Revised Laws of Chess July 2014

The latest revised Laws should have in fact come into force 1 July 2013. The revision was discussed
during the FIDE Congress in Istanbul in September 2012. However, a few members of the Presidential
Board (PB) of FIDE had problems with some of the proposals made by the Rules and Tournament
Regulations Commission (RTRC). Several meetings were organised and finally in August 2013, during a
meeting of the World Cup Tournament in Troms, an agreement between delegations of the PB and the
RTRC was arranged. The RTRC agreed in a meeting in Tallinn during the Executive Board (EB) meeting
with the proposals from Troms, the EB followed and approved the final draft of the Laws of Chess.
I can imagine that some people will consider the approved Laws very radical on some points, possibly
even draconian, but in certain instances these radical changes are necessary, taking into account the
frequent occasions of cheating that recently occurred. I will discuss the most important changes in this
column.
Article 3.10c
A position is illegal when it cannot have been reached by any series of legal moves.
Some examples:
1. White has still all his pawns, but there are two white bishops on the black squares. Probably the initial
position was wrong or a bishop was displaced from its original square.
2. There are white pawns on a2 and c2 and a white bishop on b1.
3. Both kings are in check, even attacking each other.
4. There is a white pawn on the eighth rank. Apparently the pawn was not replaced with a piece of the
same colour.
Article 4.6
The act of promotion may be performed in various ways:
1. the pawn does not have to be placed on the square of arrival,
2. removing the pawn and putting the new piece on the square of arrival may occur in any order.
If an opponent's piece stands on the square of arrival, it must be captured.
This article makes clear that promotion of the pawn is legal by first removing the pawn from the board
and putting the new piece on the square of arrival. I sincerely hope that from 1 July 2014, and, even
better, from now on, no arbiter will consider it illegal or declare the game lost for the player who put the
new piece on the board first.
Article 6.2a
During the game each player, having made his move on the chessboard, shall stop his own clock
and start his opponent's clock (that is to say, he shall press his clock). This "completes" the move. A
move is also completed if:

(1) the move ends the game (see Articles 5.1.a, 5.2.a, 5.2.b, 5.2.c and 9.6), or
(2) the player has made his next move, in case his previous move was not completed.
A player must be allowed to stop his clock after making his move, even after the opponent has made
his next move. The time between making the move on the chessboard and pressing the clock is
regarded as part of the time allotted to the player.
The definition of a completed move has been expanded. The following situation may occur:
The player makes his move, but before he can press his clock, the opponent makes a move. Now there are
two possibilities:
1. The player still presses the clock and completes his move in this way.
2. The player does not press his clock, but makes his next move. In this situation the player's first move is
considered to be completed.
Article 7.1
If an irregularity occurs and the pieces have to be restored to a previous position, the arbiter shall
use his best judgement to determine the times to be shown on the chess clock. This includes the
right not to change the clock times. He shall also, if necessary, adjust the clock's move-counter.
It can happen that at the end of a period it is discovered that many moves and probably also several hours
prior an irregularity occurred. Adjusting the clock times may cause some problems in the event the clocks
have to be adjusted to the times shown on the clocks when the irregularity took place.
Article 7.5a (second part)
If the player has moved a pawn to the furthest distant rank, pressed the clock, but not replaced the
pawn with a new piece, the move is illegal. The pawn shall be replaced by a queen of the same
colour as the pawn.
I understand people who have the opinion that this is a very strange law. Let me try to explain the reason
behind this addition See the following position.

[FEN "1nq2rk1/2P1bp2/B1Q1p3/
3p2p1/4nB2/1P4P1/1P3P2/R5K1"]

