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Illinois State K-8 Chess Championships
March 2-4, 2012


Clock Tower Resort
7801 State Street
Rockford, IL 61108

HR: Single – Quad $95; Free Parking; Free WiFi; Indoor Water Park

(815) 398-6000, 1-800-358-7666

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Please Choose:   K-8 Tournament Rules   Blitz Rules   Bughouse Rules   Puzzle Solving Rules         

BUGHOUSE RULES
Revised August, 2006
1. There are only two people on a team, no substitutions are allowed.
2. Each team will play only two games, one for each player, against each other team.
3. The team decides which player is to play white and which player is to play the black
pieces in each match.
4. The time control is Game 5 minutes.
5. Each player is responsible for providing a clock. If neither player, in an individual
game, has a clock both players receive a forfeit loss for that game.
6. The game is clock move. A move is not completed until the opponent's clock has been
started.
7. Each match is concluded as soon as one of the players on a team wins their game.
8. Illegal moves lose, providing they are caught on the first move after the illegal move
has been made.
a. If an opponent makes a move and starts the opponent's clock, they have
forfeited the right to claim that illegal move.
b. 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 for
correcting either are null and void. The only exception is if one or both players
have more than five minutes on their clock, then the tournament director may
reduce the time accordingly.
c. Illegal moves, unnoticed by both players, cannot be corrected afterwards, nor
can they become the basis for later making an illegal move claim. If the King and
Queen are set up incorrectly when the game begins, then you may castle short
on the queen side and castle long on the kingside. Once each side has made a
move, incorrect setups must stay.
9. When a piece is captured, the captured piece is passed to the partner only after the
move is completed.
10. A partner has the option of either moving one of their pieces on their board or placing
a piece their partner has captured on their board.
a. A captured piece may be placed on any unoccupied square on the board, with
the exception that a pawn may not be placed on the first or last rank.
b. Pieces may be placed to create check or checkmate.
c. A promoted pawn, which has been captured, reverts to a pawn and not the
promoted piece.
11. A player may not attempt to hide pieces captured by their partner from the opponent.
The first attempt will be a warning and the second attempt will result in forfeiture of the
game.
12. Partners may verbally communicate throughout a game. It is legal for one partner to
make move suggestions to the other partner. It is illegal and grounds for forfeiting the
match if one partner physically moves one of their partner's pieces.
13. Each player must push the clock button with the same hand they use to move their
pieces. Exception: only during castling may a player use both hands. When capturing
only one hand may be used. The first infraction will get a warning, the second a one
minute penalty and the third will result in the loss of the game.
14. Except for pushing the clock button 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 begin you may push their side down and repunch
your side; however, if this procedure is unsatisfactory, please call for a
director;
d. Each player must always be allowed to push the clock after their move is
made. Neither player should keep their hand on or hover over the clock.
15. Define a win.
a. A game is won by the player:
1) who has mated their opponent's king;
a) If the checking piece is not a knight or is not in contact (on an
adjacent square) with the defending king and the defending player
does not have any material to block the check, the defending
player may wait until his or her partner supplies a piece provided
their time does not run out.
2) whose opponent resigns;
3) whose opponent's flag falls first, at any time before the game is
otherwise ended, provided he/she points it out and neutralizes the clock
while their own flag is still up;
4) who, after an illegal move, takes the opponent's king or stops the clock;
5) an illegal move doesn't negate a player's right to claim on time,
provided he/she does so prior to their opponent's claim of an illegal move.
If the claims are simultaneous, the player who made the illegal move
loses.
16. Defining a draw. A game is a draw:
a. By agreement between the teams during the game only.
b. If the flag of one player falls after the flag of the other player has already fallen
and a win has not been claimed, unless either side mates before noticing both
flags down. Announced checkmate nullifies any later time claims.
17. 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. Finally, it is unsportsmanly to knock over any pieces then punch the clock. For
the first offense the player will get a warning (unless this causes his flag to fall, in which
case the opponent will get one extra minute added to his clock). For a second offense a
one minute add-on for the opponent will be imposed. For a third offense the offender
shall forfeit the game. Thereafter, the tournament director may use other penalties or
expel a player from the event for repeated offenses.
18. In case of a dispute either player may stop both clocks while the tournament director
is being summoned. In any unclear situation the tournament director will consider the
testimony of both players and any reliable witnesses before rendering his decision. If a
player wishes to appeal the decision of a tournament director, the player must first
appeal to the section chief then, if necessary, the player may appeal to the Chief floor
director, whose decision in all cases is final.
19. The tournament director shall not pick up the clock; except in the case of a dispute.
20. Spectators and players in another match are not to speak or otherwise interfere in a
game. If a spectator interferes in any way, such as by calling attention to the flag fall or
an illegal move, the tournament director 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 tournament director should also be silent about illegal moves, flag falls, etc. (unless
there is an agreement with the players, before the game, to call them) as this is entirely
the responsibility of the players.
21. If a player promotes a pawn they must leave the pawn on the board and clearly
indicate to their opponent to what piece the pawn is being promoted. The promoted
pawn will be laid on it's side to indicate that it is a promoted pawn.
22. Only a tournament director may determine if a clock is defective and change clocks.
23. Excessive banging of pieces or clock will not be tolerated and the offending player
may be penalized with loss of time.
24. Insufficient losing chances claims cannot be made in Bughouse games.