Chess in the Greater Manchester area
Rules (League and Match Rules)
1. ENTRIES
Applications for entry must reach the General Secretary and Fixtures Secretary by 31 August prior to the commencement of the season and must include the following:-
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Names and addresses of secretary and captains.
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Address of clubroom.
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Detailed travelling directions
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Evening of the week for home fixtures.
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Special circumstances which may affect the clubs ability to fulfil fixtures.
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Team lists.
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One subscription per team.
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The normal playing session of the club.
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Clubs are required to provide at least one email address for use by the MCF. These addresses will be used to provide clubs with details of fixtures, to raise queries about results and other matters and to notify clubs of AGMs, EGMs and any relevant correspondence from MCF Council. The email addresses will be included on the MCF website as part of the club contact details and the MCF will provide the email to any individual expressing an interest in membership of that club. MCF officers will not make use of any email addresses so provided, except to fulfil the functions of their office, and the MCF will not forward the email addresses to any third party, except as discussed above, without the express permission of the addressees.
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2. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The annual subscription is £19 per team and shall be remitted with the applications for membership to the AGM. During the season the Treasurer will invoice each club for its share of the game fees payable to the English Chess Federation.
3. TEAM LISTS
a) All Clubs shall send a copy of their team lists numbered in order of strength to the General Secretary by 31st August of the new season.
b) Bracketing of players is allowed (i.e. two or more players may be put on the same number).
c) No player may be on the team list of more than one club.
d) A club shall register its players in grading order. The last full ECF grading list published before the start of the season shall apply. Where a club wishes to register a player out of grading order by more than 10 ECF grading points the club shall include a note justifying the team list order. The following may be considered justification under this rule.
b) Bracketing of players is allowed (i.e. two or more players may be put on the same number).
c) No player may be on the team list of more than one club.
d) A club shall register its players in grading order. The last full ECF grading list published before the start of the season shall apply. Where a club wishes to register a player out of grading order by more than 10 ECF grading points the club shall include a note justifying the team list order. The following may be considered justification under this rule.
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A player who is a driver, particularly for a Junior team,
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A team captain elected immediately before the new grading list who met the criteria under the then current list.
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Ungraded players shall be registered appropriately to their playing strength. For this purpose, previously held grades may be used in evidence.
e) The Records and Registration Secretary may reject justification offered under d) above and ask the club to revise its list. Should the club disagree the fixtures meeting shall arbitrate on the matter.
f) Players may be added to the list at any time. Such additions must be bracketed and reach the Records and Registration Secretary before playing in a match.
g) Clubs shall have the right to send in a revised team list to Records and Registration Secretary at any point up to November 15th. Rules c) d) and e) apply except that the Council shall be the arbiters under e).
h) Transferring of players is allowed provided the acquiring club first tells the secretary of the player’s current club and then the Records and Registration Secretary.
e) The Records and Registration Secretary may reject justification offered under d) above and ask the club to revise its list. Should the club disagree the fixtures meeting shall arbitrate on the matter.
f) Players may be added to the list at any time. Such additions must be bracketed and reach the Records and Registration Secretary before playing in a match.
g) Clubs shall have the right to send in a revised team list to Records and Registration Secretary at any point up to November 15th. Rules c) d) and e) apply except that the Council shall be the arbiters under e).
h) Transferring of players is allowed provided the acquiring club first tells the secretary of the player’s current club and then the Records and Registration Secretary.
4. SEEDED PLAYERS
(Advice to clubs: when drawing up your registration list, if a player’s availability is doubtful, she/he should be bracketed rather than seeded)
a) Subject to Rule 4(b), where a club enters more than one team, players numbered 1-5 in its team list can play only for its first team. Players numbered 6-11 can play only for its first or second team, and so on in groups of six. Such players are called seeded players.
b) Where a club has one or more teams playing in a division consisting of teams of a number of players fewer than seven, then the lowest seeded group relevant to each of those teams shall be reduced from six to the number one fewer than the number of players in the team.
