ACF RULES FOR TELECHESS MATCHES

These rules are recommended by the ACF for use in all telephone matches, but may 
be varied for any given match with the consent of both parties.

1. Telephone matches are conducted by conveying the moves by telephone. Each 
player operates a chess clock to record his time. The player is not charged with 
the time required for transmitting the moves.

2. Where applicable, FIDE regulations and laws of chess apply.

3. Telephone costs should be shared equally between both sides.

4. The boards should be arranged in order of play and allocated letters A,B,C 
...........etc.

5. Both sides should agree on the exact starting time for the match. Players and 
officials should be in attendance well in advance of the agreed starting time. 
Team lists should be exchanged 10 minutes before the start.

6. The rate of play should be 30 moves in 60 minutes with further time checks of 
10 moves for each additional quarter hour. A playing session of at least five 
hours in advisable.

7. The colours should be agreed upon by the teams before the match begins. Each 
team should play alternatively with the white and black pieces.

8. 

a. All games must be played to their conclusion, no adjudication will be 
allowed.

b. When the captains agree that the outcome of the match is clear, they may by 
agreement determine the result of any unfinished game for scoring purposes; such 
result shall be recorded in a way which distinguishes it from other results, 
either by use of the words 'Team Result', the abbreviation 'T', or some other 
indicator; the result of such a game shall not be rated unless both players 
agree that it be rated. (ACF Nat. Conf. 1/1/97)

9. For the transmission of the moves, algebraic notation should be used. The 
teams should agree on the method of transmission prior to the start of the 
match.

10. The players should not suffer for technical or other transmission errors. 
The time for correction of mistakes does not count as playing time. If during 
the course of play it is discovered that an error in communications has resulted 
in a move by the other side having been wrongly make on the board, then the 
position should be restored to the stage immediately before the move was made. 
The game is then restarted from that position. The question of adjusting clocks 
shall be settled by the umpires.

11. When transmitting the 10th, 20th, 30th....moves of each player, the total 
time taken should be transmitted at the same time.

12. An offer of a draw should be accompanied by the player's move and time.

13. The officials required on each side are an umpire, a telephone operator and 
several runners (sometimes referred to as tellers or stewards).

14. The umpire should be completely impartial. Beside the usual duties of 
ensuring that the laws of chess are observed, the umpire should investigate any 
queries and endeavour to resolve any disputes.

15. The telephone operators are very important. They should be unflappable and 
be able to speak distinctly. It is advisable to keep the current position on 
each board on small chess sets, in order to check the accuracy of moves.

16. The runners provide the links between the players and the telephone 
operators. They need to be competent and alert to avoid unnecessary delays. For 
each board there should be a special scoresheet, clearly marked with the board 
letter and names of the players. The runners should record each move clearly and 
take the scoresheet to the telephone. When the reply move has been recorded by 
the operator, the runner takes the scoresheet back to board, makes the 
opponent's move and presses the clock. There should be at least one runner for 
every three boards.