Continental Chess Association Rules
NOTE: "R" indicates a rule only for regular time controls, such as 40/2. "S" indicates a rule only for sudden death time controls, such as SD/1 or G/30. Rules marked neither "R" nor "S" apply to both. More rules appear in the USCF rulebook.
1. Leave the room as soon as your game ends. Post result on yellow pairing sheet, then go to skittles room if you wish to analyze, talk, whisper, play blitz, etc. NO ANALYSIS IN TOURNAMENT ROOM, PLEASE- EVEN "QUIET" ANALYSIS IS DISTURBING!
2. Schedule is listed in CHESS LIFE and our mailings and posted. It's not necessary to ask when the round will start- it's posted!
3. Start clock promptly when round begins. Set analog clocks to expire at 6:00- for instance, 4:00 if 40/2. Time delay clocks should be set for 5 second delay for entire game for G/30 or slower, with 5 minutes deducted from each side at start of game.
4. If you have no clock, borrow one from another player or buy one from bookseller. If not possible, start without it; try to borrow as soon as you can, splitting elapsed time. Directors do not furnish equipment.
5. You may not subtract time from late opponent without setting up clock, set & board.
6. If opponent is an hour late, as measured by your clock, you may claim a win on time. If you do not start opponent's clock, forfeit occurs when all opponent's time of first control is used up, as measured by Director's official time. Post a no-show win as 1F-0F, not 1-0. The "F" is important, as players who forfeit are not paired for the next round.
7. If both players arrive late, first to come should split elapsed time. If this is not done, times stand unless adjusted by Director.
8. If you are have a minus or zero score and are a half hour late, your name may be crossed off the pairings in order to allow two players without opponents to play each other. If you then arrive within the hour, you will get either another opponent or a full point bye.
9. R: To win on time, you must have no more than two move pairs omitted when opponent's flag falls. Do not fill in moves after that; this may void the claim. Score need not be accurate, just decipherable. FIDE time forfeit rules are not used. S: Score is not needed to win on time.
10. To claim a win on time, stop clocks and state claim. If opponent does not concede, see Director. If claim is denied, 2 minutes will be added to opponent's remaining time.
11. Do not alert Director that "my opponent is short of time, you should watch the game," as you must call the flag down yourself!
12. To win on time, you must have sufficient material to mate, moving for both sides. EXCEPTIONS: You cannot win on time with a lone Bishop, lone Knight, or two lone Knights (except for 2 N vs pawn ending), unless there is a forced win.
13. You must stop both clocks with flag still up to win on time. R: If both flags are down, no one forfeits; the game continues with the next time control in effect. S: If both flags are down, the game is drawn.
14. If you neglect to stop both clocks for a claim, this is disadvantageous as you lose time, but it does not invalidate your claim.
15. If either player has under five minutes remaining, neither is required to keep score.
16. R: Director may adjudicate ridiculous positions. S: If on move with under 2 minutes left on your clock, you may stop clocks and claim a draw by insufficient losing chances. This is much different than "book draw," requiring a position in which a Class C player has a 90% or more chance to at least draw a Master, with ample time for both. You can draw with Q vs. Q, R vs. R, many opposite Bishop endings, etc. But a position like rook & pawn each, while "drawn" in theory, might allow a Master to swindle a C player, so your claim may be denied. The ratings and clock times of you and your opponent are irrelevant. If your claim is denied, one minute may be deducted from your time, possibly causing you to forfeit. See also Rule 18.
17. S: If your flag is down, it is too late to claim insufficient losing chances.
18. S: For a "no losing chances" ruling, on a close call, Director may insert a time-delay clock, in which case claimant receives half his remaining time (with a maximum of 1 minute), opponent all his time, and both get an extra 5 seconds per move (which is defined as sufficient to hold a position with insufficient losing chances). Note: no one may "claim" a time delay clock- this clock is only one of the Director options for resolving "no losing chances" claims.
