Forfeit loss

A forfeit loss is imposed when a player fails to meet a competition requirement and the prescribed consequence is loss of the game. It does not say that the position was worse or that the opponent found a winning continuation. In that sense it differs from a loss produced on the board.

It may result from arriving after the default time, carrying a forbidden electronic device when loss is the applicable penalty, or persistently refusing to follow the rules. It is not the same as using all the time on the chess clock during play. That is a loss on time and follows a different rule.

The forfeiting player normally scores zero and the opponent may receive a forfeit win. For an unplayed game, -/+ means White forfeits, +/- means Black forfeits, and -/- means that both players forfeit. An unplayed game is also excluded from the rating calculations of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).