Joey Stewart wrote:On that note, does anybody have a good set of rules to explain the two minute rules to a layman league player (and not the alien legal speak that they use on the fide website) exactly what situation to claim their draw. My understanding is that the opponant has to either be making no attempt to win by normal means or cannot win by normal means, but both are somewhat subjective, especially if the claimant has understood the rule to be a free draw whenever he runs short of time.
MCF has the following:
Games in the Manchester League are subject to the FIDE Rule “Quickplay finishes where no arbiter is present in the venue”.
This Rule (note that in the FIDE Rules, any reference to “he” is to be read as he or she, “his” as his or hers etc) currently states:
“Where games are played as in Article 10, a player may claim a draw when he has less than two minutes left on his clock and before his flag falls. This concludes the game. He may claim on the basis:
a. that his opponent cannot win by normal means, and/or
b. that his opponent has been making no effort to win by normal means.
In a) the player must write down the final position and his opponent verify it.
In b) the player must write down the final position and submit an up to date scoresheet. The opponent shall verify both the scoresheet and the final position.
The claim shall be referred to an arbiter whose decision shall be final.”
The claim must be referred to the Secretary of the Disputes Committee (unless the MCF has appointed an independent arbiter for the match) if the players cannot agree a result on the night.
Note that Article 10 in the current FIDE Rules refers to Quickplay Finishes, but that Rule 10.2 does NOT apply unless an independent arbiter is present.
Before you make a claim, offer your opponent a draw in line with the rules i.e. after you have made a move and before you press your clock. If your opponent rejects it then make the claim. If there is an MCF appointed independent arbiter present they will handle it. If not you must stop play immediately, agree the final position, and agree a score sheet as much up to date as possible; then if there is no agreement refer the matter to the disputes committee secretary.
What follows next comes with a health warning; it may be over ridden by the disputes committee.
“Not being able to win by normal means” covers two main situations.
(i) The side claiming the draw is material up and there is no realistic compensation. This is drawn as the only way to win is by “flagging” your opponent. Except that if you win material you cannot sit on the position, play no moves until you have two minutes left and then make a claim. You always have to play moves at a reasonable rate.
(ii) The position is a theoretical draw and you have demonstrated over the board you know how to draw it. The best example is a K&R v K&B. You have to take your king to the correct corner and then play some moves to show you understand the draw, before you will be given it.
Notes
(1) Do not ask me where the boundary is but you cannot clam a draw with several pawns each e.g. K, R and five pawns v K, R and five pawns.
(2) It is not an adjudication situation. It is a quickplay finish. You are expected to play quick and finish the game. This rule is only there to prevent a win on time that would bring the game into disrepute.
(3) There is a separate rule which says “The game is drawn when a position is reached from which a checkmate cannot occur by any possible series of legal moves, even with the most unskilled play. This immediately ends the game.”
(4) “Making no effort to win by normal means”. This means that while avoiding repeating the position the opponent is making no effort to improve his position.
