Rules and Conduct

Conduct of Players, Parents and Coaches. All involved with the tournament will conduct themselves with good sportsmanship.

Rules. Rules decisions with be guided by the 5th Edition of the USCF Official Rules of Chess. However, the tournament director may use discretion in how the rules apply to this scholastic event. The event will be “touch move”. You are not required to announce check.

Questions and Problems. Players with concerns during a round should raise their hand and call a judge. If you feel the judge has ruled incorrectly, you should ask for an appeal.

Reporting Results. When the game is over and both players agree on the result, shake hands, and BOTH players report the result to the scoring tables located near the exits to the room. AFTER reporting the result, return to your board and reset all the pieces. Leave the room quietly until the next round. Be sure NOT to reset the pieces until the result has been verified by both players with the scoring judge. IT IS YOUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THE RESULT RECORDED IS CORRECT. If both players leave without a result being recorded, a double forfeit may be entered.

Errors. Players, coaches and parents should check posted pairings and standings for accuracy, and report errors immediately. Errors from prior rounds which are not immediately reported may not be corrected. IT IS YOUR JOB TO CHECK STANDINGS.

Recording Moves. While players are not required to record their moves, players are encouraged to do so to provide a record of the game and to allow certain claims under the rules of chess. Players may wish to cease recording moves when either player has less than five minutes on the clock. Electronic recording devices ARE allowed.

Clocks & Time Controls. The time control is G/30. This is 30 minutes for each player; one hour for the game. Games without clocks may have a clock placed on them after 40 minutes, with 10 minutes on the clock for each player. Digital clocks with time delay are preferred, and should be set to 25 minutes with a 5 second delay. Speed chess playoffs to determine recipient of the scholarship in each OPEN category, grades 1-6, will be played with the time control of G/5.

Drawn Positions. When a clearly drawn position, such as K+R vs. K+R, is reached, either player may stop the clock and request that a judge rule a draw. If the judge rules a draw, the game is over. If the judge does not rule a draw, the game will continue. Frivolous requests are poor sportsmanship, and will be handled accordingly.

Late Arrival. A player who is more than ten minutes late for a round will lose by forfeit. The player will also be dropped from the tournament unless the pairings directors are informed that the player wishes to continue.

Early Departure. If for some reason you do not plan to play all five rounds, please advise the pairings directors before you leave the tournament.

Penalties for Rules Violations. Penalties for rules violations are at the discretion of the tournament director, and may vary from warnings and time penalties to forfeiture and expulsion from the tournament.

For the Washington State Elementary Chess Championships Tournament Policies, please click here