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OFFICIALRULES OF CHESS7TH EDITIONFREE DOWNLOAD VERSION: CHAPTERS 1, 2, 10, 11 ONLYRevised August 24, 2020Tim Just, Chief EditorUS Chess National Tournament DirectorFIDE National Arbiter 2018 by United States Chess Federation

2Summary Of Major US Chess Rules Updates In the Seventh EditionAugust 24, 2020 for chapters 1-2-10-1111D: Added wording regarding the timing of the claim and when the 2-minute penalty applies. A TD TIP was alsoadded.11D1: Deleted extraneous wording.Chapter 10, Internet Chess: All new as of August 21, 2020Summary Of Major US Chess Rules Updates In the SeventhEdition For Chapters 1 2 115B2: Advanced publicity time controls need to contain both the base time control and the delay/increment.5C1: Both players must have the same time control. Addresses “Time odds” games not being ratable along withan additional TD TIP.5E: Recommended Increment or delay: Old rule 5E is replaced with recommended increment and delay settings.5E1: Increment or delay with mixed time controls: Subrule added to new rule 5E with wording addressing mixedtime controls.5E2: Organizer fails to specify increment or delay: Subrule added to new rule 5E with wording addressing thelack of a specified increment or delay.5F: Standard timer: The entire text was replaced.5F1: Standard timer for increment time controls: Defines the clock used for increment time controls.5F1a: Increment capable clock not available: What to do when an increment clock is not available.5F1b: Setting a non-increment capable clock for use with an increment time control: How to set non-incrementclocks used in increment time control.5F1b1: Variation: How the organizer may specify a different time control for Non-increment clocks.5F2: Standard timer for delay time controls: Defines the clock that is used for delay time controls.5F2a: Delay capable clock not available: What to do if a delay capable clock is not available for a delay timecontrol.5F2a1: Variation: How the organizer may specify a different time control for Non-DELAY clocks.5F3: Standard timer for time controls with neither delay nor increment: Defines which clocks can be usedwhen a delay clock is not available for a delay time control.US Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess, V 7th Edition, 8-24-20

35F4: Digital clock preferred over analog clock: In all cases, a digital clock is preferred over an analog clock plusan added TD TIP5F5: Replacement of non-standard timer in increment and delay time controls: The steps to take when a latearriving player substitutes a preferred increment or delay clock for a non-standard clock5F6: Same clock used for the entire game.5F7: Players responsible for knowing how to set the clock.9D: Pawn Promotion. New wording makes the procedure of promoting a pawn clearer. Now the pawn isconsidered touched and must be promoted to the unreleased piece touching the promotion square.10H: Piece touched off the board. Wording changes to be consistent with rule 9D. Once the piece off of the boardtouches the promotion square, the pawn must be promoted to that piece.10I2: When castling, the King must be touched first.10I2 Variation 1: Castling is allowed if the Rook is touched first.11A: Illegal move in last ten moves: Added wording regarding time pressure and time recovered by players.11D1: Illegal move in time pressure: Wording defining “time pressure” was added.11H: Director corrects illegal move in non sudden death. Rule name changed (Director corrects illegal moveoutside of time pressure) along with added wording regarding non-time pressure situations.14G: Both flags down in sudden death: Added wording regarding the observation of the flag fall and the gameresult.14H: New wording eliminating insufficient losing chances.Variation 14H: Old rule 14H is now an unannounced variation.14K (new): Old 14K is replaced with: The TD (tournament director) can declare a draw if the same position hasappeared 5 times in a row. The TD can declare a draw if 75 moves have been made without a pawn move or piececapture16D: Special rules for time pressure: Deleted wording replaced with added links.16P1: Delay or increment not set: A new rule dealing with how to address the situation with clocks that are not setwith the proper delay or increment.16Q: Interruption of game: Added wording defining “interruption.”16R: Illegal moves: Rule name change with deleted wording replaced with added links.21L1: The “good faith” deposit amount included when filing an appeal can be determined by the Executive Director.28L2a Variation (announced): Giving the bye to a higher rated player. A variation that need not be announced inadvance was added to rule 28L2. The variation allows assigning the bye to a higher rated player, rather than thelowest rated player, in the lowest score group in order to improve color assignments for the entire group.29E8: Variation (unannounced) team pairings take precedence over color equalization. A variation that neednot be announced in advance was added to rule 28E. Variation 29E8 avoids pairing players from the same team as ahigher priority than equalizing player assigned colors in team/individual tournaments.US Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess, V 7th Edition, 8-24-20

432B1: Special prizes, above and beyond the typical prize fund, should be announced and designated.32B3: When pooling prizes, no player can receive a prize larger than the largest amount they would be eligible forwithout the split.33D1: Added wording regarding special prizes.35F10e: Added duties of an assistant to a blind or disabled player.35F10g: Added duties of an assistant to a blind or disabled player.Blitz: An editor’s Note: at the start of the chapter was added.Blitz: Rule 7c: has all new wording regarding the won game.Blitz: Added to rule 7d: wording regarding placing a king next to a king.Blitz: Rule 8: added wording after “Defining a draw” to make clear which draw claims are allowed.Blitz: Rule 14: deleted some wording regarding the claim of a win.Blitz: Rule 18: added a TD Tip regarding appeals.Links in this document sometimes refer to chapters not available online and may not workas expected.US Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess, V 7th Edition, 8-24-20

