ICCF Playing Rules For Postal Play

Individual and Team tournament games

  1) Play and Control

a.         Games shall be played in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess where applicable.

b.         A Tournament Director shall be appointed who shall be responsible for the conduct of the tournament and progress of the games.

c.         /TEAM: Each team has a Team Captain who shall maintain contact on behalf of the Players with the Tournament Director./

d.         /TEAM: In cases of misunderstanding between players the Team Captains should try to solve the problem before it is sent to the Tournament Director./

2) Transmissions

a.         Moves shall be numbered and sent

b.         in the numeric or a mutually agreed notation

c.         using postcards (or letters)

d.         bearing the name and address and signature of the sender and

e.         a correct repetition of the opponent's latest move and confirmation of the postmark date

f.          The sender shall record on the reply

g.         the date on which the opponent's latest move was delivered and

h.         the expected postmark date of the reply.

i.          Failing this, reasonable dates shall be assumed by the recipient and notified with the reply move.

j.          When the expected postmark date does not agree with the postmark, this shall be corrected by the recipient and the sender informed with the reply move.

k.         The time used for the move (see Rule 6d) and accumulated time for the game shall also be recorded.

l.            Intercontinental games shall be played by first class / air mail but a tournament announcement can make this mandatory also for other games.

m.        If both players agree, moves may be transmitted by email or fax but these rules shall apply.

3) Failure to Reply

a.         Should there be no reply to any move within 16 days plus the average time in the post both ways, the full details shall be repeated with an information copy to the Tournament Director. When replying to such a repeat an information copy to the Tournament Director must also be sent.

/a./       /TEAM: Should there be no reply to any move within 16 days plus the average time in the post both ways, the full details shall be repeated with an information copy to the Tournament Director through the Team Captain. When replying to such a repeat an information copy to the Tournament Director through the Team Captain must also be sent./

b.         Games in which no move has been sent for four months may be scored as lost to a player who has not advised the Tournament Director about the delay.

/b./       /TEAM: Games in which no move has been sent for four months may be scored as lost to a player whose Team Captain has not advised the Tournament Director and the opposing team captain about the delay./

4) Moves and Continuations

a.         No legal move shall be retracted after posting - clerical errors are binding if they are legal moves.

b.         A correct repetition of the latest move is necessary for the sender's reply move to be valid.

c.         Illegible or illegal moves shall be referred back to the sender for immediate correction but without any obligation to move the piece in question.

d.         A blank card or a card posted without a reply move shall be treated as an illegible move.

e.         The omission or addition of chess indications (such as "check", "captures", "en passant") is without significance.

f.          Proposals of conditional continuations are binding until the recipient makes a different move from that proposed.

g.         Any accepted continuation move shall be correctly repeated with the reply.

h.         When no reply is made to an accepted conditional continuation it shall be treated as an illegible move.

5) Records and Reports

a.         All transmissions from the opponent concerning the game and a record of the moves and dates shall be kept until the end of the tournament and sent to the Tournament Director upon request.

/a/.       /TEAM: All transmissions from the opponent concerning the game and

a record of he moves and dates shall be kept until the end of the tournament and sent to the Team Captain and/or through him to the Tournament Director upon request.

/b/.       If a player does not answer enquiries from the Tournament Director within 14 days plus the average time in the post both ways and without counting leaves, that player may be deemed to have withdrawn from the tournament.

/b/.TEAM: If a player does not answer enquiries from the Team Captain (or through him from the Tournament Director) within 14 days plus the average time in the post both ways and without counting leaves, that player may be deemed to have withdrawn from the tournament. See also rule 9./

c.         Changes of permanent postal and/or email address shall be notified to the Tournament Director and opponents.

/c/. TEAM: Changes of permanent postal and/or email address shall be notified to the opponents and the Team Captain, who shall inform the Tournament Director.

/d/.       The Tournament Director must be notified immediately of any disagreement between competitors about the game

/d./ TEAM: Through the Team Captain the Tournament Director must be notified immediately of any disagreement between competitors about the game.

6) Time Allowed and Penalties

a.         Each competitor is allowed 30 days for every 10 moves, unless the tournament announcement explicitly specifies otherwise. If, under rule 2, electronic transmission is used, then a mutually agreed different time control may be used, subject to the consent of the Tournament Director.

