TD'ing Blitz Tournaments

[gneilley]

I haven’t TD’d many blitz tournaments, but when I have, I seem to keep running into a common situation and would appreciate some input.

As seconds are counting down with no delay and hands/pieces start flying, one player tries to make some sort of claim (flag fall, illegal move, 3-fold repetition of position, opponent must replace knocked over pieces, etc.). But with adrenaline/emotions running high, stopping the clock doesn’t happen until one or both flags have fallen, or at the very least, more precious seconds have ticked off. And it seems pretty common that one or both keep on moving, which complicates things even further.

Question #1: Does a player have to stop the clock to make a claim? That would seem to make my job easier, but either way…

Question #2: With things happening so fast, I have a hard time knowing even from my own observation exactly what did happen, both as to moves/piece placement, and in relation to a flag fall or time on the clock. Are there any tips to become better at watching under these circumstances to improve my own sense of events as a basis to rule on claims?

Or maybe I’d be better off making sure I’m not watching when those pieces start flying?

[BobMessenger]

@gneilley

Question #1: Does a player have to stop the clock to make a claim?

In general I would say no, although stopping/pausing the clock is a good idea. Unfortunately in some blitz modes on the Chronos attempting to pause the clock by pressing the middle button resets it. However, if a player makes a claim and then makes a move on the board it normally invalidates the claim.

The latest USCF Blitz rules (the ones on the web site, which have superseded the ones in the 5th edition rulebook) include these rules:

7.) Defining a win

A game is won by the player:

…

7d.) Who after an illegal move is completed by the opponent, then takes the king (if the king is in check) or claims the win and stops the clock, before the player determines a move and provided the player has sufficient mating material as defined in rule 7c.
7e.) An illegal move doesn’t negate a player’s right to claim on time, provided it is done prior to the opponent’s claim of an illegal move. If the claims are simultaneous, the player who made the illegal move loses.

Rule 7d does talk about stopping the clock after making an illegal move claim, but according to 7e a player can claim an illegal move even if his flag is down. As I read 7e what matters is when the illegal move and time forfeit claims were made, not when the clock was stopped.

The situation where a player knocks over pieces is covered by blitz rule 9:

9.) If a player accidentally displaces one or more pieces, they shall be replaced [on] the player’s own time. If it is necessary, the opponent may press the clock without making a move. If the player presses the clock after displacing pieces, then a penalty may be assessed.

Normally this is self-enforcing: rather than stopping the clocks and making a claim the player simply presses the clock and tells his opponent to replace the pieces on his own time. If this isn’t a sufficient remedy the player can ask the director to impose a penalty, or (as I read the rule) the director can impose a penalty without being asked.

@gneilley

Question #2: With things happening so fast, I have a hard time knowing even from my own observation exactly what did happen, both as to moves/piece placement, and in relation to a flag fall or time on the clock. Are there any tips to become better at watching under these circumstances to improve my own sense of events as a basis to rule on claims?

This is something that you’ll probably get better at with experience. Make sure you have a good view of the board. I usually try to see the clock as well. If there are spectators also watching the game you can ask them what they saw happen, but make sure they’re impartial.

[wilecoyote]

@gneilley

Question #2: With things happening so fast, I have a hard time knowing even from my own observation exactly what did happen, both as to moves/piece placement, and in relation to a flag fall or time on the clock. Are there any tips to become better at watching under these circumstances to improve my own sense of events as a basis to rule on claims?

Or maybe I’d be better off making sure I’m not watching when those pieces start flying?

One skill that will help you (but that is naturally difficult for a chess player) is to not be interested in the game itself. You should be watching the moves and paying attention so that you can deal with an illegal move claim (for example), but you should not get absorbed into the actual position.

[Smythe_Dakota]

Best tip of all (but unpopular with some): Use a 2-second delay, even in blitz.

Bill Smythe

[eastside]

A few things…

In a blitz tournament (especially if you are the only TD), you might find it helpful to have players keep the clock on the same side of the board when possible, and have the clocks all face the same way (or toward the same center aisle). This should make it easier for you to watch several games and clocks simultaneously.

As has been mentioned, a small time delay (where possible) is nice. However, the larger the blitz event, the more likely someone is to show up with an analog clock. Those players are just on their own.

