I would not want to change the rules of chess itself, per se, but rather the penalities. USCF is too leanient about many rule violations. Here are some things that need to change:
A complete, no exception, zero-tolerance policy. If ANYTHING of yours makes noise (Cell Phone, Pager, or any other electronic device that is not of medical necessity - meaning things like pace-makers are excused), you forfeit, no ifs, ands, or buts. None of this "10 minutes or half the time" bullsh*t. Allow capture the King - It's your job to pay attention and get out of check. No eating at the table. You try facing someone eating kettle-cooked chips while you are thinking about your move - happened to me in 2011. Only the native language of the country hosting the event can be spoken. You go to say, the Chicago Open, in May in the United States, and you get two foreigners talking to each other in French, Spanish, Turkish, Japanese, etc. How are you supposed to know one isn't saying to the other, after English Translation, "If he moves his King to f7, just sacrifice the Knight with Ne5+"? A bracelet must be worn by all players, which will go off if you leave the boundries of the permitted area, meaning the tournament hall and a restroom. Locations like the Skittles Room, Restaurant or Bar, a different floor in the hotel (like where you hotel room is), etc, would cause the director to receive notification that bracelet number #### has crossed the boundries and that player forfeits the game.
It's all anti-cheating and anti-distraction changes, not changes to the rules of the game of chess itself except capture the king permission.
I agree with all of these except the language one . I forfeited a game in Portugal because I forgot to turn off my phone and it rang during the game . The arbiter was in the room , heard it , and immediately forfeited me and I think he did the right thing . I think the same should be done in the US but a big problem is that the TD often is NOT in the playing room, so he doesnt hear it . This is a problem imo .
I don't see how one can think it should be okay for my opponent to converse with someone he knows at the board in a language I can't understand, especially with a TD not present.
I would not want to change the rules of chess itself, per se, but rather the penalities. USCF is too leanient about many rule violations. Here are some things that need to change:
A complete, no exception, zero-tolerance policy. If ANYTHING of yours makes noise (Cell Phone, Pager, or any other electronic device that is not of medical necessity - meaning things like pace-makers are excused), you forfeit, no ifs, ands, or buts. None of this "10 minutes or half the time" bullsh*t. Allow capture the King - It's your job to pay attention and get out of check. No eating at the table. You try facing someone eating kettle-cooked chips while you are thinking about your move - happened to me in 2011. Only the native language of the country hosting the event can be spoken. You go to say, the Chicago Open, in May in the United States, and you get two foreigners talking to each other in French, Spanish, Turkish, Japanese, etc. How are you supposed to know one isn't saying to the other, after English Translation, "If he moves his King to f7, just sacrifice the Knight with Ne5+"? A bracelet must be worn by all players, which will go off if you leave the boundries of the permitted area, meaning the tournament hall and a restroom. Locations like the Skittles Room, Restaurant or Bar, a different floor in the hotel (like where you hotel room is), etc, would cause the director to receive notification that bracelet number #### has crossed the boundries and that player forfeits the game.It's all anti-cheating and anti-distraction changes, not changes to the rules of the game of chess itself except capture the king permission.
I agree with all of these except the language one . I forfeited a game in Portugal because I forgot to turn off my phone and it rang during the game . The arbiter was in the room , heard it , and immediately forfeited me and I think he did the right thing . I think the same should be done in the US but a big problem is that the TD often is NOT in the playing room, so he doesnt hear it . This is a problem imo .