SUPPLEMENT TO THE FIDE LAWS OF CHESS.
Competitive games between visually handicapped and sighted
players and between visually handicapped players.
Tournament Directors shall have the power to adapt the
following rules according to local circumstances.
In competitive Chess between sighted and visually handicapped
players (legally blind) either player may demand the use of
two boards, the sighted player using a normal board, the
visually handicapped player using one specially constructed.
The specially constructed board must meet the following
requirements: (a) at least 20 by 20 centimetres (b) the black
squares slightly raised (c) a securing aperture in each square
(d) every piece provided with a peg that fits into the
securing aperture (e) pieces of Staunton design, the black
pieces being specially marked.
The following regulations shall govern play:
1. The moves shall be announced clearly, repeated by the
opponent and executed on his board. To make the announcement
as clear as possible, the use of the following names is
suggested instead of the corresponding letters, algebraic
notation to be used: A - Anna; B - Bella; C - Cesar; D -
David; E - Eva; F - Felix; G - Gustav; H - Hector. Castling
is announced. "Lange Rochade" (German for Long Castling) and
"Kurze Rochade" (German for Short Castling). When promoting a
Pawn the player must announce which piece is chosen.
2. On the visually handicapped player's board a piece shall
be considered "touched" when it has been taken out of the
securing aperture.
3. A move shall be considered "executed" when: (a) in the
case of a capture, the captured piece has been removed from
the board of the player whose turn it is to move. (b) a piece
is placed into a different securing aperture. (c) the move
has been announced. Only then the opponent's clock shall be
started. As far as points 2 and 3 are concerned the normal
rules are valid for the sighted player.
4. A specially constructed Chess clock for the visually
handicapped shall be admissible. It shall incorporate the
following features: (a) a dial fitted with reinforced hands,
with every five minutes marked by one raised dot, and every 15
minutes by two raised dots. (b) a flag which can be easily
felt. Care should be taken that the flag is so arranged as to
allow the player to feel the minute hand during the last five
minutes of the full hour.
5. The visually handicapped player must keep score of the
game in Braille or longhand or record the moves on a tape
recorder.
6. A slip of the tongue in the announcement of a move must be
corrected immediately and before the clock of the opponent is
started.
7. If, during a game, different positions should arise on the
two boards, they must be corrected with the assistance of the
Arbiter and by consulting both players' game scores. If the
two game scores correspond with each other, the player who has
written the correct move but executed the wrong one must
adjust his position to correspond with the move on the game
scores.
8. If, when such differences occur and the two game scores
are found to differ, the moves shall be retraced to the point
where the two scores agree and the Controller shall readjust
the clocks accordingly.
9. The visually handicapped player shall have the right to
make use of an assistant who shall have any or all of the
following duties: (a) make either player's move on the board
of the opponent. (b) announce the moves of both players. (c)
keep the game score of the visually handicapped player and
start his opponent's clock (keeping rule 3 (c) in mind). (d)
inform the visually handicapped player only at his request of
the numbers of moves completed and the time used up by both
players. (e) claim the game in cases where the time limit has
been exceeded and inform the Controller when the sighted
player has touched one of his pieces. (f) carry out the
necessary formalities in case the game is adjourned.
10. If the visually handicapped player does not make use of
an assistant, the sighted player may make use of one who shall
carry out the duties mentioned under point 9 (a) and (b).
These rules were adopted at the IBCA Congress in Benidorm 1985
and approved by the FIDE 1985 General Assembly.
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