View source for Rules of chess

{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
{{Short description|Rules of play for the game of chess}}
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{{Good article}}
[[Image:ChessSet.jpg|thumbnail|250px|alt=Photo shows the six types of chess pieces in the Staunton style.|[[Staunton chess set|Staunton]] style chess pieces. {{em|Left to right:}} king, rook, queen, pawn, knight, bishop]]

The '''rules of chess''' (also known as the '''laws of chess''') govern the play of the game of [[chess]]. Chess is a two-player [[Abstract strategy game|abstract strategy]] [[board game]]. Each player controls sixteen [[chess piece|pieces]] of six types on a [[chessboard]]. Each type of piece moves in a distinct way. The object of the game is to [[checkmate]] the opponent's [[King (chess)|king]]; checkmate occurs when a king is threatened with capture and has no escape. A game can end in various ways besides checkmate: a player can [[#Resigning|resign]], and there are several ways a game can end in a [[Draw (chess)|draw]].

While the exact [[origins of chess]] are unclear, modern rules first took form during the Middle Ages. The rules continued to be slightly modified until the early 19th century, when they reached essentially their current form. The rules also varied somewhat from region to region. Today, the standard rules are set by [[FIDE]] (Fédération Internationale des Échecs), the international governing body for chess. Slight modifications are made by some national organizations for their own purposes. There are variations of the rules for [[fast chess]], [[correspondence chess]], [[online chess]], and [[Chess960]].

Besides the basic moves of the pieces, rules also govern the equipment used, [[time control]], conduct and ethics of players, accommodations for physically challenged players, and recording of moves using [[chess notation]]. Procedures for resolving irregularities that can occur during a game are provided as well.

==Initial setup==
{{Chess diagram
| tright
|
|rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|bd|nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl
| Starting position
}}

Chess is played on a [[chessboard]], a square board divided into a grid of 64 squares (eight-by-eight) of alternating color (similar to the board used in [[draughts]]).{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 2.1}} Regardless of the actual colors of the board, the lighter-colored squares are called "light" or "white", and the darker-colored squares are called "dark" or "black". Sixteen "white" and sixteen "black" pieces are placed on the board at the beginning of the game. The board is placed so that a white square is in each player's near-right corner. Horizontal rows are called ''{{chessgloss|ranks}}'', and vertical columns are called ''{{chessgloss|files}}''.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles 2.1, 2.2, 2.4}}

Each player controls sixteen pieces:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:left;"
|-
! Piece !! [[King (chess)|King]] !! [[Queen (chess)|Queen]] !! [[Rook (chess)|Rook]] !! [[Bishop (chess)|Bishop]] !! [[Knight (chess)|Knight]] !! [[Pawn (chess)|Pawn]]
|-
! Number of pieces
| 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 8
|-
! Symbols
| [[File:Chess klt45.svg|25px]]<br />[[File:Chess kdt45.svg|25px]]
| [[File:Chess qlt45.svg|25px]]<br />[[File:Chess qdt45.svg|25px]]
| [[File:Chess rlt45.svg|25px]]<br />[[File:Chess rdt45.svg|25px]]
| [[File:Chess blt45.svg|25px]]<br />[[File:Chess bdt45.svg|25px]]
| [[File:Chess nlt45.svg|25px]]<br />[[File:Chess ndt45.svg|25px]]
| [[File:Chess plt45.svg|25px]]<br />[[File:Chess pdt45.svg|25px]]
|}
{{clear left}}
At the beginning of the game, the pieces are arranged as shown in the diagram: for each side one [[King (chess)|king]], one [[Queen (chess)|queen]], two [[Rook (chess)|rooks]], two [[Bishop (chess)|bishops]], two [[Knight (chess)|knights]], and eight [[Pawn (chess)|pawns]]. The pieces are placed, one per square, as follows:{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 2.3}}
* Rooks are placed on the outside corners, right and left edge.
* Knights are placed immediately inside of the rooks.
* Bishops are placed immediately inside of the knights.
* The queen is placed on the central square of the same color of that of the piece: white queen on the white square and black queen on the black square.
* The king takes the vacant spot next to the queen.
* Pawns are placed one square in front of all of the other pieces.
Popular mnemonics used to remember the setup are "queen on her own color" and "white on right". The latter refers to setting up the board so that the square closest to each player's right is white.<ref>{{Harvcol|Schiller|2003|pp=16–17}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==Gameplay==
===White and black===
{{main|White and Black in chess}}
[[Image:Chess players in park, kiev.JPG|thumb|right|alt=Photo shows two men playing chess while two more look on.|A game in a public park in [[Kyiv]], using a [[chess clock]]]]
The player controlling the white pieces is named "White"; the player controlling the black pieces is named "Black". White moves first, then players alternate moves. Making a move is required; it is not legal to skip a move, [[zugzwang|even when having to move is detrimental]]. Play continues until a king is [[checkmate]]d, a player [[#Resigning|resigns]], or a [[draw (chess)|draw]] is declared, as explained below.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 1}} In addition, if the game is being played under a [[time control]], a player who exceeds the [[#Time control|time limit]] loses the game unless they cannot be checkmated.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6}}

The official chess rules do not include a procedure for determining who plays White. Instead, this decision is left open to tournament-specific rules (e.g. a [[Swiss-system tournament|Swiss system tournament]] or [[round-robin tournament]]) or, in the case of casual play, mutual agreement, in which case some kind of random choice such as flipping a coin can be employed. A common method is for one player to conceal a pawn of each color in either hand; the other player chooses a hand to open and receives the color of the piece that is revealed.{{sfn|Pandolfini|1992|p=33}}

===Movement===

====Basic moves====
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{{Chess diagram small
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| Moves of the king
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|  |  |  |  |oo|oo|oo|
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}}
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 {{Chess diagram small
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| Moves of a rook
|  |  |  |oo|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |oo|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |oo|  |  |  |
|oo|oo|oo|rl|oo|oo|oo|oo
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|  |  |  |oo|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |oo|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |oo|  |  |  |

}}
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{{Chess diagram small
| tright
| Moves of a bishop
|oo|  |  |  |  |  |oo|
|  |oo|  |  |  |oo|  |
|  |  |oo|  |oo|  |  |
|  |  |  |bl|  |  |  |
|  |  |oo|  |oo|  |  |
|  |oo|  |  |  |oo|  |
|oo|  |  |  |  |  |oo|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |oo

}}
{{col-break}}
 {{Chess diagram small
| tright
| Moves of the queen
|  |  |  |oo|  |  |  |oo
|oo|  |  |oo|  |  |oo|
|  |oo|  |oo|  |oo|  |
|  |  |oo|oo|oo|  |  |
|oo|oo|oo|ql|oo|oo|oo|oo
|  |  |oo|oo|oo|  |  |
|  |oo|  |oo|  |oo|  |
|oo|  |  |oo|  |  |oo|

