Article 4.1 reads: “Each move must be made with one hand only.”
Does the USCF rules have something similar? Or is this just a FIDE rule?
What about capturing a piece with one hand and moving the capturing piece with the other hand?
What about castling with two hands?
USCF rule 16C1 states: “Each player must operate the clock with the same hand that moves the pieces.”
Does this imply that one should castle with one hand and not two?
Steven Craig Miller
Nobody has ever said that the FIDE rules are optimal, Steve.
I’m sure there’s some valid reason for the one-hand rule, I don’t know that rigid enforcement of it occurs at most FIDE events.
There doesn’t seem to be a specific USCF rule about this. I suppose you could infer it from 16C1 (“same hand,” singular), but I would be more inclined to use 20G (Annoying behavior prohibited). Using both hands to make a move (including castling) is very bad manners, but it’s not the kind of thing you enforce unless the opponent complains.
I’m trying to envision how a person would touch the king and rook at the same time (as described in rule 10I1) using only one hand.
Bob
The latest version of the USCF blitz rules (on uschess.org) say:
4.) Each player must press the clock with the same hand that moves the pieces.
4a) When castling a player may use both hands.
4b) When capturing or completing a promotion both hands may be used if it is clear that the clock is pressed after the move is determined.
I think it would make sense to use this rule for regular games as well, especially in time pressure situations. Rules Committee take note!
I think what it means is that your not allowed to move a piece with one hand, then press the clock with the other. Its especially importent in blitz games, and when players are in time trouble.
Obviously in highly charged time troubles, being allowed to move a piece with one hand and press the clock with the other would equate to a huge time bonus for that player… almost as bad as watching the last 5 minutes of a NFL game take over 30 minutes to play. Haha, to bad thats occasionally true, although its more common to spend at least 15 minues for an NFL game to tick down the last 5 minutes of play.
[For those not familiar with the NFL, between the 2 minute warning, medical time outs, regular time outs, official time outs for measuring the ball or reviewing plays, NFL games can really stretch the last few minutes.]
Which part are you referring to? 16C1 already requires that the same hand be used to move and press the clock. Personally I think 4a and 4b are a lousy idea for serious, but I’m willing to hear your rationale.
I think that most rules used for blitz should also be used for regular games, especially in sudden death time pressure. I realize that you disagree with this.
Applying 4a and 4b to regular games would clear up a minor ambiguity in the rules. As you pointed out, 16C1 says that “Each player must operate the clock with the same hand [singular] that moves the pieces.” The touch move rules, though, talk about touching multiple pieces at once: touching pieces of both colors (10C), or touching the king and rook simultaneously (10I1).
Actually, the blitz rule that I cited strengthens your argument for saying that 16C1 requires a player to use only one hand when moving or capturing. Blitz rule 4 (same language as 16C1) establishes the general rule that only one hand should be used, and 4a and 4b are exceptions to that rule. Without the exceptions the general rule would apply in all cases, and 10C and 10I1 would be talking about situations where a player broke the rule by touching two (or more) pieces at the same time. If that’s the intent of 16C1, though, I think it should be made more explicit.
A slight improvement would be:
4a) When castling a player must press the clock with the same hand that moved the king.
4b) When capturing a player must press the clock with the same hand that moved the player’s own piece.
Bill Smythe