Tournament Rules

Open Dutch Championship Computer Chess

The tournament is governed by the "RULES OF CHESS", as established by the World Chess Association FIDE in 1996, in the official translation by the KNSB (March 1997). The following adaptations and extension apply.

 Computer Schaak Vereniging Nederland (CSVN)
 Utrecht, September 25th, 2000


 

1.    Adaptations

ad art. 4: Completing a move
Each computer is accompanied by an operator who shall perform all tasks the computer cannot perform by itself. In particular he must take care that as soon as the computer supplies a move it will be made on the board and he must enter moves by the opponent into the computer without delay. A move has been completed when the operator has performed it on the board. When an operator error leads to a disadvantage of the opponent, the arbiter shall compensate the time lost by the opponent. When necessary both clocks can be adjusted.

ad art. 5: The end of a game
The operator has the right to resign a game, offer a draw or accept an offered draw on behalf of the computer. If a game is stopped in this way, the arbiter can still decide that the game must be resumed. Claims for a draw based on art. 9.2 (repetition) or 9.3 (50-moves) must be made by the computer itself.
 ad art. 6: The chess clock
When a computer cannot operate the clock, this is done by the operator.
As long as both programs are playing from the opening book, the clock don’t need to be used.

ad art. 7: Irregularities
When during the game it is observed that a peace is located on the wrong field, then the position will be restored to before the irregularity, and the move indicated by the computer will be made on the board. The time used will be reduced by the arbiter, in the ratio of the number of played moves and the used time. The arbiter can grant the oponent extra time as compensation, for instance to rebuild hashtables.

ad art. 8: Notation of the games
Regardless the fact the computer keeps a record of the moves, the operator is to write down a notation form with all moves made and to make this form temporarily available on request of the tournament organisation.

ad art. 12: The player's conduct
It is forbidden to distract or inflict interference on the opponent in any way.

ad art. A: The adjournment
When a game needs to be adjourned, the arbiter makes sure only he and the corresponding operator know the move. He checks also that the right move is actually put into the envelop.

 2.    Extensions

A. In order to register down-time during malfunctioning, for each game an extra clock is used, which only may be operated by the arbiter.
B. This separate clock shall be used when malfunctions arise for which these rules allow they may be resolved without using playing time. Malfunctions are divided into three types:
1 On a power-failure the games are interrupted until playing can be resumed. If necessary extra time can be granted to compensate for for instance lost hashtables.
2 On a computer failure of a participant (hardware, including disconnected communication lines, or system software) the operator will be given the opportunity to resume the game, or to re-establish the communication.
3 On programming errors the operator will be given the opportunity to resume the game. For this the program error may be corrected (edit, compile, link), and/or the program may be restarted with other parameters. Eventually an older version of the program may be started.
The maximum time-allowence per game per player for type 2 or 3 failures is 15 minutes. When this time has been used, the player’s clock is activated again, and the failure has to be resolved in the player’s own time.
 C. Questions and/or commands from the computer to the operator must be unambiguous and must be acted upon properly by the operator without delay.
Questions must be limited to:
- entering used or remaining playing time;
- entering results of other games.
Commands to the operator must be limited to:
- changing or connecting a storage medium (for instance diskette or CD-rom).
The operator may not influence the working of the program. Therefore it is not allowed to change the playing level during the game, unless with per-mission of the arbiter. It is however allowed to enter from time to time the actual remaining thinking time into the program.

D. The playing tempo is 90 minutes for the whole game. This implies that article 10 (quickplay finish) from the FIDE laws of chess is in force. No time compensation will be given for slow communication lines.

E. When a participant disagrees with an arbiter’s decision, he can make an appeal to the committee of appeal. This committee consist of three persons, plus a primary and a secondary stand-by who will act when a committee member himself is involved in the appeal. Next to a representative from the board (who is not involved in the organisation), the committe will be assigned before the start of the tournament by lot out of the partici-pants. A drawn participant may refuse to take part in the committee. The committee decides by majority of votes.

F. When the Dutch and English text of these regulations lead to diffe-rent interpretations, the Dutch text prevails.

Rienk Doetjes, arbiter.