Know All About Games & Sports

Know all About

GAMES &

SPORTS

Vijay Asthana

HOLIDAY BOOK STORE PANCHKULA(HR)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, electronically or otherwise in print, photo print, micro film or by any other means without written pelmission from the publisher. ISBN: 81-903178-1-4 ISBN : 978-81-903178-1-8

Copyright :Publisher First Edition:2009 Published by: Holiday Book Store

S.C.O. 43,First Floor Swastik Vihar MDC Panchkula -(H.R.) Ph.9814015471 Shiva Offset Press, Naveen Shahadra, Delhi

Contents Football

5

Table Tennis

19

Cricket

40

Basketball

63

Badminton

83

Chess

139

Hockey

191

"This page is Intentionally Left Blank"

Football

Introduction

to

Football

A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. The goalkeeper will attempt to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Association football, commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players, and it is the most popular sport in the world. It is a ball game played on a rectangular grass or artificial turf field, with a goal at each of the short ends. The object of the game is to score by manoeuvring the ball into the opposing goal. In general play, the goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use their hands or arms to propel the ball; the rest of the team usually use their feet to kick the ball into position, occasionally using their torso or head to intercept a ball in mid air. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins. Jfthe score is tied at the end of the game, either a draw is declared or the game goes into extra time and/or a penalty shootout, depending on the format of the competition. The modem game was codified in England following the formation of The Football Association, whose 1863 Laws of the Game created the foundations for the way the sport is played today. Football is governed internationally by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (International Federation of Association Football), commonly known by the acronym FIFA. The most prestigious international football competition is the World Cup, held every four years.

Sport'

This event the most widely viewed in the world. boasts an audience twice that of the Summer Olympics. Football is played in accordance with a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game. The game is played using a single round ball, known as the football. Two teams of eleven players each compete to get the ball into the other team's goal (between the posts and under the bar), thereby scoring a goal. The team that has scored more goals at the end of the game is the winner; if both teams have scored an equal number of goals then the game is a draw. The primary rule is that players (other than goalkeepers) may not deliberately handle the ball with their hands or arms during play (though they do lise their hands during a throw-in restart). Although players usually use their feet to move the ball around. they may lise any part of their bodies other than their hands or arms. In typical game play, players attempt to create goal scoring opportunities through individual control of the ball, such as by dribbling, passing the ball to a team-mate, and by taking shots at the goal, which is guarded by the opposing goalkeeper. Opposing players may try to regain control of the ball by intercepting a pass or through tackling the opponent in possession of the ball; however, physical contact between opponents is restricted. Football is generally a free-flowing game, with play stopping only when the ball has left the field of play or when play is stopped by the referee. After a stoppage, play recommences with a specified restart. At a professional level, most matches produce only a few goals. For example. the 2005-06 season of the English Premier League produced an average of 2.48 goals per match. The Laws of th~ Game do not specifY any player positions other than goalkeeper, but a number of specialised roles have evolved. Broadly, these include three main categories: strikers, or forwards, whose main task is to 'score goals; defenders, who specialise in preventing their opponents from scoring; and midfielders, who dispossess the opposition and keep possession of the ball in order to pass it to the forwards.

Football

7

Players in these positions are referred to as outfield players, in order to discern them from the single goalkeeper. These positlon~ are further subdivided according to the area of the field in which the player spends most time. For example, there are central defenders, and left and right midfielders. The ten outfield playcr~ may be arranged in any combination. The number of players in each position determines the style of the team's play; more forwards and fewer defenders creates a more aggressive and offensive-minded game, while the reverse creates a slower, more defensive style of play. While players typically spend most of the game in a specific position, there are few restrictions on player movement, and players can switch positions at any time. The layout of a team's players is known as a formation. Defining the team's formation and tactics is usually the prerogative of the team's manager. Map showing the popularity of football around the world. Countries where football is the most popular sport are coloured green, while countries where it is not are coloured red. The various shades of green and red indicate the number of players per 1.000 inhabitants. Games revolving around the kicking ofa ball have been played in many countries throughout history. According to FIFA, the "very earliest form of the game for which there is scientific evidence was an exercise of precisely this skilful technique dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC in China (the game of cuju)." In addition, the Roman game harpastum may be a distant ancestor of football. Various forms of football were played in medieval Europe, though rules varied greatly by both period and location. The modern rules of football are based on the mid-19th century efforts to standardise the widely varying forms offootball played at the public schools of England. The Cambridge Rules, first drawn up at Cambridge University in 1848, were particularly influential in the development of subsequent codes, including Association football.