For example, a club whose third team plays in a division in which the number of players per team is five, would be able to select for that third team any eligible player seeded 10 or below.
c) A player seeded for a team must play above a player not seeded for that team, except
b) Where a club has one or more teams playing in a division consisting of teams of a number of players fewer than seven, then the lowest seeded group relevant to each of those teams shall be reduced from six to the number one fewer than the number of players in the team.
For example, a club whose third team plays in a division in which the number of players per team is five, would be able to select for that third team any eligible player seeded 10 or below.
c) A player seeded for a team must play above a player not seeded for that team, except
i) A player playing as a reserve because the chosen player has not turned up.
ii) A player not seeded for the team may play above up to two of the team’s seeded players. This rule shall be applied from board 1 downwards. All seeded players breaking the rule shall be considered ineligible.
d) Team lists may be amended at any time subject to the approval of the Records and Registration Secretary by promoting a non seeded player to a bracketed seeded player and moving all the other players up the list accordingly.
e) Seeded players must play at least two games for the club during the season. Where two or more players are bracketed together, two games from amongst those bracketed together will count. If this does not happen, then the team for which the player was seeded will have two match points deducted. Rule 5 shall not apply. Paragraph 2 of the Memorandum for the Composition of Divisions shall be applied only at the discretion of the MCF Fixtures Committee in respect of any team benefiting from a breach of seeding rules.
e) Seeded players must play at least two games for the club during the season. Where two or more players are bracketed together, two games from amongst those bracketed together will count. If this does not happen, then the team for which the player was seeded will have two match points deducted. Rule 5 shall not apply. Paragraph 2 of the Memorandum for the Composition of Divisions shall be applied only at the discretion of the MCF Fixtures Committee in respect of any team benefiting from a breach of seeding rules.
f) The Club may appeal to the Council for a lesser or zero penalty to be imposed. Grounds for appeal include:
i) A player beneath the seeded player in the team list can be bracketed with the seeded player without breaking rule 3d or rule 4a
ii) That the club revised its registration list immediately it realised the player was not going to play. Note the further the season has progressed the less acceptable this defence is.
5. INELIGIBILITY
The games of all players who are ineligible under these rules shall be scored to their opponents.
6. FIXTURES
a) Before 5th October each year the fixtures secretary shall arrange the fixtures as far as possible in accordance with the memorandum for fixtures arrangements. Each club secretary shall be sent copies not less than two weeks before the first match.
b) A club may request the postponement of a fixture by giving at least ten days notice to the Fixtures Secretary. If the Fixtures Secretary allows the postponement, the Fixtures Secretary shall arrange the date and venue of the match, in consultation with the two clubs involved. (Note that consultation does not necessarily mean agreement.) The new date shall be binding on both clubs and no further postponement of the same fixture shall be permitted. No fixture shall be postponed at less than ten days notice except in an emergency.
c) All fixtures shall be played before 31st May unless the Council sanctions a later date.
d) The record of any team playing only half of its matches or fewer shall be expunged.
b) A club may request the postponement of a fixture by giving at least ten days notice to the Fixtures Secretary. If the Fixtures Secretary allows the postponement, the Fixtures Secretary shall arrange the date and venue of the match, in consultation with the two clubs involved. (Note that consultation does not necessarily mean agreement.) The new date shall be binding on both clubs and no further postponement of the same fixture shall be permitted. No fixture shall be postponed at less than ten days notice except in an emergency.
c) All fixtures shall be played before 31st May unless the Council sanctions a later date.
d) The record of any team playing only half of its matches or fewer shall be expunged.
7. PLAYING CONDITIONS FOR MATCHES
The home team shall provide reasonable playing conditions and set up the venue, equipment, etc., before the starting time. The immediate playing area of a match shall be a no smoking area. Provided a venue permits smoking players may smoke away from the immediate playing area or if the room is too small provisions should be made for smoking adjacent to the room.
There should be sufficient sets, boards and clocks of appropriate design. Tables and chairs should be spaced to allow easy access. The venue should be reasonably quiet, well lit and ventilated.
