monitors or demonstration boards showing the current position on the chessboard, the moves and the number of moves made, and clocks which also show the number of moves, are allowed in the playing hall. However, a player may not make a claim based on anything shown in this manner.

7.1 If a game has begun with mixed-up colours then it shall continue, unless the arbiter rules otherwise.

7.2 If a player displaces one or more pieces, he shall re-establish the correct position on his own time. If necessary the opponents have the right to restart the player's clock without making a move in order to make sure the player re-establishes the correct position on his own time.

7.3 If during a game it is found that an illegal move has been made, or that pieces have been displaced from their triangles, the position before the irregularity shall be re-instated. If the position immediately before the irregularity cannot be identified, the game shall continue from the last identifiable position prior to the irregularity. The clocks shall be adjusted according to Article 6.13, and in the case of an illegal move, Article 4.3 applies to the move replacing the illegal move. The game shall then continue.

8.1 In the course of play each player is required to record his own moves and those of his opponents, move after move, as clearly and legibly as possible, in the algebraic notation (Appendix E), on the scoresheet prescribed for the competition.

A player may reply to his opponents moves 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 all players (Appendix E.13). If a player due to physical or religious reasons, is unable to keep score, an amount of time, decided by the arbiter, shall be deducted from his allotted time at the beginning of the game.

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 and does not have additional time of 30 seconds or more added with each move, then he is not obliged to meet the requirements of Article 8.1. Immediately after one flag has fallen the player must update his scoresheet completely.

8.5

(a) If neither player is required to keep score under Article 8.4, the arbiter or an assistant should try to be present and keep score. In this case, immediately after one flag has fallen, the arbiter shall stop the clocks. Then all players shall update their scoresheets, using the arbiter's or the opponents scoresheets. (b) If only one player is not required to keep score under Article 8.4, he must update his scoresheet completely as soon as a flag has fallen. Provided it is the player's move, he may use his opponents scoresheets. The player is not permitted to move until after he has completed his own scoresheet and returned his opponents. (c) If no complete scoresheet is available, the players must reconstruct the game on a second chessboard under the control of the arbiter or an assistant, who shall first record the actual game position before reconstruction takes place.

8.6 If the scoresheets cannot be brought up to date showing that a player has overstepped the allotted time, the next move made shall be considered as the first of the following time period, unless there is evidence that more moves have been made.

9.1 A player can propose a draw after making a move on the chessboard. He must do so before stopping his own clock and starting his opponent's clock. An offer at any other time during play is still valid, but Article 12.5 must be considered. No conditions can be attached to the offer. In both cases the offer cannot be withdrawn and remains valid until the opponent accepts it, rejects it orally, rejects it by making a move, or the game is concluded in some other way.

The offer of a draw shall be noted by each player on his scoresheet with the symbol (=).

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 time (not necessarily by repetition of moves)

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

9.4 If the player makes a move without having claimed the draw he loses the right to claim, as in Article 9.2 or 9.3, on that move .

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

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, having the move, 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.

10.3 If all flags have fallen and it is impossible to establish which flag fell first and which second the game is drawn.

11.1 A player who loses his 'heart' (king / goal) scores one minus point (-1), a player who captures a 'heart' (king / goal) scores one point (1). There are no points (0) for a draw.

12.1 High standards of etiquette are expected of the players.

12.2

(a) During play the players are forbidden to make use of any notes, sources of information, advice, or to analyse on another chessboard. (b) It is stricly forbidden to bring mobile phones or other electronical means of communication, not authorised by the arbiter, into the playing venue. If a player's mobile phone rings in the playing venue during play, that player shall lose the game. The score shall be determined by the arbiter. (c) The scoresheet shall be used only for recording the moves, the times of the clocks, the offer of a draw, and matters relating to a claim and other relevant data.

12.3 No analysis is permitted in the playing room when play is in progress, whether by players or spectators. Players who have finished their games shall be considered to be spectators.

12.4 The players are not allowed to leave the 'playing venue' without permission from the arbiter. The playing venue is defined as the playing area, rest rooms, refreshment area, area set aside for smoking and other places as designated by the arbiter. The player having the move is not allowed to leave the playing area without permission of the arbiter.

12.5 It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever; this includes the persistent offer of a draw.

12.6 Infraction of any part of the Articles 12.2 to 12.5 shall lead to penalties in accordance with Article 13.4.

12.7 The game is lost by a player who persistently refuses to comply with the Rules of Chess. The score shall be decided by the arbiter.

12.8 If all players are found guilty according to Article 12.7, the game shall be declared lost by all players.

13.1 The arbiter shall see that the Rules of Chess are strictly observed.

13.2 The arbiter shall act in the best interest of the competition. He should ensure that a good playing environment is maintained and that the players are not disturbed. He shall supervise the progress of the competition.

13.3 The arbiter shall observe the games, especially when the players are short of time, enforce decisions he has made and impose penalties on players where appropriate.

