FIDE arbiters commission

[Richard Bates]

Has a magazine.

But should it not be a bit more authoritative in knowing the laws? (see item on mobile phones Case C).

The question of whether a phone is currently allowed in full sight on the table is arguable. I think it is often allowed in England so can't be obviously wrong. Certainly the claimed automatic default for having a phone at the venue no longer applies I think.

[David Robertson]

Just fabulous. Instead of prepping for the next 4NCL weekend, I'm going to think up new ways to earn a citation for this journal. Morse code by blinking? Sheer amateurism! I'm working on a tic-tac system asking for water and Mars bars.

Just loved the 'action shot' on the front cover, by the way

[Brian Towers]

Sheer amateurism! I'm working on a tic-tac system asking for water and Mars bars.

Too late. Karpov already beat you to it with different flavoured yoghurt!

[Kevin Thurlow]

I never knew there was a FIDE Arbiters' magazine

"Just loved the 'action shot' on the front cover, by the way"

At least the arbiter is watching the games.

I controlled the Combined Services tournament for many years and was very aware that anyone carrying an Aldis lamp or semaphore flags could be up to no good. Nobody even tried to smuggle such items past me, which is a tribute to their honesty.

[Mick Norris]

Just fabulous. Instead of prepping for the next 4NCL weekend, I'm going to think up new ways to earn a citation for this journal. Morse code by blinking? Sheer amateurism! I'm working on a tic-tac system asking for water and Mars bars.

The Pardoe system as we call it

[NickFaulks]

I never knew there was a FIDE Arbiters' magazine

It's a new development, and I think a good one. However, it must always be borne in mind that the opinions expressed sometimes do not reflect FIDE regulations as they are, but rather as the editor would like them to be.

[Brian Towers]

However, it must always be borne in mind that the opinions expressed sometimes do not reflect FIDE regulations as they are, but rather as the editor would like them to be.

Presumably the same applies to the annotations in the annotated versions of the FIDE Laws of Chess in the FIDE Arbiter's Manual (http://arbiters.fide.com/images/stories ... l-2014.pdf) and the Chess Arbiters' Association (typo-riddled) "Laws of Chess 2014 with Interpretations" (http://www.chessarbitersassociation.co. ... mments.pdf)?

[NickFaulks]

Presumably the same applies to the annotations in the annotated versions of the FIDE Laws of Chess in the FIDE Arbiter's Manual (http://arbiters.fide.com/images/stories ... l-2014.pdf) and the Chess Arbiters' Association (typo-riddled) "Laws of Chess 2014 with Interpretations" (http://www.chessarbitersassociation.co. ... mments.pdf)?

In the first case I would say yes. I'm not going to stick my neck out regarding the second, but I hope that someone better qualified does.

[Alex McFarlane]

The first is from the Arbiters' Commission and was not approved by the Rules Commission. I believe the next version will be approved by both before publication.

The second is a scanned version of a document with less errors which was lost when my computer crashed, the original being lost when I rewrote to the website. It was written by one person but approved by others.

(Do I count as someone better qualified? If so that might be a first!)

[Brian Towers]

The second is a scanned version of a document with less errors which was lost when my computer crashed, the original being lost when I rewrote to the website.

That makes sense.

With only 18 months to go before you have to go through the whole process again probably not much point in hunting down and correcting the typos but for future reference here are the most common:

"l" (the letter after "k") instead of "1" (the number before "2")
"B" instead of "f3"
Mixing "0" and "O" in casting.

e.g.

C.11 In the case of the promotion of a pawn, the actual pawn move is indicated, followed
immediately by the abbreviation of the new piece. Examples: d8Q, exf8N, blB, g1R
...
Sample game:
1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qxd4 d5 6. exd6 e.p. Nxd6 7. Bg5 Nc6 8. Qe3+ Be7 9.
Nbd2 O-O 10. O-0-0 Re8 11. Kb1 (=)
Or: 1. e4 e5 2. NB Nf6 3. d4 ed4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qd4 d5 6. ed6 Nd6 7. Bg5 Nc6 8. Qe3 Be7 9 Nbd2
0-0 10. 0-0-0 Re8 11. Kb1 (=)

Out of curiosity, the CAA site has translations of the Laws into various languages (French, German, Spanish, Italian, etc.). What is the situation regarding copyright of these translations? Stewart Reuben has told me that FIDE deliberately doesn't copyright the laws but translations are the work of individuals and they may, quite rightly, claim copyright to their work.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"It's a new development, and I think a good one. However, it must always be borne in mind that the opinions expressed sometimes do not reflect FIDE regulations as they are, but rather as the editor would like them to be."

I agree it's a good idea. Perhaps a disclaimer on offered opinions would be an idea?

I was more commenting that I'm a FIDE Arbiter and didn't know the thing existed! That could be my fault of course.

[Roger de Coverly]

I was more commenting that I'm a FIDE Arbiter and didn't know the thing existed!

The monthly column at the chesscafe site is now defunct with the closure of the site to updates.

Recording decisions and controversies is presumably a useful function, but I would agree that it should be a magazine reflecting the views of its editorial staff, rather than something more official. Whilst it's probably correct to condemn Nakamura's double handed castling and So's motivational note-taking, having a switched off phone in your possession would be regarded as acceptable in many circles provided it remained totally switched off.

Recording the methods used by those who would seek external advice whilst playing is also a valuable function.

[NickFaulks]

but I would agree that it should be a magazine reflecting the views of its editorial staff

Maybe, but when you read in bold type that it is not permitted for an arbiter also to be a player in any FIDE rated event, you could be forgiven for assuming this to be true. It is false.

[Roger de Coverly]

but when you read in bold type that it is not permitted for an arbiter also to be a player in any FIDE rated event

It's not uncommon in British events for a member of the arbiting team to act as the filler. I wouldn't expect them to be acting as an arbiter at the same time.

As you suggest, the magazine goes beyond that.

If the arbiter was acting as sole arbiter as well as playing, that was wrong.

[NickFaulks]

If the arbiter was acting as sole arbiter as well as playing, that was wrong.

What do you mean by "wrong". It is not forbidden, and a great many small club events around the world could not be rated if it were. If your local league were FIDE rated, would you really want to ship in a specialist arbiter for each individual match? I assume that you don't do that now, what's the difference?