/a./       /TEAM: Each competitor is allowed 30 days for every 10 moves, unless the tournament announcement explicitly specifies otherwise. If, under rule 2 (m), electronic transmission is used, then a mutually agreed different time control may be used, subject to the consent of the

Tournament Director being obtained through the Team Captains./

b.         The time limit may be exceeded once.

c.         Time saved shall be carried forward.

d.         The time used for each move is the difference in days between the date on which the opponent's latest move was delivered and the postmark date of the reply. If, under rule 2, electronic transmission is used, then a mutual agreement on the interpretation of 'delivery date' is permitted, subject to the consent of the Tournament Director.

/d./ TEAM:The time used for each move is the difference in days between the date on the opponent's latest move was delivered and the postmark date of the reply. If, under rule 2 (m), electronic transmission is used, then a mutual agreement on the interpretation of 'delivery date' is permitted, subject to the consent of the Tournament Director being obtained through the Team Captains./

e.         Time in the post is not counted.

f.          Accepted continuation moves are included in the time taken for the reply move.

g.         A penalty of five days shall be added to the time of a player who sends an illegible, illegal or ambiguous move, incorrectly repeats the opponent's latest move or fails to send a move by air mail when this is mandatory.

7) Time Exceeding

a.         Claims that the time limit has been exceeded shall be sent to the Tournament Director with full details at the latest when replying to the 10th, 20th, etc. move.

/a./       /TEAM: Claims that the time limit has been exceeded shall be sent

to the Tournament Director through the Team Captain with full details at the latest when replying to the 10th, 20th, etc. move./b/. At the same time, the opponent shall be informed of the claim.

c.         Any protest shall be sent to the Tournament Director within 14 days of receiving the information otherwise the claim shall be deemed to be conceded unless the claim is clearly unfounded.

/c./ TEAM: Any protest shall be sent to the Tournament Director through the Team Captain within 14 days of receiving the information otherwise the claim shall be deemed to be conceded unless the claim is clearly unfounded.

d.         The Tournament Director shall inform both players of the decision.

/d./ TEAM: The Tournament Director shall inform both Team Captains players of the decision, and it is the responsibility of the captains to notify their players without delay.

e.         If the Tournament Director upholds a first claim, a new count of the opponent's time shall begin on the date the information about the claim was received.

f.          A competitor who has exceeded the time allowed for the second time shall forfeit the game.

g          If the Tournament Director dismisses a claim as being unfounded, he may rule that no further claim by that player during the current time control period shall be accepted.

8) Leave

a.         Each competitor may claim up to a total of 30 days leave during each calendar year.

b.         Players taking leave must inform in advance their opponents and the Tournament Director.

/b./       /TEAM: Players taking leave must inform in advance their opponents and the Tournament Director through their Team Captain./

c.         In addition, the Tournament Director may grant up to 30 days' additional leave per annum, which in exceptional circumstances may be back-dated and/or extended.

9) Withdrawal

a.         In the event of withdrawal or death, the Tournament Director shall decide whether all the games shall be annulled or the remaining games adjudicated or scored as losses.

/a./       /TEAM: In the event of withdrawal or death, the Tournament Director shall call upon the Team Captain to replace this player within two months./

/b./       /TEAM: The substitute player may be required to start with a first time limit exceeding. The new count starts on a date set by theTournament Director.

/c./       /TEAM: If it is not possible for the Team Captain to get the necessary documents from the substituted player, the opposing Team Captain shall provide them.

/d./       /TEAM: If no substitute player is available, the Tournament Director shall decide according to what is prescribed in the Tournament Rules 6.3.

/e./       /TEAM: A team may substitute at most 50% of its players in case of withdrawal, and only make one substitution per board, but there is no limit for cases of death./

10) Adjudication

a/./       If no result has been agreed by the date set by the announcement (or TD) for close of play, or in the event of an accepted withdrawal, both players shall submit to the Tournament Director within 30 days the final position with a record of the moves played, and a statement claiming either a win or a draw. Failure to submit a claim shall result in a loss except as noted below in 10(c).

