10 Things You Should NEVER Do In Chess Tournaments

These are 10 things you should avoid doing at chess tournaments!! Hope this inspires you to play more tournaments :) let me know in the comments any other points you think I should add to this list!

00:00-1:39 Know the basics
1:39-4:26 Don't distract
4:26-5:16 Don't talk to friends
5:16-6:28 Don't stand up on your turn
6:28-7:47 Don't offer too many draws
7:47-8:40 Poker face
8:40-10:12 Touch move
10:12-11:07 Illegal moves
11:07-11:57 Bonus Point
11:57-12:50 Always shake hands
12:50-14:00 Check tournament rules

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#annacramling #chess #tournament

[italixgaming]

The "no eat rule" made me think about a tournament we organised in my school when I was a student. My opponent brought a can of soda so he could drink during the game. So he put his can next to the clock and after he made one move, he pressed the can instead of the clock. 🤣

[Dextline]

A vital note regarding #1 is to feebly seize the tips of their fingers like this is the first time you've ever encountered a handshake. Alternatively go for a fistbump, and if they go for a fistbump too, you go for a handshake. Repeat until their soul leaves their body.

[ohmygame]

Another tip:When you are castling ALWAYS touch the king first because if you touch the Rook first it will be counted as a rook move and you must move the rook because castling is a king's ability

[DuffmanChess]

In my time as an arbiter, I've seen new tournament players struggle with a few things. Here are some of the most common issues, and some tips for those that need them:

1. When offering a draw, the correct way to do it is to say "I offer a draw", or just say "draw" WHILE making your move, then press the clock. DO NOT offer your opponent a draw on their turn, it is distracting and is bad manners. DO NOT say "draw" and immediately offer a handshake. Your opponent is allowed to think about the draw. Which is why you offer the draw as you make your move, and allow them to think about it on their time.

2. You can NOT take back an offer of a draw. Once you offer a draw, that offer stands until your opponent declines the offer. A draw offer can be declined verbally (but quietly) by saying something like "no thank you". But most of the time, a draw will be declined by your opponent making a move on the board. They do NOT need to verbally decline the offer.

3. Once a draw has been declined, it can NOT be accepted from that point on unless another draw offer is made. This has been known to cause a few arguments in tournaments. Therefore, the best thing to do, no matter if your opponent or yourself offers the draw, is to mark the draw offer on your scoresheet. You do this by writing "(=)" next to the current move number on the scoresheet. This allows the arbiters to see that a draw offer was made on that move if there is a dispute.

4. When resigning a game, DO NOT tip/knock your king over. Simply stop the clock by pressing the button in the middle, offer a handshake to your opponent, say a quick "well done" and reset the pieces. Tipping the king over makes you look like an amateur, and can be distracting to players around you if knocking the piece over makes some noise.

5. To add onto number 4, accidently knocking over your king DOES NOT mean you resign. Same goes for your opponent. You are also not forced to move that piece, if you knocked it over while reaching for a different piece. The touch move rule only applies to deliberately touching a piece.

6. You are allowed to touch a piece to centre it on the square by saying quietly, but clearly to your opponent "I adjust" or "Ja'doube". You MUST do this on your time and NOT on your opponent's turn. Otherwise it could be considered distracting behaviour.

7. If you knock other pieces over while making a move, you MUST put them back onto their proper squares BEFORE pressing your clock. Pressing the clock without picking the pieces back up, is considered an illegal move.

8. NEVER accuse your opponent of cheating to their face. If you suspect your opponent is up to no good, make your move, press the clock and go have a quiet word with the arbiter. The arbiter will keep an eye on your opponent for you, and deal with any issues that may be occurring. The arbiter is your best friend. Always go directly to the arbiter if you have any problems. Never confront your opponent yourself.

9. When promoting a pawn, you MUST replace the pawn with a piece. If the piece you want is not available, you MUST get up and ask the arbiter for one WHILE your clock is running. Placing a pawn on the back rank, not replacing it with a piece, and pressing your clock is an illegal move. This applies even if you say the name of the piece you're promoting to. The arbiter will then penalize you, and replace the pawn with a Queen. Even if you don't want to promote to a Queen.

