OTB Tournament Etiquette?

Hi everyone,

I will soon be participating in my first OTB tournament and would hate to do anything considered taboo. One thing I'm especially curious about is whether I have to declare "check" when attacking my opponent's king, as I was recently told at my local club that it's kinda annoying.

Another thing off topic, but I didn't want to make a separate post. I have a US Chess member ID, but no FIDE ID or rating. How do I get these things? Everything I've read online isn't clear. For the rating, I believe I have to defeat or draw at least five FIDE rated players in approved events, but only after I have obtained a FIDE ID. A lot of resources said I can do it through my local club, but it isn't affiliated with FIDE.

Thank you!

No, don't say check. The only times I can think of where it's ok to talk during the game is to ask to see your opponent's scoresheet, or before adjusting a piece, or to offer a draw. Even if your opponent does something crazy like makes an illegal move, you're not supposed to talk to them. You're supposed to pause the clock and find the arbiter (or tournament director in the US) and explain the situation.

Of course in reality some people are more casual. For example if you make an illegal move they may point it out and let you take it back. Who knows. But if you're trying to be proper then don't talk unless it's necessary.

---

If you want a FIDE rating, then look for a tournament that's FIDE rated. All you have to do is show up, and the organizer will take care of the rest. If you're unsure about something you can email them before showing up to the event.

Everything I read above is correct.

On the saying check thing, I had a game at a tournament last fall where my opponent who was rated 1490 or so, not once but three times when in check, attempted to make another move as if he wasn't in check. I'm not sure if he was just seeing if I was paying attention or what. I will admit two of them were discovered checks, but one was pretty obvious, pow right here is the bishop hitting your king, I shouldn't need to tell you it's check... I pointed to the pieces and each time he acted like he was flustered and put the pieces back and made another move. I didn't get fussy about it. I won the game anyway so I didn't care. I don't know what the actual procedure is for it but they're probably would have been a penalty if I had raised a fuss.

Yeah, that's what I'd do. If they made a move that left them in check, I'd just tap the piece that's putting them in check and point at their king or something like that... if they couldn't figure it out after that I might wonder if they're cheating and don't actually know the rules haha.

I think I've only gotten the TD once. My opponent was offering a draw on every move (and on my time, interrupting my calculation). I didn't want a draw, I wanted to try to win. After the 3rd or 4th draw offer I got the TD who didn't even say anything, he just stood watching our game for a while. My opponent didn't offer anymore draws (and I won that game).

@1

"whether I have to declare "check" when attacking my opponent's king"
++ No, do not do that. It is forbidden.

"but no FIDE ID or rating. How do I get these things?"
++ You automatically get a FIDE ID and a FIDE rating after you play FIDE rated events.

I still have some casual players at my local chess club who sometimes say check out loud. This is just an innocent error in a casual environment though. At my local club, I usually won't say check for the same reasons it is frowned upon in a tournament: it is unnecessary and perhaps distracting to the other players trying to focus. I wouldn't worry yourself too much about small etiquette since you'll probably be nervous enough (normal) for your first few events. If you've been to a public library, then the etiquette is similar. 

As for FIDE, it isn't really necessary for players in the USA. I also play rated events in the USA and I manage on my USCF (United States Chess Federation) membership. Usually you'll be able to register for USCF and a state chess association based on your state. However, FIDE is a completely different chess organization which is more geared towards international chess events. If you don't plan on playing chess internationally on a regular basis, then you probably can save money by not getting a FIDE membership. Memberships cost enough already without adding ones you are unlikely to ever use. If you are a touring GM like GM Magnus Carlsen, then by all means, get your FIDE membership, but living in the USA as just a regular tournament player, you probably won't need it.

@6

"you probably can save money by not getting a FIDE membership"

The FIDE ID and FIDE rating are free once you are afiliated with your national chess federation.

Maybe it is different for different countries?

@8

Maybe, but I doubt that. You pay a membership fee to your club, which pays to your national federation. The national federations pay a contribution to FIDE. 

It's definitely different here. Here I pay to the club even if all I'm going to do is play in the tournament. Then I pay separately to USCF. And none of that gets me any recognition by FIDE. That gets paid on top of the other two.

If you're playing under USCF rules (FIDE rules may be different), you are allowed to say "check" during a game, but as others have mentioned, most people think it's a bit annoying, and it's generally frowned upon. Here is the actual applicable rule  from the USCF Rule Book:

"12F. Calling check not mandatory. Announcing check is not required, and is rare in high-level tournaments. It is the responsibility of the opponent to notice the check, and a player who does not may suffer serious consequences. A player may announce check. See also Rule 10, The touched piece."

There are some minor things i could add to the list.

If you touch a piece, your opponent can force you to play with it. So in case you want to correct the position of a piece on the board (when it's not standing in the middle of a square) you should say "j'adoube" before correcting it's position,. 

I also offer my opponent a drink when I'm about to get one for myself, usually right before the game starts.

This is casual club level etiquette though.

If you're playing in an OTB tournament, it's generally assumed that your opponent understands the basic rules of chess.

You don't need to declare "check" aloud. Likewise, you don't need to say "castle" or "en passant" or "capture" or "knight to e5 outpost!" when playing, either ...

