Is it against the rules to request for or allow a takeback? On the same grounds, is it a violation of the rules to waive the touch-move rule (when the opponent has not said “I adjust”) for courtesy?
Takebacks aren’t part of the rules of chess. The touch move rule is.
In most tournaments, the TD just wants to know the result of each game. So as long as there isn’t an argument between the players, they can play under whatever variations they wish. If both players agree to allow takebacks or ignore the touch move rule, then the TD will probably never know/care.
On the contrary, I hope most TDs would nip the take-back idea in the bud. (Not so for touch-move, perhaps.)
Bill Smythe
Allowing take-backs is similar to allowing three moves in a row by one player. Many (the great majority of?) TDs may not say anything about a player (with the opponent away from the board) making a move and then changing to a different piece before hitting the clock (a touch move violation, but the responsibility of the opponent). However, I’ve known of multiple TDs who will not allow a change after the clock is hit because changing 31 Bg3-d6 to 31 Nh4-f5 is really playing 31 Bg3-d6 (no move by black) 32 Bd6-g3 (no move by black) 33 Nh4-f5. It may be the responsibility of the opponent to call touch move, but the TD can definitely say something about illegal multiple moves.
Also, two players allowing take-backs risks becoming one player waiting until the opportune moment to finally ask for (and get) the enforcement of the standard rules.
All in all, I would say the idea is . . . less than desirable. Way, way, way, way less than desirable.
I know takebacks and touch-move waivers are not at all best in the interest of anybody. I just wanted to know in case somebody offered a takeback to me. Should I report this, or just decline or accept? Anyway, those questions have now been answered. Thanks!
Once a piece has been released the move is “determined”. It would be against the rules to change the move or allow it to be changed. Period. Whether the clock button has been hit, or not, the move has still been determined.
The touch move rule is a little more “iffy”: the player who touched a piece can always “claim” he was adjusting the piece and if the opponent is willing to accept that the player was adjusting (even if he didn’t HEAR the player announce his intention), I don’t see it as a violation by the opponent. It’s the opponent’s call whether to ask for enforcement of the rule and if he wants to give the “benefit of the doubt” – assuming the player would scrupulously follow the rules and would have announced his intention – I wouldn’t question him.
Personally, I don’t think any player should ever ask for or accept such leniency. Even if the opponent is away from the board or wouldn’t enforce the rule for some other reason, if a player touches a piece, he should feel obligated to move it.
jwiewel wrote:
What if the first of those 3 moves was a pawn move, capture, or castling? Would castling be disallowed later because the king was moved twice before (joke)?
I agree that permitting the change of a move after the piece has been released is a bad idea that will cause far more problems than it solves. That goes for any age or playing strength. It could also cause problems for directors that don’t allow takebacks when some kid starts crying and says “they let me take back at last week’s tournament” and only get worse for the TD when his parents get involved.
For rated games, takebacks should not be allowed. Its very bad form for players to even think about allowing each other to takeback a move.
In skittles, for obvious reasons, players may do as they choose. Personally, in skittles, I don’t allow the player to takeback moves if we’re using a clock. If I’m not using a clock, and quite higher in skill level, then I usually allow the opponent to take back a piece… but not until after I explain to them that takebacks are generally frowned upon, and illegal in rated play, and discuss the position in general.
This is also one of the questions on the Club TD Exam.
Where can this exam be found?
TD exams have to be requested from the USCF office. They are sent out to individuals who qualify to take them via the TD certification rules.
main.uschess.org/docs/forms/TDCe … nRules.pdf
I think anybody would be qualified to take the club TD exam, thats the lowest common denominator.
Well, you need to be a Club TD for 3 years before you take the exam to renew your Club TD certificate. Since the 3 exams for Club/Local is the same (only the rotation you take them in is different, not the individual exams–each exam has a different difficulty level) you could take the Local exam when you have enough Club TD experience credits (check the TD Certification rules for that–I believe it is a total of 3 events, a total of 50 players, and being the chief of at least one of those events).
Politely decline.