Mobile phones are allowed in the playing area. However they must be either switched off or switched to silent mode for the duration of play. Match captains must remind players of this requirement immediately before the commencement of play.
If a player's phone rings audibly during his game then he automatically forfeits the game. However, if the opponent cannot win the game by any series of legal moves, it will be declared drawn.
8. CLOCKS AND RATE OF PLAY
For quickplay finishes the total playing session shall be at least 2 hours and the quickplay finish shall be at least an additional 15 minutes. Typically under this rule matches are played at 30 moves in 75 minutes each then a 20 minutes quick-play finish.
For adjournment finishes the rate of play shall be 36 moves in 90 minutes then 24 moves each hour unless the first playing session is less than three hours, when it shall be 24 moves in the first hour, 12 in the next 30 minutes, then 24 each hour.
9. STARTING PROCEDURE
There should be sufficient sets, boards and clocks of appropriate design. Tables and chairs should be spaced to allow easy access. The venue should be reasonably quiet, well lit and ventilated.
Mobile phones are allowed in the playing area. However they must be either switched off or switched to silent mode for the duration of play. Match captains must remind players of this requirement immediately before the commencement of play.
If a player's phone rings audibly during his game then he automatically forfeits the game. However, if the opponent cannot win the game by any series of legal moves, it will be declared drawn.
8. CLOCKS AND RATE OF PLAY
For quickplay finishes the total playing session shall be at least 2 hours and the quickplay finish shall be at least an additional 15 minutes. Typically under this rule matches are played at 30 moves in 75 minutes each then a 20 minutes quick-
For adjournment finishes the rate of play shall be 36 moves in 90 minutes then 24 moves each hour unless the first playing session is less than three hours, when it shall be 24 moves in the first hour, 12 in the next 30 minutes, then 24 each hour.
9. STARTING PROCEDURE
Before the starting time the captains shall (if a team captain is not present, team members present must nominate an acting captain)
a) Exchange team lists of seven (or a lower number if applicable to that Division) players and pair them accordingly, where a team knows it is going to default, it shall do so from the bottom board upward.
b) For league matches agree a quickplay finish or an adjournment finish. For cup matches a quickplay finish is mandatory. For league matches where no agreement is possible a quickplay finish shall be played.
c) Agree the rate of play.
d) Toss for colour with the winner taking white on either the odd or even boards.
a) Exchange team lists of seven (or a lower number if applicable to that Division) players and pair them accordingly, where a team knows it is going to default, it shall do so from the bottom board upward.
b) For league matches agree a quickplay finish or an adjournment finish. For cup matches a quickplay finish is mandatory. For league matches where no agreement is possible a quickplay finish shall be played.
c) Agree the rate of play.
d) Toss for colour with the winner taking white on either the odd or even boards.
10. STARTING AND FINISHING
Matches shall start at 7.30pm but may start earlier by agreement. Clubs must state their finishing time, in the handbook, which must be after 9.50pm. Matches or individual games may finish at a different time from that stated in these rules, if agreed during the starting procedure, provided they finish after 9.50pm. If an adjournment finish is played the finishing time must be such that at least 10 minutes are available for sealing moves, arranging dates of resumption, etc. At the starting time:
a) If a captain is not present the other side shall have choice of colour. If both captains are not present the first one to appear shall have this choice.
b) The captains present shall start the clocks. Any delay in starting shall be added to the clocks of the team responsible for the delay.
Matches shall start at 7.30pm but may start earlier by agreement. Clubs must state their finishing time, in the handbook, which must be after 9.50pm. Matches or individual games may finish at a different time from that stated in these rules, if agreed during the starting procedure, provided they finish after 9.50pm. If an adjournment finish is played the finishing time must be such that at least 10 minutes are available for sealing moves, arranging dates of resumption, etc. At the starting time:
a) If a captain is not present the other side shall have choice of colour. If both captains are not present the first one to appear shall have this choice.
b) The captains present shall start the clocks. Any delay in starting shall be added to the clocks of the team responsible for the delay.