As has also been mentioned, try very hard not to analyze any positions you see. Just watch the players and the moves, but turn your “calculating brain” off. If you are a fish like me, this is easier to do, since the switch often toggles that way of its own accord. If I see a wild position, though, I still struggle to avoid getting caught up in the game. My coping mechanism is to just go observe other parts of the room.

Don’t let yourself be bullied by players or spectators when the time comes to make a ruling. Because it’s a blitz event, spectators tend to try and talk more when a dispute breaks out, and players tend to be somewhat less decorous as well. Assume control of the discussion immediately to avoid these pitfalls.

Finally, try to keep up with the current blitz rules. As was (yet again) also mentioned, the blitz rules on the website have some changes enacted since the publication of the 5th edition rulebook.

[MichaelAtkins]

@gneilley

I haven’t TD’d many blitz tournaments, but when I have, I seem to keep running into a common situation and would appreciate some input.

As seconds are counting down with no delay and hands/pieces start flying, one player tries to make some sort of claim (flag fall, illegal move, 3-fold repetition of position, opponent must replace knocked over pieces, etc.). But with adrenaline/emotions running high, stopping the clock doesn’t happen until one or both flags have fallen, or at the very least, more precious seconds have ticked off. And it seems pretty common that one or both keep on moving, which complicates things even further.

Question #1: Does a player have to stop the clock to make a claim? That would seem to make my job easier, but either way…

Question #2: With things happening so fast, I have a hard time knowing even from my own observation exactly what did happen, both as to moves/piece placement, and in relation to a flag fall or time on the clock. Are there any tips to become better at watching under these circumstances to improve my own sense of events as a basis to rule on claims?

Or maybe I’d be better off making sure I’m not watching when those pieces start flying?

I would say Yes to Number 1. If a player claims a time forfeit and then both flags are down, it is a draw. The only way to preserve the condition of one flag being up and one flag being down is to stop the clock.

The WBCA used to have a much clearer rule. The website below has the copy of the WBCA rules that I handscribed in Comic Sans font more than a decade ago for Arlington Chess Club WBCA events.

angelfire.com/games5/chessod … zrules.htm

If you look at Rule 7C it differs from what the USCf rule now says. This was another compromise in wording that the USCF Rules Committee did when I submitted the WBCA rules as an ADM in 2007 to replace what was in the rulebook. I am still finding noticeable differences that were the result of strange committee decisions. Getting 7C back to the original intent gives me an ADM for this summer. It is clearly worded better. Jeez

7. Defining a win. A game is won by the player:
   a) who has mated his opponent’s king
   b) whose opponent resigns
   c) whose opponent’s flag falls first, at any time before the game is otherwise ended, provided he points it out and neutralizes the clock while his own flag is still up and that he has mating material
   d) who after an opponent’s illegal move takes the king or stops the clock
   e) an illegal move doesn’t negate a player’s right to claim on time, provided he does so prior to his opponent’s claim of illegal move; if the claims are simultaneous, the player who made the illegal move loses.

This is really the only way to manage a blitz event without arguments on this issue.

Mike

[BobMessenger]

@MichaelAtkins

@gneilley

I haven’t TD’d many blitz tournaments, but when I have, I seem to keep running into a common situation and would appreciate some input.

As seconds are counting down with no delay and hands/pieces start flying, one player tries to make some sort of claim (flag fall, illegal move, 3-fold repetition of position, opponent must replace knocked over pieces, etc.). But with adrenaline/emotions running high, stopping the clock doesn’t happen until one or both flags have fallen, or at the very least, more precious seconds have ticked off. And it seems pretty common that one or both keep on moving, which complicates things even further.

Question #1: Does a player have to stop the clock to make a claim? That would seem to make my job easier, but either way…

Question #2: With things happening so fast, I have a hard time knowing even from my own observation exactly what did happen, both as to moves/piece placement, and in relation to a flag fall or time on the clock. Are there any tips to become better at watching under these circumstances to improve my own sense of events as a basis to rule on claims?

Or maybe I’d be better off making sure I’m not watching when those pieces start flying?

I would say Yes to Number 1. If a player claims a time forfeit and then both flags are down, it is a draw. The only way to preserve the condition of one flag being up and one flag being down is to stop the clock.

