Questions tagged [arbiters]
For questions about arbiters, the authority figures in chess tournaments.
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Arbiter ignored cheating, and I signed the scoresheet. Did I lose my right to object?
I am currently playing in an ELO tournament.
Today, while I was playing, my opponent occasionally got up and walked around. At first, I did not care much. Then, I realized that some people were ...
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How should an arbiter handle copying moves from another game?
In 2004 the British illusionist, Derren Brown, despite being a very poor chess player scored +4 -3 =2 against 9 strong chess players including scoring 2/4 against 4 grandmasters in a simul. Of course ...
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Am I allowed to call the arbiter on my opponent's turn?
My opponent, in their turn, was distracting me making annoying sounds. However, the arbiter said that I should wait until it's my turn when I called them. Is this correct?
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What should an arbiter do if a player has illegally stopped notating?
Situation: a standard game, 1 hour 40 minutes for the game with 10 seconds increment per move. FIDE rules. White has two minutes left and has stopped writing down his moves, as he is allowed to ...
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2
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What should the arbiter and what should have I done in this case?
Recently, an official (FIDE-rated) tournament was held, where I participated.
In the last round – which was the most critical one – I was black and my opponent white. In the middle of the game, they ...
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1
answer
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Arbiter's top work cause
Any solid data on which rule decision makes up the lion's share of arbiters work nowadays? (I neglect "Lookie, Flag!" because this is rather passive, and a player can claim it anyway. ...
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What is the FIDE Arbiter's exam like?
According to the FIDE Handbook (B.06.1.3.7), one of the requirements to become a FIDE Arbiter is:
Attendance of one (1) FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar and successfully passing (at least 80%) an examination ...
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What will/should the arbiter do if the side which cannot theoretically lose resigns?
Assume that in an endgame, one side cannot theoretically lose (for example, his opponent has only a king) and he is not in any time crisis. In this case, what will/should an arbiter do if this player ...
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1
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A 50-move-rule claim turned out to be incorrect - can the arbiter punish me?
I claimed a 50-move draw, but my claim turned out to be incorrect. Can the arbiter punish me by increasing the opponent's time or reducing mine?
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2
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Do I have to make a move on a DGT board at the start of the game when opponent is not present?
In a situation when you are playing on a DGT board as white and your opponent has not yet arrived at the board, should we still make the move on the board after the game has started?
Let's say your ...
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1
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Opponent replies to a half made move - what should the arbiter do?
In round 1 of the recently concluded 4th EJCOA IM norm tournament this game was played:
[Title "Rajat Makkar vs Neil Berry 4th EJCOA IM Norm 2022"]
[fen ""]
[Startply "36"...
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1
answer
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I refused to sign the scoresheet but the arbiter signed with my initials. What should I do?
I refused to sign my scoresheet, as I was planning to lodge an appeal. Yet, the arbiter signed the scoresheet with my initials. I know I didn't lose my right to object. However, I'm afraid that my ...
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votes
1
answer
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How do arbiters handle touch move complains where players deny?
So, two cases. Player A (A) and Player B (B)
Case 1
B touches a piece. A sees it. B plays something else. A complains to arbiter that B didn't play the touched piece. Arbiter didn't see that B ...
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7
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1
answer
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USCF: Can the arbiter adjudicate a draw using the threefold repetition rule WITHOUT a player claim?
Please give me your perspective and experience about USCF sudden death and non-sudden death time controls. My understanding is the following:
In general, the arbiter should not intervene unless a ...
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6
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2
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USCF: Should the arbiter start a time-forfeit claim?
I will be an USCF arbiter soon and I am checking the current USCF version of chess rules. Here is the link on the USCF website at 4/9/2022: USCF chess rules
In my perspective, you would have to go to ...
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5
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2
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Could I get in trouble for insulting an arbiter during a tournament round?
Suppose that, during a round of an official FIDE-rated tournament, I insult the arbiter privately (they notice), without distracting any of the other players. Could I get expelled from the tournament ...
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5
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1
answer
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Can someone press the clock without making a move to avoid getting flagged in 2022?
As the title says let's say it is a 1 hour 30 minute game with 30 seconds increment/move. Now if someone deliberately presses the clock at the last second without moving to avoid flagging and get the ...