}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin|width=auto; float:right; clear:right}}
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 {{Chess diagram small
| tright
| Moves of a knight
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |oo|  |oo|  |  |
|  |oo|  |  |  |oo|  |
|  |  |  |nl|  |  |  |
|  |oo|  |  |  |oo|  |
|  |  |oo|  |oo|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

}}
{{col-break}}
 {{Chess diagram small
| tright
| Moves of a pawn
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |rd|oo|rd|  |  |  |
|  |  |pl|  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |oo|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |oo|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |pl|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| The pawns can move to the squares in front of them (white dots). The pawn on c6 can also take either black rook.}}
{{col-end}}
Each type of chess piece has its own method of movement. A piece moves to a vacant square except when {{chessgloss|capturing}} an opponent's piece.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles 3.1 and 3.1.1}}

Except for any move of the knight and [[#Castling|castling]], pieces cannot jump over other pieces. A piece is ''captured'' (or ''taken'') when an attacking enemy piece replaces it on its square. The captured piece is thereby permanently removed from the game.{{efn|When [[promotion (chess)|promoting]] a pawn, a piece previously captured and removed from the board is often used as the "new" promoted piece. The new piece is nevertheless regarded as distinct from the original captured piece; the physical piece is used simply for convenience. Moreover, the player's choice for promotion is not restricted to pieces that were previously captured.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles 3.7.3.3 and 3.7.3.4}}}} The king can be put in [[check (chess)|check]] but cannot be captured (see below).
* The [[King (chess)|king]] moves exactly one square adjacent to it. A special move with the king known as ''[[#Castling|castling]]'' is allowed only once per player, per game (see below).
* A [[Rook (chess)|rook]] moves any number of vacant squares horizontally or vertically. It also is moved when castling.
* A [[Bishop (chess)|bishop]] moves any number of vacant squares diagonally. (Thus a bishop can move to only light or dark squares, not both.)
* The [[Queen (chess)|queen]] moves any number of vacant squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
* A [[Knight (chess)|knight]] moves to one of the nearest squares not on the same {{chessgloss|rank}}, {{chessgloss|file}}, or {{chessgloss|diagonal}}. (This can be thought of as moving two squares horizontally then one square vertically, or moving one square horizontally then two squares vertically—i.e. in an "L" pattern.) The knight is not blocked by other pieces; it jumps to the new location.
* [[Pawn (chess)|Pawns]] have the most complex rules of movement:
:* A pawn moves straight forward one square, if that square is vacant. If it has not yet moved, a pawn also has the option of moving {{em|two}} squares straight forward, provided both squares are vacant. Pawns cannot move backwards.
:* A pawn, unlike other pieces, captures differently from how it moves. A pawn can capture an enemy piece on either of the two squares diagonally in front of the pawn. It cannot move to those squares when vacant except when capturing ''en passant''.
: The pawn is also involved in the two special moves [[#En passant|''en passant'']] and [[#Promotion|promotion]].<ref>{{Harvcol|Schiller|2003|pp=17–19}}</ref>
{{clear}}

====Castling====
{{Main|Castling}}
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{{Chess diagram small
|tright
|
|rd|  |  |  |kd|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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|  |  |  |  |kl|  |  |rl
|Position of pieces before castling
}}
{{col-break}}
{{Chess diagram small
| tright
|
|  |  |kd|rd|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |rl|kl|
| Positions of the king and rook after kingside (White) and queenside (Black) castling }}
{{col-end}}
Castling consists of moving the king two squares towards a rook, then placing the rook on the other side of the king, adjacent to it. Castling is only permissible if all of the following conditions hold:{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 3.8.2}}
* The king and rook involved in castling must not have previously moved;
* There must be no pieces between the king and the rook;
* The king may not currently be under attack, nor may the king pass through or end up in a square that is under attack by an enemy piece (though the rook is permitted to be under attack and to pass over an attacked square);
* The castling rook must be on the same rank as the king
{{clear}}

An unmoved king and an unmoved rook of the same color on the same rank are said to have ''castling rights''.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 3.8.2.1}}

====''En passant''====
{{Main|En passant}}
[[File:Ajedrez captura al paso del peon.png|right|275px|alt=Three images showing ''en passant''. First, a white pawn moves from the a2-square to a4; then, the black pawn moves from b4 to a3; finally, the white pawn on a4 is removed|''en passant'']]
When a pawn advances two squares on its initial move and ends the turn adjacent to an enemy pawn on the same {{chessgloss|rank}}, it may be captured ''en passant'' by the enemy pawn as if it had moved only one square. This capture is legal only on the move immediately following the pawn's advance. The diagrams demonstrate an instance of this: if the white pawn moves from a2 to a4, the black pawn on b4 can capture it ''en passant'', moving from b4 to a3, and the white pawn on a4 is removed from the board.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles 3.7.3.1 and 3.7.3.2}}
{{Clear}}

====Promotion====
{{Main|Promotion (chess)}}

If a player advances a pawn to its eighth rank, the pawn is then ''promoted'' (converted) to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of the same color at the choice of the player (a queen is most common). The choice is not limited to previously {{chessgloss|captured}} pieces. Hence it is theoretically possible for a player to have up to nine queens or up to ten rooks, bishops, or knights if all of the player's pawns are promoted.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles 3.7.3.3, 3.7.3.4, and 3.7.3.5}}

===Check===
{{Main|Check (chess)}}
{{Chess diagram
 |tright
 |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |kd|  |bd|  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |nd
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 |  |  |  |  |  |kl|bl|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 |Black's king is in check. It can get out of check by moving to an unattacked square. Black can also parry the check by moving the bishop to e5 or the knight to f4 to block the check, or by capturing the white bishop with the knight.<ref>{{Harvcol|Harkness|1967}}</ref>
}}
A king is ''in check'' when it is under attack by at least one enemy piece. A piece unable to move because it would place its own king in check (it is [[pin (chess)|pinned]] against its own king) may still deliver check to the opposing player.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 3.9}}

It is illegal to make a move that places or leaves one's king in check. The possible ways to get out of check are:
* {{em|Move}} the king to a square where it is not in check.
* {{em|Capture}} the checking piece.
* {{em|Interpose}} a piece between the king and the opponent's threatening piece ({{em|block}} the check).{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 1, section 12A}}<ref>{{Harvcol|Polgar|Truong|2005|pp=32,103}}</ref><ref>{{Harvcol|Burgess|2009|p=550}}</ref>

