Displaced piece

A displaced piece has been moved away from its correct place by an accident or physical disturbance. It may sit between squares, lie on its side, fall to the floor, or stand on another square without the player meaning to make a move. It is an irregularity, meaning a problem that takes the board away from its correct physical state.

A player who displaces one or more pieces must restore the correct position on their own time. If the proper squares are uncertain, either player may pause the clock and ask the arbiter, the official who applies the rules, for help. The arbiter may reconstruct the last identifiable position, adjust the clock or its press counter, and impose a penalty when appropriate.

Players should not guess a square through a hurried agreement when the location affects play. A displaced piece also does not always create an illegal position, meaning a position that could not be reached through any series of legal moves. When the proper state can be restored, the issue is reconstruction rather than necessarily impossible game history.