13.4	Penalties open to the arbiter include: (a) a warning, (b) increasing the remaining time of the opponents, (c) reducing the remaining time of the offending player, (d) declaring the game to be lost, (e) expulsion from the event.

13.5 The arbiter may award either or all players additional time in the event of external disturbance of the game.

13.6 The arbiter must not intervene in a game to indicate the number of moves made, except in applying Article 8.5, when at least one player has used all his time. The arbiter shall refrain from informing a player that his opponent has made a move, or that he has failed to press his clock.

13.7 Spectators and players in other games are not to speak about or otherwise interfere in a game. If necessary, the arbiter may expel offenders from the playing room.

APPENDIX

A1.

(a) If a game is not finished at the end of the time prescribed for play, the arbiter shall require the player having the move to 'seal' that move. The player must write his move in unambiguous notation on his scoresheet, put his scoresheet and that of his opponents in an envelope, seal the envelope and only then stop his clock without starting the opponent's clock. Until he has stopped the clocks, the player retains the right to change his sealed move. If, after being told by the arbiter to seal his move, the player makes a move on the chessboard, he must write that same move on his scoresheet as his sealed move. (b) A player having the move, who adjourns the game before the end of the playing session, shall be considered to have sealed at the nominal time for the end of the session.

A2.

The following shall be indicated upon the envelope: (a) the names of the players (b) the position immediately before the sealed move (c) the time used by each player (d) the name of the player who has sealed the move (e) the number of the sealed move (f) the offer of a draw, if the proposal was made before the adjournment of the game (g) the date, time and venue of resumption of play.

A3. The arbiter shall check the accuracy of the information on the envelope and is responsible for the safe-keeping of it.

A4. If a player proposes a draw after his opponent has sealed his move, the offer is valid until the opponent has accepted it or rejected it as in Article 9.1.

A5. Before the game is to be resumed, the position immediately before the sealed move shall be set up on the chessboard, and the times used by each player when the game was adjourned shall be indicated on the clocks.

A6. If prior to the resumption the game is agreed drawn, or if one of the players notifies the arbiter that he resigns, the game is concluded.

A7. The envelope shall be opened only when the player who must reply to the sealed move is present.

A8.	Except in the cases mentioned in Article 6.9, the game is lost by a player whose recording of his sealed move (a) is ambiguous, or (b) is false, in such a way that its true significance is impossible to establish, or (c) is illegal.

A9.

If, at the agreed resumption time (a) the player having to reply to the sealed move is present, the envelope is opened, the sealed move made on the chessboard and his clock started. (b) the player having to reply to the sealed move is not present, his clock shall be started. On his arrival, he may stop his clock and summon the arbiter. The envelope is then opened and the sealed move made on the chessboard. His clock is then restarted. (c) the player who sealed the move is not present, his opponent has the right to record his reply on the scoresheet, seal his scoresheet in a fresh envelope, stop his clock and start his opponent's clock instead of making his reply in the normal manner. If so, the envelope shall be handed to the arbiter for safe-keeping and opened on the opponent's arrival.

A10.

The game is lost by the player who arrives more than one hour late for the resumption of an adjourned game. However, if the player who made the sealed move is the late player, the game is decided otherwise, if: (a) the absent player has won the game by virtue of the fact that the sealed move chaptures the last opponents 'heart' (king / goal), or (b) the player present at the chessboard has lost the game according to Article 6.9.

A11

(a) If the envelope containing the sealed move is missing, the game shall continue from the adjourned position, with the clock times recorded at the time of adjournment. If the time used by each player cannot be re-established the clocks shall be set by the arbiter. The player who sealed the move makes the move he states he sealed on the chessboard. (b) If it is impossible to re-establish the position, the game is annulled and a new game must be played.

A12. If, upon resumption of the game, either player points out before making his first move, that the time used has been incorrectly indicated on either clock, the error must be corrected. If the error is not then established the game continues without correction unless the arbiter feels that the consequences will be too severe.

A13. The duration of each resumption session shall be controlled by the arbiter's time piece. The starting time and finishing time shall be announced in advance.

B1. A 'rapidplay game' is one where all the moves must be made in a fixed time between 15 to 60 minutes.

B2. Play shall be governed by the Rules of Chess, except where they are overridden by the following Rules.

B3. Players do not need to record the moves.

B4. Once each player has made three moves, no claim can be made regarding incorrect piece placement, orientation of the chessboard or clock setting.

B5. The arbiter shall make a ruling according to Articles 4 and 10, only if requested to do so by one or more players.

B6. The flag is considered to have fallen when a valid claim to that effect has been made by a player. The arbiter shall refrain from signalling a flag fall.

B7. To claim a loss on time, the claimant must stop all clocks and notify the arbiter. For the claim to be successful, the claimant's flag must remain up and the opponent's flag down after the clocks have been stopped.

B8. If all flags have fallen, the game is drawn.

