The #ChessMasters Channel is organized by the newly-formed DALnet Chess Society. The purpose of this society is to promote chess and to help improve chess skills. The society and its tournaments are open to anyone.

Chess on DALnet is played via one of several interface programs (see Download Web Page for info and downloading). These interface programs and the IRC venue create situations which the "Special Rules and Instructions" section (see below) attempts to address. Following that is the "General Rules of Chess".

I. Each tournament will be announced in advance on the #ChessMasters Channel main web page, with a time and date for registration. (Optionally, there may be a pre-registration form on the main web page.) All players who wish to compete in the tournament must report and register at the stated date and time, except those who pre-registered via the main web page. The first round will be paired and announced after registration closes. Pairings will be posted on the main web page and, if E-mail addresses are collected, sent to all players.

I.a. Each player must have a registered nickname ("nick") with DALnet (or a #ChessMasters Channel chess rating) in order to compete in a tournament and, if asked, must supply a valid E-mail address. Failure to comply with these two conditions (particularly the latter) could result in the player not being paired for the tournament.

II. For tournament competition on DALnet, only WSCHESS99j or IRCCHESS v1.20 are permitted due to connectability reasons. These may be obtained from the main web page. Both players must use the same interface program, and one player must serve as host. The non-host enters the host's IP# in the appropriate space in the interface program's connection window. [NOTE: The host's IP# can be obtained by typing "/dns nickname" in the channel window. The answer will appear in the status window.]

II.a. To save time and confusion, it is strongly recommended that all players acquire BOTH interface programs. If one player has both interface programs, and his opponent has only one (or can only get one to work), then they must use that one. If a player has one interface program and his opponent has the other, then one or both players will have to go to the web page and get the other program.

II.b. Neither the interface programs nor even IRC work perfectly all the time. The most common phenomenon is a "net split", when everybody in the channel appears to leave simultaneously and then reappear a few seconds or a few minutes later. Generally, the interface connection will remain intact, but not always. It is also possible for a player to be disconnected without knowing it. The key to salvaging a disconnection is to SAVE THE GAME. If the TD is available (i.e., in the channel) he should be informed of the disconnection. The next step is to attempt a reconnection -- the host should "disconnect", then reset as host -- and then open the game file. [NOTE: The interface programs require several seconds to synchronize an interrupted game. Wait for the signal.]

II.c. Unless otherwise stated, ALL GAMES MUST BE SET TO 60 MINUTES. That's the default setting on both interface programs, so the player setting up the game parameters should make sure it says 60, then choose the correct color.

III. For most DALnet tournaments, players will have a week to play each round, and each player is responsible for contacting his opponent. Players may get in touch with each other using MemoServ (or via E-mail, if addresses are provided) in order to arrange a game time. If there is some difficulty for one reason or another, contact the TD for help as soon as possible. If a player is, for whatever reason, unable to get together with his opponent during that week, both players must report to the #ChessMasters Channel no later than two-and-one-half hours before the stated deadline. If only one player shows up, that player will be given credit for a win. If both show up, then they must play. If neither shows up, both will lose.

IV. Each player is responsible for reporting the results of his game before the stated deadline. Required information for reporting includes the nicknames of both players, who played which color, and the result. Gamescores are optional, but may be requested by the TD. Results may be E-mailed to the TD, who will make his E-mail address available to all players.

IV.a. BOTH PLAYERS SHOULD REPORT RESULTS. If only one player reports the results of a game, it will be considered an accurate report. If neither player reports the results of a game, it will be logged as a double forfeit. If the reported results from both players conflict, the TD will require an explanation from both players.

These General Rules of Chess are derived from the 1993 version of The FIDE Laws of Chess. Certain modifications were made due to the nature of the interface programs.

In the Articles of these Rules, pronouns such as "he", "him" and "his" refer generically to either sex.

The game of chess is played between two opponents by moving pieces on a square board called a "chessboard".

1.1 The chessboard is composed of 64 equal squares, alternately light (the "white" squares) and dark (the "black" squares).

1.2 The chessboard is placed between the players in such a way that the near corner to the right of each player is white.