For adjournment finishes, at the end of the playing session, the home team captain shall call time and in all games the player whose turn it is to move shall seal. It is not necessary to seal the score sheets but both players must take their score sheets to the adjournment. If at the finishing time Black has made at least 60 moves the game may be adjudicated on the demand of either player. (Such a claim must be made before the date and time of resumption is written on the envelope.) Within 72 hours each player or their captain must send to the adjudications secretary a diagram of the position stating whose turn it is to move, the result claimed and a fee of £5 payable to whoever is the adjudications secretary. If only one player complies with this rule their claim shall be successful. If both players comply the game shall be adjudicated. The successful claimant shall have their fee refunded.
Those games where no demand for adjudication is made shall be adjourned. The visiting player shall offer at least three dates within the next 14 days for resumption of the game. Not more than one date shall be a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday. The opponent must accept one of these dates. A player not offering at least three dates loses. A player not accepting an offered date loses. An accepted date may be changed by agreement later. The date and time of resumption shall be written on the envelope containing the sealed move, which shall be signed by both players. The time of resumption may by agreement be up to 15 minutes later than the start of the official playing session.
11 RESERVES AND DEFAULTS
A player who does not arrive within one hour of the starting time defaults the game. In the first playing session a reserve may be substituted for an absent player up to one hour after the starting time. The clock shall not be reset. Any team which defaults an MCF League match shall render its club liable to a fine of £10. MCF Council will not automatically impose the fine, but will use its discretion and common sense.
12 NOTIFICATION
A player who does not arrive within one hour of the starting time defaults the game. In the first playing session a reserve may be substituted for an absent player up to one hour after the starting time. The clock shall not be reset. Any team which defaults an MCF League match shall render its club liable to a fine of £10. MCF Council will not automatically impose the fine, but will use its discretion and common sense.
12 NOTIFICATION
Both teams shall forward notice of the result of each match within three days of the match to the Records & Registrations Secretary. Any match not completed must be similarly reported.
13 LAWS OF CHESS
Games shall be played in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess unless modified by these MDCA League rules. Team captains are joint arbiters and have all the duties and responsibilities of arbiters under the Laws unless those duties and responsibilities clash with their role as team captain. For example they must call flag falls but they cannot, except by agreement declare a position drawn in a quick-
14 DISPUTES
All disputes shall be reported to the secretary of the disputes committee and shall then be referred to the disputes committee for a decision.
This committee shall consist of 3 people (plus 2 in reserve) and at least 1 of the 3 must be a National Chess Arbiter. The members of this committee are to be elected by the AGM and must come from different clubs. The decision of this committee shall be final (see memorandum on resolution of disputes).
A fee of £5.00 payable to whoever is the disputes secretary shall accompany each dispute. The fee shall be returned to the successful claimant. The secretary of the disputes committee shall have discretion to return both fees.
15 INTERPRETATION
The Council is the sole authority for the interpretation of these rules and its decision shall be final.
16 CHANGES TO THE LEAGUE AND MATCH RULES
Changes to the League and Match rules can only be made at a General Meeting and must be proposed in accordance with the constitution and the league and match rules. Such changes require a two-thirds majority of those present and entitled to vote.
MEMORANDUM ON MCF TROPHIES
1. The winners of trophies shall be entitled to hold the respective trophy from time of presentation to the first day of the following September or earlier if required by the MCF. A certificate showing the win shall also be presented to the winners.
2. Such winners shall not be obliged to hold such trophy and may leave it with the MCF for safe keeping. In such cases a form of acknowledgement shall be given to the winner.
3. In view of the element of risk of loss or damage to the several trophies belonging to the MCF, the recipients of trophies shall be required to indemnify the MCF against contingencies of loss or damage not wholly recoverable from the insurance policy in force. A form of indemnity shall be provided by the MCF for completion by the recipients of trophies.
MEMORANDUM FOR CONDUCT OF DISPUTES
Preamble
This memorandum is designed for the resolution of disputes that cannot be resolved between the clubs concerned and that come under the rule headed disputes in the League and Match Rules. The aims of the procedure are to:-
b) In the interests of justice, let each side see the other's written claim and have the opportunity of commenting on it in writing.
