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New FIDE rules for Junior Rapid events
I am writing from Auckland, NZ. Your forum looks great so I thought I would get your perspective on an issue we have been experiencing on the other side of the world. I hope you don't mind the intrusion. As many of you will be aware, FIDE introduced new rules effective from 1 July 2014. One of the changes was the following rule for Rapidplay events:
An illegal move is completed once the player has pressed his clock. If the arbiter observes this he shall declare the game lost by the player, provided the opponent has not made his next move. If the arbiter does not intervene, the opponent is entitled to claim a win, provided the opponent has not made his next move. 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. If the opponent does not claim and the arbiter does not intervene, the illegal move shall stand and the game shall continue. Once the opponent has made his next move, an illegal move cannot be corrected unless this is agreed by the players without intervention of the arbiter.
FIDE also states that:
It is recommended that competitive games not rated by FIDE be played according to the FIDE Laws of Chess.
Some arbiters in NZ are adopting and enforcing the new FIDE rules verbatim including communicating the specific rule above very clearly at the start of tournaments. Junior players are claiming wins when their opponents make illegal moves. The occurrences are happening mostly for students aged from 5 - 10 years old. Typically this happens when a player knocks their piece over by accident as they are making their move, and then presses their clock. Also, it happens when a player doesn't notice they are in check, makes a move, presses their clock and their opponent claims a win as they haven't moved out of check.
What is worse, is experienced kids are taking advantage of this by deliberately not announcing check (of course the etiquette is not to but juniors often do anyway) and various other unsporting type things to increase the likelihood of their opponent falling for the rule. Junior Chess here is becoming more about winning through a technicality then winning by playing better than your opponent!
The main causes of the illegal moves are not in any way due to the offending player attempting to cheat or take advantage, but rather that they have not developed their motor skills, their chess vision or in many cases they simply haven't played in a chess tournament before and don't have much experience. It seems the new rule does its best to penalise beginners who are doing their best to hold their position together let alone cope with the challenges this rule introduces.
The upshot is kids learning Chess and playing in their first tournaments are having very negative experiences instead of positive, fun and encouraging experiences. I personally want as many of our younger generation to enjoy Chess as possible - this rule doesn't seem to have that goal in mind.
It seems to me that FIDE has not given sufficient consideration to younger players learning the game. I understand one set of rules for all is ideal but I feel there needs to be allowances particularly for younger players.
As far as I can tell, FIDE recommends that non-FIDE events use the new rules. But as I understand it the arbiter can change this specific rule and any others for that matter and introduce whatever penalties he/she sees fit.
I would like to get your feedback on this. Have others experienced this type of behaviour? How have you attempted to work around it? Is this a rule you enforce on younger less experienced players? What has been your impressions when implementing the rule?
I look forward to your feedback and input.
Paul - Chess Power NZ
An illegal move is completed once the player has pressed his clock. If the arbiter observes this he shall declare the game lost by the player, provided the opponent has not made his next move. If the arbiter does not intervene, the opponent is entitled to claim a win, provided the opponent has not made his next move. 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. If the opponent does not claim and the arbiter does not intervene, the illegal move shall stand and the game shall continue. Once the opponent has made his next move, an illegal move cannot be corrected unless this is agreed by the players without intervention of the arbiter.
FIDE also states that:
It is recommended that competitive games not rated by FIDE be played according to the FIDE Laws of Chess.
Some arbiters in NZ are adopting and enforcing the new FIDE rules verbatim including communicating the specific rule above very clearly at the start of tournaments. Junior players are claiming wins when their opponents make illegal moves. The occurrences are happening mostly for students aged from 5 - 10 years old. Typically this happens when a player knocks their piece over by accident as they are making their move, and then presses their clock. Also, it happens when a player doesn't notice they are in check, makes a move, presses their clock and their opponent claims a win as they haven't moved out of check.
What is worse, is experienced kids are taking advantage of this by deliberately not announcing check (of course the etiquette is not to but juniors often do anyway) and various other unsporting type things to increase the likelihood of their opponent falling for the rule. Junior Chess here is becoming more about winning through a technicality then winning by playing better than your opponent!
The main causes of the illegal moves are not in any way due to the offending player attempting to cheat or take advantage, but rather that they have not developed their motor skills, their chess vision or in many cases they simply haven't played in a chess tournament before and don't have much experience. It seems the new rule does its best to penalise beginners who are doing their best to hold their position together let alone cope with the challenges this rule introduces.
The upshot is kids learning Chess and playing in their first tournaments are having very negative experiences instead of positive, fun and encouraging experiences. I personally want as many of our younger generation to enjoy Chess as possible - this rule doesn't seem to have that goal in mind.
It seems to me that FIDE has not given sufficient consideration to younger players learning the game. I understand one set of rules for all is ideal but I feel there needs to be allowances particularly for younger players.
As far as I can tell, FIDE recommends that non-FIDE events use the new rules. But as I understand it the arbiter can change this specific rule and any others for that matter and introduce whatever penalties he/she sees fit.
I would like to get your feedback on this. Have others experienced this type of behaviour? How have you attempted to work around it? Is this a rule you enforce on younger less experienced players? What has been your impressions when implementing the rule?
I look forward to your feedback and input.
Paul - Chess Power NZ
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