Questions regarding the written rules, or the unwritten customs, that concern proper behavior in the world of chess.
3
votes
3answers
85 views
Casual chess meet up in London UK
I’m a (predominantly) online chess player. My rating is roughly FIDE 1800-1900. I’m travelling to the UK next week for work.
Is there a place or club or cafe in the inner or outer London area where I ...
13
votes
3answers
5k views
Is there any etiquette about how to proceed when a technical problem leads to a misplay in an online game? [duplicate]
Recently I was playing an online game when I moved my king with the intent of castling. However, I apparently didn't get it far enough over, and when I "let it go", the king was placed in a square ...
38
votes
6answers
12k views
What are the actions one can do against Chess.com players who stop moving when they are in an objectively losing position and refuse to resign?
One of my opponents at Chess.com just stopped moving after falling into objectively losing position, refused to resign and made me wait for 20 minutes to claim a win by time.
I've recently resumed my ...
4
votes
5answers
446 views
How do I respond to an arrogant beginner? [closed]
I played a skittles game (no clocks, arbiter etc.) against a beginner who did a lot of trash talking, which I didn't rise to. Here is an example of the conversation:
Beginner: I'm going to beat you ...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
Should captured pieces remain visible?
I don't think there's a rule about this, but maybe it's a matter of etiquette. Nearly every player I've encountered puts the pieces they capture next to the board, but I've met some who like to store ...
8
votes
5answers
708 views
How to resign properly?
In some of the tournaments I've been, there were pretty indecent people (some of whom licences were revoked).
One of my friends had a terrible incident. At the end of the game, he was dominating and ...
16
votes
4answers
4k views
Why do some players consider it rude not to accept a rematch in online blitz?
I play a lot of online blitz, and frequently my opponent would offer a rematch after a game. Although I sometimes accept, I usually am more interested in analyzing the game to see if I can learn from ...
7
votes
2answers
371 views
How many times should I let my opponent know they forgot to press their clock?
I've had this question on my mind for a while, and I searched around and found a previous question (Should you let your opponent know if they have forgotten to press their clock?) that touched on the ...
18
votes
7answers
5k views
Is it ethical to spar against an engine when playing correspondence?
I started playing correspondence on chess.com purely for the fun of it and to gain some deep learning (i.e. there's no prize involved).
We are about 10 moves in and coming close to me being out of ...
1
vote
6answers
251 views
Is it disrespectful to pay attention to other things while playing?
Sometimes when I'm playing a variation that I'm comfortable with I get bored while waiting for my opponent to move, so I get distracted and start to pay attention to other things around me.
I know ...
-5
votes
1answer
446 views
Moral question about online chess & engine analysis [closed]
This isn't so much a 'hard' knowledge or analysis question, but more of a request for feedback on a moral issue.
I cheat in online chess, daily/correspondence that is. I use a strong engine not only ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Would it be offense to a chess coach to hire another titled player just to play training games with?
Say I have a chess coach, but I hire another titled player to play training games with. Would it be offensive or alright to do? Or they wouldn't care as long as I'm paying them?
16
votes
5answers
3k views
Why does a touched piece not have to move in online play?
There is a rule of playing the game of chess that a touched piece of one's own should be the one to move. I have always been taught by professional trainers from early childhood that this is the ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
How to offer a draw when the opponent is not present
Imagine that your opponent is away from the board and you want to make a move and then offer a draw and leave for the toilet with some urgency. What is the solution to this inconvenience? Can a player ...
4
votes
3answers
154 views
How to resign when my opponent is not at the board?
This happened to me yesterday. It was unreasonable for me to play on, so I was going to resign but my opponent was not at the board. They probably left the board to watch another game, waiting for ...
6
votes
5answers
701 views
Why do some players never accept a draw offer?
Some of the people I play against will never accept a draw offer, even in positions that are a theoretical draw.
I know it's a draw. They know it's a draw. But they want to play until:
Draw by ...
14
votes
11answers
3k views
When losing in blitz, is it rude to play to win on time?
In blitz, I frequently find myself in a position where I'm hopelessly losing on the board but have a good chance of winning on time (and the other way around). Is it generally considered good ...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
Are there any grandmasters who always play until checkmate?
Are there any high-level players who are either known for playing games out until the bitter end or have done so in famous circumstances? Is this considered poor etiquette (I'd imagine it would be ...
10
votes
4answers
663 views
Accidental moves in online chess
If your opponent makes an accidental move, e.g. by slipping the mouse, and it is obvious that is was accidental, how should you continue? Should you just play the best move as if your opponent's last ...
5
votes
2answers
708 views
How much time on my clock do I have to lose before it is legal to stop notating?
When I play in tournaments, I do not know when it is legal to stop chess notation. Also, if my opponent stops notating, is it okay for me to stop notating as well?
13
votes
5answers
2k views
He has two queens. I have one. Is it proper chess etiquette to check him non stop just to avoid losing?
I am losing a game. My only option is to check my opponent non stop. I have no chance to checkmate him. I am only hoping to force a draw. Is this proper chess etiquette?
13
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the proper etiquette in Team Chess Championships?
In Team Chess Championships, what is the proper etiquette for being a player?
This question is mainly focused on:
Can I see my teammates’ games during the match? (I suspect I can.)
If I win quickly, ...
8
votes
2answers
451 views
Is it poor form to win a drawn position on time?
