USCF Blitz Rule Question - Illegal Move Claim

Running Chess Tournaments
1

When I run a blitz tournament I always tell people we are using variation 3A of the USCF blitz rules that states if a player makes an illegal move then they lose, rather than give an extra 2 minutes to the opponent.

How should you deal with a player claiming his opponent made an illegal move, but he doesn’t have mating material, e.g. just a lone king? Should you still award a win under rule 3A, or would this be similar to claiming a win on time without mating material hence it would be a draw?

Thanks,

Chris

2

I would declare the game to be drawn because:

  1. The intent of Variant 3A is that an illegal move ends the game as opposed to potentially extending it by two minues.

  2. The best result that a player with a lone king can achieve is a draw.

3

I’m concur with nolan. Awarding a win to the player with no mating material would be in error. He can’t win OTB (by checkmating), he can’t win on time (cause he has no mating material). His best result is a draw.