Information

US CHESS
RULES

We play by US Chess Federation rules at Blundercheck. If you've only played casually or learned online, a few of these might surprise you. Don't worry — everyone was a beginner once, and we're always happy to help. This is the important stuff.

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Rule #1

TOUCH-MOVE

If you touch a piece, you must move it. If you touch an opponent's piece, you must capture it — if a legal move exists. No take-backs, no "I was just adjusting."

The one official exception: if you want to adjust a piece that's sitting off-center on its square, say "j'adoube" (French for "I adjust") or simply "I'm adjusting" before you touch it. Your opponent must acknowledge it. Say it first — then touch.

Pro tip: Keep your hand away from the board while thinking. If you're not ready to move, don't touch anything. Online chess has trained many players out of this habit — over-the-board chess enforces it.
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Rule #2

CHESS CLOCKS

In timed games, each player has their own pool of time. After you move, you press the clock button on your side — this stops your clock and starts your opponent's. You must press the clock with the same hand you moved the piece with.

If your clock runs to zero, you lose on time — unless your opponent doesn't have enough material to deliver checkmate, in which case the game is drawn.

AFTER MOVING
Release the piece → Press the clock. Not before, not simultaneously.
CLAIMING TIME
If your clock runs out, your opponent must claim the win before making another move.
DELAY & INCREMENT
Delay pauses your clock for a set number of seconds before it starts counting down — we typically use delay at our club (e.g. G/25 d5). Increment adds seconds to your remaining time after each move (e.g. G/10+5).
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Rule #3

ILLEGAL MOVES

Making an illegal move is a serious infraction — it's not just a mistake you fix quietly. US Chess rules allow up to +2 minutes added to the opponent's clock. At Blundercheck, our standard penalty is 30 seconds to 1 minute depending on the time control. If caught, the illegal move must be retracted and a legal move made with the same piece if possible.

A second illegal move in the same game results in an automatic loss. Common illegal moves that catch newer players off guard:

  • ▸ Moving into check — leaving or putting your own king in check. You cannot make a move that leaves your king attacked.
  • ▸ Castling illegally — you can't castle if the king is in check, has previously moved, or if any square between king and rook is attacked or occupied.
  • ▸ En passant errors — the en passant capture must be made immediately after the opponent's pawn advances two squares. Wait a move and you lose the right.
  • ▸ Moving the wrong piece — once you've touched and moved a piece, that's the piece that moves (touch-move applies).
At club: We handle illegal moves with common sense, especially for newer players. In casual games, just fix it and keep playing. In tournament games, call a director if there's a dispute.
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Rule #4

CHECK & CHECKMATE

You are not required to announce "check" in US Chess tournament play — it is polite but not required. Your opponent is responsible for noticing their king is in check and responding.

When checkmated, the game is over. Resigning is also perfectly honorable — simply tip over your king or say "I resign." You do not have to play on in a hopeless position.

Stalemate — if it's your turn to move but you have no legal moves and your king is NOT in check, the game is drawn. This catches many beginners off guard, especially in king-and-pawn endings.

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Rule #5

DRAW CONDITIONS

A game can end in a draw several ways. Know them — they matter more than beginners expect.

STALEMATE
No legal moves and the king is not in check. Instant draw, even if one side is massively ahead on material.
THREEFOLD REPETITION
The same position (with same player to move and same castling/en passant rights) occurs three times. Either player may claim a draw — it does not happen automatically. You must stop play and claim it before your clock runs out.
50-MOVE RULE
If 50 consecutive moves are made by each player with no capture and no pawn move, either player may claim a draw. Again, you must claim it — it's not automatic.
INSUFFICIENT MATERIAL
If neither side has enough pieces to deliver checkmate (e.g. king vs. king, king + bishop vs. king), the game is a draw. No claiming required.
MUTUAL AGREEMENT
Either player can offer a draw after making their move. If the opponent accepts, the game ends. Draw offers should be made sparingly and not used as a psychological tactic.
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Bonus Rule

PAWN PROMOTION

When a pawn reaches the 8th rank (the far end of the board), it must be promoted to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. You cannot leave it as a pawn, and you cannot choose not to promote.

You may promote to any piece regardless of how many of that piece you already have on the board — yes, you can have three queens. If you don't have the physical piece, use an upside-down rook as a placeholder and make sure your opponent knows what it represents.

♟ CONDUCT AT THE BOARD

Chess is a game of respect. A few things US Chess expects from all players in tournament settings:

  • ◻ No phones at the board during tournament play. Silence them and keep them put away.
  • ◻ During casual play, friendly conversation is fine. During the tournament, do not discuss any games in progress — including your own — with anyone.
  • ◻ When the game ends, shake hands (or fist bump — we're not fussy). Be gracious in both victory and defeat.
  • ◻ Disputes go to the tournament director — not the audience, not your friends, not social media.

This is a highlights overview, not a comprehensive rulebook. The official US Chess rulebook is available at uschess.org. When in doubt at club, ask — we're happy to clarify any rule.

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