I was playing a 3-minute game, my opponent had around 15 seconds to my ~50 seconds when he managed to cancel out the last pawns to make it so we each had a king and a rook. I let his time run out and ...
2
votes
2answers
221 views
how large can a rating difference become before either player realizes it's not worth engaging in a game?
I think the relationship changes as rankings increase (i.e., players with ratings lower than 1000 might be able to play all other players in that range and still enjoy themselves, but if a sub-1000 ...
16
votes
5answers
26k views
When you check someone, do you have to say “check”?
Yesterday I was playing with a friend, I was almost out of time, he checked me, didn't say anything, I didn't see the check as i was in a hurry to make my move. And I was mated.
Computers don't let ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Is it forbidden to laugh when playing in a chess tournament?
I have read this. But it still didn't fill my brain yet.
When I play chess, sometimes I'm often laughing and putting some pressure on my opponent.
Is it forbidden in Legal one? Is there a rule about ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Can Black always choose seating position and clock position?
Watching tournament and competitive club play, players playing black sometimes switch the clock to their dominant side before the game starts without asking.
Presumably, having the clock on your ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
What is considered a distraction to an opponent?
My questions concern section 12.6 of the FIDE rules handbook (http://www.fide.com/component/handbook/?id=124&view=article) which states that it is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
How do you castle in one smooth motion?
One time I saw GM Gawain Jones playing a blitz game where he castled by placing one hand on his King and Rook. With a quick twist, the pieces were in the castled position. It happened so quickly, I ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
What is the etiquette (or tournament rule) for the act of capturing a piece?
There are a few different possible ways of capturing an opponent's piece. You could:
Pick up both your piece and their piece simultaneously with both hands, then set your piece down where their piece ...
4
votes
5answers
647 views
What advice would you give a novice in Chess?
I am a bit of a new blood when it comes to Chess. Oh I know how to play but before I started getting more serious it was more like flailing about and hoping for the best. Recently I came to the ...
21
votes
16answers
3k views
Is it ethical to tell your opponent how you are going to checkmate him?
I play online chess, 3 days per move and I like to tell my opponents how I'm going to checkmate them, if they will never win, so that I won't waste time continuing the game. And I like to be told if I ...
1
vote
3answers
2k views
Does deliberately knocking the king over end the game?
When I play with my friend, he will often knock his own king over when he is going to lose.
He ends the game and says, "I lose".
Is this permissible?
6
votes
2answers
747 views
Move first, record later; or vice-versa?
Is it better to teach young players to record their move first and then make it? Or should they be taught to move first and write later? Is one considered better etiquette over the other?
11
votes
1answer
2k views
What are the essentials of chess etiquette in a serious, over-the-board tournament game?
I'm asking this question to provide players who are starting to play in tournaments a guide on proper behavior during games. I'll give an answer myself - perhaps we could supply an answer collectively ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the proper way to ask for a draw?
I know that the rule states "The game is drawn upon agreement between the two players. This immediately ends the game." but what I'm interested in knowing the exact way to offer a draw because I've ...
9
votes
1answer
5k views
Touching chess pieces in official matches
Is it a rule in official matches, that if I touch a piece I must play with that one?
Sorry for my noobness; my friend said that I should move with the touched piece.
14
votes
11answers
2k views
How to play against little kids?
Say, in an age range of 7-12 years. One of my friends holds the opinion that you should trounce them at every opportunity, so that they can learn from their mistakes. Another says that you should ...
28
votes
11answers
3k views
Is allowing takebacks in friendly games a bad practice?
When I am playing friendly games with my brother, if one of us makes a big blunder that would make it pointless to continue playing, instead of quitting, we undo the move(s) to give a second chance (...
16
votes
3answers
2k views
Should you let your opponent know if they have forgotten to press their clock?
I'm in two minds here.
The good sportsman says you should always let your opponent know (maybe limited to once per game).
The more hard-nosed part of me says that managing the clock is part of the ...
18
votes
4answers
751 views
How quickly must a move be completed?
I was playing in a tournament once, during a sequence of captures, my opponent could recapture my Knight about 4 different ways. He just removed it and carried on thinking.
What should I have done?
5
votes
2answers
474 views
In speed chess (especially bullet), are dirty tactics tolerated more?
In bullet chess, well, it's frantic. And sometimes I find myself making dubious checks just to gain time. Or funny gambits. But it feels unbefitting of the royal game.
Is bullet chess bad for the ...
4
votes
2answers
561 views
Does the chess community have a problem with manners and sportsmanship? [closed]
Chess can be such an emotional game, when your intelligence is paired up against your opponent's.
It's great fun at times, but at other times, it seems like we get too sensitive. More so than, say, ...
17
votes
4answers
1k views
Are there still wins by an actual checkmate?
At the international level, I normally see games that are either decided by a draw or one player resigning. It seems that players at the international level don't let the game result in an actual ...
6
votes
4answers
415 views
When is it appropriate to use a program during games with a longer timeframe, such as correspondence chess?
Are there rules about when a player may use a chess engine to aid his game? Is it always frowned upon? Do you have to specially ask? Not that you can stop your opponent from using an engine, but is ...
11
votes
7answers
766 views
When is it the right time to resign?
Most advanced players know when it is time to resign, but many beginners don't. What factors do you consider when it is time to resign?