It is strongly recommended that prior to entering the disputes procedure, a club contacts the disputes committee secretary to see if:-
There are precedents to the dispute.
An amicable agreement can be reached.
The club can accept or reject any advice given and take the matter formally to dispute.
b) In the interests of justice, let each side see the other's written claim and have the opportunity of commenting on it in writing.
It is strongly recommended that prior to entering the disputes procedure, a club contacts the disputes committee secretary to see if:-
There are precedents to the dispute.
An amicable agreement can be reached.
The club can accept or reject any advice given and take the matter formally to dispute.
Procedure
1 In the event of a dispute, and within 14 days of it occurring, the club secretary or team captain shall write to the disputes committee secretary, with a copy to the opposing club secretary, giving details of the dispute, their claim and the dispute fee.
2 Within seven days of receiving the dispute letter the secretary or team captain of the opposing club shall reply to the disputes committee secretary, with the dispute fee, and with a copy to the originator of the dispute.
3 The originating club has a right of reply to the opposing club's letter. If it wishes to exercise this right it must reply to the disputes committee secretary within five days with a copy to the opposing club.
4 The disputes committee secretary shall then send all formal correspondence to the committee members for their consideration.
5 All correspondence shall be sent by first class mail or email.
2 Within seven days of receiving the dispute letter the secretary or team captain of the opposing club shall reply to the disputes committee secretary, with the dispute fee, and with a copy to the originator of the dispute.
3 The originating club has a right of reply to the opposing club's letter. If it wishes to exercise this right it must reply to the disputes committee secretary within five days with a copy to the opposing club.
4 The disputes committee secretary shall then send all formal correspondence to the committee members for their consideration.
5 All correspondence shall be sent by first class mail or email.
MEMORANDUM FOR COMPOSITION OF DIVISIONS
1) Where practical there shall be ten teams in each division. An additional division may be created should the total number of entries justify this.
2) The top two teams in each division have the automatic right of promotion to the next higher division. The bottom two teams shall normally be relegated to the next lower division (except as noted in 8 and 9 below).
Ties will be split in the following sequence.
i) Game points scored.
ii) Individual match result.
iii) Board count of the individual match.
3) New teams shall normally be admitted to the lowest division.
4) The AGM shall appoint a sub-
6) The AGM should be held in time for the new season's fixtures to be produced and checked before they are issued. The fixtures meeting should be scheduled within fourteen days of deadline for Applications for entry in League and Match Rule 1 and the general secretary should arrange it at a time and in a place such that all the key officers are able to attend. This meeting will finalise the composition of divisions and make the draw for each trophy competition. The full draw for each trophy competition (with team names, not just number codes) should be written out and checked by the Fixtures Committee before the meeting is closed. The committee bears a collective responsibility for this process.
7) Any club changing their Secretary for the new season should supply at the AGM or in writing to the general secretary within seven days of the AGM the name, email, address and postcode of the new or acting secretary. This is to facilitate correct mailing of fixtures and to ensure clear lines of communication and responsibility.
8) An additional division shall be created from 2008/9 within the Manchester League, to be known initially as E Division subject to all rules, conventions and memoranda governing the League, with the exception of the following:
Each team in the Division shall consist of five players;
No player shall be eligible to play in a team if his or her ECF grading is higher than 125.
Where a player has no ECF grading, he or she will not be eligible to play in a team if a reasonable estimate of their playing strength is greater than ECF125;
No team will be relegated into this division without the express consent of that team.
9) An additional division shall be created from 2009/10 within the Manchester League, to be known initially as D Division subject to all rules, conventions and memoranda governing the League, with the exception of the following:
Each team in the Division shall consist of five players;
No team will be relegated into this division without the express consent of that team.
ANNUAL KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS
1 ELIGIBILITY OF TEAMS
The competitions are open to teams that participate in the league during the same season.
The Reyner Shield is open to all teams
The Wahltuch Trophy is open to teams from C division and below.
The Hartley Trophy is open to teams from D division.
