Has your opponent ever left the table cause they were losing

[David Blower]

If so did you complain to the league, and what happened.

To be clear its never happened to me, and I hope it never does. But there must be a few good stories from down the years.

Oh and is such a thing against the laws of chess?

[Roger de Coverly]

Oh and is such a thing against the laws of chess?

As a general rule, you shouldn't leave the board when it's your move.

[shaunpress]

Oh and is such a thing against the laws of chess?

Under Article 12 of the Laws of Chess a player needs the arbiters permission to leave the playing venue, or permission to leave the playing area if it is their move.

[Roger de Coverly]

I'd be careful about making 'general rules' for other people where such rules don't exist.

Article 12 - as above.

[Alan Walton]

I have also had a situation where my opponent wasn't at the board after I got back from a toilet break, it was still his move, after about 15 mins I started to wonder what was going on, I informed the arbiter and he obviously said I had to wait for his flag to fall, which was another 30 mins

This player was a ex-British champion, who always had a superiority complex even when his grade had plummeted, so it was kind of expected

[Phil Neatherway]

Many years ago, I was waiting for my opponent to turn up for an adjournment but he didn't. I later found out via the organiser that he had decided to resign, but neither my opponent nor the organiser let me know.

[Sean Hewitt]

Many years ago, I was waiting for my opponent to turn up for an adjournment but he didn't. I later found out via the organiser that he had decided to resign, but neither my opponent nor the organiser let me know.

I do wonder why players put up with this kind of rubbish.

I've never had a player disappear during a game, but I do dislike players not turning up at congresses (usually for the Sunday morning round). I think it's discourteous and potentially robs a player of one of his games. We can't stop it of course, but we prevent players who do it from playing in future events.

[Roger de Coverly]

This article 12 which was quoted, is not about leaving the table

It's about leaving the "playing area" when it's your move. Depends on how the arbiter defines playing area, but it doesn't include the Gents even though "playing venue" does. A strict interpretation would restrict playing area to the zone immediately adjacent to the board.

[Alex Holowczak]

This article 12 which was quoted, is not about leaving the table

It's about leaving the "playing area" when it's your move. Depends on how the arbiter defines playing area, but it doesn't include the Gents even though "playing venue" does. A strict interpretation would restrict playing area to the zone immediately adjacent to the board.

To give one example, when Sean uses the Crowne Plaza Gatwick Hotel, it's not often just the Arundel Suite that's the playing area. Depending on which event it was, I can remember both the corridor outside the side-doors being designated part of the playing area, and the lobby area on the entrance to the Arundel Suite was also the playing area. This was made clear to players by announcements and various signs that had been put up. So everyone knew what the playing area was.

As Roger explains, the playing area is a part of the playing venue, and you can't leave the area when it's your go.

I was playing a filler game at the London Classic, and the guy whose move it was wandered off in a quite tactical position. I then followed him to see where he was going, and as he left the playing area, I brought it to the attention of the arbiter, who promptly chased after him to see where he was off to.

His next move was a blunder, so I'm satisfied there was no foul play!

[Andrew Stone]

Yes. This was the third time I played the player. First time I beat him. Second time he beat me, but I had to complain several times that he wasn't writing his moves down (he had more than 5 mins left), trying to blitz me. Third time in a club match (Pinner v Maidenhead)I won a piece for a pawn early on (don't know how as all I recall is that I had played Bc8-d7-d8 (it wasn't a Stonewall). Anyway he dragged it out and then I headed off for a pit-stop. I was obviously quicker than expected (yes I do always wash my hands!) as I bumped into him heading for the exit. He mumbled something about having to go and then left. Never saw him again- he stopped playing for Maidenhead. They didn't see concerned that he had left either. They are a decent club and think they were glad to get shot of this player to be honest.

[Nick Thomas]

I have also had a situation where my opponent wasn't at the board after I got back from a toilet break, it was still his move, after about 15 mins I started to wonder what was going on, I informed the arbiter and he obviously said I had to wait for his flag to fall, which was another 30 mins

This player was a ex-British champion, who always had a superiority complex even when his grade had plummeted, so it was kind of expected

I can think of a couple of possibilities but am too scared to name them

[Alex Holowczak]

I think that it has been established then that you're allowed to walk around (e.g. to clear your head) whether or not it is your move.

Yes, so long as you don't leave the playing area.

I'm not clear from the explanation if the toilet is defined as part of the playing area.

FIDE 12.2: "Players are not allowed to leave the ‘playing venue’ without permission from the arbiter. The playing venue is defined as the playing area, rest rooms, refreshment area, area set aside for smoking and other places as designated by the arbiter."

Restroom is to be interpreted as bathroom, or a room containing a toilet, I gather. There was a proposal to say bathroom/toilet in the new Laws from 1 July 2013.

For example, that would mean that for an older person, going to the loo is banned - and you would be forced to wait, or make any move, so as to be able to go quickly!!
That seems ridiculous to me!!

It seems ridiculous to me too. So it's a good job the Laws don't say that.

They say: The player having the move is not allowed to leave the playing area without permission of the arbiter.

So if you need to go to the toilet when it's your turn, ask the arbiter for permission.

[Richard James]

After 10.Nge2 GM Falko Bindrich (2532) went to the toilet, even though it was his move. In itself this shouldn't be a reason for suspicion (if you gotta go, you gotta go), but according to the report on the Bundesliga website Bindrich had done the same several times in his game on Saturday against Pavel Tregubov: visiting the toilet while he was to move.

That's why arbiter Dieter von Häfen decided to follow Bindrich, and ask him whether he had his smartphone with him. Bindrich answered positively, but refused to show his phone. The arbiter then pointed out to the player that if his phone wouldn't show anything chess related, he could simply continue his game. As Bindrich still refused to cooperate, the arbiter decided to declare the game lost for him...

http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/first ... ating-case

[Liam Rabbitte]

When I was about 13 years old I played an old man who seemed frustrated that he was losing to me. I was in a totally winning position so was eager to play my moves. I accidentally played move 41 without stopping the clocks. At this point he tried his first tactic of intimidation by calling over the arbiter and claiming a win based on the fact my move was "illegal". Of course the arbiter just smirked and told us to play on.

Eventually I had mate in two moves and my opponent saw this too. He had about 50 minutes left on his clock and he got up and left. I presumed he went to the toilet so walked around but there was no sign of him. I then told the arbiter to which he responded "yeah he sometimes does this". It was a nice local event and other players began shaking their heads at my opponents disappearance.

I don't know what the rules are or if you can claim a win in that type of situation, but after 40 minutes he eventually returned to play his two moves and I delivered checkmate. Then with his miserable face he just got up and left, leaving me to set up the pieces. Fortunately this didn't put me off chess and saw the pathetic and funny side of it. However if I had been older i'm sure some strong words would have been said

[Ray Sayers]

This is a kind of reverse situation story, but it's kind of amusing (ish). I was playing in the British U18s many years ago and I was a sound pawn up. But I noticed whenever I got up to walk, mooch about and look at the demo boards/other games, my opponent was just staring at me all the time. I mean ALL the time. Every time I looked over to him, he was there staring. I ended up sitting down to watch the demo boards, got a coffee etc., he must have stared at me for 30-40 minutes solid. Eventually I came back and sat down. He looked at the board a couple of minutes then moved. He wan't even a beginner; he was about 165 ish. You will be stunned to find out he lost on time.