For the FIDE Arbiters out there…what resources have you used to understand how FIDE rules differ from USCF rules?
Some time ago I bought/reviewed The Chess Organiser’s Handbook by Stuart Reuben. I should’ve taken the title literally, because it is truly an organiser’s book, not an arbiter’s resource.
Recently I found Commentary on the Laws of Chess by Mihajlo Savic, but this one is completely new to me and haven’t had the opportunity to obtain a copy.
Aside from differences in pairing rules and tiebreaks, there appears to be many “approved” options for pairing software and I haven’t yet found a comprehensive list.
Why research and/or waste my time on this? The USCF hasn’t always agreed with FIDE on how to handle things so it goes its own way on the rules. Yet the USCF rules, particular the Tournament section, seems so much more detailed than what is available “out there” for international competition. As more increment time controls are offered and the possiblity of more FIDE-rated events comes around, I’d like to know more. Thanks for any info that can be provided.
I was fortunate enough to take the Internet-based FIDE arbiter’s seminar in July. One of my projects is to write something that compares the USCF rules and the FIDE Laws of Chess in detail. However, it’s not ready yet – curse the day job for interfering with chess!
I will certainly make that available once it’s in reasonable form. In the meanwhile, I would suggest just starting with the Laws of Chess from the FIDE web site (section E of the handbook). Have your USCF rule book handy, and just read the Laws of Chess slowly. Don’t assume anything. Compare each paragraph with what you know of the USCF rules.
Here are a few interesting points:
Article 6.8 (“article” refers to the laws of chess): arbiter can (and does) call flag fall.
The Laws of Chess do not make a distinction between “determination” and “completion” of a move. Article 1.1 states that a player “has the move” when the opponent’s move has been “made.” “Making” a move in the laws is defined in article 4.6 and is roughly equivalent to determining a move in USCF rules. However …
Note that the choice of promotion piece in the FIDE laws of chess is finalized when the promotion piece touches the promotion square. The USCF rules finalize the choice when the player releases the promotion piece on the square.
Article 4.4b: It is not allowed to castle by touching the rook first. This is considered a rook move.
FIDE has its own version of 14H. Read article 10.2 carefully. Note especially 10.2d: the decision of the arbiter is final (not subject to appeal).
The penalty for an incorrect draw claim is to add three minutes to the opponent’s clock in the laws of chess.
A third instance of an illegal move by the same player results in loss of the game.
That’s not a comprehensive list, but it will certainly get you started in the right direction.
The pairing rules for a FIDE swiss tournament are a challenge to read, but they appear to have the fascinating property that correct Swiss pairings are completely deterministic! There is actually a (very) multi-step algorithm spelled out in great detail how to pair score groups, including exactly which transpositions or interchanges to make to improve color allocation. Also, an interesting tidbit about FIDE swiss pairings is that players should not be given the same “float” in consecutive rounds. (There are “down floats” and “up floats.” A “down float” means that a player was dropped to a lower score group, perhaps because the player was the odd man in his own score group. An “up float” means that a player was paired against an opponent from a higher score group. Also, getting the bye counts as a “down float.”) In fact, if possible, once a player is “floated,” the player should not be given the same float in the next two rounds, if possible. However, if it is not possible to pair the round with that restriction, it is the first to be jettisoned.
I know where on the USCF web site I need to look for lists of US GMs, IMs, etc. Is there a place where I can see lists of IAs and FAs? If so, where? If not, are there any plans to add one?
On the USCF website I don’t believe there is a place that lists that. Personally I think the MSA should list the non-playing titles as well (FA, IA, IO) just as it does the playing titles.
There is a new arbiters handbook under construction now as well that the Arbiters Commission is putting together.
Part of the 4th edition of the Chess Organiser’s Handbook which should be out the first of the year will have much more on the role of the arbiter and comparison points between USCF and FIDE rules. There are a number of rule changes to be looked at beginning next week during the Congress.
We may not have an up-to-date list of who has the IA, FA or IO designation from FIDE. (There aren’t fields for those designations in the MSA database yet, either.)
With the playing titles (GM, WGM, IM, WIM, FM, WFM, etc), we can get that information from the bi-monthly FIDE Ratings List, I don’t think there is an equivalent downloadable file to get IA, FA or IO designations from.
Back in the olden days (printed supplements), the list of IAs used to appear in the annual supplement. It would appear that this is one of the items that was dropped when the USCF switched away from paper. FA is a newer title. I don’t ever recall seeing a list of them in print.