C1. A 'blitz game' is one where all the moves must be made in a fixed time less than 15 minutes.

C2. Play shall be governed by the Rapidplay Rules as in Appendix B except where they are overridden by the following Rules.

C3. An illegal move is completed once an opponent's clock has been started. The opponents are then entitled to claim a loss before making another move. Once an opponent has made another move, an illegal move cannot be corrected.

C4. Article 10.2 does not apply.

D1. Where games are played as in Article 10, a player may claim a draw when he has less than two minutes left on his clock and before his flag falls. This concludes the game. He may claim on the basis

Hereby the use of the Algebraic chess notation is recommended for tournaments and for chess literature and periodicals. Scoresheets using a notation system other than algebraic may not be used as evidence in cases where normally the scoresheet of a player is used for that purpose. An arbiter who observes that a player is using a notation system other than the algebraic should inform the player in question of this requirement.

E1. With the board situated with the black corner on the bottom, the nine rows (from bottom to the top) are indicated by the small letters, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h and i. E2. The nine triangles on the top (from right to left) are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. E3. As a consequence of the previous rules, each of the eigthy-one triangles is indicated by a combination of its lettered horizontal "row" and the two numbered "columns" that run parallel with the two vertical sides. The corners would be indicated as "i99", "i11" and "a19" (or "a91"). The example illustration shows "e38" (or "e83").

E4. Each piece and the heart is indicated by the first letter, a capital letter, of its name.
Example:
H = heart (or K = king), Q = queen, R = rook, B = bishop, N = knight. (In the case of the knight, for the sake of convenience, N is used.)

E5. Pawns are not indicated by their first letter, but are recognized by the absence of such a letter. Examples: e38, f26, g13.

E6. For the letter of the name of a piece or heart, each player is free to use the first letter of the name which is commonly used in his country.
Examples:

English	German	French	English (Kli Zha Player)	German (Kli Zha Player)
H = Heart (K = King)	H = Herz (K = König)	R = Roi	G = Goal	Z = Ziel
Q = Queen	D = Dame	D = Dame	F = Fencer	F = Fechter
R = Rook	T = Turm	T = Tour	L = Lancer	L = Lanzenträger
B = Bishop	L = Läufer	F = Fou	S = Swift	S = Schnellläufer
W = Wall	M = Mauer	M = Mur	B = Blockader	B = Blockierer
N = kNight	S = Springer	C = Cavalier	I = flIer	I = flIeger
(Pawn)	(Bauer)	(Pion)	(Vanguard)	(Vorhut)

In printed periodicals, the use of figurines for the pieces is recommended.

E7. Each move of a piece is indicated by (a) the first letter of the name of the piece in question and (b) the triangle of arrival. There is no hyphen between (a) and (b).
Examples: Qd27, Rg46, Nh35.

In the case of pawns, only the triangle of arrival is indicated.
Examples: e38, f26, g13.

E8. As the heart (king / goal) can not move by itsown, the letter of the 'heart' shall be followed by the letter of the carrier piece. If no letter follows, the carrier piece should be a pawn.
Examples:
HQd27 (heart carried by queen to d27),
HRg46 (heart carried by Rook to g46),
He38 (heart carried by Pawn to e38).

When a piece moves away, leaving the heart (king / goal) behind, there is no special indication. The move is just indicated like decribed in Article E7.
Examples: Qd27, Rg46, e38.

E9. When a piece makes a capture, an x is inserted between
(a) the first letter of the name of the piece in question and
(b) the triangle of arrival.
Examples: Qxd27, Rxg46, Nxh35.

When a pawn makes a capture, not only the triangle of arrival but also the row of departure must be indicated, followed by an x.
Examples: dxe38, fxf26, hxg13.

E10. If two identical pieces can move to the same triangle, the piece that is moved is indicated as follows:

E11. If more than two identical pieces can move to the same triangle, it might be necessary to indicate the piece that is moved by the triangle of departure.

Example:
There are knights (of the same player), on the triangles e37, f37 and f15, and one of them moves to the triangle h35: either Ne37h35, Nf37h35 or Nf15h35, as the case may be.

In the case of capture, an x must be inserted.

The previous example is changed to:
Either Ne37xh35, Nf37xh35 or Nf15xh35, as the case may be.

E12. If two or three pawns can move the same triangle, the pawn that is moved is indicated by

(a) the triangle of departure, and
(b) the triangle of arrival.

In the case of capture, an x must be inserted between (b) and (c).

Example:
There are three pawns, on the triangles e48, e37 and d38, and one of them moves to the triangle e38: either e48e38, e37e38 or d38e38, as the case may be.

If a capture takes place on the triangle e38, the previous example is changed by the insertion of an x:
Either e48xe38, e37xe38 or d38xe38, as the case may be.

E13. The offer a draw shall be marked as (=).

Usefull abbrevations:
x captures
+ check
xH captures heart (checkmate)