8

Sports

The Cambridge Rules were written at Trinity College. Cambridge. at a meeting attended by representatives from Eton. Harrow. Rugby. Winchester and Shrewsbury schools. They were not universally adopted. During the 1850s. many clubs unconnected' to schools or universities were formed throughout the Englishspeaking world, to play various fonns of football. Some came up with their own distinct codes of rules, most notably the Sheffield Football Club. formed by former public school pupils in 1857. which led to formation of a Sheffield FA in 1867. In 1862. John Charles Thring of Uppingham School also devised an influential set of ru les. These ongoing efforts contributed to the formation of The Football Association (The FA) in 1863, which first met on the morning of 26 October 1863 at the Freemason's Tavern in Great Queen Street. London. The only school to be represented on this occasion was Charterhouse. The Freemason's Tavern was the setting for five more meetings between October and December. which eventually produced the first comprehensive set of rules. At the final meeting. the first FA treasurer, the representative from Blackheath. withdrew his club from the FA over the removal of two draft rules at the previous meeting. the first which allowed for the running \\-ith the ball in hand and the second. obstructing such a run by hacking (kid.ing an opponent in the shins). tripping and holding. Other English rugby football clubs followed this lead and did not join the FA, or subsequently left the FA and instead in 1871 fonned the Rugby Football Union. The eleven remaining clubs, under the charge of Ebenezer Cobb Morley, went on to ratify the original thirteen laws of the game. These rules included handling of the ball by "marks" and the lack ofa crossbar, rules which made it remarkably similar to Victorian rules football being deve loped at that time in Australia. The Sheffield FA played by its own rules until the 1870s with the FA absorbing some of its rules until there was little difference between the games. The laws of the game are currently determined by the

Football

International Football Association Board (IFAB). The Board was formed in 1886 after a meeting in Manchester of The Football Association, the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, and the Irish Football Association. The world's oldest football competition is the FA Cup, which was founded by C. W. Alcock and has been contested by English teams since 1872. The first official international football match took place in 1872 between Scotland and England in Glasgow. again at the instigation of C. W. Alcock. England is home to the world's first football league, which was founded in 1888 by Aston Villa director William McGregor. The original format contained 12 clubs from the Midlands and the North of England. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international football body, was formed in Paris in 1904 and declared that they would adhere to Laws of the Game of the Football Association. The growing popularity of the international game led to the admittance of FIFA representatives to the International Football Association Board in 1913. The board currently consists of four representatives from FIFA and one representative from each of the four British associations. , Today, football is played at a professional level all over the world. Millions of people regularly go to football stadiums to follow their favourite teams, while billions more watch the game on television. A very large number of people also play football at an amateur level. According to a survey conducted by F1FA published in 200 I. over 240 million people from more than 200 countries regularly play football. Its simple rules and minimal equipment requirements have no doubt aided its spread and growth in popularity. In many parts of the world football evokes great passions and plays an important role in the life of individual fans, local communities, and even nations: it is therefore often claimed to be the most popular sport in the world. ESPN has spread the claim that the Cote d'lvoire national football team helped secure a truce to the

10

Sport!>

nation's civil war in 2005. By contrast, football is widely considered to be the tinal proximate cause in the Football War in June 1969 between EI Salvador and Honduras. The sport also exacerbated tensions at the beginning of the Yugoslav wars of the I 990s, when a match between Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star Belgrade devolved into rioting in March 1990.

