1. White moves first.

2. The board is set out as in the picture.

3. The bottom right hand square must be white.

MISTAKES

If the pieces are set out wrongly, if the game has not finished, the game is restarted with the pieces on the right squares. If the game has finished, the result stands.

If the board is set out the wrong way, the chessmen must be transferred to a board set out the right way.

MOVING

1. If you want to adjust a piece of your own, you must wait until it is your turn to move and then say “I want to adjust” or “j’adoube” in old French.
2. If you touch a piece of yours, and it can be moved, you must move it. If you touched a piece of your opponent’s and it can be taken, you must take it. You must tell someone that your opponent has touched a piece and moved another before you touch a piece of your own.
3. You can only use one hand when moving pieces and the same hand to press your clock.
4. A move is completed when the piece is let go on the square. If the clock falls before the button is pressed, the player still loses unless the move he has made ends the game.
5. You do not have to say “check”. It is good manners to say “check”.

END OF THE GAME

1. The game is over when a player says he resigns, or is checkmated. His opponent wins.
2. The game is over when the player whose turn it is to move has no legal moves but is not in check. The game is drawn.
3. The game is drawn when neither player can checkmate the other.  For example, King v King, Bishop and King v King, King and Knight v King.
4. The game is drawn if neither player has taken a piece or moved a pawn for 50 moves.
5. A player may make a move, and offer a draw before pressing his clock. If he offers a draw before making a move, his opponent can insist on the move before deciding on a draw. A draw offer cannot be taken back.
6. The game is drawn if the position on the board has happened 3 times, or is about to happen for the third time, with the same person to move on each time.

CLOCKS

1. Clocks will be placed where the controller wants them to be placed.
2. Clocks are not to be picked up except to adjust the time.
3. The flags show when the time has run out. A player or the controller may tell someone his flag has fallen, but no-one else may. If a player forgets to press his clock, no-one may tell him.
4. If there is a problem and you need the controller or the game is over, or you need another piece, you may stop the clocks. If not, leave them running.
5. You cannot win a game of chess because your opponent runs out of time if you do not have mating material. If you have a king against a king rook and pawn, the game is normally drawn.
6. If both flags are down, the game is drawn.
7. If during the last two minutes of your time, your opponent is not trying to win the game on the board, or cannot win the game by checkmate, stop the clocks and call the controller over and claim a draw. He may make a decision then, or may watch the game. If your flag falls, he may still give you a draw.

SCORESHEETS

1. These show how many moves have been made. The controller must be able to see them.
2. You may write the moves, the time taken, the name of your opponent on them. You will not make notes on them about the game.
3. You must make your move and then write them down, unless you have less than 5 minutes left when you do not have to keep score. If your opponent has less than 5 minutes and you have more than 5 minutes, you must carry on keeping score.

RAPIDPLAY GAMES (all moves in 60 minutes or less)

1. You do not have to keep score.
2. Once both players have made 3 moves, any wrongly placed pieces must stay there.
3. An illegal move is completed when the clock is pressed. A claim should be made then. If the position is in a mess, the controller will step in and help sort it out.
4. To claim a win on time, you must stop the clocks and show that his flag has fallen whilst yours is still up.

GENERAL POINTS

The time allowed for a game depends on the competition rules. It can be 40 moves in 2 hours on a player’s clock, or all moves in one hour, or even all moves in 5 minutes.

1. Spectators shall not interfere in a game. If they do, they will be told to leave the room.
2. For the first two illegal moves in a game, the other player gets 2 minutes extra time. The third illegal move loses.
3. A player may not distract another. A player shall not tell another to hurry up.
4. You shall not set up a chess board with a position from a game being played in the same building.