Chess rules
The Touch-Move Rule in Chess Explained
The touch-move rule says that a player who deliberately touches one of their own pieces must move it, and a player who deliberately touches an opponent's piece must capture it, provided a legal move or capture exists. To adjust a piece without moving it, you first say j'adoube.
Example
1. Qxe5+ dxe5
White touched the queen and then the knight on e5. Under the touch-move rule, White must capture the knight with the queen because that capture is legal, even though the pawn on d6 takes the queen back.
What the rule says
Under the FIDE Laws, if the player whose turn it is deliberately touches one of their own pieces, they must move that piece if it has a legal move. If they deliberately touch an opponent's piece, they must capture it if it can be legally captured.
If they touch one of their own pieces and an opponent's piece, they must capture that piece with the touched piece if that is legal. If it is not, they must make the first legal move or capture available from the pieces touched, in the order the rules set out.
If none of the touched pieces can be moved or captured legally, the player may make any legal move.
How to adjust a piece
To straighten a piece on its square without being bound to move it, say j'adoube, or I adjust, before you touch it. Only the player whose turn it is may adjust pieces. Touching a piece by accident, without meaning to move it, does not count.
Releasing a piece and castling
Once you release a piece on a square after a legal move, you cannot move it somewhere else. Until you let go, you may still choose a different square for the touched piece.
If you deliberately touch your king and a rook, you must castle on that side if it is legal. If you touch the rook first and then the king, you may not castle on that side on that move.
Common questions
Does touch-move apply in casual games?
Only if the players agree to it. It is part of the official rules for over-the-board tournament play, but friendly games often ignore it.
What if I touch a piece that has no legal move?
Then there is no penalty, and you may make any legal move. The rule only forces you to move or capture a touched piece when that is legal.
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