The most recent FIDE PB meeting approved changes in the Laws of Chess,
coming into force as of July 1st, 2009.
According to new laws, Any player who arrives at the chessboard after the
start of the session shall lose the game. Thus the default time is 0
minutes.
Some of the most significant alterations are shown here.
The default time
Any player who arrives at the chessboard after the start of the
session shall lose the game. Thus the default time is 0 minutes. The rules
of a competition may specify otherwise. If the rules of a competition
specify a different default time, the following shall apply. If neither
player is present initially, the player who has the white pieces shall
lose all the time that elapses until he arrives; unless the rules of the
competition specify or the arbiter decides otherwise. (Article 6.6)
Correct clock handling
Every indication given by the clocks is considered to be
conclusive in the absence of any evident defect. A chess clock with an
evident defect shall be replaced. The arbiter shall replace the clock and
use his best judgement when determining the times to be shown on the
replacement chess clock.
If during a game it is found that the setting of either or both clocks was
incorrect, either player or the arbiter shall stop the clocks immediately.
The arbiter shall install the correct setting and adjust the times and
move counter. He shall use his best judgement when determining the correct
settings. (Article 6.10)
Draw agreement
The rules of a competition may specify that players cannot agree to a
draw, whether in less than a specified number of moves or at all, without
the consent of the arbiter. If the rules of a competition allow a draw
agreement the following apply:
(1) A player wishing to offer a draw shall do so after having made a move
on the chessboard and before stopping his clock and starting the
opponent’s clock. An offer at any other time during play is still valid,
but Article 12.6 must be considered. No conditions can be attached to the
offer. In both cases the offer cannot be withdrawn and remains valid until
the opponent accepts it, rejects it orally, rejects it by touching a piece
with the intention of moving or capturing it, or the game is concluded in
some other way.
(2) The offer of a draw shall be noted by each player on his scoresheet
with a symbol. (See Appendix C13)
(3) A claim of a draw under Article 9.2, 9.3 or 10.2 shall be considered
to be an offer of a draw. (Article 9.1)
Claiming a draw
The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by the player having the
move, if :
a. He writes his move on his score-sheet, and declares to the arbiter his
intention to make this move which will result in the last 50 moves having
been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without any
capture, or
b. the last 50 consecutive moves have been made by each player without the
movement of any pawn and without any capture. If the player touches a
piece as in Article 4.3 without having claimed the draw, he loses the
right to claim, as in Article 9.2 or 9.3, on that move. If a player claims
a draw as in Article 9.2 or 9.3, he may stop both clocks. (See Article
6.12.b) He is not allowed to withdraw his claim.
a. If the claim is found to be correct the game is immediately drawn.
b. If the claim is found to be incorrect, the arbiter shall add three
minutes to the opponent’s thinking time. Then the game shall continue. If
the claim was based on an intended move, this move must be made as
according to Article 4. (Articles 9.3, 9.4, and 9.5)
Claiming a draw in Quickplay Finish
If the player having the move has less than two minutes left on
his clock, he may claim a draw before his flag falls. He shall summon the
arbiter and may stop the clocks. (Article 10.2)
Electronic devices in the playing venue
Without the permission of the arbiter a player is forbidden to
have a mobile phone or other electronic means of communication in the
playing venue, unless they are completely switched off. If any such device
produces a sound, the player shall lose the game. The opponent shall win.
However, if the opponent cannot win the game by any series of legal moves,
his score shall be a draw. (Article 12.3)
Unless authorised by the arbiter, it is forbidden for anybody to use a
mobile phone or any kind of communication device in the playing venue and
any contiguous area designated by the arbiter.(Article 13.7)
Claiming a draw and win in Rapid Play
1. The flag is considered to have fallen when a player has made a
valid claim to that effect. The arbiter shall refrain from signalling a
flag fall, but he may do so if both flags have fallen.
2. To claim a win on time, the claimant must stop both clocks and notify
the arbiter. For the claim to be successful the claimant’s flag must
remain up and his opponent’s flag down after the clocks have been stopped.
3 If both flags have fallen as described in (1) and (2), the arbiter shall
declare the game drawn. (Article A4.d.3)
Illegal move in Blitz game
An illegal move is completed once the opponent’s clock has been
started. The opponent is entitled to claim a win before he has made his
own move. However, if the opponent cannot checkmate the player’s king by
any possible series of legal moves, then the claimant is entitled to claim
a draw before he has made his own move. Once the opponent has made his own
move, an illegal move cannot be corrected unless mutually agreed without
intervention of an arbiter. (Article B3)
The rules of Chess 960 are included (Article F)
There have been some other slight changes which mainly touch upon
the more precise definition of certain factors like "the diagonal”, "pawn
exchange”, "legal move”, "adjourned game”, "castling”, "flag”, "drawn
game”, "the player’s appeal”, "role of arbiters in Rapid Play” and
"score-sheet recording”.
Reference:
--
FIDE