10. An upside down Rook is still a Rook. It is NOT treated as a Queen. Placing a Rook on the board upside down and moving it like a Queen is an illegal move. (The one exception I know of is USCF rated tournaments do allow upside down Rooks to be treated as a Queen, but that may have changed now. As most tournaments, even domestic tournaments, use the FIDE rules of chess, It is always better to be safe than sorry.)

11. When promoting a pawn, you must use the same hand to complete all of the move. This includes putting the piece on the board that you've promoted to. So if you move the pawn with the right hand, you must then place the promoted piece on the board with the right hand, then press your clock with your right hand.

12. You MUST use the same hand to capture your opponent's piece and move your piece. It is an illegal move to take your opponent's piece with your left hand, then move your piece with the right hand.

13. When castling, you MUST only use one hand. To castle with two hands is an illegal move.

14. When castling, you MUST move your King first, then move your Rook. Castling is a King move. If you touch the Rook first, you will have to move the Rook and will NOT be allowed to castle.

15. You MUST make your move on the board, THEN write the move down. To write the move first, then make the move is considered as taking notes, and therefore cheating.

16. You can NOT write anything on your scoresheet besides the notation of the game. This includes annotations such as "??" or "!!". Neither can you write down your calculations. Again, this is considered to be taking notes, and therefore cheating.

If anyone has any other questions or concerns, I'll be happy to answer them .

[point-blnk]

Speaking of draws, the threefold-repetition rule can be a bit confusing in otb chess since there's a specific order of actions you need to follow, so make sure you learn that.

[Sky]

"Don't say check" is an interesting one. I was taught that it was proper etiquette to do so (as I'm sure it prevents a few illegal moves), but I haven't played in an OTB tournament except for a school chess club. I suppose it's none of my business if my opponent doesn't see it.

[baureihefreak]

"Poker face when having done a mistake": I also have seen another misbehaviour one time at a tournament. A player put his bishop to an attacked square. It looked like a blunder move, but it was a trap. The bishop could not be captured, otherwise a checkmate in four moves would follow. Now immediately after moving the bishop, the player made a gasp and showed a terrified face, as if he would now regret the "blunder move". So his opponent believed the situation and did not care for the trap, and captured the bishop ...

[ItsKyleMang]

The #1 thing that I don't do in a chess tournament is win.

[SirVampyr]

I'm actually signed up for my first ever tournament in November! So this is really helpful! :)

[rikkousa]

I never try to distract my opponent…ok maybe I rarely distract them by wearing glasses that make me appear older and wiser….I always bring plenty of napkins that come in handy when eating Buffalo wings. Magnus hates picking up pieces that have blue cheese on them .

[williamgills]

Anna, you might want to add that, when castling, always move the king first. If you touch the rook first then you cannot castle, you can only make a move with the rook you touched. So when you want to castle, always move the king first, and then the rook. Am I wrong?

[flinnja]

i think some card tournaments have made it an actual tournament rule that you cant smell bad because people were using it as a "strategy". sends a shiver down my spine to think of that entering other competitive tournaments

[timbannet]

I'm going to my local chess club for the first time tonight! This couldn't have come at a better time! 😂

[lordtanatoskmkn]

Thank you, I'm preparing for my first tournament and that's some valuable information. I thought I had to say 'check' every time, now I will only be ashamed by my blunders.

[layquaza]

I laughed hard about the food, what is funny is when you play a kid that is like 10 years old 1800 and he pick up his apple juice and drink it like he was 3, happened to me often Lol.

[tomlewis]

Be sure to turn off your phone, or better yet don't take it into the playing hall. A phone ringing during your game will usually result in a time penalty if not an outright forfeiture result

[bug_catcher]

Great tips Anna! I'm hoping to do my first chess tournament this year and now I can feel like I belong!

[ahoblit]

This is great information. Manners and etiquette are important!

[dmnsarg]

I'm going to my first tournament this weekend. I'm so excited!

[yousernameish]

"smelling bad" is my secret weapon.