Player A’s time had been at zero for 10 moves. Neither player claimed a time forfeit. Player A put Player B in check. Player B did not move out of check. Player A captured Player B’s King, whereupon Player B claimed a time forfeit win due to Player A having no time on his clock.
What is the ruling? Does Player A win because Player B made an illegal move before Player B claimed a time victory? (As an aside, what if Player A had no mating material, only a lone King, and Player B made an illegal move which was pointed out by Player A? What would be the correct result then?)
Player A wins if he has mating material, otherwise it’s a draw. The flag fall is irrelevant because the illegal move claim came first. This is assuming they’re playing under USCF blitz rules. Under FIDE blitz rules Player B wins because capturing the king is an illegal move.
Under USCF blitz rules, capturing the king is one way to claim an illegal move (if, of course, the move is illegal because it leaves the king in check).
So, the illegal move claim came before the time forfeit claim. End of story.
In case my reply sounded even snarkier than it was: I like the tough-call TD-ruling scenarios you posted here. This kinda stuff happens, however rarely.
What I do not ‘get’ is why anyone thinks games where SOP includes: 5 minutes main clock time; no delay/increment; no ILC; claimed illegal move loses; that includes capture-the-King; where the pace is so organically chaotic that it’s plausible neither player notices a time forfeit for multiple moves…should be taken seriously or rated.
Such games can be fun at the club, in an informal setting—and then only with the right opponent. i.e. not one of our must compete at all times at everything friends.
Never got it, going back to when WBCA was the one form of semi-organized chess I never tried. Perhaps I am dense. Good luck if you like this sort of thing.
The players in the blitz events that I direct seem to like it, although some players would prefer it to be G/3 inc 2. Although there is some prize money at stake, especially at tournaments like the World Open Blitz Championship, I think most players don’t take all that seriously. The games don’t affect regular ratings, just blitz ratings.
I agree that the use of a 2-second increment or 2-second delay should be strongly encouraged in blitz events. Unfortunately, the present wording of the USCF rules goes in the opposite direction, somehow making d0 appear to be the “norm”. This oughta be changed, pronto.
For those who have never tried G/3 inc/2: Try it, you’ll like it! G/3 is not at all unreasonably fast, as long as you have that inc/2.
G/3 inc/2 has become pretty much the FIDE standard for blitz. It should become the USCF standard as well.
Under FIDE blitz rules, why doesn’t player A win because B made an illegal move (namely, whatever move B made instead of moving out of check)? B’s illegal move came before A’s illegal move.
Any number of illegal moves may be made in a blitz game. The only one that counts is the last one, and further the last one to be completed. If neither player notices that an illegal move has been made by the time the opponent touches a piece, then there is no penalty enforceable. Note that any move made with a king in check is illegal. I suppose that if White were to put Black in check, Black didn’t get out of it, and White made an unrelated move, Black would have a claim.
Tournament chess players have been known to take informal blitz analysis sessions so seriously that they nearly come to fisticuffs. Players can choose to be dismissive of any rating (or rating system). Chess is different things to different people.