/a./ TEAM: If no result has been agreed by the date set for close of play, or after 3 years of play where no date was set for close of play, or in the event of an accepted withdrawal, both players shall submit to the Tournament Director, through their Team Captain, within 30 days the final position with a record of the moves played, and a statement claiming either a win or a draw. Failure to submit a claim shall result in a loss except as noted below in 10(c)./

b.         Players should submit analysis to support their claim of a win or draw. Claims of a win shall not be accepted for consideration without supporting analysis; such claims shall be treated as claims of a draw instead. Analysis does not necessarily mean possible variations; it also includes general plans where appropriate. Players who do not submit analysis forfeit their right to appeal the adjudicator's decision.

c.         In the event of withdrawal due to death, or an accepted withdrawal on the basis of extreme illness preventing the player from submitting a claim and analysis, the Tournament Director shall handle the game as if that player claimed a draw and submitted no analysis, with the following exceptions:

 * All Title Tournaments

 * All Tournaments with norms available, unless the result will have no effect on norms awarded

 * All Tournaments with prize money, unless the result will have no effect on prize award.

 * Any other tournament as determined by the WTD or as announced by the Tournament Director prior to the start of play.

  d.         In the event that both players claim a draw, the Tournament Director shall declare the game a draw.

e.         The adjudicator should begin with the assumption that the position is a draw and only determine if the analysis of the player(s) claiming a win has presented his case and has relied on general chess principles to claim a win (e.g. extra material; exchange, typical endgame patterns, etc). In those cases where both players have submitted analysis that does not diverge for several moves, the adjudicator shall accept these moves as if played and start the adjudication at the new position reached. The adjudicator shall not use his own analysis to find a win that was not presented in the analysis; The adjudicator may assume that both players have access to available table bases for endgame positions.

f.          For games submitted under 10(c), the adjudicator shall first determine if the analysis of the other player is complete, correct, and irrefutable, and then the adjudicator may use his own analysis. The adjudicator shall be mindful of the deceased player's skill level, based upon the player's rating and the strength of play in the game to reach the adjudicated position.

g.         No player may be awarded a win when he has submitted a claim of a draw, or when he has submitted a claim of a win without supporting analysis. The only exception shall be for those players covered under

10(c), who may be awarded a win based on the adjudicator's analysis under 10(f), even in the event that the Tournament Director has submitted the position with a claim of a draw for that player.

h.         The Tournament Director shall notify the adjudicator's decision to both players, indicating whether or not it is subject to appeal. The adjudicator need not provide any specific reason for the decision provided. The name of the adjudicator shall not be released without the prior consent of the adjudicator.

/h./ TEAM: The Tournament Director shall notify the adjudicator's decision to both Team Captains, indicating whether or not it is subject to appeal. The adjudicator need not provide any specific reason for the decision provided. The name of the adjudicator shall not be released without the prior consent of the adjudicator.

i.          Any appeal against the adjudicator's decision must be sent to the Tournament Director within 14 days of receiving the notification of the decision.

/i. TEAM: Any appeal against the adjudicator's decision must be sent to the Tournament Director, through the Team Captain, within 14 days of receiving the notification of the decision./

j.          The Tournament Director shall then obtain a ruling from another adjudicator and notify the result to both players. The ruling is final and no further appeal shall be accepted from either player. The name of the appeal adjudicator shall not be released with prior consent from the appeal adjudicator.

/j./ TEAM: The Tournament Director shall then obtain a ruling from another adjudicator and notify the result to both Team Captains. The ruling is final and no further appeal shall be accepted. The name of the appeal adjudicator shall not be released with prior consent from the appeal adjudicator./

k.         No additional analysis may be submitted by either player for an appeal.

11) Reporting Results

a.         As soon as possible after ending a game, the result and a clear record of the moves played shall be sent to the Tournament Director by both players.

/a/. TEAM: As soon as possible after ending a game, the result and a clear record of the moves played shall be sent to the Tournament Director through the Team Captains by both players./

b.         The result is officially recorded only after receipt of this record.

c.         Should no record be received from either player, the result may be scored as lost by both.

