What is "touch-move rule"

n. (context chess English) The rule stating that, if a player intentionally touches a piece when it is his turn, he must move or capture the piece if it is legal to do so.

The touch-move rule in chess specifies that, if a player intentionally touches a piece on the board when it is his or her turn to move, then the player must move or capture that piece if it is legal to do so. If it is the player's piece that was touched, it must be moved if it has a legal move. If the opponent's piece was touched, it must be captured if it can be captured with a legal move. This is a rule of chess that is enforced in all games played in over-the-board competitions. The player claiming a touch-move violation must do so before making a move.

If a player wants to adjust a piece on its square without being required to move it, the player can announce j’adoube ("I adjust") before touching the piece . A player may not touch the pieces on the board while it is their opponent's turn.

There is a separate rule that a player who lets go of a piece after making a legal move cannot retract the move.