Just the Rules for May 2025 is now posted. The topic: Variations

All Things Chess
21

I get that rules are rules, and to the majority of my extent I go with that. However, there also needs to be a level of common sense at times depending on who and what you’re dealing with.

For example, you’re running a major open weekend event. In the Open Section, there’s probably a greater expectation that you’re going to enforce such rules verbatim, but in the Beginner’s Section, it might just be worth giving a warning the first time someone does this and explaining what the rule is because they were blissfully unaware it was even “a thing” and a more friendly and educational environment for such players might be more beneficial at that stage of their chess tournament development.

1 Like
22

If you think it’s better to just give a warning rather than forcing the player to move the rook, you should use the variation that allows the rook to be touched first.

23

I’m still befuddled by this. So according to Tim, even though the rule says castling is not allowed if the rook is touched first but. a TD can override that and allow the player to castle anyway by just giving them a warning. I still don’t see how that makes sense at all.