Blitz Rules

Blitz follows most of the same rules as regular and quick chess (including touch move^[1] and one hand^[2] for each move). Rules that are different in Blitz are given below.

1. Each player must make all of his moves in the time specified for the game (5 minutes)

2. As in quick chess, scorekeeping is not required

3. An illegal move that is completed (made on the board and opponent's clock is started) loses, provided the opponent has sufficient mating material and either takes the king (if the king is in check) or claims a win and stops the clock before finishing his or her turn. If the opponent does not notice the illegal move and makes their own move, the position stands and play continues.

   1. An illegal move is completed when the player presses the clock. A player may retract an illegal move prior to pressing the clock. A legal move is completed when the hand leaves the piece.
   2. An illegal move that is completed doesn't negate a player's right to claim on time, provided it is done prior to the opponent's claim of an illegal move. If the claims are simultaneous, the player who made the illegal move loses.
      
      

4. The game can end in a draw in all the same ways as regular and quick chess except for the following differences:

   1. A game is a draw if a player has insufficient mating material when the opponent makes an illegal move
   2. A player can claim a draw by "triple occurrence of position" or "the 50 move rule" in the same manner as in sudden death time pressure in regular chess with the exception that, as in quick chess, the player need not be under 5 minutes. A player may stop the clock and request that a tournament director observe the game and count for a draw by "the 50 move rule" or "triple occurrence of position".
   3. Draws by insufficient losing chances (only applies when there is no delay or increment):
      • A player must have less than one minute left in order to claim a draw due to insufficient losing chances and a claim of insufficient losing chances is also considered a draw offer
      • This rule is designed to protect a player who has reached a dead drawn position with little time left on the clock
      • Positions such as K and R vs K and R will be awarded a draw unless a forced win can be demonstrated
      • Positions where the claimant is ahead on material, but the position still has play will not be awarded a draw
      • If the claim is denied, one minute will be subtracted from the claimant's clock, leading to a forfeit
      • In unclear situations, the director may instruct that the game continue, with a director watching to see if further progress is made, while inviting a later claim if normal means to win are not being attempted
      • See rule 14, the drawn game, in the USCF rule book for more information
        
        

5. Standard penalty for first offense (except a completed illegal move) is to add one minute to the opponent's clock. Examples of an offense where a penalty may be assessed include, but are not limited to, when a player presses the clock after displacing pieces or knocks over the clock. There may be circumstances where a penalty assessed may not be standard (e.g. repeat offenses, unsporting behavior, etc...) and is left to the discretion of the tournament director.

6. Spectators and players in another game are not to suggest moves or otherwise interfere. If a spectator interferes in any way that may affect the result of the game (e.g. calling attention to a flag fall or an illegal move), the tournament director may cancel the game and rule that a new game be played in its stead and expel the offending party from the playing room. If the offending party is participating in the event, penalties at the discretion of the tournament director may be assessed up to expulsion from the event.

7. The decision of the chief tournament director is final^[3].