Good chess manners make tournaments pleasant for everyone, and some of them are also rules that can cost a game. This is the etiquette we teach every student, plus what parents need to know about fair play.
In short
- Shake hands, stay quiet and respect your opponent.
- No phones or electronic devices with players.
- Any outside help during a game is cheating.
- Problems go to the arbiter, never to the opponent directly.
In this article
Tournament etiquette
Before the game
- Arrive at your board on time. Arriving late costs clock time, and arriving after the default time can lose the game.
- Check the board is set up correctly and the clock is set right.
- Shake hands with your opponent.
During the game
Chess is a quiet game. Players should not talk, make noises, tap pieces, or distract their opponent in any way. If you need to leave the board (for water or the toilet), you can, but your clock keeps running and you should not look at other games or talk to anyone about your own.
Offering a draw
Make your move, offer the draw, then press the clock. Don’t offer again and again; repeated offers can be treated as disturbing your opponent.
Resigning
If you want to resign, do it politely: say “I resign”, stop the clock, or tip your king over. Then shake hands and write the result.
After the game
- Shake hands, win or lose.
- Record the result correctly and sign the scoresheet if required.
- Leave the playing hall quietly; others are still playing.
- Discuss the game with your opponent outside the hall, not beside other boards.
Fair play is serious
Any outside help during a game is cheating. That includes notes, electronic devices, analysis engines, or signals from anyone. Under FIDE rules, a player found carrying a phone or electronic device in the playing area can lose the game, unless the event’s regulations allow a switched-off device in a bag. Fair-play rules also apply to parents and coaches.
Allowed or not?
| Situation | What’s allowed? |
|---|---|
| Using a phone during a game | Not allowed |
| Parent signalling from outside the hall | Not allowed |
| Writing notes to help your thinking | Not allowed (only moves, times and draw offers) |
| Going to the toilet with the clock running | Allowed |
| Asking the arbiter a rules question | Allowed |
| Discussing the game after it ends | Allowed, away from other boards |
Advice for parents at the venue
For parents
For parents: Children learn sportsmanship by watching adults. How a parent reacts to a loss teaches more than any lecture.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can my child talk to the opponent during the game?
Only to offer a draw, make a claim, or say “j’adoube” before adjusting a piece.
Q. What happens if my child’s phone rings?
Under FIDE rules the player can lose the game. Keep phones with parents.
Q. Can I watch my child’s game?
Usually only from spectator areas, if allowed, and silently.
Q. What if the opponent is being distracting?
Your child should stop the clock and tell the arbiter.
Q. Is it rude to not offer a draw?
No. Every player may play for a win as long as they want.
Keep reading
We teach sportsmanship alongside chess.
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