Laws of the gal11e There are seventeen laws in the official Laws of the Game. The same Laws are designed to apply to all levels of football, although certain modifications for groups such as juniors, seniors or women are permitted. The laws are often framed in broad terms, which allow flexibility in their application depending on the nature of the game. In addition to the seventeen laws, numerous IFAB decisions and other directives contribute to the regulation of football. The Laws of the Game are published by FIFA, but are maintained by the International Football Association Board, not FIFA itself. Each team consists of a maximum of eleven players (excluding substitutes), one of whom must be the goalkeeper. Competition rules may state a minimum number of players required to constitute a team; this is usually seven. Goalkeepers are the only players allowed to play the ball with their hands or arms, provided they do so within the penalty area in front of their own goal. Though there are a variety of positions in which the outfield (non-goalkeeper) players are strategically placed by a coach, these positions are not defined or required by the Laws. The basic equipment or kit players are required to wear includes a shili, shorts, socks, footwear and adequate shin guards. Players are forbidden to wear or use anything that is dangerous to themselves or another player, such as jewellery or watches. The goalkeeper must wear clothing that is easily distinguishable from that worn by the other players and the match officials.

Foolbali

II

A number of players may be replaced by substitutes during the course of the game. The maximum number of substitutions permitted in most competitive international and domestic league games is three, though the permitted number may vary in other competitions or in friendly matches. Common reasons for a substitution include injury, tiredness, ineffectiveness, a tactical switch, ortimewasting at the end ofa finely poised game. In standard adult matches, a player who has been substituted may not take further part in a match. A game is officiated by a referee, who has "full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed" (Law 5), and whose decisions are final. The referee is assisted by two assistant referees. In many high-level games there is also a fourth official who assists the referee and may replace another official should the need arise.

Pitch As the Laws were formulated in England, and were initially administered solely by the four British football associations within IFAB, the standard dimensions of a football pitch were originally expressed in imperial units. The Laws now express dimensions with approximate metric equivalents (followed by traditional units in brackets), though popular use tends to continue to use traditional units in Engl ish-speaking countries with a relatively recent history of metritication, such as Britain. The length of the pitch for international adult matches is in the range 100-110 metres (110-120 yd) and the width is in the range 64-75 metres (70-80 yd). Fields for non-international matches may be 100-130 yards (120 m) length and 50-100 yards (91 m) in width, provided that the pitch does not become square. The longer boundary lines are touchlines or sidelines, while the shorter boundaries (on which the goals are placed) are goal lines. A rectangular goal is positioned at the middle of each goal line. The

12

inner edges of the vertical goal posts must be 8 yards (7.3 m) apart. and the lower edge of the horizontal crossbar supported b) the goal posts must be 8 feet (2.44 m) above the ground. Nets are usually placed behind the goal, but are not required by the Laws. In front of each goal is an area known as the penalty area (colloquially "18-yard (16 m) box" or simply "the box" or "the area"). This area is marked by the goal line. two lines starting on the goal line 18 yards (16.5 m) from the goalposts and extending 18 yards (16.5 m) into the pitch perpendicular to the goal-line, and a line joining them. This area has a number of functions. the most prominent being to mark where the goalkeeper may handle the ball and where a penal foul by a member of the defending team becomes punishable by a penalty kick. Other markings define the position of the ball or players at kick-offs, goal kicks, penalty kicks and corner kicks.

Duration and tie-breaking A standard adult football match consists of two periods of 45 minutes each. known as halves. Each half runs continuously, meaning that the clock is not stopped when the ball is out of play. There is usually a IS-minute "half-time" break between halves. The end of the match is known as full-time. The referee is the official timekeeper for the match, and may make an allowance for time lost through substitutions, injured players requiring attention, or other stoppages. This added time is commonly referred to as stoppage time or injury time, and is at the sole discretion of the referee. The referee alone signals the end of the match. In matches where a fourth official is appointed, toward the end of the half the referee signals how many minutes of stoppage time he intends to add. The fourth official then informs the players and spectators by holding up a board showing this number. The signalled stoppage time may be further extended by the referee. In league competitions, games may end in a draw, but in some knockout competitions if a game is tied at the end of regulation

