---
title: "Fair play in chess"
url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fair-play.md"
canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fair-play"
last_updated: "2026-11-07"
type: "reference"
summary: "Fair play is the rule that every game must be decided by the players' own thinking, which means no engine help."
related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-engine.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/engine-analysis.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/arbiter.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rules-of-chess.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/online-rating.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/computer-chess.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"]
---

# Fair play in chess

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Fair play is the rule that every game must be decided by the players' own thinking, which means no engine help.

Fair play is the rule that every game must be decided by the players' own thinking, which means no engine help, no advice from others during play and no tricks that distort a result.

Fair play covers everything that keeps a game honest. The central rule is simple: while a game is in progress, you may not use an [engine](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-engine.md), a [database](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/database.md) or another person to choose your moves. Tournaments enforce this with [arbiters](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/arbiter.md), rules on phones and electronic devices, and sometimes statistical checks of games. Online, organizers use their own detection methods and publish their own policies, which differ from place to place. For a club player the practical meaning is mostly about habit. Do not look at an analysis board during a live game, do not leave a rated game to consult something, and do not accept hints from a friend. It also covers conduct such as not stalling, not making false claims and not manipulating ratings. The common [mistake](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mistake.md) is thinking small help does not count. Even a single looked-up move breaks the rule. A good habit is to treat analysis as something done after the game, which is also where it helps your improvement most.

Also called: fair-play policy.

A neighboring idea is [Syzygy tablebases](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/syzygy-tablebases.md). Syzygy tablebases are a compact set of endgame tablebases created by Ronald de Man that cover endgames up to seven pieces and are widely used by modern chess engines.

An engine can tell you what "Fair play" means for a position, but not which mistakes you keep making; a [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) with George Li reviews your games and finds those.

## Related terms

- [Chess engine](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-engine.md)
- [Engine analysis](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/engine-analysis.md)
- [Arbiter](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/arbiter.md)
- [Rules of chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rules-of-chess.md)
- [Online rating](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/online-rating.md)

## Guides that go further

- [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid.
- [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each.
- [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li.

[Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com.

## Related

- [Chess engine](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/chess-engine.md)
- [Engine analysis in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/engine-analysis.md)
- [Arbiter in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/arbiter.md)
- [Rules of chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rules-of-chess.md)
- [Online rating in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/online-rating.md)
- [Chess terms: Computer chess and analysis](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/computer-chess.md)
- [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)