What Happens if You Make an Illegal Move?

Under standard FIDE over-the-board competitive rules, the position is restored and the first completed illegal move gives the opponent two extra minutes. A second completed illegal move by the same player normally loses. Compare cards one through three.

For FIDE Article 7.5.1, an illegal move is completed once the player presses the clock. Before the clock press, the illegal board position cannot stand and touch-move may constrain the replacement. Use the clock summary.

No, not under the standard FIDE competitive procedure. The first completed illegal move normally gives the opponent two extra minutes and play continues from the restored position. Use card two.

In standard FIDE competitive play, the arbiter adds two minutes to the opponent's remaining time after restoring the position and applying the replacement-move rules. Use the First Illegal Move card.

A second completed illegal move by the same player normally loses the game under FIDE Article 7.5.5. The no-possible-checkmate exception can make the result a draw. Compare cards three and four.

No. If the opponent cannot checkmate the offending player's king by any possible series of legal moves, the result is a draw rather than a win. Use card four.

Article 7.5.5 refers to the second completed illegal move by the same player. Each player's completed illegal moves are therefore tracked separately. Ask the arbiter to record the incident.

Yes. The position immediately before the irregularity is reinstated; if it cannot be determined, play returns to the last identifiable position before it. Use the restored board in card one.

The game continues from the last identifiable position before the irregularity. The arbiter should reconstruct the position and adjust the process. Use the Official FIDE Rule Basis section.

Yes. FIDE Article 7.5.1 says Articles 4.3 and 4.7 apply to the move replacing the illegal move. In card one, the touched rook must make a legal rook move such as Re3.

The move is illegal and cannot stand. After a completed illegal move, restore the prior position and follow the arbiter's penalty and replacement instructions. Reject Rxa2 and play Re3 in card one.

No. Moving into check is illegal under the normal movement laws. If the move is completed by pressing the clock, Article 7.5 procedure applies. Use the king-safety principle in card one.

A move that leaves your king in check is illegal. Restore the prior position and make a legal replacement subject to touch-move. Use the same procedure as card one.

FIDE Article 7.5.3 treats pressing the clock without making a move as an illegal move. Use card six to apply the penalty and then make a legal replacement.

Yes, if the pawn reaches the final rank and the player presses the clock without replacing it. Under Article 7.5.2, the pawn is replaced by a queen of the same colour. Use card five.

No. Under the cited incomplete-promotion procedure, the pawn is replaced by a queen of the same colour. Complete the promotion correctly before pressing the clock. Use card five.

If a player uses two hands to make one move and presses the clock, FIDE Article 7.5.4 treats and penalises it as an illegal move. Use the one-hand castling replacement in card seven.

If two hands are used for a single capture and the clock is pressed, Article 7.5.4 applies as an illegal move. Use one hand for the complete move and clock procedure.

If two hands are used to make the single promotion move and the clock is pressed, it is treated as an illegal move under Article 7.5.4. Follow the one-hand rule.

Pause the clock when permitted and call the arbiter. Do not repair the board, add time, or declare the result yourself. Use the Tournament Procedure section.

Most standard online interfaces reject illegal input before it becomes a submitted move. There is normally no FIDE Article 7 board restoration or time penalty, although platform rules and premove behaviour vary. Use the OTB Versus Online section.

Yes. Under the standard first-offence procedure, the arbiter adds two minutes to the opponent. Other formats can specify different amounts. Compare the standard and rapid cards.

Where the FIDE competitive Article 7 procedure applies, Appendix A.3 changes the two-minute penalty to one minute in rapid chess. Use card eight.

Blitz procedure depends on the event's supervision and applicable appendix provisions. Do not assume the standard two-minute sequence; summon the arbiter and follow the announced regulations.

Article 7.5.1 defines completion by the clock press. The illegal position still cannot remain, and touch-move may restrict the legal correction. Ask the arbiter before continuing.

A checkmate counts only if the move producing it complied with the movement and act-of-moving rules. An illegal mating move does not create a valid win. Use the official-rule section.

The FIDE Laws and appendices distinguish standard, rapid, blitz, and supervision conditions, and event regulations may specify the applicable procedure. Read the event rules and ask the arbiter.

The arbiter restores the position and applies the required time adjustment. Players should not change clock settings themselves. Use the Pause and Call card sequence.

Stop, preserve the board, pause the clock when permitted, and call the arbiter. The arbiter restores the position, applies time, and directs the replacement move. Replay cards one and two.

Next study touch-move, one-hand movement, promotion completion, clock rules, and displaced pieces. Follow the related-rule cards after completing this trainer.