Football

13

time it may go into extra time. which consists of two further 15minute periods. If the score is still tied after extra time. some competitions allow the use of penalty shootouts (known officially in the Laws of the Game as "kicks from the penalty mark") to determine which team will progress to the next stage of the tournament. Goals scored during extra time periods count toward the final score of the game. but kicks from the penalty mark are only used to decide the team that progresses to the next part of the tournament (with goals scored in a penalty shootout not making up part of the final score). Competitions held over two legs (in which each team plays at home once) may use the away goals rule to determine which team progresses in the event of equal aggregate scores. If the result is still equal, kicks from the penalty mark are usually required, though some competitions may require a tied game to be replayed. In the late I 990s, the IFAB experimented with ways of creating a winner without requiring a penalty shootout. which was often seen as an undesirable way to end a match. These involved rules ending a game in extra time early. either when the first goal in extra time was scored (golden goal). or if one team held a lead at the end of the first period of extra time (silver goal). Golden goal was used at the World Cup in 1998 and 2002. The first World Cup game decided by a golden goal was France's victory over Paraguay in 1998. Germany was the first nation to score a golden goal in a major competition. beating Czech Republic in the final of Euro 1996 .. Silver goal was used in Euro 2004. Both these experiments have been discontinued by IFAB. Under the Laws. the two basic states of play during a game are ball in play and ball out of play. From the beginning of each playing period with a kick-off (a set kick from the centre-spot by one team) until the end of the playing period. the ball is in play at all times, except when either the ball leaves the field of play, or play is stopped by the referee. When the ball becomes out of play, play is restarted by one of eight restart methods depending

14

Sports

on how it went out of play:

•

Kick -off: fo Howing a goal by the opposing team. or to begin each period of play.

•

Throw-in: when the ball has wholly crossed the touchline; awarded to opposing team to that which last touched the ball.

•

Goal kick: when the ball has wholly crossed the goal line without a goal having been scored and having last been touched by an attacker; awarded to defending team.

•

Comer kick: when the ball has wholly crossed the goal line without a goal having been scored and having last been touched by a defender; awarded to attacking team.

•

Indirect free kick: awarded to the opposing team following "non-penal" fouls, certain technical infringements, or when play is stopped to caution or send-off an opponent without a specific foul having occurred. A goal may not be scored directly from an indirect free kick.

•

Direct free kick: awarded to fouled team following certain listed "penal" fouls.

•

Penalty kick: awarded to the fouled team following a foul usually punishable by a direct free kick but that has occurred within their opponent's penalty area.

•

Dropped-ball: occurs when the referee has stopped play for any other reason, such as a serious injury to a player. interference by an external party, or a ball becoming defective. This restart is uncommon in adult games.

Fouls and misconduct A foul occurs when a player commits an offence listed in the Laws of the Game while the ball is in play. The offences that constitute a foul are listed in Law 12. Handling the ball deliberately, tripping an opponent, or pushing an opponent, are examples of

Football

I~

"penal fouls", punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick depending on where the offence occurred. Other fouls are punishable by an indirect free kick. The referee may punish a player or substitute's misconduct by a caution (yellow card) or sending-off (red card). A second yellow card at the same game leads to a red card, and therefore to a sending-off. If a player has been sent-off. no substitute can be brought on in their place. Misconduct may occur at any time, and while the offences that constitute misconduct are listed, the definitions are broad. In particular, the offence of "un sporting behaviour" may be used to deal with most events that violate the spirit of the game, even if they are not listed as specific offences. A referee can show a yellow or red card to a player, substitute or substituted player. Non-players such as managers and support staff cannot be shown the yellow or red card, but may be expelled from the technical area if they fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner. Rather than stopping play, the referee may allow play to continue if doing so will benefit the team against which an offence has been committed. This is known as "playing an advantage". The referee may "call back" play and penalise the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue within a short period, typically taken to be four to five seconds. Even if an offence is not penalised due to advantage being played, the offender may still be sanctioned for misconduct at the next stoppage of play. The most complex of the Laws is offside. The offside law limits the ability of attacking players to remain forward (i.e. closer to the opponent's goal-line) of the ball, the second-to-Iast defending player (which can include the goalkeeper), and the half-way line. The recognised international governing body of football (and associated games, such as futsal and beach soccer) is the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The FIFA headquarters are located in Zurich.

