REVISED FIDE LAWS OF CHESS
John Turnock
The FIDE Laws of Chess are revised every four years, and
this process was recently carried out at the Congress in
Article 4: The act of moving the pieces
New article 4.4d: “If a player promotes a pawn, the choice of the piece is finalised when the piece has touched the square of promotion.” (Therefore if a player picks up a different piece, he can change his mind if that piece has not touched the promotion square.)
Article 6: The chess clock
Article 6.12 now says “If both flags have fallen and it is impossible to establish which flag fell first then
a the game shall continue if it happens in any period of time except the last period.
b the game is drawn if it happens the period of a game in which all the remaining moves must be completed.” (This conveniently gathers into one place the law on this situation: b covers quickplay finishes, rapidplay and blitz games.)
Article 8: The recording of the moves
Article 8.1 has been extended to include: “It is forbidden to write the moves in advance, unless the player is claiming a draw according to Article 9.2 or 9.3” (This is controversial and important. Many players have been used to writing down a move before playing it on the board, but this will be illegal from July 1st. Articles 9.2 and 9.3 cover the claim of a draw for threefold repetition of position or the fifty move rule where a move by the claimant would create such a position. I have been asked why this change has been made. I can only think that it reinforces the scoresheet as an accurate record of moves actually played rather than moves which have been considered. The scoresheet should only be used for recording the moves, the times of the clocks, offers of a draw, matters relating to a claim and “other relevant data” – Article 12.3 Players who have been writing down moves in advance should amend this as soon as possible.)
Article 8.1 also adds: “If a player is unable to keep score, an assistant, who is acceptable to the arbiter, may be provided by the player to write the moves. His clock shall be adjusted by the arbiter in an equitable way.” (This is to assist players with a handicap or who may have other reasons not to score the game. David Welch, the BCF Chief Arbiter, says that it is accepted practice not to adjust the clocks in case of handicap, but to reduce the time of a player who may not score for ethical reasons. This provision concerns players unable to score the game from the start – it does not cover players in time trouble.)
Article 10: Quickplay Finish
Article 10.2 covers the claim for a draw by the player who has less than two minutes left and who claims that his opponent is either making no effort to win by normal means or that it is not possible to win by normal means. The arbiter postponing the decision and asking the players to continue can now declare the game drawn either before or after flagfall. Previously any postponed decision had to wait until flagfall. (This allows the arbiter to intervene in cases where the correct result becomes obvious before flagfall and I welcome this change.)
Article 12: The conduct of the players
Article 12.2 now contains the following: “It is strictly forbidden to bring mobile phones or other electronic means of communication, not authorised by the arbiter, into the playing venue. If a player’s mobile phone rings in the venue during play, that player shall lose the game. The score of the opponent shall be determined by the arbiter.” (This is highly controversial. Not only does a player lose if his mobile rings (this has been BCF practice for the last year) but it is actually forbidden to bring them into the playing area. I suspect that in default of a security box system, arbiters will authorise the competitors to carry switched-off mobile phones!)
Article 13: The role of the arbiter
Article 13.7b states: “It is forbidden for anybody to use a mobile phone in the playing venue and any area designated by the arbiter.”
Appendix B – Rapidplay
Article B1 states “A Rapidplay game is one where all the moves must be made in a fixed time from 15 to 60 minutes; or the time allotted + 60 times any increment is from 15 to 60 minutes.” (The definition of rapidplay with Fischer timings is new i.e a time limit of 20 minutes + 10 seconds a move would qualify for rapidplay. A similar definition has been made with blitz games if the total time is less than 15 minutes.)
Article B6 states “An illegal move is completed once the opponent’s clock has been started. The opponent is then entitled to claim that the player completed an illegal move before the claimant made his move. Only after such a claim shall the arbiter make a ruling. However, if both Kings are in check or the promotion of a pawn is not completed, the arbiter shall intervene, if possible.” (Something of a dog’s breakfast, but two important rapidplay principles remain – the arbiter will generally only intervene if a valid claim is made, and that once the player makes his move, it is too late to claim over illegal moves by the opponent.)
Appendix D – Quickplay Finishes where no arbiter is present
Article D1 now allows a player to claim a draw in the last two minutes both on the basis that his opponent cannot win by normal means and that his opponent has been making no effort to win by normal means. Previously the claim had to be one or the other.
Clearly the two most important changes for most players will be the ban on writing down a move before it is played, and the laws on mobile phones.
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[Note - this article was originally published in the May 2005 edition (no. 89) of the NCA Bulletin. It was supplied by John Wheeler, Bulletin editor.]