The WBCA used to have a much clearer rule. The website below has the copy of the WBCA rules that I handscribed in Comic Sans font more than a decade ago for Arlington Chess Club WBCA events.

angelfire.com/games5/chessod … zrules.htm

If you look at Rule 7C it differs from what the USCf rule now says. This was another compromise in wording that the USCF Rules Committee did when I submitted the WBCA rules as an ADM in 2007 to replace what was in the rulebook. I am still finding noticeable differences that were the result of strange committee decisions. Getting 7C back to the original intent gives me an ADM for this summer. It is clearly worded better. Jeez

7. Defining a win. A game is won by the player:
   a) who has mated his opponent’s king
   b) whose opponent resigns
   c) whose opponent’s flag falls first, at any time before the game is otherwise ended, provided he points it out and neutralizes the clock while his own flag is still up and that he has mating material
   d) who after an opponent’s illegal move takes the king or stops the clock
   e) an illegal move doesn’t negate a player’s right to claim on time, provided he does so prior to his opponent’s claim of illegal move; if the claims are simultaneous, the player who made the illegal move loses.

This is really the only way to manage a blitz event without arguments on this issue.

Mike

What about the Chronos blitz modes where pressing the middle button resets the clock? Far from proving the time forfeit claim, attempting to stop the clock after claiming a win on time would obliterate the evidence.

[BobMessenger]

Thinking about this some more, I agree that Mike’s proposed change is clearly an improvement over the current USCF blitz rule, which is badly worded.

Current rule:

7.) Defining a win

A game is won by the player:

…

7c.) Whose opponent’s flag falls first, at any time before the game is otherwise ended by stopping the clock prior to the player’s own clock’s flag fall and has mating material. [The rule goes on to define what is meant by mating material.]

WBCA rule quoted by Mike Atkins:

7. Defining a win. A game is won by the player:

…

c) whose opponent’s flag falls first, at any time before the game is otherwise ended, provided he points it out and neutralizes the clock while his own flag is still up and that he has mating material

So according to the rule, if both flags are hanging, your flag falls and your opponent points to the clock and says “you’re down”, instead of shrugging your shoulders and shaking hands, as most people do, you should play a move on the board, press the clock, wait for your opponent’s flag to fall, and then claim a draw. I don’t remember this ever happening in the blitz tournaments that I’ve directed, but it’s certainly a possibility.

[MichaelAtkins]

Bob - Pressing the Chronos middle button once stops the clock. Pressing it twice or more resets the clock. Players used to be well trained to know that they had to preserve the evidence and it is only common sense to do that. Same thing for a regular non-blitz game when both players are in time pressure. I hope there isn’t a mode now on one of the Chronos clocks were pressing the middle button once resets the clock!

The Delegates in 2007 voted on my ADM to send it to Rules with the power to enact. For some reason a LOT of compromises were needed to get it out of committee in time to go into effect January 2008. I must have done a really poor job in helping with the final version or perhaps I didn’t even see the final version because I keep finding previous really good basic WBCA rules that became bad USCF rules out of compromise.

Mike

[MichaelAtkins]

@BobMessenger

Thinking about this some more, I agree that Mike’s proposed change is clearly an improvement over the current USCF blitz rule, which is badly worded.

Current rule:

7.) Defining a win

A game is won by the player:

…

7c.) Whose opponent’s flag falls first, at any time before the game is otherwise ended by stopping the clock prior to the player’s own clock’s flag fall and has mating material. [The rule goes on to define what is meant by mating material.]

WBCA rule quoted by Mike Atkins:

7. Defining a win. A game is won by the player:

…

c) whose opponent’s flag falls first, at any time before the game is otherwise ended, provided he points it out and neutralizes the clock while his own flag is still up and that he has mating material

So according to the rule, if both flags are hanging, your flag falls and your opponent points to the clock and says “you’re down”, instead of shrugging your shoulders and shaking hands, as most people do, you should play a move on the board, press the clock, wait for your opponent’s flag to fall, and then claim a draw. I don’t remember this ever happening in the blitz tournaments that I’ve directed, but it’s certainly a possibility.

Someone who would do this probably isn’t honest and it would probably elicit a bad scene at the board. I’ve seen it happen when both players are so involved in the game that one forgets about the clock and is in auto-mode (probably what Steve Immitt calls the clock-punching monkey) and just responds really fast to the move without hearing “flag” or “down.” At that point I think it is ok for the opponent to push the middle button and keep their hand on the clock until the opponent finally realises they lost. If someone does this routinely they would develop a bad reputation pretty quickly with TDs at least.

