4 ms·

I'm not super into chess, but I was under the impression that running out the clock was a totally legitimate tactic. I'm surprised to hear that a referee has d

I'm not super into chess, but I was under the impression that running out the clock was a totally legitimate tactic. I'm surprised to hear that a referee has discretion to end the game based on it.

pedrosorio 5y ago
FIDE's handbook (article 6) specifies you lose (or draw) if you run out of time, yes: https://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/LawsOfChess.pdf https://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/LawsOfChess.pdf I am not a chess player but I have never heard of referees stopping the game if you don't "give up" in a losing position and have extra time. That sounds ridiculous but I would love to know if it applies in certain tournaments and the reasoning behind it.
- slyall 5y ago
  You are allowed to keep thinking as long as you have time on your clock. Isn't really considered good sportsmanship but is legal. Recent instances I saw was an adult was in an almost-lost position with over an hour on the clock while his opponent had 10 minutes. He let his clock run down to nothing and then played quickly before finally let the clock run to zero in a lost (mate in 2) position. He got mocked for this in the local forums. Also common for a kid to do a blunder and then sit there sad/crying for an hour. You try to encourage them to resign though. Source: Am Chess Player/Organizer/arbiter.
- detaro 5y ago
  I assume the original comment is (not perfectly accurately) talking about the rules under 10.2
TylerLives 5y ago
The issue is when positions are completely equal and there is no reasonable way to progress. It might still be technically possible to win in such positions, but it would require someone to make extremely bad moves and almost certainly lose. If there is no rule that forces draws in such positions, then players will just keep moving pieces without purpose until either someone's time runs out or 50 moves without capture / threefold repetition happens.
TameAntelope 5y ago
There is not referee discretion, to my understanding of the rules, in FIDE or USCF.
dh5 5y ago
An arbiter 100% cannot stop a game because of that. Time management is part of the game in speed chess anyway, and for longer time controls there is usually a delay/increment so running out the clock in a clearly lost position isn't viable.
- aidenn0 5y ago
  I slightly misremembered; the player stops the clock and calls the arbiter; if the arbiter agrees that their opponent is not attempting to win by normal means, the arbiter may award a draw. There is a 2 minute bonus to the opponent if the arbiter disagrees with the player making this claim.

I'm not super into chess, but I was under the impression that running out the clock was a totally legitimate tactic. I'm surprised to hear that a referee has discretion to end the game based on it.

pedrosorio 5y ago

FIDE's handbook (article 6) specifies you lose (or draw) if you run out of time, yes: https://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/LawsOfChess.pdf https://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/LawsOfChess.pdf I am not a chess player but I have never heard of referees stopping the game if you don't "give up" in a losing position and have extra time. That sounds ridiculous but I would love to know if it applies in certain tournaments and the reasoning behind it.

slyall 5y ago
You are allowed to keep thinking as long as you have time on your clock. Isn't really considered good sportsmanship but is legal. Recent instances I saw was an adult was in an almost-lost position with over an hour on the clock while his opponent had 10 minutes. He let his clock run down to nothing and then played quickly before finally let the clock run to zero in a lost (mate in 2) position. He got mocked for this in the local forums. Also common for a kid to do a blunder and then sit there sad/crying for an hour. You try to encourage them to resign though. Source: Am Chess Player/Organizer/arbiter.
detaro 5y ago
I assume the original comment is (not perfectly accurately) talking about the rules under 10.2

TylerLives 5y ago

The issue is when positions are completely equal and there is no reasonable way to progress. It might still be technically possible to win in such positions, but it would require someone to make extremely bad moves and almost certainly lose. If there is no rule that forces draws in such positions, then players will just keep moving pieces without purpose until either someone's time runs out or 50 moves without capture / threefold repetition happens.

TameAntelope 5y ago

There is not referee discretion, to my understanding of the rules, in FIDE or USCF.

dh5 5y ago

An arbiter 100% cannot stop a game because of that. Time management is part of the game in speed chess anyway, and for longer time controls there is usually a delay/increment so running out the clock in a clearly lost position isn't viable.

aidenn0 5y ago
I slightly misremembered; the player stops the clock and calls the arbiter; if the arbiter agrees that their opponent is not attempting to win by normal means, the arbiter may award a draw. There is a 2 minute bonus to the opponent if the arbiter disagrees with the player making this claim.