Article 7: Irregularities
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 chessclock. This includes the right not to change the clock times. He shall also, if necessary, adjust the clock’s move-counter.
Article 7.1 allows the arbiter to leave the clock times as they were at the moment the irregularity was discovered. This is to prevent undue disruption to the tournament schedule.
7.2 a. If during a game it is found that the initial position of the pieces was incorrect, the game shall be cancelled and a new game shall be played.
b. If during a game it is found that the chessboard has been placed contrary to Article 2.1, the game shall continue but the position reached must be transferred to a correctly placed chessboard.
Article 7.2 the phrase’ during a game’ includes games sent for adjudication or adjourned.
It does not include games which have been sent to an arbiter for a decision under Appendix G Quickplay finishes where no arbiter is present. These games are deemed to have concluded. Article 7.1 (a) If the illegal position is not discovered for quite some time this could affect the start of future rounds. It is advisable for arbiters, particularly in junior and lower rated events to check the positioning of the kings and queens or bishops and knights before the start of play to avoid any such problems.
Article 7.1 (b) If the board is the wrong way round and the queen is on its own colour then this is dealt with in Article 7.1 (a) and not this one.
7.3. If a game has begun with colours reversed then it shall continue, unless the arbiter rules otherwise.
Article 7.3 Unless this problem is discovered within the first few minutes it is normal for the game to continue. It is up to the arbiter to decide whether the pairing cards/computer should be altered accordingly (most Arbiters would do so).
7.4. If a player displaces one or more pieces, he shall re-establish the correct position in his own time. If necessary, either the player or his opponent shall stop the chessclock and ask for the arbiter’s assistance. The arbiter may penalise the player who displaced the pieces.
Article 7.4 If a player knocks over a piece when making a move then that player should replace the piece before starting the opponent’s clock; if this is not done it has been common practice for the opponent to restart the player’s clock until he has done so.
However, if the clocks are using an incremental time control, both players will gain time in this situation. The arbiter should be involved in this situation.
Displacing pieces normally only causes problems during time scrambles. The Arbiter may consider giving extra time to the disturbed player.
7.5 a. If during a game it is found that an illegal move has been completed, the position immediately before the irregularity shall be reinstated. If the position immediately before the irregularity cannot be determined, the game shall continue from the last identifiable position prior to the irregularity. Articles 4.3 and 4.7 apply to the move replacing the illegal move. The game shall then continue from this reinstated position.
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.
b. 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.
Article 7.5 If present the Arbiter should step in immediately after a clock press to avoid escalation of the situation. Spectators should bring the situation to the Arbiter’s attention and not to the players. It is preferable that the Arbiter supervises any reconstruction, both to establish, as far as possible, the correct sequence of events and to ensure that the players do not exceed acceptable noise levels.
If the illegal move was caused by a failure to get out of check the Arbiter should ensure that the touched piece is moved if possible to block the check or capture the attacking piece.
Note that now a second illegal move by a player loses.
Additionally if the promoted pawn is not replaced with a piece by the player then it must be replaced by a queen.
7.6. If, during a game, it is found that any piece has been displaced from its correct square the position before the irregularity shall be reinstated. If the position immediately before the irregularity cannot be determined, the game shall continue from the last identifiable position prior to the irregularity. The game shall then continue from this reinstated position.
Article 7.6 If present the Arbiter should step in immediately to avoid escalation of the situation. Spectators should bring the situation to the Arbiter’s attention and not to the players. It is preferable that the Arbiter supervises any reconstruction, both to establish, as far as possible, the correct sequence of events and to ensure that the players do not exceed acceptable noise levels. Reconstruction should often be carried out on another board.
If the illegal move was caused by a failure to get out of check the Arbiter should ensure that the touched piece is moved if possible to block the check or capture the attacking piece.