How well do you know the rules of chess?

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Chess Tournament Rules Quiz

The quiz has 10 questions, and each question has a single correct answer.

1 / 10

You are playing as black, and are well into the endgame. You now realise that you should have been playing with the white pieces. What should the arbiter do?

The arbiter should tell you that since there have been at least ten moves played, the game continues as is.

The arbiter should tell you and your opponent to restart the game with the correct colours.

The arbiter should tell you that the game is invalid, but since there is not enough time to replay the game, each player will be awarded a half point.

Incorrect. If 10 or more moves have been played (by each player), which is clearly the case here, then the game continues as is. Once the game is finished, remember to tell the person recording the game scores about the wrong colours. If less than 10 moves had been played, then the game is restarted.

This rule applies to all time controls.

Correct! If 10 or more moves have been played (by each player), which is clearly the case here, then the game continues as is. Once the game is finished, remember to tell the person recording the game scores about the wrong colours. If less than 10 moves had been played, then the game is restarted.

This rule applies to all time controls.

2 / 10

You are playing a game under a classical time control, and have just realised that your opponent made an illegal move three moves ago. It was their first illegal move. You call the arbiter. What should they do?

They should tell you to continue playing the game, because by playing on after the illegal move you have lost your right to have it reversed.

They should reinstate the position that existed immediately before the illegal move and apply a time penalty– either by adding two minutes to your clock, or deducting two minutes from your opponent’s clock.

They should declare you the winner, because if even a single move is judged illegal by a FIDE-approved arbiter, that is sufficient for the offending player to lose the game.

Incorrect. Any time a player's first illegal move is discovered while a classical game is still in progress, then the arbiter must reinstate the most recent legal position that can be determined by discussion with the players and checking of the scoresheets. Since such checking might be distracting to nearby players, the arbiter might choose to do it with the players in another area. In all time formats, the first illegal move will only incur a time penalty for the offending player (two minutes in classical; one minute in blitz/rapid). It is only the second illegal move that leads to an automatic loss.

Correct! Any time a player's first illegal move is discovered while a classical game is still in progress, then the arbiter must reinstate the most recent legal position that can be determined by discussion with the players and checking of the scoresheets. Since such checking might be distracting to nearby players, the arbiter might choose to do it with the players in another area. In all time formats, the first illegal move will only incur a time penalty for the offending player (two minutes in classical; one minute in blitz/rapid). It is only the second illegal move that leads to an automatic loss.

3 / 10

In each of the two positions below (scroll down), can White castle on the queenside (assuming they have not moved their king or rook previously)?

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Yes, for both positions.

No, for both positions.

Yes for the first, no for the second.

No for the first, yes for the second.

Incorrect. White can castle because in position 1 because the king is neither moving into check, nor crossing a square threatened by one of black pieces. The rook is always allowed to move onto or across a threatened square. In position 2, castling is not allowed because the king is crossing the threatened square d1.

Correct! White can castle because in position 1 because the king is neither moving into check, nor crossing a square threatened by one of black pieces. The rook is always allowed to move onto or across a threatened square. In position 2, castling is not allowed because the king is crossing the threatened square d1.

4 / 10

On your move, you move a pawn, and before you have time to hit the clock, your opponent points out that your move is illegal because your king is still in check. Furthermore, they tell you out that since it is your second illegal move, you have lost the game. The arbiter is called – what should they do?

The arbiter should declare that your opponent is correct, and you have lost the game.

The arbiter should declare that you never actually completed the move, and thus you can now decide on which legal move to play instead, and the game continues.

Incorrect. In this case, your opponent’s eagerness to win has worked against their own interests. As per FIDE rules there is a distinction between “making” a move and “completing” a move. A move is “made” when you release your piece on the target square. A move is subsequently “completed” when you hit the clock. For the purposes of judging whether a move is illegal, it must have been completed.

This rule applies to all time controls.

Correct! In this case, your opponent’s eagerness to win has worked against their own interests. As per FIDE rules there is a distinction between “making” a move and “completing” a move. A move is “made” when you release your piece on the target square. A move is subsequently “completed” when you hit the clock. For the purposes of judging whether a move is illegal, it must have been completed.

This rule applies to all time controls.

5 / 10

You are playing a blitz game, and an arbiter is watching. They suddenly stop the game, pointing out that you made an illegal move two moves back. They reinstate the position before the illegal move, and ask the players to continue the game. What should you do?

You should continue playing the game as per the arbiter’s decision.

You should disagree with the arbiter’s decision, and ask if a more senior arbiter is available to consider the decision.