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4
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2
answers
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Can a KB vs. KB endgame be declared drawn if a checkmate can occur and the 50-moves-rule doesn't apply in a Blitz game?
Bishop and King vs Bishop and King, with opposite-colored bishops, is usually a draw unless a serious blunder happens.
[FEN "8/8/8/3b4/8/7k/8/6BK w - - 0 1"]
What is the requirement for an ...
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1
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Is an arbiter allowed to leave the playing hall while some games haven't finished yet?
I've observed the arbiter responsible for the category I'm playing often leaves the playing lobby to smoke or drink/buy coffee/water in a nearby shop. Those "breaks" are quite long. What ...
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4
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1
answer
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Arbiter talking to player
So I've got a question regarding if an arbiter can talk to a player in this situation : My clock was running and I was thinking about the next move that I should make. I was already 10 minutes into ...
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If players are not writing their moves, can they claim a draw using the threefold repetition rule in an USCF or FIDE 30+0 chess tournament?
It is my understanding that the USCF expresses that if a player has less than 5 minutes in a 30+0 game, neither the player nor his/her opponent have the obligation to continue with chess notation.
If ...
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3
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3
answers
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Should FIDE introduce a minimum rating for arbiters?
As it stands right now, FIDE does not have any minimum Elo rating requirement for arbiters. In fact, there's no test to check whether one can play chess or not before being awarded a FIDE arbiter-...
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can players continue the game on mutual agreement in case of mobile ringing and arbiter noticing
In a situation where a mobile phone rings in the middle of the game should the offender's opponent call the arbiter and claim the win.
If claiming is not needed and if the arbiter decides to mark the ...
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3
votes
1
answer
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USCF: Does the arbiter have the duty to write the moves of the players if they are not recording their moves? Or is that not allowed?
In general, the players have to write their moves. However, there are some situations when they are allowed to skip this obligation. In those situations, does an USCF arbiter have the duty to write ...
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3
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2
answers
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What is "mating potential" in the FIDE Arbiter's Manual meant to mean?
While researching an answer for another SE.chess question (Has a position being a draw under FIDE 5.2.b before a forced recapture ever come up in a tournament?), I stumbled across the following issue.
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USCF: Should the arbiter correct illegal moves without a player claim?
Should an USCF arbiter correct illegal moves without a player claim?
Here is the USCF link: USCF rules of chess
Here is the FIDE link: FIDE rules of chess
USCF and FIDE rules are NOT 100% equal.
What ...
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2
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What does the chief arbiter do?
The rules of chess are straightforward so I must ask what does the chief arbiter do? what is the difference between him and a regular arbiter?
For example Anand and Carlsen had to meet him behind ...
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0
answers
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What is the state of the new FIDE Arbiter Refresher Courses?
Related question here asking about the changes for the changes in the regulations for FIDE arbiters (FA and IA) which came into force two years ago.
Previously the rules regarding inactivity for ...
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2
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What would happen if the same opening is played until an advanced stage in two games in a tournament? [duplicate]
I was watching this Firouzja interview by Belenkaya after the last round of the candidates and she asks him if he noticed the similarity between his game and Rapport-Radjabov at the opening.
Despite ...
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1
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How the "Quickplay finish" article works on a rook vs rook or rook vs minor piece endgame?
Suppose 2 players are playing in a 10-10 or blitz format with no increment. In the endgame the players are left with only rook vs a piece (rook / bishop / knight nearer to king) or similar drawing-...
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0
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Time Trouble, Arbiter Trouble
Yesterday. Our club's summer tournament. One specialist A is in time trouble as always (to his defense, 90+30+no bonus) and no longer writes. The other specialist B still has 10 minutes and writes ...
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1
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Minimum break between rounds
I am an assistant arbiter in an open tournament which is happening over the weekend, with 1 round on Friday, and 2 rounds on Saturday and Sunday.
There were 5.5 hours between the two rounds on ...
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1
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What are the new FIDE regulations for arbiters?
Last year I asked if FIDE were going to extend the rules around inactivity for new players, players and arbiters. They did so for players but not arbiters. Now they have made radical changes to the ...
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