Don't Be cRule - Getting a Ruling During a Game

How to get a ruling during a game, and game interruptions generally

There are many reasons that a game may get interrupted, some out of the players’ control – clock is defective, board shifts and piece locations are disrupted, as well as some under the player’s control – claim of draw or win or any rule or conduct question that can’t be resolved by the players alone.  

Once anything happens that causes you to deviate from normal game play, the player noticing an issue has the right to stop the running clock until that issue is resolved – this note primarily follows Rules 21F and 16Q as well as others for specific instances.  Note that simply offering a draw, rather than a draw claim, is done with the clocks running, while the offering player is on move.

With clocks stopped, state your view, and in the overwhelming majority of cases, the players will agree (“Yes, I inadvertently knocked that R over, let me replace it on a1”).  If players can resolve it yourselves, that’s the ideal path.  Take the agreed action, restart the clocks and continue.  Note also that, frequently, for small issues like the one above, the entire process can be resolved within just a few seconds, and the players may not feel the need to stop clocks.  This is certainly acceptable.

Note that in many cases, a player loses the right to make a claim or obtain a ruling if they do not make that claim immediately.  One such case is for an illegal move (Rule 11D), where the player can make a claim up until the point where they complete their next move.

In all cases, ASSUME BEST INTENT from your opponent.  If there is a disagreement about a rule or how to proceed, please don’t let this escalate into something personal.  You’re both deeply invested in achieving exactly opposite goals over the board.  Emotions frequently get involved.  Don’t let that translate into any animus towards the player.  Chess is a civil abstraction of a violent conflict that occurs over the board played between gentlemen and ladies (quaint, I know, but it’s an aspiration…).  Retain your composure and earn that reputation IRL while the issue gets resolved.  Arguing about an issue only guarantees that you’ll just be having the same disagreement, only louder.  Please consider the players around you.  Fortunately, there’s always a party you can appeal to for a binding resolution to your issue:  The Tournament Director (TD).

At this point, clocks are stopped, you’ve exchanged a few words to establish that you disagree about how to proceed.  Stop there.  The initiating player should find a TD and explain the issue.  The TD will come to the table and make sure by talking to both players that a) they understand the facts, and that b) they understand the resolution requested by each player.  If both players do not agree on the facts, the TD has resources allowing them to get as close as possible to the unbiased truth of the situation, including consulting with spectators or other players in some cases.

The TD at this point will refer to the rules if needed, find and apply the appropriate rule(s) and issue their judgment allowing play to proceed.   For the course of play, this judgment is binding on both players and the game will continue accordingly. 

Players have the right to appeal a ruling but note that the TD may reserve a decision on the appeal and ask that play continue before it is heard.  If this occurs please continue the game under protest.  If the appealing player wins, the appeal becomes moot.  Review Rule 12H for more details.

TL;DR for getting a ruling

• ·       Stop the clock
• ·       State the issue to your opponent and quickly resolve if possible ** preferred outcome **
•         Don’t argue about anything – there's no point, the TD will resolve the issue
•         Get a TD
•         Explain the case
•         TD will issue ruling
•         Play will proceed from there