You should ask your opponent what they want to do in the situation.

Incorrect. If an arbiter sees you make an an illegal move in a blitz (or rapid) game, they can only point it out before your opponent has made their move. Once your opponent has responded by making a move, the arbiter cannot intervene. If they do, you should ask for another arbiter’s intervention, and if that does not solve the problem, you can lodge an appeal later. However, the players themselves can decide to correct the illegal move, without the intervention of the arbiter.

In a classical game, however, if a player or arbiter becomes aware of an illegal move that occurred earlier (regardless of how much earlier), then the position immediately before the illegal move must be reinstated (or as close to it as is possible).

Correct! If an arbiter sees you make an an illegal move in a blitz (or rapid) game, they can only point it out before your opponent has made their move. Once your opponent has responded by making a move, the arbiter cannot intervene. If they do, you should ask for another arbiter’s intervention, and if that does not solve the problem, you can lodge an appeal later. However, the players themselves can decide to correct the illegal move, without the intervention of the arbiter.

In a classical game, however, if a player or arbiter becomes aware of an illegal move that occurred earlier (regardless of how much earlier), then the position immediately before the illegal move must be reinstated (or as close to it as is possible).

6 / 10

You are playing a classical time control game, and after 15 moves you notice that the white and black pieces had initially been set-up with the ranks reversed: the white pieces had been placed on ranks 7 and 8, and the black pieces on ranks 1 and 2. What should the arbiter say?

The arbiter should inform you that the game must be restarted with the pieces set-up correctly.

The arbiter should tell you that the game should continue from the existing position, and without changing the orientation of the board.

The arbiter should tell you that the game should continue from the existing position, but that the position will be set-up on a board that is correctly oriented.

Incorrect. In this type of incorrect set-up, all the pieces are nevertheless still in their correct positions relative to each other. So, the position can be set-up on a properly oriented board, without any impact on the strength of either player’s position.

In a blitz or rapid game, the pieces would not be transferred to a correctly oriented board (i.e the game continues as it is), because such transfers only are done if less than 10 moves have been made.

Correct! In this type of incorrect set-up, all the pieces are nevertheless still in their correct positions relative to each other. So, the position can be set-up on a properly oriented board, without any impact on the strength of either player’s position.

In a blitz or rapid game, the pieces would not be transferred to a correctly oriented board (i.e the game continues as it is), because such transfers only are done if less than 10 moves have been made.

7 / 10

You are playing as white, and your flag falls with the game at the position shown below. You tell your opponent the game is a draw, because he will never checkmate you. Your opponent calls the arbiter. What should they do?

The arbiter should agree that, with normal play, your opponent will never checkmate you, and thus it is a draw.

The arbiter should tell you both to continue playing, and will observe the rest of the game, taking note of the number of moves played, and checking whether any position repeats itself three times.

The arbiter should tell you that it is a win for your opponent.

Incorrect. As per FIDE rules, this is a win for black. While it is indeed true that black would need to cooperate to allow white to achieve a checkmate, this does not matter. The game is only drawn “if the position is such that the opponent cannot checkmate the player’s king by any possible series of legal moves.” So, the governing principle is not whether checkmate can be achieved by normal play, but whether it can occur by legal play. That is the case here (see the position below). Note that not all arbiters agree with this rule, and if the tournament is not FIDE-rated, they might inform players (at the start of tournament) that they are applying the principle of ‘by normal play’ instead.

This rule applies to all time controls.

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Correct! As per FIDE rules, this is a win for black. While it is indeed true that black would need to cooperate to allow white to achieve a checkmate, this does not matter. The game is only drawn “if the position is such that the opponent cannot checkmate the player’s king by any possible series of legal moves.” So, the governing principle is not whether checkmate can be achieved by normal play, but whether it can occur by legal play. That is the case here (see the position below). Note that not all arbiters agree with this rule, and if the tournament is not FIDE-rated, they might inform players (at the start of tournament) that they are applying the principle of ‘by normal play’ instead.

This rule applies to all time controls.

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8 / 10

Which one of the following does NOT cause a move to be judged as illegal?

You move one of your bishops, thus putting your own King in check, and hit the clock.

You move one of your pawns to the last rank, then hit the clock, then swap your pawn for a queen.

You move one of your pawns with your right hand and hit the clock with your left

You are about to capture your opponent’s knight with a pawn. You grab the knight with your right hand, slide the pawn onto the knight’s square with your left hand, then hit the clock with your left hand.