16

Sports

Six regional confederations are associated with FIFA; these are: •

Asia: Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

•

Africa: Confederation of African Football (CAF)

•

CentrallNorth America & Caribbean: Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF; also known as The Football Confederation)

•

Europe: Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

•

Oceania: Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)

•

South America: Confederaci6n Sudamericana de Futbol (South American Football Confederation: CONMEBOL)

National associations oversee football within individual countries. These are affiliated both with FIFA and with their respective continental confederations. The major international competition in football is the World Cup, organised by FIFA. This competition takes place over a fouryear period. More than 190 national teams compete in qualifying tournaments within the scope of continental confederations for a place in the finals. The finals tournament, which is held every four years, involves 32 national teams competing over a four-week period. The 2006 FIFA World Cup took place in Germany; in 2010 it will be held in South Africa. There has been a football tournament at every Summer Olympic Games since 1900, except at the 1932 games in Los Angeles. Before the inception of the World Cup, the Olympics (especially during the 1920s) had the same status as the World Cup. Originally, the event was for amateurs only, however, since the 1984 Summer Olympics professional players have been permitted, albeit with certain restrictions which prevent countries from fielding their strongest sides. Currently, the Olympic men's tournament is played at Under-23 level. In the past the Olympics have allowed a restricted number of over-age players per team; but that practice will cease in the 2008

IF~II

II""

Olympics. The Olympic oompdittiOn is IIMlJtt ~B~ C«JlIJ1Isiidered 110 amy the same illDtemational sigplificance and prestige as die WmIId Cup. A women"s toummDent was added in D996: in 00II1Jasl to the mm"s event" full international sides without age rresIIridlions play 1be women"s Olympic tourmnneuDL It thus carries in1cnlational prestige aJIlSidered oomparmDe to dut of 1IDue FIFA Women"s Worid Cup. After the W~ Cup., the most imprOlll1t;mt football oompditicmare1heOOll1inelmtall ~ips.. nidi atreClplis1ed by each oontinen1al coofedentioo and COIDteskd between nattiooaI teams..

These are 1be EDropcan Championship (UEFA)., the Copa America (CONMEBOL)., Aftian Cup of Nations (CM)., the Asian Cup (AFC).. the C01NlCACAF Gold Cup (CONCACAF] and the OFC 1NIatiom; CII!p «OFC). 'TlhIe mmt presligiicm; roOJmpetitiiollll-s. in club fOOJlbalI are the resperdtiiwe CIOJII1lIinmtall daampiilOJm;hiips., w1aik.'iI are generally oootestoo betwe:cIllll3tional dwnpiitoos. for eumple the UEFA Champions League in Europe and the Copa Libertadores de America in South America. The winners IOf each cootinenlal oompetition coolest the FIFA Club World Cup. The governing bodies in each 00UIIIlIUJry oper.ate league systems.. normally oomprising several diviisUom" in niidn the teams pin points dImug,OOut the sasoo depending 011 results.. Teams are placed into 1abIes" placingthcm in mkraooordingto pointsaa:rued. Mmt 00IIUII0II1y" each team plays every o1her tfeam in its league at home and away in each SCIISIOII" in a round-robin toomament. At 1be end of a season. the top team are declarm the doampions.. The top few team'S may be promoted to a higher division.. and one 01" more of the teams finisllning at tIDe bott1t 11k ~ of Hamley~s of Regent Street IIIIIIIIdIceIr 1IIIBe mmme "'Gossu~'" _TIne II13IIle "'ping-pong" was in wide I1IISIe IbleffR E'mlglliisJln lIIIlmlluuffallCll1uUnetr J.. Jaques & Son Ltd trademarked iitt iillD II '9XO) II .. 'The mmme '"pnong-P(()JIIIg.''' then came to be used for the pmrne pll:.1t}'d ~'dne lI31IIla'~eJaquesequipmenL with other-maDII~ aIIDirmg 1Ikfurs lImnDs. A similar situation came t({ll exiislt non 11I1De UJnitall S1ta\te$ 'Where Jaques sold the rights to the "'Piong-~" IIJImle 1/0 P.mttlk.eII' Brothers.

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'The nne11\: ~ innovation was by James Gibb~ ann EmglliiSln emIIuusiiast ofdne pmte.. who discovered novelty celluloiidl WIIs, ports

6 Give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the next service is delivered: 7 Ensure players and spectators are kept informed of the progress of the match; 8 Appoint or remove Line Judges or a Service Judge in consultation with the Referee; 9 Not overrule the decision of Line Judges and the Service Judge on points of fact; 10.1 Where another court official is not appointed, arrange for their duties to be carried out; 10.2 Where an appointed official is unsighted, carry out the official's duties or playa "let": II Decide upon any suspension of play: 12 Record and report to the Referee all matters in relation to Law 18; and 13 Take to the Referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law only. (Such appeals must be made before the next service is delivered, or, if at the end of a game, before the side that appeals has left the court.)

