And for an example of “preconceived notions” - see above.
Well, some USCF tournament directors do not have a great understanding of the rules,
either.
Rob Jones
I am very fond of FIDE rule 9.1.b.2: “The offer of a draw shall be noted by each player on his scoresheet with the symbol (=).”
Along with that rule, when not in time pressure, a draw offer should be made by making one’s move, writing it on one’s scoresheet with the symbol (=), giving the scoresheet to one’s opponent, and then pressing the clock.
To accept the draw, one’s opponent only has record the draw result to sign the scoresheet. To decline, make a move and pass the scoresheet back.
As am I.
No, no, no, no, no. Overkill. What on earth is wrong with “I offer a draw?” The only argument I have seen for it is an utterly unsupported assertion that one cannot talk to the opponent during the game under any circumstances.
Ibid.
I run 3 chess clubs. The two largest in Los Angeles and a 3rd.
I tell all my players that when you have agreed to a draw simply mark it on your scoresheets, sign both copies, and go together as the rules state and mark it together on the pairing sheet. If they wish they may call me over and verify the draw or resignation.
One thing I do as a TD is teach the rules to all my players and spend 5-10 minutes before the round starts to educate them every week. Even players at the highest levels don’t know basic rules, that is unacceptable to me. I take my responsibility as a TD extremely seriously.
Amazingly my clubs are run very smoothly and the players are more motivated to play as they feel the structure and security of a professionally run club.
Gee I wonder if that’s why I got all those nice gifts for the holidays this year. What a compliment and show of appreciation by those crazy chess players :mrgreen:
At first blush, narceleb’s suggestion does indeed seem to be overkill. However, it could be an interesting way to overcome language barriers.
If FIDE were to try to implement this idea, it would need to somehow train gazillions of players to follow it. In addition, actually making the move on the board sounds like a bad idea. Better (maybe, if this idea is to be attempted at all) would be to write the move on the scoresheet without making it on the board, then writing “=” (better yet, “=?” with a question mark), and handing it to the opponent.
But I agree, it’s overkill, even then.
Bill Smythe
Note that US Chess rules state that a draw offer should come between making a move and hitting the clock. If the draw offer is made prior to a move then the opponent is entitled to see the move before deciding on whether or not to accept the draw.
Also, US Chess rules state that a draw offer made after hitting the clock is improper. It can still be accepted (as long as the offerer’s opponent hasn’t already touched a piece or declined), or it can be considered disturbing an opponent (maybe earning a warning, maybe a penalty).
Sometimes draw offers have to be made after pressing the clock button. When the opponent is away from the board for a length of time, it is common for a player to make his move and press the button and make his draw offer when the opponent returns. That offer should be made immediately.
When dealing with players who do not speak the same language, it is common to use the word “remis” when offering a draw. It is my understanding that this is a universal term used among tournament pros. I have also seen foreign players write “1/2?” on a sheet of paper or even at the top of the score sheet and show it to the opponent. Since noting a draw offer is legal, this form of draw offer should not violate any of the sacred rules about writing notes on the score sheet.
How do you pronounce “remis”? Is it “ray MEE” as it might be if it’s French? In any case, that wouldn’t work with me, as I have never heard the term.
Writing “1/2?” on the scoresheet and showing it to the opponent sounds cute. To keep it absolutely proper, I guess one would have to make the move on the board, write the move on the scoresheet, write “1/2?” on the scoresheet, show it to the opponent, and press the clock, in that order.
Bill Smythe
Just to avoid potential conniving by the opponent, it would be good to write the move number as well.
That would avoid somebody making the offer after move 30 and having the opponent in a lost position after move 45 claim that a draw offer was just made and citing the written offer as evidence.
Indeed. When there is a language barrier, and considering how scheming all chess players are, one cannot be too careful.
Bill Smythe
It’s not whether you are paranoid or not, it’s whether you are paranoid enough.
Since FIDE requires that “=” be written on the scoresheet (not “1/2”) to mark draw offers, you might as well make that the offer sheet.
It sounds to me like Black accepted the draw and the game was stopped as evidenced by the fact the equipement had been put away. Black states that he was forced to accept a draw so it appears that a draw had been agreed when the pieces were put away. If the above was true, Black had to call the TD before ending the game if he wanted to protest the draw vs resignation disagreement. As it appears that both players agreed the draw and the game ended, I would rule a draw. This all depends upon only hearing one side so my understanding may be incorrect. That said, once a game result is agreed and especially if the equipment is put away, it it too late to protest the result unless cheating is argued.
It is difficult to tell what really happened here. The OP is trying to justify a (perhaps incorrect) ruling he made, and at least one of the players seems to be acting in a wishy-washy and unpredictable manner.
I don’t agree, though, that once the equipment has been put away, there can be no further discussion. It is quite conceivable that the players shook hands, with one player assuming the handshake was a resignation, the other assuming it was a draw offer or draw acceptance. In this case, neither player would notice anything amiss until he went to the pairing sheet and saw that his opponent had posted a result different from what he thought it should be. Such a situation is highly likely to arise after the equipment has already been put away.
In many situations like this, even after the equipment has been put away, it would likely be appropriate for the TD to rule that, since the handshake did not represent a meeting of the minds, the handshake was meaningless and the game never really ended, and must therefore continue from the position on the board at the time the equipment was put away.
Bill Smythe
Since Black did indeed say “I’m not disputing the draw”, that finality ended the question of whether or not the game was drawn. It “is” a draw.
I have many times had games replayed that ended in he/she said draw/resignation. When I hear “I’m not disputing” that’s the end of any more discourse.
I tell all my players:
- Write the results on your scoresheets (make sure they agree)
- Sign them and date them.
- Both of you go write the results on the pairing sheet.
- Call me over for verification if you wish to.