I had something interesting occur the other night which should be of interest to younger directors only use to digital clocks. At a team match using USCF rules (but not USCF rated) a situation occurred. Time control was 45/90 for the first time control and an Analog [non-digital] clock was being used. The player with the Black pieces makes his 45th move and hits the clock. After this has been done the White player, without making any moves of his own, claims a win on time.
There was no USCF rulebook on hand at the time at the site. It was funny to watch 4-5 people searching on their phones for the correct rule and ruling. Nothing definite was found by anybody who searched.
There are 2 different arguments that were put forth. The first argument is that as Black has completed his 45th move [including already punched the clock] that White can’t make any claim for a win on time. The other argument is that the control is 45 moves in 90 minutes, and that Black used more than 90 minutes [i.e. the Flag was down] to make 45 moves exceeding the time limit resulting in a loss on time.
I am curious as to what the various opinions are as to what the correct ruling should have been. I will let you know what actually happened in a few days.
There’s no question about it. Black’s flag must remain up after he presses his clock. Otherwise, he has lost on time, and White’s claim is proper.
The only exception is if Black’s 45th move was a game-ending move, such as checkmate, stalemate, or dead position. In that case, Black escapes losing if he determined his move (i.e. took his hand off the piece after moving) before White called the flag.
Makes no difference whether the clock is analog or digital. If a digital clock indicates time has expired (e.g. by displaying all zeros), White’s claim is in order.
I don’t believe “dead position” (rule 14D) implies that the move is determined and completed at the same time. Rule 9E explicitly specifies that a legal move producing checkmate or stalemate is completed when determined. However, a move that would trigger a draw under rule 14D is not covered by 9E. (I think there may be an interesting argument that it should be.)
Black loses. His flag has to be up. I don’t understand what “The first argument is that as Black has completed his 45th move [including already punched the clock] that White can’t make any claim for a win on time.” has to do with anything.
This may be one of those cases where the FIDE rule is superior to the USCF rule. Isn’t it true that the concept of a “game-ending move” comes up in several places in the FIDE rules?
There was no game ending move involved in the position. The argument since this was an analog clock was if the flag really fell before 45 moves were made, or if it somehow fell after. There was no observing of the fall as it fell, just that it was down at the point that White was now on move for move 46. I posted this as I thought it was a good exercise for those younger TDs that never had to deal with an analog clock.
As the player involve I did not make any rulings. What happened was that I continued the game and as White on move 46 immediately won off a full piece for absolutely no compensation. Black then resigned the game.
Thanks for sharing the example. The other mitigating circumstance (which I have never personally seen) is the rule about clear white-space between hand and marker (i.e. a premature flag fall.)
To me, it’s 9G2 FTW,
With 16F: Absence of clock defect aside the flag fall is conclusive. Therefore if the flag fell Black had not completed the move.