White has the move in this position and he can capture on b8. He is also in time trouble and is not able to
calculate which piece he will choose. What does he do? He presses the clock and will get in this way
some extra thinking time. The arbiter has to stop the clocks, he has to give the opponent two minutes
extra thinking time and all along the player has the opportunity to make up his mind. Did you see the best
move? It is 1 cxb8N! and White wins.
Article 7.5b
After the action taken under Article 7.5.a, for the first completed illegal move by a player the arbiter
shall give two minutes extra time to his opponent; for the second completed illegal move by the
same player the arbiter shall declare the game lost by this player. However, the game is drawn if
the position is such that the opponent cannot checkmate the player's king by any possible series of
legal moves.
In the actual Laws of Chess, valid until 1 July 2014, it was mentioned that a third illegal move by the
same player in the same game results in a loss of the game. It has been changed: the second illegal move
is now determinant for the player
Article 9.5
If a player claims a draw under Article 9.2 or 9.3, he or the arbiter shall stop the chess clock (see
Article 6.12 b).
This Article was changed several times during the last decades. For many years the claiming player
should stop the clocks, and then it was changed that the player may stop the clocks, and finally from 1
July 2014 the player or the arbiter shall stop the clocks. It happened many times that an arbiter refused to
investigate the correctness of a claim when the player had not stopped the clocks, even in the period that
the player may stop the clocks. The RTRC hopes that with the change coming into effect 1 July 2014 the
arbiter shall stop the clocks in case the player forgets.
Article 9.6 (new)
If one or both of the following occur(s) then the game is drawn:
a. the same position has appeared, as in 9.2b, for at least five consecutive alternate moves by each
player.
b. the last 75 moves have been completed by each player without the movement of any pawn and
without any capture.
To avoid all misunderstandings, the rules regarding draw claims based on triple-repetition of position and
the fifty-move rule are still valid. There are no changes at all. New is that, if at least five consecutive
alternate moves by each player has appeared, the game is drawn.
The same happens with seventy-five moves without any capture or pawn move. If the arbiter or either
player notices this fact, the game is finished and the draw stands. In both situations a claim is not
necessary.
The old Article 10 Quick Finish
It has been removed from the Competition rules and is in an appendix in the new Laws.

Article 11.3b
During play, a player is forbidden to have a mobile phone and/or other electronic means of
communication in the playing venue. If it is evident that a player brought such a device into the
playing venue, he shall lose the game. The opponent shall win.
The rules of a competition may specify a different, less severe, penalty.
The arbiter may require the player to allow his clothes, bags or other items to be inspected, in
private. The arbiter or a person authorised by the arbiter shall inspect the player and shall be of the
same gender as the player. If a player refuses to cooperate with these obligations, the arbiter shall
take measures in accordance with Article 12.9.
First paragraph
It is clear that the rules in this Article are becoming stricter. It started a few years ago that a ringing
mobile resulted in a loss for the player who was the owner of such device. The situation from 1 July 2014
is that it is even forbidden to bring it to the playing venue and not only mobiles are forbidden, but all
electronic means of communication.
These measures are required because of the advancing technology, especially in professional chess.
Another change in this paragraph is that an offending player shall lose the game, even in cases that the
opponent has a bare king and therefore cannot win the game by any series of legal moves. The reason for
this change is obvious: how can we be sure that the player did not use his mobile before the presence of it
was discovered?
Second paragraph
The Laws of Chess are written for games played on every level: for games played in a club competition or
in a world championship match. Nevertheless, fraud must be combated at all levels.
In club chess it is very difficult for players to leave their mobiles at home. Many go straight from their
jobs to the chess club or have to be accessible for a variety of reasons; for instance, doctors. A possibility
for these players is to give their mobiles to the arbiter or leave them at some designated area.
I was told that in the Belgian club competition the team captains collect the switched-off mobiles. The
Dutch federation board has in mind to act accordingly. But it is important that it is foreseen in the Laws
of Chess that a less severe penalty will be imposed. I know an organiser of an amateur tournament who
imposes a fine of ten Euros for a ringing mobile.
Third paragraph
It is clear that the last paragraph shall be applied in top events. I think the majority of the arbiters prefer to
leave the checking of the players, as mentioned in the first sentence, to certified security personnel. I
would like to emphasise that in the last paragraph in several places it is written "may".
Article 11.9
A player shall have the right to request from the arbiter an explanation of particular points in the
Laws of Chess.

In my opinion this Article is clear, and comments are not necessary.

Article 11.10
Unless the rules of the competition specify otherwise, a player may appeal against any decision of
the arbiter, even if the player has signed the scoresheet (see Article 8.7).
The words "even if the player has signed the scoresheet" are added. This guarantees a player the right to
appeal even when he has signed the scoresheets.
Article 12.2
The arbiter shall

ensure fair play.

act in the best interest of the competition.
ensure that a good playing environment is maintained.
ensure that the players are not disturbed.
supervise the progress of the competition.
take special measures in the interests of disabled players and those who need medical
attention.

