Question: What if I need to go to the bathroom? Do I have to ask permission?
Answer: No, please go. You do not need to ask. If there is a chess clock on your game, and it is your move, then your clock continues to run. DO NOT STOP THE CLOCK to go to the bathroom – this is not allowed.
Question: What happens if I get sick and I have to leave? Do I forfeit all of my remaining games?
Answer: If you get sick, and you have to leave, it’s no problem. Just let one of the TDs know. You will not be “penalized” for games you don’t play. You leave having earned points only for GAMES YOU PLAYED, you are not forfeiting any remaining games. It is still possible that you could win a trophy or a medal if you had a high score in the tournament before you became ill.
Question: The round has started and my opponent is not here. What do I do?
Answer: You wait. US Chess Federation Rules require a player to remain near his/her board while waiting for an opponent to arrive. The USCF Rules state that you must wait for 60 minutes before you can claim a win because of a “no-show” by your opponent. It’s OK to walk around and watch other games, as long as you don’t interfere with them. If you have a chess clock (and this is one of many good reasons to have one), then the clock runs while waiting for your opponent. If you do not have a clock, you can try to borrow one from someone you know. But if you can’t find a clock, and your opponent arrives with one, then the two of you will SPLIT EQUALLY THE TIME THAT HAS ELAPSED since the start of the round (think of it as your “penalty” for not bringing a clock to your game). This is another (perhaps stronger) reason to own a clock. If the TD has enough clocks available, he MAY place a clock on the game at the start of the round – however, this is NOT a requirement. It is the player’s responsibility to have a chess clock, not VSCA’s.
One other technical point you should understand is that if your opponent does not show up, you do get the “win”; however, that win does not count toward your USCF Rating Points because you did not “play” a game of chess. This is unlike a situation if, for example, your opponent shows up and makes his/her first move … then suddenly disappears for the rest of the round. In this situation, you would get not only the win, but also get the “rated game win” which counts toward your USCF Rating Points.
Question: My opponent made a move and wants to take it back. What should I do?
Answer: All VSCA games are played using standard “touch-move” rules. If your opponent makes a move (or touches a pawn or piece), then changes his/her mind, just RAISE YOUR HAND and tell the TD what has happened. No one can “take back” a move … UNLESS YOU LET THEM. This might sound confusing, but “technically” you could do this because one of the most fundamental rules of tournament chess is that “the game is between the two players.” So if you want to let your opponent retract his/her move, that’s your issue.
Question: We just started our game and noticed that White’s King and Queen are on the wrong squares. What do we do?
Answer: The USCF has a rule about this. It says that if 10 or fewer moves have been played by both players, then the game can be completely restarted. HOWEVER, if more than 10 moves have already gone by, then the game is played with the pieces where they stand.
Still have a question? Click here to email Mike Hoffpauir
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