Article 8 of the official Laws of Chess reads: "In the course of play each player is required to record his own moves and those of his opponent in the correct manner, move after move, as clearly and legibly as possible, in the algebraic notation (Appendix E), on the ‘scoresheet’ prescribed for the competition. It is forbidden to write the moves in advance, unless the player is claiming a draw according to Article 9.2 or 9.3 [my emphasis]."

I don't know about you but I've always had a problem with that last bolded bit. Of course, I follow the rule, but prior to its introduction my method was to first write down a move before actually playing it. And yes, many a times back then I would re-examine the position, thought for a little more, then changed what I wrote. It is apparently exactly this kind of behaviour that the rule is designed to prevent for, as some would say, it's tantamount to cheating.

* expletive deleted*

If it's a product of my own thinking process, how in the hec is it cheating? Honestly, it's a total joke.

An asinine rule. But considering the horse’s patoots running things (maybe even playing) these days, what can you expect?

An asinine rule. But considering the horse’s patoots running things (maybe even playing) these days, what can you expect?

The current Fide rules regarding writing down your move are wrongly thought out in my opinion.

For example, Currently you are allowed to make your response before writing down your opponents move. Previously you were not allowed to play like this.
The introduction of digital clocks with incremental time controls allowed this rule change to slip under the radar. In my opinion, Fide should re-examine this rule and fix it.

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.

It is forbidden to write down your move before you make it it has been for some time now. Why not stop whinging and get on with t'game lads

Are you allowed to write anything down before you make your move? What if it is not on the move sheet, maybe you are writing a letter to your uncle or something like that during the game. Is that a breaking of the rules?

You can pick your nose and use it to draw manga if you wish. Just don't write down the/a move before you make it.

I'm not sure if that is true. What is you start doing calculations on paper during a game - that would probably violate the rules.

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.

I have nearly filled up my internal cpu.

Wait till YOU are older my friend.