/c./ TEAM: Should no record be received from either Team Captain, the result may be scored as lost by both/

12) Decisions and Appeals

a.         The Tournament Director may penalise or disqualify competitors who break these rules and

b.         any matter not covered in them shall be decided by the Tournament Director according to the principles stated in the Preface of the FIDE Laws of Chess.

c.         Any competitor may appeal within 14 days of receiving a decision of the Tournament Director to the chairman of the ICCF Appeals Commission, whose ruling shall be final.

/c./ TEAM: Any Team Captain may appeal within 14 days of receiving a decision of the Tournament Director to the chairman of the ICCF Appeals Commission, whose ruling shall be final. These playing rules were adopted by the ICCF Congress, Villa La Angostura 2005 and take effect from 1.1.2006. Last Updated ( Monday, 02 January 2006 )

International Numeric Notation

  As shown in the diagram, each square is identified by a two-figure code number (The letters beneath and the figures on the right refer to the algebraic notations) Moves are indicated by putting first the square of departure and then adding the square of destination, thus giving a four figure number. For instance: - 1) Ng1-f3 is 7163.

Castling is indicated by the Kings move, for instance: - 5171 is King Side Castling by White.

Pawn promotion is indicated by adding a fifth figure, the code number corresponding to the piece to which the Pawn is promoted is:-

ICCF Playing Rules for EMAIL Play

  Individual and Team tournament games

  1) Play and Control

a.         Games shall be played by email, in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess where applicable.

b.         A Tournament Director shall be appointed who shall be responsible for the conduct of the tournament and progress of the games.

c.         Games shall be played by email. If a player should lose email access and is unable, for whatever reason, to re-establish email access within 30 days, he will be considered to have withdrawn from the tournament. The period of 30 days is allowed once a calendar year.

/d/.       /TEAM: Each team has a Team Captain who shall maintain contact on behalf of the Players with the Tournament Director.

/e/.       /TEAM: In cases of misunderstanding between players the Team Captains should try to solve the problem before it is sent to the Tournament Director.

/f./        /TEAM: If a player should lose email access and is unable, for whatever reason, to re-establish email access within 30 days, he must be replaced by another player who is able to continue the game by email. See Rule 9/

2) Transmissions

a.         Moves shall be numbered and sent

b.         in the numeric or a mutually agreed notation

c.         by email messages

d.         bearing the name and email address of the sender and

e.         a continuous record of all moves and confirmation of the date on which the opponent's latest message was sent.

f.          The sender shall record on the message

g.         the date on which the opponent's latest message was received and

h.         the expected date of the reply.

i.          Failing this, reasonable dates shall be assumed by the recipient and notified with the reply move.

j.          When the expected reply date does not agree with the actual emailing date shown on the message time-stamp, this shall be corrected by the recipient and the sender informed with the reply move.

k.         The time used for the move (see Rule 6c) and accumulated time for the game shall also be recorded.

3) Failure to Reply

a.         Should there be no reply to any move within *16* days, the full details shall be repeated with copy to the Tournament Director. When replying to such a repeat a copy to the Tournament Director must also be sent.

/a./ TEAM: Should there be no reply to any move within 16 days the full details shall be repeated with copy to the Tournament Director through the Team Captain. When replying to such a repeat a copy to the Tournament Director through the Team Captain must also be sent./

b.         Games in which no move has been sent for 40 days may be scored as lost to a player who has not advised the Tournament Director and his opponent about the delay.

/b./ TEAM: Games in which no move has been sent for 40 days may be scored as lost to a player whose Team Captain has not advised the Tournament Director and the opposing team captain about the delay./

4) Moves and Continuations

a.         No legal move shall be retracted after mailing - clerical errors are binding if they are legal moves.

b.         A correct repetition of the latest move is necessary for the sender's reply move to be valid.

c.         Illegible, illegal or ambiguous moves shall be referred back to the sender for immediate correction but without any obligation to move the piece in question.

d.         A message mailed without a reply move shall be treated as an illegible move.

e.         The omission or addition of chess indications (such as "check", "captures", "en passant") is without significance.

f.          Proposals of conditional continuations are binding until the recipient makes a different move from that proposed.

g.         Any accepted continuation move shall be correctly repeated with the reply.

h.         When no reply is made to an accepted conditional continuation it shall be treated as an illegible move.