In informal games, it is customary to announce "check" when making a move that puts the opponent's king in check. In formal competitions, however, check is rarely announced.{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 1, section 12F}}

===End of the game===

==== Checkmate ====
{{Main|Checkmate}}
{{Chess diagram small
|tleft
|
|  |  |  |  |kd|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |rd
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |pl|pl|
|  |  |  |  |  |rl|kl|qd
|White is checkmated; Black wins.<ref>{{Harvcol|Harkness|1967}}</ref>
}}

If a player's king is placed in check and there is no legal move that player can make to escape check, then the king is said to be ''[[checkmate]]d'', the game ends, and that player loses.<ref>{{Harvcol|Schiller|2003|pp=20–21}}</ref> Unlike the other pieces, the king is never captured.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 1.4.1}}

The diagram shows an example checkmate position. The white king is threatened by the black queen; the empty square to which the king could move is also threatened; and the king cannot capture the queen, because it would then be in check by the rook.
{{Clear}}

====Resigning====
Either player may ''resign'' at any time, conceding the game to the opponent.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 5.1.2}} To indicate resignation, the player may say "I resign". Tipping over the king also indicates resignation, but it should be distinguished from accidentally knocking the king over. Stopping both clocks is not an indication of resigning, since clocks can be stopped to call the arbiter. An offer of a handshake is sometimes used, but it could be mistaken for a draw offer.{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 1, section 13B}}

Under FIDE Laws, a resignation by one player results in a draw if their opponent has no way to checkmate them via any series of legal moves, or a loss by that player otherwise.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 5.1.2}}
{{Clear}}

==== Draws ====
{{Main|Draw (chess)}}
{{Chess diagram
|tright
|
|  |  |kd|  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |ql|bl|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |kl|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|Black to move is in stalemate, since Black's king has no legal move, and is not in check. The game is drawn.<ref>{{Harvcol|Harkness|1967}}</ref>
}}

The game ends in a [[draw (chess)|draw]] if any of these conditions occur:{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles 5.2.1, 5.2.2, and 5.2.3}}
* The player to move is not in check and has no legal move. This situation is called a [[stalemate]]. An example of such a position is shown in the adjacent diagram.
* The game reaches a [[#Dead_position|dead position]].
* Both players [[Draw by agreement|agree to a draw]] after one of the players makes such an offer.

In addition, in the FIDE rules, if a player has run out of time (see below), or has resigned, but the position is such that there is no way for the opponent to give checkmate by any series of legal moves, the game is a draw.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles 6.9 and 5.1.2}}

[[#Competitive rules of play|FIDE's competitive rules of play]] allow a player to claim a draw in either of two situations:
* Fifty moves have been made by each player without a capture or pawn movement (this is the [[fifty-move rule]]);{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 9.3}}
* The same position has appeared three times (or has appeared twice and the player claiming the draw can force the third appearance); this is the [[threefold repetition]] rule.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 9.2}}
These rules help prevent games from being extended indefinitely in tournaments.

There is no longer a rule specifically defining [[perpetual check]] as a draw. In such a situation, either the threefold repetition rule or the fifty-move rule will eventually come into effect. More often, the players will simply agree to a draw.<ref>{{Harvcol|Staunton|1847|pp=21–22}}</ref><ref>{{Harvcol|Reinfeld|1954|p=175}}</ref>

===== Dead position =====
{{Chess diagram
| tright
| Example of a dead position{{sfn|FIDE Arbiters' Commission|2022|loc=page 8 (article 1.5)}}
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |bd|  |kd|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |pd
|pd|  |pd|  |pd|  |pd|pl
|pl|pd|pl|  |pl|  |pl|
|  |pl|  |bl|kl|  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| White has just played h5; neither side can open up the position.
}}
A ''dead position'' is defined as a position where neither player can checkmate their opponent's king by any sequence of legal moves.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 5.2.2}} According to the rules of chess the game is immediately terminated the moment a dead position appears on the board. 

Some basic endings are always dead positions; for example:
* king against king;
* king against king and bishop;
* king against king and knight.

Blocked positions can arise in which progress is impossible for either side, such as the diagrammed position;{{sfn|FIDE Arbiters' Commission|2022|loc=page 8 (article 1.5)}} these too are dead positions.

[[United States Chess Federation|USCF]] rules, for games played under a time control that does not include delay or increment, allow draw claims for "insufficient losing chances".{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 1, section 14H}} For example, if each player has only a king and a knight, checkmate is only achievable with the co-operation of both players, even if it is not a dead position.

=== Touch-move rule ===
{{Main|Touch-move rule}}
The [[touch-move rule]] is a fundamental principle in chess, ensuring that players commit to moves deliberated mentally, without physically experimenting on the board. According to this rule, a player who touches a piece with the intention of moving it must then move it if legally possible. This rule also applies to capturing: a player who touches an opponent's piece must capture it if a legal capture is available. Special considerations apply for castling and pawn promotion, reflecting their unique nature in the game.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 4.3}}

A player who touches a piece to adjust its physical position within a square must first alert the opponent by saying ''J'adoube'' or "I adjust".{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=section 4.2}}{{efn|''J'adoube'' /{{IPA|ʒadub}}/, from the verb ''adouber'' which is obsolete French except in chess (meaning "to touch") and in chivalry stories (meaning "to knight", cf. "[[Accolade|dub]]"), is always understood. The national-language equivalent may be used if the opponent is known to understand it but should be avoided in international tournaments and against a foreign opponent.}} Once the game has started, only the player with the move may touch the pieces on the board.<ref>{{Harvcol|Schiller|2003|pp=19–20}}</ref>

==Competitive rules of play==
The following rules are applicable to games in organized tournaments and matches, sanctioned by FIDE. They mention timing (chess clocks), arbiters (or, in USCF play, directors), keeping score, and adjournment. The FIDE Laws of Chess define the rules for standard chess, [[Fast chess#Rapid|rapid chess]], [[Fast chess#Blitz|blitz chess]], and guidelines for [[Fischer random chess|Chess960]]. For standard chess, the players must record the moves, which is optional in rapid chess and blitz Chess.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 8 and appendices A and B}} Some rules are specifically adapted for blind and visually impaired players.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=appendix D}}

These rules are used for {{chessgloss|over-the-board}} (OTB) games. The rules for [[correspondence chess]] are defined by the [[International Correspondence Chess Federation|ICCF]].<ref>{{cite web | title=The ICCF Laws of Correspondence Chess | url=https://webfiles.iccf.com/rules/2021/THE%20ICCF%20LAWS%20OF%20CORRESPONDENCE%20CHESS%20-%20updated%201-28-21.pdf | access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref> Rules for computer chess and for online chess played on a computer device are published by other organizers and governing bodies.<ref>{{cite web | title=How to Play Chess: 7 Rules To Get You Started | url=https://www.chess.com/learn-how-to-play-chess | website=chess.com | date=October 30, 2023 | access-date=March 1, 2024}}</ref>

===Moving the pieces===
Although the touch-move rule is generally observed even in non-organized, non-sanctioned play, the interpretation of that rule to special situations such as capturing, castling, and promotion is not obvious; thus it is elaborated further in FIDE rules.

