Originally posted by clandarkfire
I was playing at an otb tournament last weekend, and in one of my games, when I was ahead a rook, and a few games from checkmate, I reached for a pawn, and in doing so acidently knocked over my rook. I picked it up without bothering to say "I adjust", or whatever I would say, and my opponent announced that I had to move it. I called the TD and he agreed ...[text shortened]... it, I move it there, my opponent captured it, and I consequently lost. Is this really correct?
The safest thing for you to have done would have been to finish moving the pawn BEFORE you reset the accidentally knocked-over rook. That way any claim by your opponent of touch move would really be lame.
However, USCF Rule 10E applies to your situation.
Rule 10E: "Accidental touch of piece - A director who believes a player touched a piece by accident should not require the player to move that piece. For example, a player's hand reaching across the board may inadvertantly brush the top of a nearby king or queen, or a player may hit a piece with an elbow."
Unfortunately, rulings on these types of claims are often difficult for the TD. It all boils down to whether the TD thinks the piece was deliberately touched.
If it really happened the way you say it happened, then you got a raw deal. Life's not always fair, unfortunately.