5ContentsOFFICIAL . 1RULES OF CHESS . 17TH EDITION. 1Tim Just, Chief Editor. 1US Chess National Tournament Director . 1SUMMARY OF MAJOR US CHESS RULES UPDATES IN THE SEVENTH EDITION FOR CHAPTERS 1 2 11 .2CHAPTER 1: US CHESS FEDERATION’S . 13OFFICIAL RULES OF CHESS . 131. Introduction . 131A. Scope. 131B. Validity. . 131C. Types of events. . 132. The Chessboard . 142A. Explanation. . 142B. Description. . 142C. Placement. . 142D. Files. 142E. Ranks. . 142F. Diagonals. . 143. The Pieces . 143A. Each player’s pieces. . 143B. Description of the pieces. . 143C. Initial position. . 153D. Meaning of piece. . 163E. Other expressions involving pieces. . 164. Objective and Scoring. 174A. Checkmate. . 174B. Other decisive outcomes. . 174C. Draws. . 174D. Scoring. . 175. The Chess Clock . 175A. Time controls and time limits. . 175B. Sudden death time controls. . 185C. Ratable time controls. . 185D. Accumulation of time. . 205E. Recommended increment or delay. . 205F. Standard timer. . 205G. The flag. . 225H. Pressing the clock. . 225I. Stopping the clock. . 225J. Further details. 226. The Right to Move . 226A. The first move. . 226B. A player on move. . 227. Definition of the Move . 237A. Basic definition. . 237B. Crossing an occupied square. . 237C. Capturing. 238. The Moves of the Pieces . 238A. The king. . 238B. The queen. . 23US Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess, V 7th Edition, 8-24-20

68C. The rook. . 238D. The bishop. . 248E. The knight. . 248F. The pawn. . 249. Determination and Completion of the Move . 259A. Transfer to a vacant square. . 259B. Capturing. 259C. Castling. . 259D. Pawn promotion. . 259E. Checkmate or stalemate. 259F. Last move of the time control. . 269G. Determined moves and completed moves. 269H. Stopping the clock. . 2610. The Touched Piece . 2610A. Adjustment of pieces. 2710B. Touch-move rule. . 2710C. Touching pieces of both colors. . 2710D. Piece touched cannot move. . 2710E. Accidental touch of piece. . 2710F. Appearance of adjustment. . 2710G. Accidental release of piece. . 2710H. Piece touched off the board. 2710I. Castling. 2810J. When to claim touch-move. . 2811. Illegal Positions . 2811A. Illegal move during last ten moves. . 2811B. Illegal move prior to last ten moves. . 2811C. Accidental piece displacement. . 2811D. Illegal move. . 2911E. Incorrect adjourned position. . 2911F. Incorrect initial position. 2911G. Incorrect placement of chessboard. . 2911H. Director corrects illegal move outside of time pressure. . 2911I. Spectators. . 3011J. Deliberate illegal moves. . 3012. Check . 3012A. Definition. . 3012B. Double check. 3012C. Responding to check. . 3012D. Check by interposing piece. . 3012E. Moving into check. . 3012F. Calling check not mandatory. . 3013. The Decisive Game. 3013A. Checkmate. . 3013B. Resignation. . 3113C. Time forfeit. . 3113D. Late arrival for game. . 3313E. Late arrival for adjournment resumption. . 3413F. Late arrival by both players. . 3413G. Players must give notice if withdrawing or skipping a round. . 3413H. Sealing of invalid move. . 3413I. Refusal to obey rules. . 3414. The Drawn Game. 3514A. Stalemate. 3514B. Agreement. . 3614C. Triple occurrence of position. . 37US Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess, V 7th Edition, 8-24-20

714D. Insufficient material to continue. . 3814E. Insufficient material to win on time. . 3814F. The 50-move rule. . 3814G. Both flags down in sudden death. . 3914H. Claim of insufficient losing chances in sudden death. . 4014I. Advice on claims of insufficient losing chances in sudden death under Rule Variation 14H. . 4214J. Draw declared by director. . 4214K. Director declares draw for lack of progress. . 4215. The Recording of Games . 4315A. Manner of keeping score. . 4315A. (Variation I) Paper scoresheet variation. . 4315B. Scorekeeping in time pressure, non-sudden death time control. . 4415C. Scorekeeping in time pressure, sudden death time control. . 4415D. Use of opponent’s scoresheet for assistance. . 4415E. Borrowing not needed. . 4415F. Reconstruction after time control. . 4415G. Ownership of scoresheets. . 4515H. Reporting of results. . 4515I. Results reported incorrectly. . 4516. The Use of the Chess Clock . 4616A. Allowable time controls. . 4616B. How to set clocks. . 4616C. Removing a player’s hand from clock. . 4716D. Special rules for time pressure. . 4716E. When flag is considered down. . 4716F. Evidence provided by flag. . 4716G. Premature flag fall. . 4716H. Apparent flag fall can cause forfeit. . 4716I. Starting the clock. . 4916J. Black not present. . 4916K. Both players late. . 4916L. Possible stipulations. . 4916M. Equipment needed to start clock. . 4916N. Beginning the round. . 4916O. Defective clocks. . 5016P. Erroneously set clocks. . 5016P1. Delay or increment not set. . 5016Q. Interruption of game. . 5016R. Illegal Moves. 5016S. Priority of agreed result over time-forfeit claim. . 5116T. Both players exceed time control. . 5116U. Avoiding the need to reset clocks. . 5116V. One vs. two controls when time is limited. . 5116W. Resetting clocks when necessary. . 5116X. Extra minute not added. . 5116Y. Assisting players with time managemen

US Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess, V 7th Edition, 8-24-20 Summary Of Major US Chess Rules Updates In the Seventh Edition August 24, 2020 for chapters 1-2-10-11 11D: Added wording regarding the timing of the claim and when the 2-minute penalty applies. A TD TIP was also added. 11D1: Deleted extraneous wording.