chessproBet you didn’t know that the rulebook for tournament Chess looks a whole lot like the rulebook for tournament Magic: the Gathering, did you?

FIDE updates their rules on occasion. The following new rules go into effect on July 1:

  • If one player is late to the game by any time, he or she loses immediately (you don’t simply start his or her clock). If both are late, white’s clock is started. I don’t know how this works. If white shows up 15 minutes late and black shows up 20 minutes late, does white win or does white start playing with fifteen minutes off of his or her time?
  • A few misc rules about broken clocks and how to offer a draw.
  • I like this one: mobile phones, and any other electronic communication devices, are forbidden at the game, unless switched off. “If any such device produces a sound, the player shall lose the game.” Heh. What if your digital watch goes off in your pocket with your switched off mobile phone?
  • Some rules about illegal moves in blitz games.

(source)