zlacker

I think this is more akin to reading the rules of a formal assembly before participating (eg.: a senate or a formal committee). These guys do chess events for a living. :shrug:

>>epgui+(OP)
I’ve competed in many running races, and I’m not sure if they even have written rules. Presumably they do, but I’ve never read them. You don’t need to, everyone knows what a race is.

Likewise, I use GPL software daily, for a living - doesn’t mean I’ve ever read the license.

>>michae+s6
It depends on the race, sometimes there are rules that might surprise you. One that I recently signed up for has pretty specific gear requirements for 10k/21k/42k/60k. Trail races can have strict rules as well, like the type of compass and nutrients you need.

>>epgui+(OP)
Exactly. They play chess for a living.

You need to care about the bits around the actual chess playing, but regulations for these things are overwhelmingly made of "play nice, be reasonable, don't be a dick" rules. If you try to play by those high-level rules, apologise if you break the nitty gritty of the low-level rules and fix things at the earliest opportunity, it shouldn't be a big issue. Also, things like dress code can easily be a "not an actual rule, just convention" sort of affair.

>>epgui+(OP)
It’s very common for sports professionals not to have memorised the rules for every aspect of their sport.

They’re professionals because they understand the game and are in the top 1% of people who play it. Not because they are the best at memorising rules. The latter group are people Who become umpires/referees instead.

>>epgui+(OP)
I get paid to attend conferences for my job, I rarely read the detailed rules of the conference and venue. I assume they all say common sense stuff and are mostly the same. It's no different for chess players

>>hnlmor+D41
One can be a professional champion and referee and professional referee, all at the same time, just not in the same game event.

>>antice+kU7
Sure, but I feel you’re missing the point with that comment.