Playing court dimensions The court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. Courts are almost always marked for both singles and doubles play, although the laws permit a court to be marked for singles only. The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but the doubles service court is shorter than the singles service court. The full width of the court is 6.1 metres (20 ft), and in singles this width is reduced to 5.18 metres (17 ft). The full length of the court is 13.4 metres (44 ft). The service courts are marked by a centre line dividing the width of the court, by a short service line at a distance of 1.98 metres (6.5 ft) from the net, and by the outer side and back boundaries. In doubles, the service court is

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135

also marked by a long service line. which is 0.78 metres (2 ft 6 inch) from the back boundary. The net is 1.55 metres (5 ft 1 inch) high at the edges and J .524 metres (5 ft) high in the centre. The net posts are placed o',er the doubles side lines, even when singles is played. Surprisingly, there is no mention in the Laws of a minimum height for the ceiling above the court. Nonetheless, a badminton court will not be suitable if the ceiling is likely to be hit on a high serve.

Equipment laws The Laws specit); which equipment may be used. In particular. the Laws restrict the design and size of rackets and shuttlecocks. The Laws also provide for testing a shuttlecock for the correct speed: To test a shuttlecock. use a full underhand stroke wh ich makes contact with the shuttlecock over the back boundary line. The shuttlecock shall be hit at an upward angle and in a direction parallel to the side lines. A shuttlecock of the correct speed will land not less than 530 mm and not more than 990 mm short of the other back boundary line ....

Scoring system and service The scoring system changed in May 2006. For more information, see Scoring System Development of Badminton.

The basics Each game is played up to 21 points, with players scoring a point whenever they win a rally (this differs from the old system, where players could only win a point on their serve). A match is the best of three games. At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts (see court dimensions). The server hits the shuttlecock so that it would land in the receiver's

136

~porh

service court. This is similar to tennis. except that a badminton serve must be h it from below the waist in underhand form (up" ards J. the shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce. and in tennis the players stand outside their service courts. In singles, the server stands in his right service court when his score is even. and in his left service court when his score is odd. In doubles. if the serving side wins a rally. the same player continues to serve, but he changes service courts so that he serves to each opponent in turn. When the serving side loses a rally, the serve passes to their opponents (unlike the old system. there is no "second serve"). If their new score is even. the player in the right service court serves: if odd. the player in the left service COlili serves. The players' service courts are determined by their positions at the start of the previous rally, not by where they were standing at the end of the rally. A consequence of th is system is that, each time a side regain the service. the server will be the player \\ hl) did not serve last time.

Details When the server serves the shuttlecock must pass over the service line or it will count as a fault. If the score reaches 20all, then the game continues until one side gains a two point lead (such as 24-22), up to a maximum ono points (30-29 is a winning score). At the start of a match a coin is tossed. The winners of the coin toss may choose whether to serve or receive first. or they may choose which end of the court they wish to occupy. Their opponents make the remaining choice. In less formal settings. the coin toss is often replaced by hitting a shuttlecock into the air: whichever side it points to serves first. In subsequent games, the winners of the previous game serve first. For the first rally of any doubles game, the serving pair may

Badmll1ton

137

decide who serves and the receiving pair may decide who receives. The players change ends at the start of the second game; if the match reaches a third game, they change ends both at the start of the game and when the leading pair's score reaches II points. The server and receiver must remain within their service courts. without touching the boundary lines. unti I the server strikes the shuttlecock. The other two players may stand wherever they wish, so long as they do not unsight the opposing server or receiver.