MA

[BobMessenger]

@MichaelAtkins

Bob - Pressing the Chronos middle button once stops the clock. Pressing it twice or more resets the clock. Players used to be well trained to know that they had to preserve the evidence and it is only common sense to do that. Same thing for a regular non-blitz game when both players are in time pressure. I hope there isn’t a mode now on one of the Chronos clocks were pressing the middle button once resets the clock!

I think you’re right: the mode I was thinking of is CH - F1, which unfortunately is the very first mode in the menu and is therefore the easiest to use. As you say, pressing the middle button once pauses the clock and pressing it twice resets it. However, a player might easily press the button twice by accident.

I became aware of this several years ago in an embarrassing incident where I was called to a board to make a ruling, and the first thing I did was to pause the clock. I must have accidentally pressed the button twice by mistake, because the clock reset to 5 minutes each. Unfortunately I hadn’t noted the times on the clock before pausing/resetting it, and I had to ask the players what times they remembered having on their clocks before it was reset. Since then I’ve always been careful to look at the times on a clock before pausing it.

I have to say that I don’t really like the rule that if a player calls the opponent’s flag with his own flag still up but his flag falls before he stops the clock it’s draw. In the regular rules, 16E says “The flag is considered to have fallen when either player points this out.” That being the case, shouldn’t that immediately end the game, provided that the time forfeit claim is valid? But rule 14G explicitly says that “If a player whose flag is still up claims a win on time but does not stop the clock in time to prevent the flag from falling, the game is drawn.” So even if I’m watching the game as a TD and I know for a fact that White’s flag was still up when he said “Flag!”, if his flag subsequently falls and Black points this out, I have to rule that the game is a draw.

The rule I would prefer is that a player who points out that his opponent’s flag has fallen while his own flag is still up wins, provided that this can be proven by clear and convincing evidence. A good way to preserve the evidence is to stop the clock, but this shouldn’t be essential.

Rule 6.11 in the FIDE Laws of Chess talks about the situation where “both flags have fallen and it is impossible to establish which flag fell first”. Thus, under FIDE rules (in regular games, or in rapidplay when there is adequate supervision of the games by the arbiters) if it can be proved that Black’s flag fell and White’s flag was still up White wins, regardless of what happened after that. However, in FIDE rapidplay when there is inadequate supervision, the FIDE rule is similar to the USCF rule: “2. To claim a win on time, the claimant must stop both clocks and notify the arbiter. For the claim to be successful, the claimant’s flag must remain up and his opponent’s flag down after the clocks have been stopped.” It seems to me that there should be an exception where there is clear evidence as to which flag fell first.

Of course as a USCF TD I have to enforce the rules as they’re written and not the way I’d like them to be. I think at future blitz tournaments in my announcements before the first round I’ll emphasize that the clock must be stopped after making a time forfeit claim, and suggest that Chronos clocks not be set in mode CH - F1.

[MichaelAtkins]

In your scenario of watching a game as TD, watching the flag fall …

So even if I’m watching the game as a TD and I know for a fact that White’s flag was still up when he said “Flag!”, if his flag subsequently falls and Black points this out, I have to rule that the game is a draw.

Wouldn’t your observation of the first flag fall be sufficient evidence that it fell? Certainly would in FIDE and I think it provides unbiased evidence in USCF play. If a TD can watch and count 50 moves, why not be a witness. Of course the best thing would be for the clock to be stopped.

I had a few games where the anxious players accidentally reset the clock when stopping it, once in the middle of a blitz game when they had a question. If I recall, I had them replay the game with half the starting time so it wouldn’t drag out the next round.

[BobMessenger]

@MichaelAtkins

In your scenario of watching a game as TD, watching the flag fall …

So even if I’m watching the game as a TD and I know for a fact that White’s flag was still up when he said “Flag!”, if his flag subsequently falls and Black points this out, I have to rule that the game is a draw.

Wouldn’t your observation of the first flag fall be sufficient evidence that it fell? Certainly would in FIDE and I think it provides unbiased evidence in USCF play. If a TD can watch and count 50 moves, why not be a witness. Of course the best thing would be for the clock to be stopped.

I think that should be the rule, but 14G and blitz rule 7c say it’s a draw if both flags are down, even if it’s clear which flag fell first. Yes, under FIDE rules in non-blitz games, and in blitz games with adequate supervision (one arbiter per game, if I recall correctly!) it would be a time forfeit.