1.3 The eight vertical rows of squares are called "files".

1.4 The eight horizontal rows of squares are called "ranks".

1.5 The lines of squares of the same colour, touching corner to corner, are called "diagonals".

2.1 At the beginning of the game, one player has 16 light-coloured pieces (the "white" pieces), the other has 16 dark-coloured pieces (the "black" pieces.)

2.2 These pieces are as follows:

• A white king, usually indicated by the symbol:
• A white queen, usually indicated by the symbol:
• Two white rooks, usually indicated by the symbol:
• Two white knights, usually indicated by the symbol:
• Two white bishops, usually indicated by the symbol:
• Eight white pawns, usually indicated by the symbol:
• A black king, usually indicated by the symbol:
• A black queen, usually indicated by the symbol:
• Two black rooks, usually indicated by the symbol:
• Two black knights, usually indicated by the symbol:
• Two black bishops, usually indicated by the symbol:
• Eight black pawns, usually indicated by the symbol:

2.3 The initial position of the pieces on the chessboard is as follows:

3.1 The player with the white pieces commences the game. The players alternate in making one move at a time until the game is completed.

3.2 A player is said to "have the move" when his opponent's move has been completed.

4.1 With the exception of castling (Article 5.1b), a move is the transfer by a player of one of his pieces from one square to another square, which is either vacant or occupied by an opponent's piece.

4.2 No piece, except the rook when castling (Article 5.1b) and the knight (Article 5.5), may cross a square occupied by another piece.

4.3 A piece played to a square occupied by an opponent's piece captures it as part of the same move (see Article 5.6c for capturing "en passant").

5.1 The King:

• a). Except when castling, the king moves to any adjoining square that is not attacked by an opponent's piece.
• b). Castling is a move of the king and either rook, counting as a single move of the king and executed as follows: the king is transferred from its original square two squares toward either rook on the same rank; then that rook is transferred over the king to the square the king has just crossed. [NOTE: The interface programs automatically transfer the rook if castling is legal.]
  • i. Castling is illegal:
    • A. if the king has already been moved; or
    • B. with a rook that has already been moved.
  • ii. Castling is prevented for the time being:
    • A. if the king's original square, or the square which the king must pass over, or that which it is to occupy, is attacked by an opponent's piece; or
    • B. if there is any piece between the king and the rook with which castling is to be effected.

[NOTE: The conditions of Article 5.1b.ii.A apply only to the king -- not the rook.]

5.2 The Queen.

The queen moves to any square (except as limited by Article 4.2) on the file, rank, or diagonals on which it stands.

5.3 The Rook.

The rook moves to any square (except as limited by Article 4.2) on the file or rank on which it stands.

5.4 The Bishop.

The bishop moves to any square (except as limited by Article 4.2) on the diagonals on which it stands.

5.5 The Knight.

The knight's move is composed of two different steps; first, it makes one step of one single square along its rank or file, and then, still moving away from the square of departure, one step of one single square on a diagonal. It does not matter if the square of the first step is occupied.

5.6 The Pawn.

• a). The pawn may move only forward (except as limited by Article 4.2).
• b). Except when making a capture, it advances from its original square either one or two vacant squares along the file on which it is placed, and on subsequent moves it advances one vacant square along the file. When capturing, it advances one square along either of the diagonals on which it stands.
• c). A pawn, attacking a square crossed by an opponent's pawn which has been advanced two squares in one move from its original square, may capture this opponent's pawn as though the latter had been moved only one square. This capture may only be made in reply to such an advance, and is called an "en passant" capture.
• d). On reaching the last rank, a pawn must immediately be exchanged, as part of the same move, for a queen, a rook, a bishop, or a knight, of the same colour as the pawn, at the player's choice and without taking into account the other pieces still remaining on the chessboard. This exchange of a pawn for another piece is called "promotion", and the effect of the promoted piece is immediate. [NOTE: The interface programs promote to a queen as a default. If promotion to a rook. bishop, or knight is desired, the player must choose "Promotion Piece" before making the move.]