19. In case of a problem, stop clocks and see Director. Do not send a deputy- that method is obsolete. If Director feels clocks were stopped without good reason, a penalty is possible. If you don't see a TD in tournament room, go to Director's Room or area.
20. Don't touch clock when it's not your move, pick up clock unless defective, or bang clock. You may be penalized, at Director's discretion. If either side has under 5 minutes, both must hit clock with same hand that moves pieces.
21. If you make illegal move and press clock, 2 minutes are added to opponent's time. Touch-move also applies.
22. Touch-move rule is used. In castling, it is proper to touch the King first, but there is no penalty for touching the Rook first.
23. If 50 moves (no exceptions) by each side elapse without a capture or pawn move, either player may claim a draw.
24. It must be your move to claim triple occurrence of position. Don't move, or it will be opponent's move and you cannot claim. State move, claim, and stop clocks. If opponent disagrees, see Director. If claim is denied, 2 minutes are added to opponent's remaining time.
25. To claim triple repetition of position or 50-move rule, scoresheet need not be complete, but it must be adequate to verify claim, and moves filled in after the claim don't count. S: Director may also use observation.
26. No smoking allowed in tournament rooms, pairings/charts areas, skittles room, or adjacent hallways.
27. All players, including Grandmasters, must promptly post their results on the yellow sheet. We require the top section players to submit copies of game scores only to obtain games for publication, not to learn results; the copies usually do not go to the Director.
28. Black has the choice of equipment providing he has standard equipment- otherwise, the Director will rule in favor of the equipment more commonly used, if in good condition. If Black is late and White has already set up, then White obtains this choice. Non-standard equipment includes: excessively shiny sets or boards, sets with Bishop's top a different color than rest of piece. Standard sets are the USCF Special, Player's Choice, Cavalier, or Lardy wood, or similar sets. The standard clock is a time-delay clock using the delay feature (5 second delay for G/30 or slower), but analog clocks without time delay are preferred to digital clocks without time delay.
29. R: If you make the last move of the time control with your flag up, but it falls when you hit the clock, you forfeit. It doesn't matter if flag falls before or after you hit clock- it's always a forfeit. That's what the flag is for- to prove you didn't hit the clock in time.
30. IF YOU DROP OUT, OR WON'T PLAY NEXT ROUND, NOTIFY DIRECTOR AT LEAST AN HOUR BEFORE. If you can't do this in person, call hotel and ask for "chess tournament." Try to avoid leaving message with hotel; it may not reach us in time. There is a $20 fine for violators, which must be paid to get back in this tournament or enter another CCA tournament.
31. It is improper to abandon a lost game without resigning. Violators may be penalized at TD's discretion.
32. Color assignment priorities. Order of priority is: 1) color totals (player with less "whites minus blacks" gets white), 2) color history (most recent round that was different decides), 3) player with higher score (higher rating if same score) gets due color. Extra blacks (even 3 straight) are sometimes inevitable. No tosses.
33. It is illegal to "throw" a game, or to agree to split a prize. Players offering or accepting deals to throw games may be forfeited or have USCF membership revoked. During last round games affecting prizes, it is illegal to engage in discussion with your opponent away from the board, unless a draw is subsequently agreed. Even if no one hears what is said, the game may be ruled a draw.
34. An improperly rated player, who did not provide full information on a USCF, foreign, or FIDE rating, may be expelled at any time. The player's last opponent, if not yet paired for the next round, will be given a win by forfeit. Others who lost to the player will be given half point byes, others who drew with the player will be given wins by forfeit. If the tournament is over, prizes that have been paid will not be redistributed.
35. Cellphones are prohibited in the tournament room. If your cellphone rings in the tournament room during play, you lose 10 minutes or half your remaining time, whichever is less. For a second offense in the same tournament, you forfeit your game.
36. You must show social security ID and picture ID to qualify for a prize of $600 or over.