The bold items are new. In my opinion, they do not need an explanation.
Appendix A. Rapidplay
A.1
A 'Rapidplay' game is one where either all the moves must be completed in a fixed time of more than
10 minutes but less than 60 minutes for each player; or the time allotted plus 60 times any
increment is of more than 10 minutes but less than 60 minutes for each player.
The definition of rapidplay has been changed. Instead of at least 15 minutes and less than 60 minutes it
will be more than 10 minutes and less than 60 minutes.
A.2
Players do not need to record the moves.
No change.
A.3
The Competition Rules shall apply if
a. one arbiter supervises at most three games and
b. each game is recorded by the arbiter or his assistant and, if possible, by electronic means.
A.3b has been changed. The game must be recorded by the arbiter or the assistant. If possible also by
electronic means; for instance, an electronic board or a video camera.

If the above mentioned requirements are met, the Competition Rules (Article 6 12) apply. If not Article
A4 applies.
A.4a
Otherwise the following apply:
a. From the initial position, once ten moves have been completed by each player,
(1) no change can be made to the clock setting, unless the schedule of the event would be adversely
affected.
(2) no claim can be made regarding incorrect set-up or orientation of the chessboard. In case of
incorrect king placement, castling is not allowed. In case of incorrect rook placement, castling with
this rook is not allowed.
It was written before that positions on the board and clock settings could not be changed after three
moves. From 1 July 2014 this is after ten moves. And even after ten moves in some cases the clock
setting can be changed. An extreme example: instead of five minutes plus an increment of six seconds per
move, somebody installed into the clock five hours and six minutes. Then there is a very good reason to
change the clock setting.
A4.b
An illegal move is completed once the player has pressed his clock. If the arbiter observes this, he
shall declare the game lost by the player, provided the opponent has not made his next move. If
the arbiter does not intervene, the opponent is entitled to claim a win, provided the opponent has
not made his next move. However, the game is drawn if the position is such that the opponent
cannot checkmate the player's king by any possible series of legal moves. If the opponent does not
claim and the arbiter does not intervene, the illegal move shall stand and the game shall continue.
Once the opponent has made his next move, an illegal move cannot be corrected unless this is
agreed by the players without intervention of the arbiter.
The content of Article 4.b is one of the major changes from 1 July 2014. Until 1 July 2014 the arbiter may
not call an illegal move. From 1 July 2014 he shall call an illegal move and even declare the game lost by
this player, provided the opponent did not make his next move and the opponent has still the possibility
to checkmate the player's king. The other parts of this Article were not changed.
A.4c.
To claim a win on time, the claimant must stop the chess clock and notify the arbiter. For the claim
to be successful, the claimant must have time remaining on his own clock after the chess clock has
been stopped. However, the game is drawn if the position is such that the opponent cannot
checkmate the player's king by any possible series of legal moves.
No changes.
A.4d
If the arbiter observes both kings are in check, or a pawn on the rank furthest from its starting
position, he shall wait until the next move is completed. Then, if the illegal position is still on the
board, he shall declare the game drawn.

Procedure:

The arbiter observes both kings are in check or a pawn on the last rank.
He waits to see whether the opponent claims that the player completed an illegal move.
If the opponent claims, then the arbiter declares the game lost for the player.
If the opponent does not claim but completes his move, the arbiter shall declare the
game drawn.

A.5
The Rules for a competition shall specify whether Article A.3 or Article A.4 shall apply for the entire
event.
Appendix B. Blitzplay
B.1
A 'blitz' game' is one where all the moves must be completed in a fixed time of 10 minutes or less for
each player; or the allotted time plus 60 times any increment is 10 minutes or less.
One example: A game with a fixed time of five minutes and an increment of five seconds is a Blitz game.
B.2
The penalties mentioned in Articles 7 and 9 of the Competition Rules shall be one minute instead of
two minutes.
A quite normal time control for a blitz game is three minutes plus an increment of two seconds per move.
If, for an illegal move, the opponent will receive two extra minutes thinking time, this additional time is
disproportionate.
B.3
The Competition Rules shall apply if
a. one arbiter supervises one game and
b. each game is recorded by the arbiter or his assistant and, if possible, by electronic means.
Exactly as in Rapid games, the game must be recorded and if possible also by electronic means.
B.4
Otherwise, play shall be governed by the Rapidplay Laws as in Appendix A.4.
This means that for Rapid and Blitz games we have the same rules from 1 July 2014!
B.5
The Rules for a competition shall specify whether Article B.3 or Article B.4 shall apply for the entire
event.