6.1 The king is in "check" when the square it occupies is attacked by one or more of the opponent's pieces; in this case, the latter is/are said to be "checking" the king. A player may not make a move which leaves his king on a square attacked by any of his opponent's pieces.

6.2 Check must be parried by the move immediately following. If any check cannot be parried, the king is said to be "checkmated" or "mated". (See Article 7.1.)

7.1 The game is won by the player who has checkmated his opponent's king. This immediately ends the game.

7.2 The game is won by the player whose opponent declares he resigns. This immediately ends the game.

7.3 The game is drawn when the king of the player who has the move is not in check, and this player cannot make any legal move. The player's king is then said to be "stalemated". This immediately ends the game.

7.4 The game is drawn when one of the following endings arises:

• a). king against king;
• b). king against king with only bishop or knight;
• c). king and bishop against king and bishop, with both bishops on diagonals of the same colour.

This immediately ends the game.

7.5 A player having a bare king cannot win the game. A draw shall be declared if the opponent of a player with a bare king oversteps the time limit.

7.6 The game is drawn upon agreement between the two players. This immediately ends the game.

7.7 The game is drawn, upon a claim by the player having the move, when the same position, for the third time:

• a). is about to appear; or
• b). has just appeared, the same player having the move each time.

[NOTE: The position is considered the same if pieces of the same kind and colour occupy the same squares, and if all the possible moves of all the pieces are the same, including the rights to castle or to capture a pawn "en passant".]

7.8 If a player executes a move without having claimed a draw for one of the reasons stated in Article 7.7, he loses the right to claim a draw. This right is restored to him, however, if the same position appears again, the same player having the move.

7.9 The game is drawn when a player having the move claims a draw and demonstrates that at least 50 consecutive moves have been made by each side without the capture of any piece and without the movement of any pawn. This number of 50 moves can be increased for certain positions, provided that this increase in number and these positions have been clearly announced by the organisers before the event starts.

[NOTE: The interface programs will automatically recognize checkmate (see Article 7.1), and probably will recognize stalemate (see Article 7.3). However, the interface programs likely will NOT automatically recognize the situations described in Articles 7.4, 7.5, 7.7, 7.9 (see which). These will have to be resolved in the manner described in Article 7.6.]

7.10 The game is lost by a player who, during the game, refuses to comply with these Rules. If both players refuse to comply with these Rules, the game shall be declared lost by both players.

8.1 Prohibitions:

• a). During play, the players are forbidden to make use of hand-written, printed or otherwise recorded matter, or to analyse the game on another chessboard. They are also forbidden to have recourse to the advice of a third party, whether solicited or not.
• b). It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever. This includes the persistent offering of a draw.

8.2 Infractions of the rules indicated in Article 8.1 may incur penalties (see Article 9.5) even to the extent of the loss of the game (see also Article 8.4).

8.3If, at any point during a tournament, a player is not interested in participating further, or is unable to continue, he should notify the TD as soon as possible. Simply deserting the tournament could be interpreted as inappropriate behavior, at the discretion of the TD.

8.4 CHEATING OF ANY KIND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. ANYONE CAUGHT CHEATING WILL BE BANNED FROM #CHESSMASTERS AND FROM ANY OF ITS TOURNAMENTS THEREAFTER.

Tournaments shall be presided over by a Tournament Director (TD) who may be aided by one or more assistants. TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS AND THEIR ASSISTANTS MAY NOT COMPETE IN TOURNAMENTS THAT THEY ARE ADJUDICATING OR ORGANIZING. The duties of a TD are:

9.1 to see that the Rules are strictly observed;

9.2 to supervise the progress of the competition;

9.3 to enforce the decisions he may make in disputes that have arisen during the course of the competition;

9.4 to act in the best interests of the competition to ensure that a good playing environment is maintained and that the players are not disturbed by each other or by observers;

9.5 to impose penalties on the players for any fault or infraction of the Rules. These penalties may include a warning, or even the loss of the game.

For a won game, the winner gets 1 (one) point and the loser 0 (zero); for a draw, each player gets 0.5 (half) a point.