The movement of pieces is to be done with one hand. Once the hand is taken off a piece after moving it, the move cannot be retracted unless the {{chessgloss|illegal move|move is illegal}}.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 4.7}} As for the [[#Touch-move rule|touch-move rule]], an arbiter who observes a violation of this rule must intervene immediately.{{sfn|FIDE Arbiters' Commission|2022|loc=page 18, end of article 4}}

When castling, a player should first move the king with one hand and then move the rook with the same hand.<ref>{{Harvcol|Schiller|2003|pp=19–20}}</ref> In the case of a [[#Promotion|promotion]], if a player releases the pawn on the eighth rank, the player must promote the pawn. After the pawn has moved, the player may touch any piece not on the board and the promotion is not finalized until the new piece is released on the promotion square.{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 1, section 9D}} Although it is a common practice in informal play, under FIDE rules an upturned rook may not be used to represent a promoted queen; such a move would be treated as a legal rook promotion. If the correct piece is not immediately available, the player may stop the clocks and call the arbiter.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.11.2}}{{sfn|FIDE Arbiters' Commission|2022|loc=page 17 (Article 4.4.4)}}

=== Timing ===
[[File:Digitalna sahovska ura2.jpg|right|thumb|250px|alt=Photo shows a digital chess clock. There are two clocks, one on each side and a button on top of each stops that clock and starts the other|Digital chess clock]]
Tournament games are played under time constraints, called [[time control]]s, using a [[chess clock]]. Each player is timed separately and must make moves within the time control or forfeit the game.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6}} There are different types of time controls applied. For standard chess, different periods can be defined with different fixed times (e.g. first 40 moves in 100 minutes, next 20 moves in 50 minutes, remaining moves in 15 minutes). For rapid and blitz chess, only one period can be defined where all moves must be performed. Additionally, an [[Time control#Increment and delay methods|increment or delay]] per move may be defined.{{sfn|FIDE Arbiters' Commission|2022|loc=page 22 (article 6.3.2)}}
* When a player runs out of time, this event is called {{chessgloss|flag-fall}}. A flag-fall has no consequences unless stated as observed by the arbiter, in which case the arbiter must intervene,{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles 6.8 and A.5.5}} or claimed by a player.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.8}}
* When no flag-fall is stated, and one of the following events occur, the result of the game still holds. It is of no relevance if the player runs out of time afterwards, or has already run out of time, but this was not stated: 
** If a player delivers a checkmate, the game is over and that player wins.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.2.1.1}}
** If a move results in a [[stalemate]], [[#Dead position|dead position]], [[Threefold repetition#Fivefold repetition rule|fivefold repetition]] or the [[Fifty-move rule#Seventy-five-move rule|seventy-five-move]] rule applies, the game is over and the game is drawn.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.2.1.1}}
* If a player correctly claims flag-fall, that player wins.  But if the claiming player is out of time, or could not still theoretically checkmate the opponent, the game is a draw.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.9}}

The [[United States Chess Federation]] (USCF) rule is different. USCF Rule 14E defines "insufficient material to win on time", that is lone king, king plus knight, king plus bishop, and king plus two knights opposed by no pawns, and there is no forced win in the final position. Hence to win on time with this material, the USCF rule requires that a win can be forced from that position, while the FIDE rule merely requires a win to be possible.{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 1, section 14E}} (See [[Monika Soćko#Rules appeal in 2008|Monika Soćko rules appeal in 2008]] and [[Women's World Chess Championship 2008]] for a famous instance of this rule.)

With mechanical clocks only, flag-fall for both players can occur. With digital clocks, the clock indicates which flag fell first, and this information is valid.{{sfn|FIDE Arbiters' Commission|2022|loc=page 22 (section 6.4) |ps=" Where electronic clocks are used and both clocks show 0.00, the Arbiter can usually establish which flag fell first, with the help of the '-' or any other flag indication."}}

In the last period of a standard chess game or rapid games, if played without increment, a special set of rules applies regarding the clock, referenced as "Quickplay Finishes".{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=guideline III}} These rules allow a player with under two minutes time to request an increment introduced, or request a draw based on claiming no progress or no effort, to be ruled by the arbiter. These rules have been relevant when playing with mechanical clocks, which do not allow setting an increment and are today with digital clocks of second importance only, as playing with increment is recommended.{{sfn|FIDE Arbiters' Commission|2022|loc=page 54 (Guideline III.5.2) |ps= "A time control with an increment is a much better way of concluding a game."}}

===Recording moves===
{{Main|Chess notation|Algebraic chess notation}}
[[File:SCD algebraic notation.svg|left|thumb|200px|alt=Diagram showing how squares are named – columns are a through h, rows are 1 through 8|Naming the squares in [[algebraic chess notation|algebraic notation]] ]]
[[File:Planilha_Eisenberg_e_Capablanca.jpg|thumb|180px|A score sheet from a game by [[José Raúl Capablanca]], in [[descriptive chess notation|descriptive notation]]]]

Each square of the [[chessboard]] is identified with a unique pair of a letter and a number. The vertical {{chessgloss|files}} are labeled {{em|a}} through {{em|h}}, from White's left (i.e. the [[queenside]]) to White's right. Similarly, the horizontal {{chessgloss|ranks}} are numbered from {{em|1}} to {{em|8}}, starting from the one nearest White's side of the board. Each square of the board, then, is uniquely identified by its file letter and rank number. The white king, for example, starts the game on square '''e1'''. The black knight on '''b8''' can move to '''a6''' or '''c6'''.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=appendix C}}

In formal competition, each player is obliged to record each move as it is played in [[algebraic chess notation]] in order to settle disputes about illegal positions, overstepping time control, and making claims of draws by the fifty-move rule or repetition of position. Moves recorded in any other systems of notation cannot be used in evidence in such a dispute. Other chess notation systems include [[ICCF numeric notation]] for international [[correspondence chess]] and [[descriptive chess notation]], formerly standard in English speaking countries. The current rule is that a move must be made on the board before it is written on paper or recorded with an electronic device.{{efn|In a variation of the rules, a USCF director may allow players to write their move on a paper {{chessgloss|score sheet}} (but not enter it electronically) before making the move.{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 1, section 15A (variation 1)}}}}{{efn|Before this was the rule, [[Mikhail Tal]] and others were in the habit of writing the move before making it on the board. Unlike other players, Tal did not hide the move after he had written it – he liked to watch for the reaction of his opponent before he made the move. Sometimes he crossed out a move he had written and wrote a different move instead.}}<ref>{{Harvcol|Timman|2005|p=83}}</ref>

Both players should indicate offers of a draw by writing "=" at that move on their score sheets.<ref>{{Harvcol|Schiller|2003|p=27}}</ref> Notations about the time on the clocks can be made. A player with less than five minutes left to complete all the remaining moves is not required to record the moves (unless a delay of at least thirty seconds per move is being used). The score sheet must be made available to the {{chessgloss|arbiter}} at all times. A player may respond to an opponent's move before writing it down.<ref>{{Harvcol|Schiller|2003|pp=25–26}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

===Adjournment===
:{{em|See {{seclink|Adjournment (games)|Chess}}}}. 