5) Records and Reports

a.         All transmissions from the opponent concerning the game and a record of the moves and dates shall be kept until the end of the tournament and sent to the Tournament Director upon request.

/a/. TEAM: All transmissions from the opponent concerning the game and a record of he moves and dates shall be kept until the end of the tournament and sent to the Team Captain and/or through him to the Tournament Director upon request.

b.         If a player does not answer enquiries from the Tournament Director within 14 days - without counting leaves - that player may be deemed to have withdrawn from the tournament.

/b/. TEAM: If a player does not answer enquiries from the Team Captain (or through him from the Tournament Director) within 14 days – without counting leaves - that player may be deemed to have withdrawn from the tournament. See also Rule 9.

c.         Changes of permanent address shall be notified to the Tournament Director and opponents.

/c/. TEAM: Changes of permanent address shall be notified to the opponents and the Team Captain, who shall inform the Tournament Director.

d.         The Tournament Director must be notified immediately of any disagreement between competitors about the game

/d./ TEAM: Through the Team Captain the Tournament Director must be notified immediately of any disagreement between competitors about the game.

e.         The Tournament Director and opponents must be notified immediately if any substantial failure of hardware or software occurs.

/e./ TEAM: Through the Team Captain, the Tournament Director and opponents must be notified immediately if any substantial failure of hardware or software occurs./

6) Time Allowed and Penalties

a.         Each competitor is allowed 50 days for every 10 moves, unless the tournament announcement explicitly specifies otherwise.

b.         Time saved shall be carried forward.

c.         The time used for each move is the difference in days between the date on which the opponent's latest move was received and the mailing date of the reply. If a move arrives before 8 pm in the recipient's local time then it is considered to have arrived on that day. If a move arrives after 8 pm in the recipient's local time it can be considered as arrived on the next calendar day.

d/./       Accepted continuation moves are included in the time taken for the reply move.

e.         A penalty of two days shall be added to the time of a player who sends an illegible, illegal or ambiguous move, or incorrectly repeats the opponent's latest move..

f.          A competitor who has exceeded the time allowed shall forfeit the game.

7) Time Exceeding

a.         Claims that the time limit has been exceeded shall be sent to the Tournament Director with full details at the latest when replying to the 10th, 20th, etc. move.

/a./ TEAM: Claims that the time limit has been exceeded shall be sent to the Tournament Director through the Team Captain with full details at the latest when replying to the 10th, 20th, etc. move.

b/./       At the same time, the opponent shall be informed of the claim.

/b./ TEAM: At the same time, the opponent shall be informed of the claim by an email message with copies to the Team Captain and Tournament Director.

c.         Any protest shall be sent to the Tournament Director within 14 days of receiving the information otherwise the claim shall be deemed to be conceded unless the claim is clearly unfounded.

/c./ TEAM: Any protest shall be sent to the Tournament Director through the Team Captain within 14 days of receiving the information otherwise the claim shall be deemed to be conceded unless the claim is clearly unfounded.

d.         The Tournament Director shall inform both players of the decision.

/d./ TEAM: The Tournament Director shall inform both Team Captains players of the decision, and it is the responsibility of the captains to notify their players without delay.

e.         If the Tournament Director upholds the claim, then the competitor who has exceeded the time allowed shall forfeit the game.

f.          If the Tournament Director dismisses a claim as being unfounded, he may rule that no further claim by that player during the current time control period shall be accepted.

8) Leave

a.         Each competitor may claim up to a total of 30 days leave during each calendar year.

b.         Players taking leave must inform in advance their opponents and the Tournament Director.

/b./       /TEAM: Players taking leave must inform in advance their opponents and the Tournament Director through their Team Captain.

c.         In addition, the Tournament Director may grant up to 30 days' additional leave per annum which in exceptional circumstances may be back-dated and/or extended.

9) Withdrawal, death /[and Substitution]/

a.         In the event of withdrawal or death, the Tournament Director shall decide whether all the games shall be annulled or the remaining games adjudicated or scored as losses.