Incorrect. The only move that would not be judged as illegal is where you move the pawn with one hand and hit the clock with the other. This is however still considered an offence, but there are many offences (such as disruptive behaviour) that do not make a move illegal. You could still be warned by the arbiter, and perhaps even penalised in some way, but you would not be in immediate danger of losing the game if, for example, this was the second time the arbiter had warned you about the behaviour.

The illegal features of the other ones are as follows:

1. When capturing a piece, you must use the same hand for both removing the piece and moving your own piece onto the captured piece's square.

2. It is illegal to make a move that leaves your king in check.

3. When promoting a pawn, you must place the new piece onto the promotion square before you hit the clock. By not doing so, your opponent's thinking time is compromised by the distraction of you placing the new piece, and, in some cases, the uncertainty about which piece you will choose to promote.

These rules applies to all time controls.

Correct! The only move that would not be judged as illegal is where you move the pawn with one hand and hit the clock with the other. This is however still considered an offence, but there are many offences (such as disruptive behaviour) that do not make a move illegal. You could still be warned by the arbiter, and perhaps even penalised in some way, but you would not be in immediate danger of losing the game if, for example, this was the second time the arbiter had warned you about the behaviour.

The illegal features of the other ones are as follows:

1. When capturing a piece, you must use the same hand for both removing the piece and moving your own piece onto the captured piece's square.

2. It is illegal to make a move that leaves your king in check.

3. When promoting a pawn, you must place the new piece onto the promotion square before you hit the clock. By not doing so, your opponent's thinking time is compromised by the distraction of you placing the new piece, and, in some cases, the uncertainty about which piece you will choose to promote.

These rules applies to all time controls.

9 / 10

You are playing as white, and one of your pawns has just reached the eight rank. You take a spare queen from the side of the board, and when your hand with the queen is still halfway towards the promotion square, you realise that promotion to a queen will lead to a stalemate. You now place the queen back by the side of the board, grab a spare rook, and swap it for your pawn. Your opponent calls the arbiter and complains that you had already committed to promoting the pawn to a queen. What should the arbiter do?

The arbiter should agree with your opponent because you had clearly touched the queen with the intention to use it, and thus you are required to use it. They declare the game a draw.

The arbiter should allow you to promote the pawn to a rook, but will penalise you for distracting your opponent with your initial attempt at a queen promotion. They will add two minutes time to your opponent’s clock.

The arbiter should point out that you are not required to promote to a queen because you had never touched the promotion square with the queen. You are allowed to continue the game with the promoted rook.

Incorrect. When promoting a pawn, the touch move rule does not apply. You only become committed to using a chosen piece when that piece comes into contact with the promotion square. That did not occur in this case, so you are within your rights to change your mind, and neither is this change of mind considered a distraction worthy of any penalty.

This rule applies to all time controls.

Correct! When promoting a pawn, the touch move rule does not apply. You only become committed to using a chosen piece when that piece comes into contact with the promotion square. That did not occur in this case, so you are within your rights to change your mind, and neither is this change of mind considered a distraction worthy of any penalty.

This rule applies to all time controls.

10 / 10

You have just been checkmated after 7 moves when notice that the initial set-up of the pieces was incorrect: the kings and queens had been placed on the wrong colours. What should the arbiter do?

The arbiter should tell you that the game must be replayed from the start.

The arbiter should tell you will tell you that the game is valid, and you have lost it.

The arbiter should give the players the option of starting again or accepting the result as a draw.

Incorrect. As long as the game has not involved any illegal moves, once a checkmate is on the board, the result stands. Therefore, your loss is final. This rule applies to all time controls.

If the incorrect set-up was noted before a checkmate (or draw) had occurred, then the game must be restarted. This is also the case in a rapid or blitz game, but only if less than 10 moves have been made. Otherwise, the game continues.

Correct! As long as the game has not involved any illegal moves, once a checkmate is on the board, the result stands. Therefore, your loss is final. This rule applies to all time controls.

If the incorrect set-up was noted before a checkmate (or draw) had occurred, then the game must be restarted. This is also the case in a rapid or blitz game, but only if less than 10 moves have been made. Otherwise, the game continues.

Your score is
The average score is 68%
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2 thoughts on “How well do you know the rules of chess?”

Robert Kovacs says:

September 20, 2023 at 11:19 am

Good quiz, interesting facts. Enjoyed it and learnt from it.

1. admin says:
  
  September 20, 2023 at 11:33 am
  
  Thanks Robert, it was quite enjoyable and useful to think up the distractor options. In doing so, I sometimes realised that I hadn’t phrased or thought about the question’s basic scenario in the most meaningful way.

2 thoughts on “How well do you know the rules of chess?”

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