WBCA Official Rules
Mike W. Burger
cial rules of the World Blitz Chess Association (WBCA) for Blitz
(SD Game/5) chess. It is reprinted with permission for non-commercial
use only. All other rights reserved.
The WBCA does not license tournament directors for its sanc-
tioned events, but accepts the licensing of other organizations such as
the U.S. Chess Federation and FIDE for tournament directors or arbiters
as evidence of qualification. For additional information on holding of-
ficial WBCA tournaments, club affiliation or WBCA membership, see the
contact information at the end of these rules.
The U. S. Chess Federation sanctions and rates Quick Chess tour-
naments with time controls from SD Game/10 to SD Game/29, but true Blitz
(SD Game/5) is sanctioned and rated by the WBCA.
Every effort has been made to transcribe these rules exactly as
distributed by the WBCA except for the minor reformatting required to
allow for differences in fonts, line widths, etc. As distributed by the
WBCA, the rules are on two sheets, but can easily be copied on one sheet
front and back with an inch left at the bottom of the second page for
your personal tournament notes!
Mike Burger, UH Chess Club
mi...@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu
______________________Begin Official Rules___________________________
Rerevised WBCA Blitz Rules
November 12, 1992
Approved by the ProChess committee of Nick Defirmian, Max Dlugy,
Yasser Seirawan and Walter Browne
1) Each player must make all his moves in the five minutes allotted
on his clock. This is the standard international Blitz time limit for
all WBCA events. It is the only time limit which will be WBCA rated.
2) All the clocks must have a special device, usually called a
"flag" marking the end for the time control period. Either player may
object to using a computer clock provided they produce a clock with a
standard face. In the event that both players prefer their own standard
face clock, the player with Black will have the choice each game.
3) Before play begins both players should inspect the position of
the pieces and the setting of the clock, since once each side has made a
move all claims are null and void.
4) Each player must push the clock with the same hand he uses to
move his pieces. Exception: only during castling may a player use both
hands. Also when capturing, may only one hand be used. The first in-
fraction will get a warning, the second a one minute penalty and the
third will result in the loss of the game.
5) The arbiter should state at the start of the event the direction
the clocks are to face, and the player with the Black pieces then de-
cides which side he will play with that opponent.
6) Except for pushing the clock neither player should touch the
clock except:
a) to straighten it.
b) If either player knocks over the clock his opponent gets one
minute added to his clock.
c) If your opponent's clock does not tick you may push his side
down and repunch your side; however, if this procedure is unsatisfacto-
ry, please call for a director.
d) Each player must always be allowed to push the clock after
their move is made. Also neither player should keep his hand on or
hover over the clock.
7) Defining a win
A game is won by the player:
a) who has mated his opponent's king.
b) whose opponent resigns.
c) whose opponent's flag falls first, at any time before the
game is otherwise ended, provided he points it out and neutralizes the
clock while his own flag is still up and that he still has mating ma-
terial.
1.) Either two minor pieces (except K v K+N+N), a pawn
or a rook will be sufficient mating material. No trick mates are al-
lowed which means a lone knight or bishop is insufficient unless a
forced win can be demonstrated.
8) Defining a draw
A game is a draw:
a) If one of the kings is stalemated even if a fallen flag is
claimed simultaneously.
b) By agreement between the players during a game only.
c) If the flag of one player falls after the flag of the other
player has already fallen and a win has not been claimed.
d) To claim a draw by perpetual check, a four-time repetition is
necessary with the player counting 1,2,3,4 etc. out loud so as to make
it quite clear and easier for arbiters to assist. Claimant should stop
the clock after the 4th repetition.
e) If both players each have just one identical piece either may
claim a draw by stopping the clock if neither side can show a forced
win.
f) If one player has insufficient mating material when his
opponent's flag falls or makes an illegal move.
g) In K+bishop vs K+bishop of opposite colors with only 1 pawn
on the board, or in 2 vs 1 in a clearly blockaded position, a draw can
be claimed by stopping the clocks and summoning an arbiter if necessary
provided there is no forced win.
h) K+rook pawn vs K can be claimed as a draw once the defender
is on the rook file in front of the pawn. K+pawn vs K can be claimed as
a draw once the defender is immediately on the square directly in front
of the pawn as long as it's not on the 7th rank.