/a./ TEAM: In the event of withdrawal or death, the Tournament Director shall call upon the Team Captain to replace this player within two months./

/b./ TEAM: The new count starts on a date set by the Tournament Director./

/c./ TEAM: If it is not possible for the Team Captain to get the necessary documents from the substituted player, the opposing Team Captain shall provide them.

/d./ TEAM: If no substitute player is available, the Tournament Director shall decide according to what is prescribed in the Tournament Rules 6.3.e./

/e./ TEAM: A team may substitute at most 50% of its players in case of withdrawal, and only make one substitution per board, but there is no limit for cases of death.

10) Adjudication

a          If no result has been agreed by the date set by the announcement (or TD) for close of play, or in the event of an accepted withdrawal, both players shall submit to the Tournament Director within 30 days the final position with a record of the moves played, and a statement claiming either a win or a draw. Failure to submit a claim shall result in a loss except as noted below in 10(c).

/a./ TEAM: If no result has been agreed by the date set for close of play, or after 3 years of play where no date was set for close of play, or in the event of an accepted withdrawal, both players shall submit to the Tournament Director, through their Team Captain, within 30 days the final position with a record of the moves played, and a statement claiming either a win or a draw. Failure to submit a claim shall result in a loss except as noted below in 10(c).

b.         Players should submit analysis to support their claim of a win or draw. Claims of a win shall not be accepted for consideration without supporting analysis; such claims shall be treated as claims of a draw instead. Analysis does not necessarily mean possible variations; it also includes general plans where appropriate. Players who do not submit analysis forfeit their right to appeal the adjudicator's decision.

c.        

In the event of withdrawal due to death, or an accepted withdrawal on the basis of extreme illness preventing the player from submitting a claim and analysis, the Tournament Director shall handle the game as if that player claimed a draw and submitted no analysis, with the following exceptions:

 * All Title Tournaments

 * All Tournaments with norms available, unless the result will have no effect on norms awarded

 * All Tournaments with prize money, unless the result will have no effect on prize award.

 * Any other tournament as determined by the WTD or as announced by the Tournament Director prior to the start of play.

d.         In the event that both players claim a draw, the Tournament Director shall declare the game a draw.

e.         The adjudicator should begin with the assumption that the position is a draw and only determine if the analysis of the player(s) claiming a win has presented his case and has relied on general chess principles to claim a win (e.g. extra material; exchange, typical endgame patterns, etc). In those cases where both players have submitted analysis that does not diverge for several moves, the adjudicator shall accept these moves as if played and start the adjudication at the new position reached. The adjudicator shall not use his own analysis to find a win that was not presented in the analysis; The adjudicator may assume that both players have access to available table bases for endgame positions.

f.          For games submitted under 10(c), the adjudicator shall first determine if the analysis of the other player is complete, correct, and irrefutable, and then the adjudicator may use his own analysis. The adjudicator shall be mindful of the deceased player's skill level, based upon the player's rating and the strength of play in the game to reach the adjudicated position.

g.         No player may be awarded a win when he has submitted a claim of a draw, or when he has submitted a claim of a win without supporting analysis. The only exception shall be for those players covered under

10(c), who may be awarded a win based on the adjudicator's analysis under 10(f), even in the event that the Tournament Director has submitted the position with a claim of a draw for that player.

h.         The Tournament Director shall notify the adjudicator's decision to both players, indicating whether or not it is subject to appeal. The adjudicator need not provide any specific reason for the decision provided. The name of the adjudicator shall not be released without the prior consent of the adjudicator.

/h./ TEAM: The Tournament Director shall notify the adjudicator's decision to both Team Captains, indicating whether or not it is subject to appeal. The adjudicator need not provide any specific reason for the decision provided. The name of the adjudicator shall not be released without the prior consent of the adjudicator.

i.          Any appeal against the adjudicator's decision must be sent to the Tournament Director within 14 days of receiving the notification of the decision.

/i./ TEAM: Any appeal against the adjudicator's decision must be sent to the Tournament Director, through the Team Captain, within 14 days of receiving the notification of the decision.

j.          The Tournament Director shall then obtain a ruling from another adjudicator and notify the result to both players. The ruling is final and no further appeal shall be accepted from either player. The name of the appeal adjudicator shall not be released with prior consent from the appeal adjudicator.