Appendix G. Quickplay Finishes

Some preliminary remarks:

The Articles G1 and G5 are (with some changes) the old Article 10 Quickplay Finishes of
the Laws of Chess.
Article G6 is the old Appendix D Quickplay finishes where no arbiter is present in the
venue.
G.1 A 'quickplay finish' is the phase of a game when all the remaining moves must be completed in a
finite time.
G.2 Before the start of an event it shall be announced whether this Appendix shall apply or not.

From 1 July 2014 each organiser has the choice to apply Appendix G or not. Whether it is applied or not
needs to be announced in advance.
G.3
This Appendix shall only apply to standard play and rapidplay games without increment and not to
blitz games.
No changes.
G.4
If the player having the move has less than two minutes left on his clock, he may request that a
time delay or cumulative time of an extra five seconds be introduced for both players, if possible.
The clocks shall then be set with the extra time; the opponent shall be awarded two extra minutes
and the game shall continue.
This is a new Article which may be applied.
G.5
If G4 does not apply and the player having the move has less than two minutes left on his clock, he
may claim a draw before his flag falls. He shall summon the arbiter and may stop the chess clock
(see Article 6.12 b). He may claim on the basis that his opponent cannot win by normal means,
and/or that his opponent has been making no effort to win by normal means.
a. If the arbiter agrees that the opponent cannot win by normal means, or that the opponent has
been making no effort to win the game by normal means, he shall declare the game drawn.
Otherwise he shall postpone his decision or reject the claim.
b. If the arbiter postpones his decision, the opponent may be awarded two extra minutes and the
game shall continue, if possible in the presence of an arbiter. The arbiter shall declare the final
result later in the game or as soon as possible after the flag of either player has fallen. He shall
declare the game drawn if he agrees that the opponent of the player whose flag has fallen cannot
win by normal means, or that he was not making sufficient attempts to win by normal means.
c. If the arbiter has rejected the claim, the opponent shall be awarded two extra minutes.

A very important change was made in G5. Until 1 July 2014 protests against the arbiter's decision are not
possible. From 1 July 2014 appeals are permitted.
G.6
The following shall apply when the competition is not supervised by an arbiter:
a. A player may claim a draw when he has less than two minutes left on his clock and before his flag
falls. This concludes the game.
He may claim on the basis:
(1) that his opponent cannot win by normal means, and/or
(2) that his opponent has been making no effort to win by normal means.
In (1) the player must write down the final position and his opponent must verify it.
In (2) the player must write down the final position and submit an up-to-date scoresheet. The
opponent shall verify both the scoresheet and the final position.
b. The claim shall be referred to the designated arbiter.
In line with the change made in G5, appeals are possible from 1 July 2014.

First, I would like to make some remarks about the new rules. On some points they are probably
more complex than it seems. There are some Articles in the Laws of Chess that have to be
announced in advance. From this point of view, six Articles are quite important:
Competition Rules
Article 6.3a
When using a chessclock, each player must complete a minimum number of moves or all
moves in an allotted period of time and/or may be allocated an additional amount of time with
each move. All these must be specified in advance.
This Article is quite obvious, and has not been changed. The time control has to be announced in
advance.
Article 6.7
a. The rules of a competition shall specify in advance a default time. Any player who arrives
at the chessboard after the default time shall lose the game unless the arbiter decides
otherwise.
b. If the rules of a competition specify that the default time is not zero and if neither player is
present initially, White shall lose all the time that elapses until he arrives, unless the rules of
the competition specify or the arbiter decides otherwise.
Before it was stated in the Laws of Chess that the default time is zero. With this Article, this is no
longer the case. This means that each organiser has to decide in advance after how many minutes
the game will be declared lost for an absent player. My estimation is that FIDE keeps for its own
events (Olympiad, World Championships, Candidates Tournaments and so on) a default time of
zero minutes.
Article 9.1
a. The rules of a competition may specify that players cannot agree to a draw, whether in less
than a specified number of moves or at all, without the consent of the arbiter.
The same as in Article 6.3a. This is not a new Article, but it has to be announced whether a draw
offer is acceptable or after a specific number of played moves.
Article11.3
b. During play, a player is forbidden to have a mobile phone and/or other electronic means of
communication in the playing venue. If it is evident that a player brought such a device into
the playing venue, he shall lose the game. The opponent shall win. The rules of a competition
may specify a different, less severe, penalty. The arbiter may require the player to allow his
clothes, bags or other items to be inspected, in private. The arbiter or a person authorised by
the arbiter shall inspect the player and shall be of the same gender as the player. If a player
refuses to cooperate with these obligations, the arbiter shall take measures in accordance
with Article 12.9.
It is important that the organiser announces in advance what penalties will be imposed if it is
decided that they will be less severe than mentioned in this Article.