Formerly common, adjournments are no longer standard practice in chess competition.<ref>{{cite web | last=Just | first=Tim | date=July 1, 2021 | title=Just the Rules: Remember When | url=https://new.uschess.org/news/just-rules-remember-when | website=uschess.org | access-date=March 1, 2024}}</ref>

When an adjournment is made, the player whose move it is writes their next move on their scoresheet but does not make the move on the chessboard. This is referred to as a {{chessgloss|sealed move}}. Both opponents' scoresheets are then placed in the sealed-move envelope and the envelope is sealed. The names of the players, the colors, the position, the time on the clocks and other game data are recorded on the envelope; the envelope may also be signed by both players. The arbiter then keeps possession of the envelope until it is time to restart the game, at which time the arbiter opens the envelope, makes the sealed move on the board, and starts the opponent's clock.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=Guideline I}}

===Irregularities===

====Illegal move====
An illegal move{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 3.10.2}} is a move not made according to a piece's possible defined movements{{Sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles 3.2 to 3.8}} or made according to its possible movements but such that its own king is left or placed in check.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 3.9}} Furthermore, pressing the clock without making a move or making a move with two hands is considered and penalized as an illegal move.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles 7.5.3 and 7.5.4}}

A player who makes an {{chessgloss|illegal move}} must retract that move and make a legal move. That move must be made with the same piece if possible, because the touch-move rule applies. If the illegal move was an attempt to castle, the touch-move rule applies to the king but not to the rook. If the mistake is noticed, the game should be restarted from the position in which the error occurred.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 7.5.1}} The arbiter should adjust the time on the clock according to the best evidence.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 7.1}} Some regional organizations have different rules.{{efn|The USCF requires that only an illegal move within the last ten moves be corrected. If the illegal move was more than ten moves ago, the game continues.{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 1, section 11B}}}}

A player may correct an illegal move if the player has not pressed the clock. In standard chess, if a move is found during the game, the position immediately before the irregularity is reinstated.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 7.5.1}} In the most used form of rapid chess and blitz chess if the move is found before the opponent moves, the position immediately before the irregularity is also reinstated.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=appendices A.5.2 and B.3}}{{efn|If the player has pressed the clock, the standard USCF rule is that two minutes are added to the opponent's clock.}}

According to the FIDE Laws of Chess, the first stated completed illegal move results in a time penalty. The time penalty consists of giving the opponent two minutes extra time in standard chess,{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 7.5.5}} or one minute extra time in rapid or blitz.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-05 |title=Updated FIDE Laws of Chess – Suffolk Chess |url=https://suffolkchess.org/2023/04/updated-fide-laws-of-chess.html |access-date=2024-02-10 |language=en-US |quote=Previously for an illegal move in Rapidplay the opponent would receive 2 extra minutes. This has now changed to 1 minute, the same as in Blitz. |archive-date=2023-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922015453/https://suffolkchess.org/2023/04/updated-fide-laws-of-chess.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The second stated completed illegal move by the same player results in the loss of the game,{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 7.5.5}} unless the position is such that it is impossible for the opponent to win by any series of legal moves (e.g. if the opponent has a [[bare king]]) in which case the game is drawn.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.9}} A move is completed when it has been made and the player has pressed the clock.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.2.1}}

Under USCF rules, if a player completes an illegal move in blitz chess, the player's opponent may claim a win before making a move (if the opponent has enough material to win). One way to claim this win is to take a King left in check by the opponent. Once the illegal move has been answered, the move stands.{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 11, section 7d}}

====Incorrect setup====
For standard chess and the most used form of rapid and blitz chess there are the following rules. If it is discovered during the game that the starting position was incorrect, the game is restarted.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 7.2.1}} If it is discovered during the game that the board is oriented incorrectly, the game is continued with the pieces transferred to a correctly oriented board.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 7.2.2}} If the game starts with colors reversed, the game is restarted if less than 10 moves have been made by both players, otherwise the game is continued.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 7.3}} If the clock setting is found to be incorrect during the game, it is corrected according to best judgement.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.10.2}} Some regional organizations have different rules.{{efn|The USCF rules are different. If before Black's tenth move is completed it is discovered that the initial position was wrong or that the colors were reversed, the game is restarted with the correct initial position and colors. If the discovery is made after the tenth move, the game continues.{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 1, section 11F}}}}

====Piece displacement====
If a player knocks over pieces, it is the same player's responsibility to restore them to their correct positions, on that player's time. If it is discovered that an illegal move has been made, or that pieces have been displaced, the game is restored to the position before the irregularity. If that position cannot be determined, the game is restored to the last known correct position.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 7.6}}

====Illegal position====
An illegal position is a position which cannot be reached by any series of legal moves.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 3.10.3}}

===Conduct===
Players may not use any notes, outside sources of information (including computers), or advice from other people. Analysis on another board is not permitted. Scoresheets are to record objective facts about the game only, such as time on the clock or draw offers. Players may not leave the competition area without permission of the arbiter.<ref>{{Harvcol|Schiller|2003|pp=30–31}}</ref>

High standards of etiquette and ethics are expected. Players should shake hands before and after the game. Generally a player should not speak during the game, except to offer a draw, resign, or to call attention to an irregularity. An announcement of "check" is commonly made in informal games but is not recommended in officially sanctioned games. A player may not distract or annoy another player by any means, including repeatedly offering a draw.<ref>{{Harvcol|Schiller|2003|pp=30–31,49–52}}</ref>