/j./ TEAM: The Tournament Director shall then obtain a ruling from another adjudicator and notify the result to both Team Captains. The ruling is final and no further appeal shall be accepted. The name of the appeal adjudicator shall not be released with prior consent from the appeal adjudicator.

k.         No additional analysis may be submitted by either player for an appeal.

11) Reporting Results

a.         As soon as possible after ending a game, the result and a clear record of the moves played shall be sent by email to the Tournament Director by both players, preferably in PGN format.

/a/. TEAM: As soon as possible after ending a game, the result and a clear record of the moves played shall be sent by email to the Tournament Director through the Team Captains by both players, preferably in PGN format.

b.         The result is officially recorded only after receipt of this record.

c.         Should no record be received from either player, the result may be scored as lost by both.

/c./ TEAM: Should no record be received from either Team Captain, the result may be scored as lost by both/

12) Decisions and Appeals

a.         The Tournament Director may penalise or disqualify competitors who break these rules and

b.         any matter not covered in them shall be decided by the Tournament Director according to the principles stated in the Preface of the FIDE Laws of Chess.

c.         Any competitor may appeal within 14 days of receiving a decision of the Tournament Director to the chairman of the ICCF Appeals Commission, whose ruling shall be final.

/c./ TEAM: Any Team Captain may appeal within 14 days of receiving a decision of the Tournament Director to the chairman of the ICCF Appeals Commission, whose ruling shall be final. [These playing rules were adopted by the ICCF Congress, Villa La Angostura 2005 and take effect from 1.1.2006.]/

Last Updated ( Monday, 02 January 2006 )  

ICCF Rules for WEBSERVER Play

1) Play and Control

a. Games shall be played in accordance with the FIDE Laws of Chess, except as otherwise defined in these rules or other ICCF rules.

b. A Tournament Director shall be appointed who shall be responsible for the conduct of the tournament and progress of the games.

c. TEAM: Each team has a Team Captain who shall maintain contact on behalf of the Players with the Tournament Director.

d. TEAM: In cases of misunderstanding between players the Team Captains should try to solve the problem before it is sent to the Tournament Director.

e. Games shall be played by using the ICCF Webserver. If a player should lose internet access and is unable, for whatever reason, to re-establish access within 30 days,         he/she will be considered to have withdrawn from the tournament. The period of 30 days is allowed once a year.

f. Results of games which progress to their normal conclusion, will be automatically recorded and the Tournament Director will be informed, through the system. In all other      circumstances, players are responsible for making claims or communicating with the Tournament Director, for the resolution of problems or disputes.

f. TEAM: Results of games which progress to their normal conclusion, will be automatically recorded and the Tournament Director will be informed, through the system. In all other circumstances, Team Captains are responsible for making claims or communicating with the Tournament Director, for the resolution of problems or disputes.

g. These rules will normally apply for all tournaments (team tournaments) played using the ICCF Webserver, unless varied by tournament announcements and starting notices.

2) Transmissions

a. All moves shall be made by committing them through the ICCF Webserver.

b. The ICCF Webserver system will generate an immediate Email message informing the opponent of the move played and giving other relevant information.

c. Players are responsible for monitoring the progress and time utilisation for all of their games on the ICCF Webserver.

3) Failure to Reply

a. The ICCF Webserver system will automatically generate an Email reminder when a player has not made a move for 14 days and another, after 28 days. A final Email reminder will also be automatically generated after 35 days of silence by a player.

b. If a player gets the final reminder after 35 days, he has to report to the Tournament Director and to his opponent within 5 days that he will continue the game. If there is no such a message from the player before or during this period the game maybe scored as lost by the Tournament Director.

b. TEAM: If a player gets the final reminder after 35 days, he has to report to the Tournament Director via the Teamcaptain and to his opponent within 5 days that he will continue the game. If there is no such a message from the player before or during this period the game maybe scored as lost by the Tournament Director.

4) Conditional continuations

a. Conditional moves are not allowed in webserver games.

