Chess Etiquette:

• Before every tournament game, shake hands with your opponent, and wish them good luck.

• After every tournament game, shake hands with your opponent and thank them for the game.

• Do not gloat over a win. Do not taunt or insult your opponent.

• Do not throw a tantrum over a loss.

• Chess is a game of dignity and honor. Whether you are winning or losing, always be respectful. If you throw pieces, sweep the board, knock over chairs, or hit your opponent, you will probably be ejected from the tournament for unsporting behavior. You will forfeit your remaining games and your parents will have to come pick you up early.

• Always treat everyone with courtesy and respect. Be considerate toward your opponent as well as other players. Chess requires concentration, and causing a distraction is rude. Keep talking to a minimum, and never shout or use your cell phone in the tournament hall.

Touch-Move:

• Tournament chess is touch-move. If you touch your piece, you must move it (the first piece that you touch). If you touch an opponent's piece, you must capture it. When castling, touch your king first, and move it two spaces to the left or right; then move the rook over the king. Once you take your hand off your piece, your move is finished.

• Keep your hands in your lap until you are positive of your move. Never touch a piece until you are moving it. Never touch your opponent's piece unless you are capturing it.

• If you let go of your piece, your move is over. It doesn't matter whether you've given away your queen or are checkmated in one move. Always play chess with grace and honor. There'll always be another game.

• After you finish your move, remove your hands from the board and place them in your lap. Even if your only remaining piece is your king, take your hands away from your king after every move. Chess is a thinking game, and it is rude (and illegal) to keep your hands over the board hindering your opponent's view of the board.

• If your opponent's hands are hovering over the chessboard or holding their king during your turn, don't make your move. Instead, nicely ask them to move their hands away from the board. If your opponent is making a very foolish move (such as giving away their queen), never grab their queen out of their hand. Instead, politely wait until their move is finished and their hands are well clear of the chessboard. (Not only is it very rude to grab their queen while they're holding it, they will simply make a different queen move instead.)

Using the Chess Clock:

• You must press the clock with the same hand with which you moved your piece. It is illegal to "hover" -- pressing the clock with one hand while moving with the other. (The black player gets to choose which side of the board to place the clock on, so a right-handed black player usually places the clock to their right.)

Announcing Check; Illegal Positions:

• You are not required to announce check. However, a quiet respectful announcement of "check" is usually considered polite.

• If your opponent has made an illegal move (such as keeping their own king in check), you cannot capture their king. They must undo their move and make a different move instead. Rather than undoing their illegal move for them, politely tell them the problem, and allow them to return their pieces and make a legal move instead.

• If you have a problem with the game (such as an illegal position, or a disagreement about a piece's position), do not fight with your opponent. Quietly raise your hand, and politely ask a judge for assistance.

• Never accuse your opponent of something they didn't do. Never lie about your own actions. Chess is a game of honor.

Kibitzing:

• Never comment or offer advice about a game in progress. This is called "kibitzing" and it is not allowed in tournament chess.