ChessWorld.net, founded in 2000, is an online chess site.
If you would like to play relaxed, friendly online chess, then...
or

📚 Chess Courses – Openings, Tactics, Middlegame, Endgames

The Laws of Chess: Touch-Move, J'adoube & Illegal Moves

In online chess, you can click a piece, drag it around, and drop it back on its original square. In real-life (Over-the-Board) chess, this behavior is illegal. The physical game is governed by strict rules enforced by Arbiters. Here is what you need to know to avoid accidentally forfeiting your first tournament game.

1. The Touch-Move Rule

This is the most famous and unforgiving rule in chess.

If you touch your piece: You must move it (if it has a legal move).
If you touch an opponent's piece: You must capture it (if a legal capture exists).
If you release a piece on a square: The move is over. You cannot take it back, even if it's a blunder.

Note: This applies even if you touch the piece by accident with your sleeve! Be careful with your hands.

2. "J'adoube" (I Adjust)

What if a piece is off-center and you just want to tidy it up? You must say "I adjust" (or the French "J'adoube") before you touch the piece. If you touch it silently, your opponent has the right to force you to move it.

3. The Clock: The "Same Hand" Rule

You must press the clock button with the same hand you used to move the pieces. You cannot move with your right hand and hover your left hand over the clock to press it instantly. This is considered illegal behavior.

4. Illegal Moves

An illegal move includes things like leaving your King in check, moving a Knight like a Bishop, or pressing the clock without making a move.

Blitz & Rapid Rules: In many Blitz tournaments, a single illegal move results in an instant loss of the game.
Classical Rules: In longer games (FIDE Standard), the first illegal move adds 2 minutes to your opponent's clock. The second illegal move forfeits the game.

5. Recording Moves

In Classical chess, you are required to record the moves (Algebraic Notation) on a scoresheet.
Crucial Rule: You must make your move on the board before you write it down on paper. Writing it down first is considered "using notes" and is forbidden.