user-1: I was playing and I am pretty sure that my opponent was talking about the game with his friend in another language. I don’t speak the language, but you can tell. What should I have done?

user8201: Hi Liam and welcome to chess.stackexchange. I am sorry that you had this experience. If this tournament was played under FIDE rules, then the following articles are directly relevant:

11.3.1 During play the players are forbidden to use any notes, sources of information or advice, or analyse any game on another chessboard.
11.5 It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever.
12.7 [...] Spectators are not allowed to interfere in a game. The arbiter may expel offenders from the playing venue.
12.2 The arbiter shall:

12.2.1 ensure fair play,
12.2.2 act in the best interest of the competition,
12.2.3 ensure that a good playing environment is maintained,
12.2.4 ensure that the players are not disturbed,
12.2.5 supervise the progress of the competition,
12.2.6 take special measures in the interests of disabled players and those who need medical attention,
12.2.7 follow the Anti-Cheating Rules or Guidelines


You should therefore at the time call the arbiter and explain the situation so he can take the corrective steps.
The arbiter should stop the clock (although the player has the right to do this prior to calling the judge too). The judge has absolute discretion under the laws, to come to the best solution. A wide number of different circumstances can have led to the complaint, with varying levels of penalty appropriate, and different clues are available. If cheating is suspected then a substantial interruption may be required for investigation

user19877: First, you should inform the tournament director, and let that person handle it. There is a parental instinct that makes me want to just take the kid aside, and say something privately first, but since that can be misconstrued, do not do that, and let the TD handle it. I am sure that they will mention it, or warn the kids, and hopefully it will be done with.
I speak Russian, and in times gone by, I would hear some of them discuss games that were not mine, and it was not so much about specific calculations, but still. Thankfully, it was not common, but it still violates the rules, and needs to be dealt with. In my case, they were always adults, who should have known better. In your case, you have kids, who often just have not been taught well enough yet, and hopefully a stern word of warning will end this before it is evolves into intentional cheating.
Playing kids is hard enough: To have to play two of them in tandem is for the birds. :)

-1: <p>I was playing and I am pretty sure that my opponent was talking about the game with his friend in another language. I don’t speak the language, but you can tell. What should I have done?</p>
 8201: <p>Hi Liam and welcome to chess.stackexchange. I am sorry that you had this experience. If this tournament was played under FIDE rules, then the following articles are directly relevant:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>11.3.1 During play the players are forbidden to use any notes, sources of information or advice, or analyse any game on another chessboard.</p>
  
  <p>11.5 It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever.</p>
  
  <p>12.7 [...] Spectators are not allowed to interfere in a game. The arbiter may expel offenders from the playing venue.</p>
  
  <p>12.2 The arbiter shall:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>12.2.1 ensure fair play,</li>
  <li>12.2.2 act in the best interest of the competition,</li>
  <li>12.2.3 ensure that a good playing environment is maintained,</li>
  <li>12.2.4 ensure that the players are not disturbed,</li>
  <li>12.2.5 supervise the progress of the competition,</li>
  <li>12.2.6 take special measures in the interests of disabled players and those who need medical attention,</li>
  <li>12.2.7 follow the Anti-Cheating Rules or Guidelines</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>You should therefore at the time call the arbiter and explain the situation so he can take the corrective steps.</p>

<p>The arbiter should stop the clock (although the player has the right to do this prior to calling the judge too). The judge has absolute discretion under the laws, to come to the best solution. A wide number of different circumstances can have led to the complaint, with varying levels of penalty appropriate, and different clues are available. If cheating is suspected then a substantial interruption may be required for investigation</p>
 19877: <p>First, you should inform the tournament director, and let that person handle it. There is a parental instinct that makes me want to just take the kid aside, and say something privately first, but since that can be misconstrued, do not do that, and let the TD handle it. I am sure that they will mention it, or warn the kids, and hopefully it will be done with.</p>

<p>I speak Russian, and in times gone by, I would hear some of them discuss games that were not mine, and it was not so much about specific calculations, but still. Thankfully, it was not common, but it still violates the rules, and needs to be dealt with. In my case, they were always adults, who should have known better. In your case, you have kids, who often just have not been taught well enough yet, and hopefully a stern word of warning will end this before it is evolves into intentional cheating.</p>

<p>Playing kids is hard enough: To have to play two of them in tandem is for the birds. :)</p>
