Continental Chess Association Rules (Revised 12/2/22)

NOTE: "REG" indicates a rule only for regular time controls, such as 40/100. "SD" indicates a rule only for
sudden death time controls, such as SD/30 or G/30. "FIDE" indicates a rule only for FIDE. Rules not marked
"REG," "SD" or "FIDE" apply to all. More rules appear in the USCF rulebook and also apply. Unless a specific
penalty is otherwise specified, penalties for rules infractions are at the discretion of the Director.

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 (“quiet” analysis is disturbing).

2. Schedule is listed in CHESS LIFE, chesstour.com 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 (sometimes Director will make announcements before games start). Set analog clocks to expire at 6:00 (4:00 if 40/2). Electronic clocks should be set for the specified delay or increment for the entire 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 usually do not furnish equipment.

5. You may not subtract time from late opponent without setting up clock, set and board.

6. If opponent is an hour late (or the length of his first time control, whichever is less), as measured by the chess 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
usually 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 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. REG: 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. SD, FIDE: Score is not needed to win on time.

10. REG, SD: Players are allowed to write their move on the scoresheet before playing it on the board. However, players
using an electronic scoresheet, must make their move on the board before recording it. FIDE: Players should not write their move on the scoresheet before playing it.

11. REG, SD: 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. FIDE: You still may claim a forfeit win, but if you don't, it's also
possible a TD (tournament director) will claim for you.

12. REG, SD: 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.
FIDE: Same, but with no exceptions..

13. REG: If both flags are down, the game continues into the next control. SD and FIDE SD: If both flags are down, the game
is drawn. FIDE REG: If both flags are down, the Director may rule a forfeit if it is known which flag fell first, otherwise the game
continues into the next control.

14. REG, SD: If either player has under five minutes remaining, neither is required to keep score. FIDE: Only the player with
under five minutes is not required to keep score. ALL: With increment or delay of 30 seconds or more, both players must always keep score.

15. SD: If delay or increment is not used and you are on move with under 2 minutes left, you may pause the 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. The ratings and clock times of the players are irrelevant. If your
claim is denied, a minute may be deducted from your time, possibly causing you to forfeit. FIDE: The TD will rule on the claim
regarding whether "the player is making an effort to win by normal means." REG, SD: TD may adjudicate ridiculous positions.

16. SD: If your flag is down, it is too late to claim insufficient losing chances.

17. SD: For a "losing chances" ruling, Director may insert a delay clock, in which case claimant receives half his remaining
time (maximum 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 delay clock- that is only one of the Director options
for resolving "losing chances" claims.

18. In case of a problem, stop clock and see TD. If Director feels clocks were stopped without good reason, a penalty is
possible. If you don't see a TD in the tournament room, go to the Director's Room or area.

19. During play, players may not leave the tournament area (tournament room(s), skittles room(s), vendor room, lecture
room, and adjacent bathrooms or foyers), or go to a different floor of the hotel if the tournament uses multiple floors, without the
permission of a TD. The penalty is at the TD's discretion and can range from a warning to loss of the game.

20. Don't touch clock when it's not your move, pick up clock unless defective, or bang clock. You may be penalized, at TD's
discretion. Players must press clock with same hand that moves pieces. REG, SD: When castling, promoting or capturing, a
player may use two hands. FIDE: Each move must be made with the same one hand which also presses the clock.

21. If you make an illegal move and press the clock, and opponent claims this before touching a piece, two minutes are added
to opponent's time. Touch-move also applies.

22. REG, SD: 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. FIDE: If you touch the rook first, you must move the rook.

23. If 50 moves (no exceptions) by each side elapse without a capture and without a pawn move, either player may claim a draw.
24. It must be your move to claim triple occurrence of position. Don't move and press the clock, 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. SD: In an unclear situation, TD may deny claim without penalty.

25. REG: To claim triple repetition or 50-move rule, scoresheet need not be complete, but must be adequate to verify claim,
and moves filled in after the claim don't count. SD, FIDE: TD may also use observation.

26. Post your result promptly on the yellow pairing sheet. Do not write on the white wall chart. Top section players must also
turn in their original scoresheet. In non-FIDE sections, you can keep your scoresheet. All scoresheets should be signed by both
players indicating the result. In the event of a dispute over the outcome you may need to show a scoresheet signed by your
opponent, accepting the result.

27. Black has the choice of equipment providing it is standard- 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. Standard sets
are the USCF Special, Player's Choice, Cavalier, or Lardy wood, or similar sets. The standard clock is an electric clock using
the specified delay or increment.

28. If you make the last move of the time control having time, but your timer runs out when you hit the clock, opponent can claim a win. That’s how the timer proves you didn’t press the clock before your time ran out.

29. Electronic scoresheets must always be visible to the opponent. This is not required for paper scoresheets unless
requested by the TD. Scoresheets may not be removed from the playing area during the game.

30. Clocks should not be set to halt or beep when time expires (except freeze is OK using increment). Clocks with incorrect delay or increment settings may be corrected by the TD. After each side has completed 10 moves, a game using a clock set without or with an incorrect delay/increment will continue unless corrected by the TD.

31. IF YOU DROP OUT, OR WON'T PLAY NEXT ROUND, NOTIFY DIRECTOR, PREFERABLY AT LEAST AN HOUR
BEFORE. If you can't do this in person, use email or call the hotel and ask for "the chess tournament." Don't leave a message
with the hotel; it may not reach us in time. Violators may be fined (at tournaments offering FIDE norm possibilities, the minimum fine is $100).

32. Players who forfeit without notice will be removed from the tournament, unless they give notice they are returning and pay
any fine that may be required.

33. It is improper to abandon a lost game without resigning. Violators may be penalized at TD's discretion.

34. 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, except for round 3 of quads.

35. It is illegal to "throw" a game, or to agree to split a prize. Players offering or accepting deals 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, even if no one hears what is said.

36. An improperly rated player, who did not provide full info on a USCF, foreign, or FIDE rating or who manipulated his or her
rating, may be expelled at any time. Those who defeated the expelled player retain their rated wins. Otherwise, if the player is expelled with one round remaining (or if event is over), his last opponent receives a forfeit win. Other opponents shall receive an additional half-point adjustment. If a player is expelled with two or more rounds to go, all the expelled player’s opponents receive a forfeit win. These games will still be submitted for rating. If the tournament is over, prizes that have been paid will not be redistributed.

37. During play, players may not possess cellphones or other devices capable of chess analysis or communication during
play, Such devices may, if shut off, be stored in a bag near the player’s table. For detailed rules and penalties concerning
electronic devices, see http://www.chesstour.com/devices.htm. These rules also address issues related to music players.

38. You may be required to show social security ID, and picture ID to receive a prize. Non-resident aliens must have 30% of any prize withheld for the IRS.