Due to increasing concerns about the use of [[chess engine]]s and outside communication, [[mobile phone]] usage is banned. The first forfeit by a high-profile player, for phone ringing during play, occurred in 2003.<ref>[https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/chess-1-1295070 "I just called to say... you're disqualified!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125135130/https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/chess-1-1295070 |date=2018-01-25 }}, ''[[The Scotsman]]'', 19 October 2003</ref> In 2014 FIDE extended this to ban all mobile phones from the playing area during chess competitions, under penalty of forfeiture of the game or even expulsion from the tournament. The rules allow for less rigid enforcement in minor events.<ref name="chessbase-anti-cheating">[http://en.chessbase.com/post/new-fide-anti-cheating-rules New FIDE anti-cheating rules] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506161412/http://en.chessbase.com/post/new-fide-anti-cheating-rules |date=2016-05-06 }}, ChessBase, 17 September 2014</ref>

==Equipment==
{{Main|Chess piece|Chessboard|Staunton chess set|Chess clock}}
[[File:JaquesCookStaunton.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|alt=A photo of the original Staunton chess pieces from about 1849.|Original Staunton chess pieces, introduced in 1849. {{em|Left to right:}} [[pawn (chess)|pawn]], [[rook (chess)|rook]], [[knight (chess)|knight]], [[bishop (chess)|bishop]], [[queen (chess)|queen]], and [[king (chess)|king]].]]
Pieces of the [[Staunton chess set]] design are the standard and are usually made of wood or plastic.{{sfn|FIDE|2022|loc=article 2.1}} They are often black and white; other colors may be used (like a dark wood or even red for the dark pieces) but they would still be called the "white" and "black" pieces (see [[White and Black in chess]]).{{sfn|FIDE|2022|loc=article 2.6}} The height of the king should be about 95&nbsp;mm, within 10 percent.{{sfn|FIDE|2022|loc=article 2.3}}{{efn|The US Chess Federation allows the height of the king to be 86–114&nbsp;mm ({{frac|3|3|8}}–{{frac|4|1|2}}&nbsp;inches).{{sfn|Just|2019|}}}} The diameter of the king should be 40 to 50% of its height.{{sfn|FIDE|2022|loc=article 2.4}} The size of the other pieces should be in proportion to the king. The pieces should be well balanced.

[[Image:Staunton chess set.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|alt=This photo shows a chessboard with pieces set up on both sides, ready to play. A chess clock is at the side.| Pieces at the start of a game and an analog [[chess clock]]]]

The size of the squares of the [[chessboard]] should be approximately 1.25 to 1.3 times the diameter of the base of the king, or 50 to 65&nbsp;mm. Squares of approximately 57&nbsp;mm ({{frac|2|1|4}}&nbsp;inches) normally are well-suited for pieces with the kings in the preferred size range; four pawns should fit on a square.{{sfn|FIDE|2022|loc=article 3.3}} Squares may be the natural color of the wood, or other combinations of dark and light colors.{{sfn|FIDE|2022|loc=article 3.1}}

In games subject to [[time control]], a [[chess clock]] is used, consisting of two adjacent clocks and buttons to stop one clock while starting the other, such that the two component clocks never run simultaneously.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.1}} The clock can be [[Analog clock|analog]] or [[Clock#Digital|digital]] though a digital clock is preferred under both USCF and FIDE rulesets. This is because most tournaments now include either an [[Time control#Increment and delay methods|increment]] (extra time being added prior or after the move) or [[Time control#Increment and delay methods|delay]] (a countdown to when a clock starts again) to their time controls.{{sfn|FIDE|2022|loc=article 5.1}} Before the start of the game, in FIDE competitions the arbiter  decides where the chess clock is placed;{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.5}} in USCF competitions the director may decide, or the director may leave it to the players, in which case the player with the black pieces will decide.{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=chapter 1, section 16L}}

==History==
The rules of chess have evolved much over the centuries from the early chess-like games played in India in the 6th century. For much of that time the rules have varied from area to area. The modern rules first took form in southern Europe during the 13th century, giving more mobility to pieces that previously had more restricted movement (such as the queen and bishop). Such modified rules entered into an accepted form during the late 15th century<ref>{{Harvcol|Hooper|Whyld|1996|pp=41,328}}</ref> or early 16th century.<ref>{{Harvcol|Ruch|2004}}</ref> The basic moves of the king, rook, and knight are unchanged. A pawn originally did not have the option of moving two squares on its first move, and promoted only to a queen upon reaching the eighth rank. The queen was originally the ''[[ferz (chess)|fers]]'' or ''farzin'', which could move one square diagonally in any direction. In European chess it became able to leap two squares diagonally, forwards, backwards, or to left or right on its first move; some areas also gave this right to a newly promoted pawn. In the Persian and Arabic game the bishop was a ''pīl'' (Persian) or ''[[alfil (chess)|fīl]]'' (Arabic) (meaning "elephant") which moved two squares diagonally with jump.<ref>{{Harvcol|Davidson|1949|p=13}}</ref> In the Middle Ages the pawn could only be [[promotion (chess)|promoted]] to the equivalent of a queen (which at that time was a weak piece) if it reached its eighth rank.<ref>{{Harvcol|Davidson|1949|pp=59–61}}</ref> During the 12th century, the squares on the board sometimes alternated colors, and this became the standard in the 13th century;<ref>{{Harvcol|Davidson|1949|p=146}}</ref> whence the word "chequered"/"checkered".
[[Image:André Philidor.jpg|right|thumb|175px|alt=An image of Philidor, who published rules in 1749|Philidor]]
Between 1200 and 1600 several laws emerged that drastically altered the game. Checkmate became a requirement to win; a player could not win by capturing all of the opponent's pieces. [[Stalemate]] was added, although the outcome has changed several times (see [[Stalemate#History of the stalemate rule|History of the stalemate rule]]). Pawns gained the option of moving two squares on their first move, and the ''[[en passant]]'' rule was a natural consequence of that new option. The king and rook acquired the right to [[castling|castle]] (see {{seclink|Castling|History}} for different versions of the rule).

Between 1475 and 1500, the queen and the bishop also acquired their current moves, which made them much stronger pieces.<ref>''[[A History of Chess]]''</ref><ref>{{Harvcol|Davidson|1949|pp=14–17}}</ref> When all of these changes were accepted, the game was in essentially its modern form.<ref>{{Harvcol|Davidson|1949|pp=14–17}}</ref>

The rules for promotion have changed several times. As stated above, originally the pawn could only be promoted to the queen, which at that time was a weak piece. When the queen acquired its current move and became the most powerful piece, the pawn could then be promoted to a queen or a rook, bishop, or knight. In the 18th century rules allowed only the promotion to a piece already captured, e.g. the rules published in 1749 by [[François-André Danican Philidor]]. In the 19th century, this restriction was lifted, which allowed for a player to have more than one queen, e.g. the 1828 rules by [[Jacob Sarratt]].<ref>{{Harvcol|Davidson|1949|pp=59–61}}</ref>

Two new rules concerning draws were introduced, each of which has changed through the years:
* The [[threefold repetition]] rule was added, although at some times up to six repetitions have been required, and the exact conditions have been specified more clearly (see {{seclink|Threefold repetition|History of the rule}}).
* The [[fifty-move rule]] was also added. At various times, the number of moves required was different, such as 24, 60, 70, or 75. For several years in the 20th century, the standard fifty moves was extended to one hundred moves for a few specific [[Chess endgame|endgames]] (see [[fifty-move rule#History|Fifty-move rule's history]]).