Appendix A Rapidplay
A.5 The Rules for a competition shall specify whether Article A.3 or Article A.4 shall apply
for the entire event.
In case of the application of Article A3, the "normal" rules are applicable. From now on we call it
Standardplay, when the Artticles 1-12 will apply.
If Article A4 will apply, there are some differences: wrong clock setting and wrong set-up of the
pieces cannot be corrected after ten moves are completed by White and Black.
A completed illegal move, if not claimed by the opponent or unnoticed by the arbiter cannot be
corrected after the opponent has made his move.
Illegal positions are treated differently. Two illegal positions are specific:

Both kings are attacked.

A pawn, which has reached the last rank, has not been changed into a new piece.

Appendix B Blitzplay
B.5 The Rules for a competition shall specify whether Article B.3 or Article.B.4 shall apply for
the entire event.
The same as in Rapidplay
Appendix G. Quickplay Finishes
G.2 Before the start of an event it shall be announced whether this Appendix shall apply or
not.
The first part of the new Appendix G replaces the old Article 10. Until 1 July 2014, this Article
applied to the period in which all (remaining) moves must be played. If there is only one period; for
example, all moves in two hours for each player, or if there are more periods; for example, forty
moves in two hours and one hour for the remaining moves, this Article is applicable. There are
some specific conditions:

It applies only for Standardplay and Rapidplay, provided there is not an increment,
and not for Blitzplay
The claimant must have less than two minutes thinking time left.

If these two requirements were fulfilled, a player having the move could claim a draw. In the new
rules the organiser has to decide whether he will apply this rule or not.
Promotion
The habit of first removing the pawn and then placing the new piece on the square of promotion is
legalised in the new rules. Yet it is quite interesting that the promotion is mentioned in six(!) places
in the Laws of Chess and the Appendices. Here they are.
Article 3.7e

When a player, having the move, plays a pawn to the rank furthest from its starting position,
he must exchange that pawn as part of the same move for a new queen, rook, bishop or knight
of the same colour on the intended square of arrival.
This is called the square of 'promotion'. The player's choice is not restricted to pieces that
have been captured previously. This exchange of a pawn for another piece is called
promotion, and the effect of the new piece is immediate.
Article 4.4d
If a player having the move:
promotes a pawn, the choice of the piece is finalised when the piece has touched the square of
promotion.
Article 4.6
The act of promotion may be performed in various ways:

the pawn does not have to be placed on the square of arrival,

removing the pawn and putting the new piece on the square of promotion may
occur in any order.
If an opponent's piece stands on the square of promotion, it must be captured.

Article 4.7c
When, as a legal move or part of a legal move, a piece has been released on a square, it
cannot be moved to another square on this move. The move is considered to have been made
in the case of promotion, when the player's hand has released the new piece on the square of
promotion and the pawn has been removed from the board.
Article 6.12b
A player may stop the chessclock only in order to seek the arbiter's assistance, for example
when promotion has taken place and the piece required is not available.
Article 7.5a
If the player has moved a pawn to the furthest distant rank, pressed the clock, but not replaced
the pawn with a new piece, the move is illegal. The pawn shall be replaced by a queen of the
same colour as the pawn.
Appendix A Article A4d
If the arbiter observes both kings are in check, or a pawn on the rank furthest from its starting
position, he shall wait until the next move is completed. Then, if the illegal position is still on
the board, he shall declare the game drawn.