Faults Players win a rally by striking the shuttlecock onto the floor within the boundaries of their opponents' court. Players also win a rally if their opponents commit a fault. The most common fault in badminton is when the players fail to return the shuttlecock so that it passes over the net and lands inside their opponents' court, but there are also other ways that players may be faulted. The following information lists some of the more common faults. Several faults pertain specifically to service. A serving player shall be faulted ifhe strikes the shuttlecock from above his waist (defined as his lowest rib). or ifhis racket is not pointing downwards at the moment of impact. This particular law changed in 2006: previously, the server's racket had to be pointing downwards to the extent that the racket head was below the hand holding the racket; now, any angle below the horizontal is acceptable. Neither the server nor the receiver may lift a foot until the shuttlecock has been struck by the server. The server must also initially hit the base (cork) of the shuttlecock, although he may afterwards also hit the feathers as part of the same stroke. This law was introduced to ban an extremely effective service style known as the S-serve or Sidek serve, which allowed the server to make the shuttlecock spin chaotically in flight. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes back over the net; but during a single stroke movement. a player may contact a shuttlecock twice (this happens in some

138

:'port~

sliced shots). A player may not, however. hit the shuttlecock once and then h it it v\ ith a neV\ movement, nor may he carry and sl ing the shuttlecock on h is racket. It is a fault if the shuttlecock hits the ceiling.

Lets If a let is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. Lets may occur due to some unexpected disturbance such as a shuttlecock landing on court (having been hit there by players on an adjacent court), If the receiver is not ready when the service is delivered, a let shall be called; yet if the receiver makes any attempt to return the shuttlecock. he shall be judged to have been ready. There is no let if the shuttlecock hits the tape (even on service).

Chess What

is

Chess

Chess has long been considered the sport of kings and aristocrats. It has only been recently that chess has become popular among all levels of society. And no wonder. Chess is great exercise. No, there are no head smashing, helmet scarring football tackles or exotic tumbles on a gymnastic mat. Rather the players exercise their minds. The mind, like the body, will atrophy if left unused too long. Also like the body. it will get stronger if used in a constructive fashion. A game of logic, Chess exercises the mind by requiring players to think logically. Players are forced to think ahead and to analyze complex individual, yet interdependent factors. It has been said that Chess is a good way to learn about life. A person with the facility to win at Chess is ready to conquer any complex problem on either a personal or business level. Chess was originally invented in India around the 6 th century AD. The game has changed only slightly since then with the advent of the queen in the 15 th century and some minor movement adjustments in the 1800s. So those who play the game today share a link to a long and storied past, a link to men and women who lived and breathed the history of their day.

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This site is dedicated to publishing the official rules of Chess in a graphical fonnat that can be easily understood by the beginning chess player and referred to on occasion by the more experienced player. Each page is linked to the next page in a logical order so you may read straight through all of the rules . I also make available (by ordering through Amazon.com) variolls books on chess . . .just in case you would like more in-depth knowledge on the subject under scrutiny. Some books are for beginners but many are for advanced players. After learning the basic rules, it might be handy to learn a bit of chess notation

General Rules The ultimate aim in the game of chess is to win by trapping your opponent's king. White is always first to move and players take turns alternately moving one piece at a time. Movement is required . Each type of piece has its own method of movement (described in the following sections). A piece may be moved to another position or may capture an opponent's piece. This is done by landing on the appropriate square with the moving piece and removing the defending piece from play. With the exception of the knight, a piece may not move over or through any of the other pieces. In toumament play, once a piece has been tOllched by a player, it must be moved . In sandlot chess this rule is not always strictly 7 6 adhered to.

Rules Chess is a game played by two players, who we ' ll call White and Black. It is played on a board of 64 squares. Each

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square can be empty or occupied by a piece. The initial position of the game consists of 16 white pieces and 16 black pieces, arranged as shown in the following diagram. Players alternate making moves. White always goes first. In a typical move, White selects a white piece and moves it to another square. The destination square is either empty or occupied by an enemy piece. In the latter case the enemy piece is said to be captured. The captured piece is removed from the board, and plays no further role in the game. Looking across the bottom row of white pieces we see a rook (sometimes called a cast/e), a knight, a bishop, a queen, a king, another bishop, another knight, and another rook. The next row of white pieces consists of eight pawns. Each different type of piece moves in a specific way. The goal of the game is to capture the opponent's king. However to actually capture the king would be offensive. So this is not allow~d. This leads to the notion of check. Black's king is said to be in check if (assuming it were White ':, turn to move) White could capture Black's king. To avoid this capture, Black must make a move that takes Black's king out of check, so White cannot capture Black's king on the next move. If it's impossible for Black to get out of check, then Black 's king is said to be checkmated, and White wins the game. Another way to describe checkmate is to say that Black is in check and Black has no legal moves. An alternative outcome is if Black is NOT in check but has no legal moves . This is called a stalemate. When this occurs the game ends in a draw. The remainder of this tutorial explains how all the pieces move, and a few other rules that don't quite fit the pattern described here, such as castling, promotion and en passant. These notes only try to explain the rules. Learning to play well is a different story.