Another group of new laws included (1) the [[touch-move rule]] and the accompanying "j'adoube/adjust" rule; (2) that White moves first (in 1889<ref>{{cite web| url = https://chess-math.org/sites/default/files/scholarsmate/scholars_mate_102_-_april_2010.pdf| title = ''Scholar's Mate'' issue 102| page = 15| access-date = 2023-03-11| archive-date = 2023-03-11| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230311185706/https://chess-math.org/sites/default/files/scholarsmate/scholars_mate_102_-_april_2010.pdf| url-status = live}}</ref>); (3) the orientation of the board; (4) the procedure if an illegal move was made; (5) the procedure if the king had been left in check for some moves; and (6) issues regarding the behavior of players and spectators. The [[Staunton chess set]] was introduced in 1849 and it became the standard style of pieces. The size of pieces and squares of the board was standardized.<ref>{{Harvcol|Hooper|Whyld|1996|pp=220–21, ''laws, history of''}}</ref>

Until the middle of the 19th century, chess games were played without any time limit. In an 1834 match between [[Alexander McDonnell (chess player)|Alexander McDonnell]] and [[Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais]], McDonnell took an inordinate amount of time to move, sometimes up to 1½ hours. In 1836 [[Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant]] suggested a time limit, but no action was taken. At the [[London 1851 chess tournament|1851 London tournament]], Staunton blamed his loss in his match against [[Elijah Williams (chess player)|Elijah Williams]]  on Williams' slow play; one game was adjourned for the day after only 29 moves.<ref>Howard Staunton, ''The Chess Tournament – A Collection of Games Played at this Celebrated Assemblage'', London 1852, p. 161</ref> The next year a match between [[Daniel Harrwitz]] and [[Johann Löwenthal]] used a limit of 20 minutes per move. The first use of a modern-style time limit was in an 1861 match between [[Adolph Anderssen]] and [[Ignác Kolisch]].<ref>{{Harvcol|Sunnucks|1970|p=459}}</ref>

===Codification===
{{multiple image |total_width = 340
 |image1 = FIDE rulebook.jpg
 |width1 = 312 |height1 = 510
 |caption1 = FIDE rulebook, 1989
 |image2 = OfficialChessRulebook.jpg
 |width2 = 320 |height2 = 499
 |caption2 = ''Official Chess Rulebook'', by Harkness (1970 edition)
}}
The first known publication of chess rules was in a book by [[Luis Ramírez de Lucena]] about 1497, shortly after the movement of the queen, bishop, and pawn were changed to their modern form.{{sfn|Just|2019|loc=Introduction}} [[Ruy López de Segura]] gave rules of chess in his 1561 book [[Libro de la invencion liberal y arte del juego del axedrez]].<ref>{{Harvcol|Sunnucks|1970|p=294}}</ref> In the 16th and 17th centuries, there were local differences concerning rules such as castling, promotion, stalemate, and ''en passant''. Some of these differences persisted until the 19th century;<ref>{{Harvcol|Harkness|1967|p=3}}</ref> for example, differences in castling rules persisted in Italy until the late 19th century.

As chess clubs arose and tournaments became common, there was a need to formalize the rules. In 1749 [[François-André Danican Philidor|Philidor]] (1726–1795) wrote a set of rules that were widely used, as well as rules by later writers such as the 1828 rules by [[Jacob Sarratt]] (1772–1819) and rules by [[George Walker (chess player)|George Walker]] (1803–1879). In the 19th century, many major clubs published their own rules, including The Hague in 1803, London in 1807, Paris in 1836, and St. Petersburg in 1854. In 1851 [[Howard Staunton]] (1810–1874) called for a "Constituent Assembly for Remodeling the Laws of Chess" and proposals by [[Tassilo von Heydebrand und der Lasa]] (1818–1889) were published in 1854. Staunton had published rules in ''Chess Player's Handbook'' in 1847, and his new proposals were published in 1860 in ''Chess Praxis''; they were generally accepted in English-speaking countries. German-speaking countries usually used the writings of chess authority [[Johann Berger]] (1845–1933) or ''[[Handbuch des Schachspiels]]'' by [[Paul Rudolf von Bilguer]] (1815–1840), first published in 1843.<ref>{{cite book | last=Murray | first=H.J.R. | title=A History of Chess | url=https://archive.org/details/AHistoryOfChessHJRMurray/page/n923/mode/2up | year=1913 | publisher=Oxford, Clarendon Press | pages=878–890}}</ref>

In 1924, Fédération Internationale des Échecs ([[FIDE]]) was formed and in 1928 it took up the task of standardizing the rules. At first FIDE tried to establish a universal set of rules, but translations to various languages differed slightly. Although FIDE rules were used for international competition under their control, some countries continued to use their own rules internally.<ref>{{Harvcol|Hooper|Whyld|1996|pp=220–21}}</ref> In 1952, FIDE created the Permanent Commission for the Rules of Chess (also known as the Rules Commission) and published a new edition of the rules. The third official edition of the laws was published in 1966. The first three editions of the rules were published in French, with that as the official version. In 1974 FIDE published the English version of the rules (which was based on an authorized 1955 translation). With that edition, English became the official language of the rules. Another edition was published in 1979. Throughout this time, ambiguities in the laws were handled by frequent interpretations that the Rules Commission published as supplements and amendments. In 1982, the Rules Commission rewrote the laws to incorporate the interpretations and amendments.<ref>{{Harvcol|FIDE|1989|pp=7–8}}</ref> In 1984, FIDE abandoned the idea of a universal set of laws, although FIDE rules are the standard for high-level play.<ref>{{Harvcol|Hooper|Whyld|1996|pp=220–21}}</ref> With the 1984 edition, FIDE implemented a four-year moratorium between changes to the rules. Other editions were issued in 1988 and 1992.<ref>{{Harvcol|FIDE|1989|p=5}}</ref><ref>{{Harvcol|Just|2014|}}</ref>

The rules of national FIDE affiliates (such as the [[United States Chess Federation]], or USCF) are based on the FIDE rules, with slight variations.<ref>{{Harvcol|Just|2014|}}</ref>{{efn|Schiller states that the United States is the only country that does not follow the FIDE rules. Some of the differences in the [[United States Chess Federation|US Chess Federation]] rules are (1) a player must have a reasonably complete {{chessgloss|score sheet}} to claim a time forfeit and (2) the player can choose whether or not to use a clock with a delay period for each move.}}<ref>{{Harvcol|Schiller|2003|pp=123–24}}</ref> Some other differences are noted above. [[Kenneth Harkness]] published popular rulebooks in the United States starting in 1956, and the USCF continues to publish rulebooks for use in tournaments it sanctions.

In 2008, FIDE added the variant [[Chess960]] to the appendix of the "Laws of Chess". Chess960 uses a random initial set-up of main pieces, with the conditions that the king is placed somewhere between the two rooks, and bishops on opposite-color squares. The castling rules are extended to cover all these positions.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=guideline II.3}}

In the 21st century, rules about such things as [[mobile phone]]s and unauthorized use of [[chess engines]] were introduced.<ref name="chessbase-anti-cheating" />

==Customizations in tournament play==
Under FIDE's Laws of Chess, tournament organizers have the option to parameterize some rules to fit their events. This flexibility covers time controls for standard, rapid, and blitz chess,{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=articles A.1 and B.1}} and setting the 'default time' - the period before a player forfeits for being late, which is zero unless otherwise specified.{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 6.7}} Additionally, measures can be introduced to discourage players from [[Draw by agreement#Steps taken to discourage draws or short draws|agreeing to short draws]]. One such case was the "no drawing or resigning during the first 30 moves" rule used at the [[London Chess Classic#2009 Classic: 8–15 December|2009 London Chess Classic]].<ref>pages W1 and W2 of "Weekend" supplement of the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' newspaper for 21 November 2009</ref>{{sfn|FIDE|2023|loc=article 9.1.1}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Chess}}
{{Div col}}
* [[Algebraic chess notation]]
* [[Cheating in chess]]
* [[Chess]]
* [[Chessboard]]
* [[Chess clock]]
* [[Chess glossary]]
* [[Chess piece]]
* [[Chess tournament]]
{{Div col end}}

'''Specific rules'''
{{Div col}}
* [[Adjournment (games)]] (rare now)
* [[Castling]]
* [[Check (chess)|Check]]
* [[Checkmate]]
* [[Draw (chess)|Draw]]
* [[Draw by agreement]]
* ''[[En passant]]''
* [[Fifty-move rule]]
* [[Perpetual check]] (former rule)
* [[Promotion (chess)|Promotion]]
* [[Stalemate]]
* [[Threefold repetition]]
* [[Time control]]
* [[Touch-move rule]]
{{Div col end}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
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* {{citation
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 | year=1949
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* {{citation
|last=FIDE
|author-link=FIDE
|year=1989
|title=The Official Laws of Chess
|publisher=Macmillan
|isbn= 0-02-028540-X}}
* {{cite web
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* {{Cite web
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 | year=2022
 | access-date=2024-02-07
 | last=FIDE Arbiters' Commission
 | website=FIDE Arbiters' Commission
 }}
* {{cite web
 | url=https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/StandardsOfChessEquipment2022
 | title=Standards of Chess Equipment
 | year=2022
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 | last=FIDE
 | author-link=FIDE
 | website=FIDE
 }}
* {{citation
 | last=Harkness
 | first=Kenneth
 | author-link=Kenneth Harkness
 | title=Official Chess Handbook
 | year=1967
 | publisher=McKay}}
* {{citation
 |last1=Hooper
 |first1=David 
 |author-link1=David Vincent Hooper
 |last2=Whyld
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 |author-link2=Kenneth Whyld
 |title=The Oxford Companion to Chess
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 |orig-year=First pub. 1992
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 }}
* {{citation
 | last=Just
 | first=Tim
 | year=2014
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}}
* {{citation
 | last=Just
 | first=Tim
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 | url=https://new.uschess.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/us-chess-rule-book-online-only-edition-chapters-1-2-9-10-11.pdf
}}
* {{citation
 | last=Pandolfini
 | first=Bruce
 | year=1992
 | title=Pandolfini's Chess Complete
 | publisher=Fireside
 | isbn=0-671-70186-X
}}
* {{citation| last1=Polgar| first1=Susan| author-link=Susan Polgar| last2=Truong| first2=Paul| author-link2=Paul Truong| year=2005| title=A World Champion's Guide to Chess| publisher=[[Random House]]| isbn=978-0-8129-3653-7| url-access=registration| url=https://archive.org/details/worldchampionsgu00susa_0}}
* {{Citation
 |last=Reinfeld|first=Fred|author-link=Fred Reinfeld
 |title=How To Be A Winner At Chess
 |year=1954
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 |isbn=0-449-91206-X}}
* {{citation
 | url=https://amici.iccf.com/issues/issue_01/issue_01_the_italian_rules.html
 | title=The Italian Rules
 | year=2004
 | access-date=2008-09-10
 | last=Ruch
 | first=Eric
 | publisher=ICCF}}
* {{citation
 | last=Schiller| first=Eric | author-link=Eric Schiller
 | year=2003
 | title=Official Rules of Chess
 | edition=2nd
 | publisher=Cardoza
 | isbn=978-1-58042-092-1}}
* {{citation
 | last=Staunton | first=Howard | author-link=Howard Staunton
 | year=1847
 | title=The Chess-Player's Handbook
 | location=London | publisher=H. G. Bohn
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 | isbn=0-7134-5056-8}} (1985 Batsford reprint, {{ISBN|1-85958-005-X}})
* {{citation
 | last= Sunnucks|first=Anne|author-link=Anne Sunnucks
 | year=1970
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* {{citation
 | last=Timman|first=Jan|author-link=Jan Timman
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}}

==Further reading==
* {{citation
| editor-last=Golombek
| editor-first=Harry
| editor-link=Harry Golombek
| year=1976
| title=The Laws of Chess and their Interpretations
| publisher=Pitman
| isbn=0-273-00119-1}}
* {{Citation
 | author=Golombek, Harry
 | title=Golombek's Encyclopedia of Chess
 | year=1977
 | publisher=Crown Publishing
 | isbn=0-517-53146-1| author-link=Harry Golombek
 }}
* {{Citation
 | author=Harkness, Kenneth
 | title=Official Chess Rulebook
 | year=1970
 | publisher=McKay
 | isbn=0-679-13028-4}}

==External links==
* [https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023 FIDE Laws of Chess]
* [https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/StandardsOfChessEquipment2022 FIDE Standards of Chess Equipment]
* [http://main.uschess.org/content/view/7324/28/ USCF Learn to play chess]

{{chess}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rules Of Chess}}
[[Category:Rules of chess|*]]