Here is what you need to know:

1) DO NOT SAY CHECK!  It is actually very distracting.  The following are the only words you should be saying after the clocks have started: Adjust, I offer you a draw, I resign, good game.  DO NOT TALK AT ALL UNLESS YOUR CLOCK IS RUNNING!

2) Touch move.  If you touch a piece and do not precede it with "Adjust", and there is at least 1 move that is legal with that piece, you MUST move that piece, even of it is bad.

3) When you capture a piece, put it off to the side.  It should not be in front of the 8 files on the board.  It is bad etiquette, similar to standing on the opposite side of the pin when a golfer is trying to putt.

4) DO not ever speak on your opponent's time.  You can only adjust pieces while YOUR clock is running.

5) The proper way to offer a draw and it must be done IN THIS ORDER:  A) Make your move. B) Say I offer you a draw.  C) Hit the clock.  Common mistakes people make.  1) DO NOT hold your hand out.  I can shake your hand after every move.  It means nothing.  It is not acceptance of a draw or resignation.  Again, I could literally shake hands with my opponent after every move if he wanted to.  2) When you offer a draw, your opponent has until he makes his next move to accept it.  If you offer a draw, and have not moved yet, the offer is BINDING UNTIL HE MAKES HIS NEXT MOVE!  And so yes, he can OBLIGATE you to make your move before he decides to accept or decline.  If you blunder, he will play on.  If you suddenly find a brilliant winning move, he will accept the draw.  If it is dead drawn and you did not blunder, he will likely accept.  He also has all the time in the world to accept.  If his click has 36 minutes left, and uou offer a draw and hit the clock, he could sit there and think about the position, looking deep for a win, and after 27 minutes, say he accepts the draw.  I have done this myself.  Other times I have declined only after 27 minutes of thought.

6) DO NOT write ANYTHING on your score sheet except the moves played in the game, the times, and draw offer indicators.  And other moves written are deemed notes and are illegal.  If you play 12.Ne4, you cannot write anything like "(12.Bb5)" (i.e. other candidates) or anything like "Intending Bxc6".  You can be forfeited for that.

7) No cell phone in your pocket - stash it away turned off in your bag.  If it goes off or if you are caught carrying it on you going into the restroom, you can be forfeited.

8) DO not assist in making your opponents moves.  Do not hand him a queen if he is about to promote.  Let him decide for himself and get it himself.

9) If you are looking to promote, and the piece is not available, you have the right to stop the clock, telling your opponent that you are getting the director to get you a piece, like a 2nd queen or a 3rd knight.

10) To claim a draw by 3-fold repetition, you cannot hit the clock.  If a millisecond of your opponent's time elapsed, you have lost the opportunity to claim a draw.  If you are about to play, say, 47.Qe2, and it leads to the same position with the same player to move with the same legal options for both sides all 3 times (If White lost casting rights in the process, even with Black to move, it is not the same position), what you do is write Qe2 on your score sheet (The ONLY time you write before you move), state that you are playing 47.Qe2 and that you are claiming 3-fold.  If he agrees, great.  Draw.  If he does not, you have to get a director to rule if it is indeed 3-fold repetition or not.

Hope this helps.  Sorry if I left a rule out.

Agree with most posts above
Saying check can be pretty rude and distracting.
Not only to your opponent, but the people on the boards surrounding you.

In tournaments it is assumed that the players know the rules of chess.  If you have any questions I find the arbiters are pretty friendly (most of the time ) and would much prefer you ask a question rather than have issues arise.

Keep in mind some very experienced players dont understand the claiming repitition, and some tournament players simply dont understand how rude it is to hold a conversation during the game.  Ive played in a handful of OTB tournies in the last few years, and ive seen atleast 3 people DQ'd by their phone going off.

Take a backpack, store you phone in it switched off, and make sure all alarms are turned off.  It can be a real unfortunate way to lose a game

Good luck in your upcoming tournament

no need to declare check, thats up to them to spot it as saying check is simply kids stuff the rest however like talking really only appears when conflicts like llama stated occur. you can call the arbiter or if your opponent sees that they made the illegal move, agree to time advantage although i am not sure that works in the USA. i know that in FIDE however at least in some illegal move videos, when that happens they give bonus time to the person claiming and continue on

The difference between illegal moves in FIDE and USCF.

1) Player makes an illegal move for the first time in the game.

FIDE - Opponent gets 2 minutes.  If the player can legally move the piece he tried to move, even if it is a hanging queen move to block a check had you moved your queen, you must make it!

USCF - Same

2) Player makes an illegal move for the second time (and beyond - USCF ONLY) in the same game.

FIDE - Forfeit

USCF - 2 more minutes added to the opponent's clock for each occurrence.

3) Player pushes a White pawn to the 8th rank or black pawn to the first rank, leaves it a pawn and does not promote it, and hits the clock.

FIDE - It is deemed an illegal move.  If it is the 1st of the game, opponent gets 2 minutes and IT MUST PROMOTE TO A QUEEN!  If it is second illegal move, forfeit.

USCF - All you can do is slap the clock back to the opponent without making a move yourself.  There is no time penalty.  Opponent cannot change the move.  He must promote the pawn.

4) Player promotes a pawn to an upside down rook.

FIDE - it is a Rook

USCF - it is a Queen

Hope this helps.