The Alfred Milner is open to teams from E division.
A team may enter only one of the Reyner, Wahltuch or Hartley competitions.
2 ENTRIES
Entries for the Reyner, Wahltuch, and Hartley competitions shall reach the General Secretary by the date of the AGM. Entry to the Alfred Milner is automatic unless when the team enters the original knock out competition it states it does not wish to play in the Alfred Milner.
A team eligible for the Alfred Milner competition may request in its entry to the general secretary to play only in the Alfred Milner Trophy and not in any other knockout competition. As the numbers who can do so are limited and depend on entries to the Hartley Trophy priority shall be given to teams in the lowest division or with a restricted playing season.
3 BYES
Prior to the first round proper, the number of teams competing shall be brought to a power of 2. Byes shall be given as follows:-
ii) The highest placed team in the previous year's league table.
iii) The second highest placed team in the previous year's league table.
4 MATCH DATES AND VENUES
These shall be decided by the fixtures secretary or by a committee appointed by the Council.
5 MATCH ARRANGEMENTS
These shall be as for league matches. Players seeded for a team may not play for that team in the final or semi-
6 RESOLUTION OF TIES
A drawn final shall be replayed. In the case of a tie in other rounds the tie shall be broken by board count. If the board count is even the tie shall be broken by bottom board elimination. If all the games are drawn shall the match be replayed. Any replayed matches shall be at the alternate venue.
BRAMLEY-HARKER INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
1 ELIGIBILITY
The competitions shall be open to all players registered with the MCF. There shall be a championship class for each division.
2 FORMAT
The championship will be awarded to the player who gains the highest percentage score in their class. The minimum qualification will be eight games (including cup ties). Defaults shall not count.
3 TIES
Ties shall be resolved in accordance with the following tie-
ii) Highest average board number.
iii) Grade (lowest takes preference).
4 PRIZES
The winner of each class shall receive the sum of £10 and hold the Bramley-Harker Trophy for their class for one year.
5 AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these rules may only be made by Council.
Amendments to these rules may only be made by Council.
MEMORANDUM FOR FIXTURES ARRANGEMENTS
So far as possible fixtures for both league and trophy games shall be arranged to fulfil the following conditions:-
2 No club shall have consecutive teams playing matches in the same week, except for cup matches played after Christmas when no club shall have consecutive teams playing cup matches on the same night.
3 Consideration will be given to special difficulties or requests notified by clubs at the time entries are made.
4 No matches shall be scheduled between 22nd December and 3rd January inclusive or on any public holiday. Clubs requiring a longer Easter break may request one.
5 All fixtures shall be played before 31st May unless Council sanctions a later date.
6 Fixtures between the same two teams should alternate home and away from season to season.
7 The AGM of 19 July 2010 resolved that no Manchester League division shall contain more than ten teams for the 2011-12 and subsequent seasons. The AGM of 19 July 2010 further mandates MCF Council to produce and publicise proposals by 31 December 2010 for the reduction of the size of any division containing more than ten teams for the 2011-12 Season.
8 During a season, a team should have an equal number of home and away fixtures. These should be reasonably spread over the season. Teams should have between two and four league matches scheduled before Christmas. Runs of more than three consecutive home or away fixtures are undesirable.
9 If an away team defaults a match, it shall be drawn away again if the same fixture occurs in the following season.
10 If a club has two or more teams in the same division, the fixtures between these teams must be completed by 31st Jan.
11 Where the club rooms of two teams are more than twelve miles apart the away team can insist the match is played at a central venue. If so, the away team must make all the arrangements and pay the whole cost of the venue.
12 In trophy competitions, the fixtures secretary shall decide the pattern of home and away fixtures, but should try to exercise fairness by bearing in mind i) previous rounds ii) alternating the venue from the league match between the same two teams.
N.B. Clubs are asked to bear in mind that the job of the fixtures secretary is not easy. With so many divisions and the various trophy competitions it will rarely, if ever, be possible to fulfil all the above conditions, and the fixtures secretary often has to make difficult decisions. Please be tolerant and try to make the fixtures work as published. As a last resort, a club may try to rearrange a fixture as per the League and Match Rules but please keep rearrangements to a minimum, since the knock-on effects can be disruptive.
