Rules of chess
The rules of chess are the Laws of Chess, the document FIDE publishes that sets out how pieces move, how a game ends, how clocks and records work, and how arbiters handle problems.
Also called: FIDE Laws of Chess, laws of chess
There is one official set of rules for over-the-board chess, the FIDE Laws of Chess. They have two parts. The Basic Rules of Play, Articles 1 to 5, cover the aim of the game, the starting position, how each piece moves, the act of moving, and how a game is completed. The Competitive Rules of Play, Articles 6 to 12, cover the chess clock, irregularities, recording moves, drawn games, scoring, player conduct and the arbiter. The Laws also carry appendices for rapid chess, blitz, algebraic notation and play with blind or visually disabled players. FIDE adds guidelines for adjourned games, Chess960 and games without increment; the document says these are not part of the Laws but strongly recommends them where needed. A game must follow the Laws to be rated by FIDE, and non-rated competitive games are encouraged to follow them as well. Event organizers add their own regulations, for example on default times or draw agreements, so always read both. The Preface adds a useful principle: where a case is not covered, look at analogous situations that are. The current edition at the time of writing took effect on 1 January 2023. Online sites follow their own versions, so touch-move and clock rules differ there.
It sits close to FIDE. FIDE, the Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation, is the international body that publishes the Laws of Chess, keeps the rating lists and awards titles, working through its member national federations.
Also worth reading is Staunton pieces. Staunton pieces are the standard design of chess set used in tournaments, with a distinct silhouette for each piece, and the design the Laws name for the specially made boards used by visually disabled players.
It sits close to Adjusting a piece. Adjusting a piece means straightening one on its square; the Laws allow it only to the player on the move, who must first say "j'adoube" or "I adjust" to show they do not intend to move it.
Once "Rules of chess" is familiar, the next question is what to work on at your rating, which the improvement plans by rating band answer with game and puzzle data.
Related terms
The arbiter is the official who sees that the Laws of Chess and the rules of the event are followed, rules on disputes and claims, and can penalize rule breaches during a tournament.
Touch-move is the over-the-board rule that binds a player to a piece once it has been deliberately touched: your own piece has to be moved and an opponent's piece has to be captured, wherever a legal move exists.
A chess clock is a pair of linked timers of which only one runs at a time; after each move a player presses their side to stop their own time and start the opponent's.
FIDE, the Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation, is the international body that publishes the Laws of Chess, keeps the rating lists and awards titles, working through its member national federations.
An illegal move is one that breaks the rules of how a piece moves or leaves your own king in check; in over-the-board play it is corrected, and a second completed illegal move loses the game.
Chess960 is a variant that begins from one of 960 randomly chosen back-rank setups, with the king between the rooks and the bishops on opposite colors, and is otherwise played with the usual rules.
Guides that go further
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?
Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each.
A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li.
Sources
- FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023), Preface 0.1 and 0.2, read Oct 21, 2026.
- FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023), Articles 1 to 12, read Oct 21, 2026.
- FIDE Laws of Chess (effective 1 January 2023), Appendices A to D and Guidelines I to III, read Oct 21, 2026.
Want to spot this in your own games?
A first lesson starts with your games: George reviews them and builds a study plan around what he finds.