Calculations? You mean like integrating simultaneous trigonometric functions in eleven dimensions from first principles with inferred proofs? I don't need paper to to that - do you.

An interesting article on The Closet Grandmaster appeared recently:



Firstly, I agree with Amiel concerning this. I don't see how this practice is cheating as it offers nothing of value or benefit to your opponent nor to yourself. Its like saying drinking coffee during your game is cheating.

Maybe there is an argument that if your opponent sees you write down a move, he will then turn his mind to lines associated with that move - and then if you play something else his time has been wasted.

However, in regards to this I think that if someone is audacious enough to look at his opponent's score sheet during the game, then if he is lead astray in his thinking as a result it is his own fault.

Clearly an example of a rule that should be scrapped.

I think the rule is actually very sensible. Before this rule came in, some players used to write down alternative moves for their next move and then mentally check through each alternative before deciding on their move. They then crossed out the alternatives on their scoresheet and finally played their move. They were therefore using their scoresheet as an aid to their thinking process.

There was nothing to stop players writing down not just possible moves, but also variations - they could always claim that they were just writing down a possible next move and made a mistake.

I suppose it could be argued that the situation was equal for both players, but it goes against the principle that players should not use an aid to assist their thinking and also resulted in some very messy and often illegible scoresheets.

I think the rule is actually very sensible. Before this rule came in, some players used to write down alternative moves for their next move and then mentally check through each alternative before deciding on their move.

They then crossed out the alternatives on their scoresheet and finally played their move. They were therefore using their scoresheet as an aid to their thinking process.

There was nothing to stop players writing down not just possible moves, but also variations - they could always claim that they were just writing down a possible next move and made a mistake.

I suppose it could be argued that the situation was equal for both players, but it goes against the principle that players should not use an aid to assist their thinking and also resulted in some very messy and often illegible scoresheets.

Some very good points Ian. I think I will nominate your post for February's POTM. Well expressed arguments, and you raised issues I hadn't thought of before. Thank you.

Actually it is a pretty poor post as his points have nothing to do with the new 2005 law requiring the writing of the move after the move is made.

The situation he describes has always been against the laws of chess.

I thank you for your comment, Bill. However, just because it was against the rules to use the scoresheet as an aid, does not mean that it was not used as such.

In the distant past (the 1970s) some players used to write down a number of alternatives before deciding on a final move. None of those players, to my knowledge, were denounced for illegal behaviour. Presumably the laws have been refined over the years to outlaw this practice.

I do not know what the laws were before 2005 (having only returned to chess recently), however I assume that a move was not completed until a piece had been released onto a square. Therefore a player could write down a move and, before moving a piece, choose to change the written move any number of times before actually making the move on the board.

The player would then have a list of alternative moves in front of them (albeit crossed out) before actually playing a move. This behaviour would have been considered illegal if done for the purpose of aiding thought, but presumably it would have required the arbiter to make a judgement that that was the purpose.

This law makes it clear that the move must be written down after the move is completed on the board and avoids this situation.

So, Bill, you are saying that once a player wrote down a move on their scoresheet they were not allowed to change it, because if they changed it that would be considered as making notes and therefore cheating?

I didnt say that.
You were referring to players writing down multiple moves including variations prior to making their actual move.
This was clearly illegal.

If a player wrote a single move, changed their mind crossed it out and actually played another move then this was generally considered acceptable provided the player only did this once or twice per game. If they did it on a regular basis then it was considered note taking.

The change in the laws in 2005 to require the move be made before writing it down was done to remove this scenario.

I thank you for your comment, Bill. However, just because it was against the rules to use the scoresheet as an aid, does not mean that it was not used as such.

Actually it is a pretty poor post ...

Girls attract boys.

more girls playing chess = many more boys playing chess

Is there a law about placing a mark next to a move?

Article 12.4 says:

The scoresheet shall be used only for recording the moves, the times of the clocks, the offers of a draw, and matters relating to a claim and other relevant data.

Girls attract boys.

more girls playing chess = many more boys playing chess