Miscellaneous
9) If a player accidentally displaces one or more pieces, he shall
replace them on his own time. If it is necessary, his opponent may
start the opponent's clock without making a move in order to make sure
that the culprit uses his own time while replacing the pieces. If a
player first touches one piece, then moves another; his opponent can
restart the player's clock and make him move the first piece touched.
Finally, it is unsportsmanly to knock over any pieces then punch the
clock. For a first offense the player will get a warning (unless he
causes his opponent's flag to fall, in which case the offended shall get
1 minute extra on his clock); for a second offense a 1 minute add on
will be imposed; for a third offense he shall forfeit the game.
Thereafter the arbiter may use other penalties or expel a player from
the event for repeated offenses.
10) In case of a dispute either player may stop the clock while the
arbiter is being summoned. In any unclear situation the arbiter will
consider the testimony of both players and any reliable witnesses before
rendering his decision, which in all cases will be final.
11) The arbiter shall not pick up the clock except in the case of a
dispute when both players allow him to do so.
12) Spectators and players in another game are not to speak or oth-
erwise interfere in another game. If a spectator interferes in any way
such as by calling attention to a flag fall or an illegal move, the ar-
biter may cancel the game and rule that a new game be played in its
stead. and he may also expel the offending party from the playing room.
The arbiter should also be silent about illegal moves or flag falls (un-
less there are sufficient arbiters and they have agreed with the players
to call them before the event started) as this is entirely the responsi-
bility of the players.
13) When a clear drawn position is reached either player may stop
the clocks and appeal to the arbiter for a draw.
a) If the arbiter allows a draw the game is over.
b) If the appeal is rejected then 1 minute penalty is imposed on
the player who stopped the clock.
14) A player who has played an illegal move must retract it and make
a legal move on his own time. If no legal move exists with that piece
then he may make any legal move. Illegal moves unoticed by both players
cannot be corrected afterwards, nor can they become the basis for making
a claim, although a piece once touched must be moved. An illegal move
is completed when the player neutralizes the clock, whereupon the op-
ponent may claim a win provided he has mating material.
15) A legal move is completed when the hand leaves the piece.
16) Moving the King next to another King is illegal, however neither
player can play King takes King! This cheap shot will not be tolerated!
In that case you can claim a win because of an illegal move.
17) If a player promotes a pawn and leaves the pawn on the board the
opponent only has the option of stopping the clocks while a replacement
piece is found.
18) An arbiter may determine that a clock is defective and may
change clocks at his discretion.
19) Before a tournament the organizers should post at least 2 copies
of the complete Blitz rules in the tournament area unless there are
fewer than 25 players, in which case 1 list will suffice. Posting one
hour before play would be advisable.
20) If the king and queen are set up incorrectly then you may castle
short on the queenside and long on the kingside!
21) Finally, in all World Blitz Chess Association tournaments the
decision of the arbiter is final.
However, for future consideration the WBCA will listen to any
grievances or wrongdoings on the part of any arbiter or players.
Eventually the WBCA will publish a list of the best Blitz
clocks.
With the rules being clarified in this way, Blitz events will
run more smoothly because people will enjoy the game more with less ar-
guments. Many retired players will return to the game and new players
will become involved.
_____________________End Official Rules___________________________
For further World Blitz Chess Association information contact:
W. B. C. A.
8 Parnassus Road
Berkeley, CA 94708
Phone (US) 1-510-549-1169
FAX (US) 1-510-486-8078
BLITZ CHESS is published quarterly by the W. B. C. A.
GM Walter Browne, Editor in Chief
Sam Parazette, Database & Ratings Director
Kelly Clarke, Assistant Editor
ISSN #1053-3087