TD CORNER

Y IZ IT?

By Tim Just

Y IZ IT that the Rules Committee has had to try and close a “touch move” loophole that some players are using to “touch a piece,” make a bad move, take it back and make a better one, then claim “touch move” for the lesser of two evils before their opponent can make any call at all?

Y IZ IT that the Rules Committee has had to take time to try and stop a few organizers from manipulating the “spirit” of the “based on” prize fund rules (by creating multiple $500 based on prize fund sections, that are not governed by “based on” prize fund rules, to avoid guaranteeing half the total “based on” prize fund for the whole event)?

Y IZ IT we just let anyone who simply says they are a coach or parent into the playing room at our scholastic events?

Y IZ IT that some TDs who want to upgrade their certification spend more time and energy complaining about the hoops they have to jump through than actually jumping through those hoops?

Y IZ IT that people complain instead of taking advantage of their duly elected state delegates to make motions on their behalf in order to change the “Official Rules Of Chess,” the way we certify our TDs, the way we service ourselves, or the way we govern ourselves?

Y IZ IT that the TD/Organizer skill and knowledge levels appear to increase for those individuals that log onto the uschess.org/forums discussion groups?

Y IZ IT so many TDs love the online tournament submission process created by Mike Nolan?

Y IZ IT that TDs and Organizers take ourselves for granted?

Y IZ IT that we learn more than we teach when we train someone to be a TD or Organizer?

Y IZ IT that writing this column is one of the top five things I enjoy most in chess?

Yeah, Y IZ IT?

Tim Just can be contacted at uscfrulebook@yahoo.com.