2 No club shall have consecutive teams playing matches in the same week, except for cup matches played after Christmas when no club shall have consecutive teams playing cup matches on the same night.
3 Consideration will be given to special difficulties or requests notified by clubs at the time entries are made.
4 No matches shall be scheduled between 22nd December and 3rd January inclusive or on any public holiday. Clubs requiring a longer Easter break may request one.
5 All fixtures shall be played before 31st May unless Council sanctions a later date.
6 Fixtures between the same two teams should alternate home and away from season to season.
7 The AGM of 19 July 2010 resolved that no Manchester League division shall contain more than ten teams for the 2011-
9 If an away team defaults a match, it shall be drawn away again if the same fixture occurs in the following season.
10 If a club has two or more teams in the same division, the fixtures between these teams must be completed by 31st Jan.
11 Where the club rooms of two teams are more than twelve miles apart the away team can insist the match is played at a central venue. If so, the away team must make all the arrangements and pay the whole cost of the venue.
12 In trophy competitions, the fixtures secretary shall decide the pattern of home and away fixtures, but should try to exercise fairness by bearing in mind i) previous rounds ii) alternating the venue from the league match between the same two teams.
N.B. Clubs are asked to bear in mind that the job of the fixtures secretary is not easy. With so many divisions and the various trophy competitions it will rarely, if ever, be possible to fulfil all the above conditions, and the fixtures secretary often has to make difficult decisions. Please be tolerant and try to make the fixtures work as published. As a last resort, a club may try to rearrange a fixture as per the League and Match Rules but please keep rearrangements to a minimum, since the knock-
Courtesy
Clubs are asked to do their best to fulfil all their fixtures. Not being able to field one's best team is not a valid reason for postponing or defaulting a match. When a team is unable to fulfil a fixture it is courteous to inform and apologise to the opposing club with as much notice as possible. The same courtesy should apply to adjourned games.
QUICKPLAY FINISH RULES BY HARRY LAMB
With the rules change making quickplay finishes the norm, I have been asked to explain the Quickplay finish rules and their implications. The normal situation will be that no independent arbiter will be present, (team captain are not considered independent) and so quickplay finishes come under the FIDE rule for quickplay finishes where no arbiter is present. The rules are:
You can claim a draw when you have less than two minutes on your clock on the grounds that
(a) your opponent cannot win by normal means, or
(b) your opponent has been making no effort to win by normal means.
Before make a claim I advise you to offer your opponent a draw in line with the rules, after you have made a move and before you press your clock. If your opponent rejects it then make the claim. If there is arbiter present they will handle it. If not you must stop play immediately agree the final position and agree a score sheet as much up to date as possible then if there is no agreement refer the matter to the disputes committee secretary. What follows next comes with a health warning; it may be over ridden by the disputes committee.
“Not being able to win by normal means” covers two main situations.
(i) The side claiming the draw is material up and there is no realistic compensation. This is drawn as the only way to win is by “flagging” your opponent. Except that if you win material you cannot sit on the position, play no moves until you have two minutes left and then make a claim. You always have to play moves at a reasonable rate.
(ii) The position is a theoretical draw and you have demonstrated over the board you know how to draw it. The best example is a K&R v K&B. You have to take your king to the correct corner and then play some moves to show you understand the draw, before you will be given it.
Notes
(1) Do not ask me where the boundary is but you cannot clam a draw with several pawns each e.g. K, R and five pawns v K, R and five pawns.
(2) It is not an adjudication situation. It is a quickplay finish. You are expected to play quick and finish the game. This rule is only there to prevent a win on time that would bring the game into disrepute.
(3) There is a separate rule which says “The game is drawn when a position is reached from which a checkmate cannot occur by any possible series of legal moves, even with the most unskilled play. This immediately ends the game.”
(4) “Making no effort to win by normal means”. This means that while avoiding repeating the position the opponent is making no effort to improve his position.