• Arrive at the tournament venue at least 30 minutes before the round
• Register with the arbiter and confirm pairing
• Ensure mobile phones and electronic devices are completely switched off

• Record all moves clearly on the scoresheet (except in blitz)
• Press the clock with the same hand used to move the piece
• Only speak to say "I adjust" when centering a piece
• Never leave the playing area without arbiter's permission

• Sign both scoresheets to confirm the result
• Report immediately to the arbiter if there's any dispute
• Leave the playing area quietly to avoid disturbing other games

• Minimum 60 minutes per player for entire game
• Common controls: 90+30, 120+30 (minutes + increment)
• Scoresheets required for all moves

• 10-60 minutes per player
• Common controls: 15+10, 25+10
• Scoresheets optional (players may record last moves when under 5 minutes)

• 3-10 minutes per player
• Common controls: 3+2, 5+0
• No scoresheets required
• Illegal move claims must be made before next move is made

Rule: Zero tolerance policy in many tournaments means arriving late forfeits the game. Standard tolerance is usually 30 minutes for classical, 10 for rapid, and 0 for blitz.

Rule: Players should receive equal colors (+1/-1 max). In Swiss systems, computers adjust pairings to maintain balance. In round robins, color sequences are predetermined.

Rule: Players may offer a draw after making a move but before pressing clock. Cannot be conditional ("if you take my pawn..."). Cannot be repeated without intervening moves.