[gneilley]

Thanks for everyone’s input. I think at a minimum, I’ll start including in my opening announcements a recommendation to stop the clock in the event of any claim… even if a TD is right there watching.

[wilecoyote]

@gneilley

Thanks for everyone’s input. I think at a minimum, I’ll start including in my opening announcements a recommendation to stop the clock in the event of any claim… even if a TD is right there watching.

Always stop the clock in the event of a claim, whether it is blitz or “regular” chess, regardless of the presence of the TD.

[jwiewel]

@BobMessenger

@MichaelAtkins

Bob - Pressing the Chronos middle button once stops the clock. Pressing it twice or more resets the clock. Players used to be well trained to know that they had to preserve the evidence and it is only common sense to do that. Same thing for a regular non-blitz game when both players are in time pressure. I hope there isn’t a mode now on one of the Chronos clocks were pressing the middle button once resets the clock!

I think you’re right: the mode I was thinking of is CH - F1, which unfortunately is the very first mode in the menu and is therefore the easiest to use. As you say, pressing the middle button once pauses the clock and pressing it twice resets it. However, a player might easily press the button twice by accident.

I became aware of this several years ago in an embarrassing incident where I was called to a board to make a ruling, and the first thing I did was to pause the clock. I must have accidentally pressed the button twice by mistake, because the clock reset to 5 minutes each. Unfortunately I hadn’t noted the times on the clock before pausing/resetting it, and I had to ask the players what times they remembered having on their clocks before it was reset. Since then I’ve always been careful to look at the times on a clock before pausing it.
…

Not being the owner of a Chronos Blitz in use during one quick tournament at my club, I accidentally double-hit while trying to stop the clock to claim a win on time (fortunately there was a witness).
That was a surprise to me as other Chronos clocks did not react that way.

Also, the method of stopping the clock is not always obvious if you are not familiar with the clock. So such a requirement (to stop the clock to claim a flag) does slightly favor the owner of the clock.

[MichaelAtkins]

@jwiewel

@BobMessenger

@MichaelAtkins

Bob - Pressing the Chronos middle button once stops the clock. Pressing it twice or more resets the clock. Players used to be well trained to know that they had to preserve the evidence and it is only common sense to do that. Same thing for a regular non-blitz game when both players are in time pressure. I hope there isn’t a mode now on one of the Chronos clocks were pressing the middle button once resets the clock!

I think you’re right: the mode I was thinking of is CH - F1, which unfortunately is the very first mode in the menu and is therefore the easiest to use. As you say, pressing the middle button once pauses the clock and pressing it twice resets it. However, a player might easily press the button twice by accident.

I became aware of this several years ago in an embarrassing incident where I was called to a board to make a ruling, and the first thing I did was to pause the clock. I must have accidentally pressed the button twice by mistake, because the clock reset to 5 minutes each. Unfortunately I hadn’t noted the times on the clock before pausing/resetting it, and I had to ask the players what times they remembered having on their clocks before it was reset. Since then I’ve always been careful to look at the times on a clock before pausing it.
…

Not being the owner of a Chronos Blitz in use during one quick tournament at my club, I accidentally double-hit while trying to stop the clock to claim a win on time (fortunately there was a witness).
That was a surprise to me as other Chronos clocks did not react that way.

Also, the method of stopping the clock is not always obvious if you are not familiar with the clock. So such a requirement (to stop the clock to claim a flag) does slightly favor the owner of the clock.

Perhaps we should have 1 minute in all games for the owner of the clock to explain its workings to the opponent. Analog clocks present no problem. USCF Game Timer could be confusing to someone not familiar with it as could the Saitek (Hit this with a hammer) clocks.

[Harold_S]

Perhaps we should have 1 minute in all games for the owner of the clock to explain its workings to the opponent. Analog clocks present no problem. USCF Game Timer could be confusing to someone not familiar with it as could the Saitek (Hit this with a hammer) clocks.

I have had complaints from parents that their child doesn’t know when an analog clock indicates the time has expired after the child loses. My response is that if they don’t know they should ask before playing with it and that after the game is over is too late to reverse the result.

[Smythe_Dakota]

Some modes on the Chronos have the quick-reset feature (one press to stop, another to reset). Other modes, instead, enable a mid-game time adjustment. In the latter modes, it takes multiple presses to reset.

Always avoid modes with the quick-reset feature – even if this means you have to abandon your favorite tenths-of-a-second display.

Bill Smythe