5) Records and Reports

a.  All transmissions concerning the game and a record of the moves and dates will be kept by the ICCF Webserver system until the end of the tournament and this will be available to the Tournament Director, as required.

b.  As a further safeguard, a player is required to maintain a record of the moves and playing time used by both players until the game has been completed e.g. a copy of latest system notification (as described in 2b), and he/she must send information to the Tournament Director, as requested.

c.  If a player does not answer enquiries from the Tournament Director, that player may be deemed to have withdrawn from the tournament.

d.  Changes of permanent address and Email address shall be made by the player under his personal settings maintained in the system.

d. TEAM: These addresses only shall be disclosed to the Tournament Office, Team Captain and Tournament Director.

e. The Tournament Director must be notified immediately of any disagreement between competitors about the game.

e. TEAM: Through the Team Captain the Tournament Director must be notified immediately of any disagreement between competitors about the game.

f. The Tournament Director and opponents must be notified immediately if any substantial failure of hardware or software occurs.

f. TEAM: Through the Team Captain, the Tournament Director must be notified immediately if any substantial failure of hardware or software occurs.

6) Time Allowed and Penalties

a. Each competitor is allowed 50 days for every 10 moves, unless the tournament announcement explicitly specifies otherwise.

b. Time saved shall be carried forward.

c. Playing time will normally be counted in days (ie 24 hour periods). A player will have 24 hours to respond to a move, before one day of playing time is recorded by the ICCF Webserver system. Partial days (ie periods of less than 24 hours) will be disregarded, in calculating a player's aggregated playing time.

d.  If a player uses more than 20 days of reflection for one move, the count of reflection days after 20 reflection days will be doubled. This means that a player who used 23 calender days will be counted as having used 26 reflection days. This will not affect the basis for reminders or other rules like 3b, which handles calender days (leave not included). Of course, it will affect exceeding the time limit.

e. The basis for ICCF Webserver date/time will be Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), or other central time defined by the location of the server.

f. A competitor who has exceeded the time allowed shall forfeit the game.

7) Leave

a. Each competitor may claim up to a total of 30 days leave during each calendar year.

b. Players intending to take such leave must send the information in advance to the ICCF Webserver system, using the facilities provided. It is not possible for players to make moves via the webserver system, during their notified periods of leave.

c. In addition, the Tournament Director may grant up to 30 days' additional leave per annum which in exceptional circumstances may be back-dated and/or extended. Applications for such leave must be sent to the Tournament Director.

8) Withdrawal, death [and Substitution]

a. In the event of death all remaining games of the deceased player will be adjudicated. If he hasn't finished a single game, his games will be cancelled.

b. In the event of withdrawal the TD shall decide according to what is prescribed in the Tournament Rules 6.3.

a. TEAM: In the event of withdrawal or death, the Tournament Director shall call upon the Team Captain to replace this player within two months.

b. TEAM: The substitute player may be required to start with a time penalty. The new player starts on a date set by the Tournament Director.

c. TEAM: If no substitute player is available, the Tournament Director shall decide according to what is prescribed in the Tournament Rules 6.3.

d. TEAM: A team may substitute at most 50% of its players in case of withdrawal, and only make one substitution per board, but there is no limit for cases of death.

9) Adjudication

 If no result has been agreed by the date set for close of play, or in the event of accepted withdrawal the TD will start the adjudication procedure.

10) Decisions and Appeals

a. The Tournament Director may penalise or disqualify players who break these rules.

b. Any matter not covered in these rules shall be decided by the Tournament Director according to principles stated in ICCF Statutes and Rules, Code of Conduct Guidelines or the FIDE Laws of Chess, as applicable. In cases of the system outage, the Tournament Director will decide if the players' clocks will be adjusted accordingly.

c. A player may appeal within 14 days of receiving a decision from the Tournament Director to the Chairman of the respective ICCF Appeals Commission (using the ICCF Webserver facilities provided), whose ruling shall be final.

c. TEAM: A player may appeal within 14 days of receiving a decision of the Tournament Director, through the Team Captain, to the Chairman of the respective ICCF Appeals Commission (using the ICCF Webserver facilities provided), whose ruling shall be final.

[These playing rules were adopted by the ICCF Congress, Pleven 2008 and take effect from 1.1.2009]

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