How the King moves Here is a set of diagrams showing the different movements

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of the King, every possible move is indicated with an arrow: : When the King is in the centre of the board, it can move to 8 different squares When the King is in the corner it can only move to 3 different squares. As we can see from these diagrams the King can move to all adjacent squares.

How the Queen moves

Here is a set of diagrams showing the different movements of the Queen, every possible move is indicated with an arrow: When the Queen is in the centre of the board, it can move to 27 different squares

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When the Queen is in on the side it can only move to 21 different squares. The Queen. like all other pieces in chess (except the Knight) cannot jump over its own pieces. or opponent's pieces. so it is restricted in its movements. as we can see from the diagram on the left. As we can see from these diagrams the Queen can move until she meets an obstacle (end of board or other piece), in straight lines, and in diagonals.

How the Rook moves

Here is a set of diagrams showing the different movements of the Rook, every possible move is indicated with an arrow: When the Rook is in the centre of the board, it can move to 14 different squares In this position, the Rook is restricted in its movements by its own pieces, as it cannot jump over pieces. it can only go to 9 different Sl1l1ares. As we can see from these diagrams the Rook can move in horizontal and vertical lines. all the way until it meets an obstacle (end of board or a piece).

How the Bishop moves Here is a set of diagrams showing the di fferent movements of the Bishop, every possible move is indicated with an arrO\v :

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When the Bishop is in the centre of the board, it can move 13 different squares to

In this position, the Bishop is restricted in its movements by its own pieces, as it cannot jump over pieces, it can only go to 5 different squares. As we can see from these diagrams the Bishop can move diagonally, all the way until it meets an obstacle (end of board or a piece).

How the Knight moves Here is a set of diagrams showing the different movements

of the Knight, every possible move is indicated with an arrow: When the Knight is in the centre of the board, it can move to 8 different squares. In the corner, the Knight can only go to 2 squares. The Knight is the only chess piece that can "jump" over other

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pieces. as shown here, the pawns do not restrict his movements. As we can see from these diagrams the Knight can move in an L shape, and is able to "jump" over other pieces .

How the Pawn moves Here is a set of diagrams showing the different movements of the Pawn, every possible move is indicated with an arrow : When the Pawn is on its initial square it can choose to move either one square or two squares. Once it moves from that initial square, it can only move one square at a time. The pawn can capture an enemy piece by moving in diagonal (cannot capture by moving straight). The two pawns on the board have a choice of moving forward one square, or capturing a piece in diagonal. These two pawns cannot move forward vertically, as they are blocked by an enemy piece. The pawn on the left cannot move at all, whereas the pawn on the right can capture the rook diagonally. As we can see from these diagrams the Pawn can move initially move one or two squares, but then once it left it original position, can only move one square. A pawn can capture an enemy piece by moving diagonally. Note, the pawn is the only chess piece that cannot move backwards

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How to capture opponent's pieces A piece can capture another, by moving to the square of the captured pieces, here are some diagrams that show how cap!ljres work:

The Bishop moves to the square of the pawn and takes it. In this position, ifits white's move he can take black's pawn. But if it is black's move he can take white's pawn. (as indicated by the double arrow).

Am I in check? In chess, the most valuable piece in the King, if it is threatened you must get it somewhere safe (not attacked by any enemy piece). If you have no way of getting it out of danger, then it is checkmate and you lost the game. Here are a few examples of the King being in check. The King is threatened by the Rook here, he is in check. There are 3 possible ways to get ()ut of check: Take the piece that is giving the ched .

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In this position, the Knight can simply take the Queen that is giving the check.

You can move your King to get out of the check . In this position, white must move his King to get out of the check from the knight

You can interpose a piece. Here White can block the check by putting his bishop between the Rook and the King.

Checkmate In Chess, the most valuable piece is the King. If you cannot get it out of danger as described in the Check Page, then it is Checkmate and the game is over. To be checkmated the King has to be in check, and have no way of getting out of the check .

Here are a few positions in which ,the black King is checkmated: