English Chess Forum

I just wondered if those small, hand held,electronic chess notation devices are legal to use in tournaments. It's just that, strictly speaking, using one would mean you weren't writing your moves down. I know that is being pedantic but lets be honest, many chess players can be a bit pedantic. I hope that doesn't offend anyone but if the cap fits....

PaulTalbot wrote:I just wondered if those small, hand held,electronic chess notation devices are legal to use in tournaments.

The Monroi one is legal because they got FIDE to change the Laws of Chess to allow it. Most others would I imagine also count as mobile phones if they had internet browsers built in ....

Many players would be unhappy about their opponent using an electronic device which was the opponent's own property because they would have little assurance that it didn't contain a database of games or a chess engine which could be consulted during play.

PaulTalbot wrote:It's just that, strictly speaking, using one would mean you weren't writing your moves down.

Without checking, I think it's "recording" rather than "writing". Some visually impaired players use a voice recorder for example.

Roger de Coverly wrote:

PaulTalbot wrote:Many players would be unhappy about their opponent using an electronic device which was the opponent's own property because they would have little assurance that it didn't contain a database of games or a chess engine which could be consulted during play.

Indeed ... and (a one time peforming magician writes) it would be a trivial matter to switch in a doctored device for a legit one supplied by tournament organisers.