Bold text and italics are taken from the IBJJF rule book (download PDF from https://ibjjf.com/books-videos). Regular text is my additional notes.
The rules are complex, confusing, and at times contradictory. In my opinion, they still cover the majority of situations as well as any. YMMV. Not all referee decisions can be clear cut and the decision in some situations will come down to interpretation and subjectivity. I counsel people wishing to push hard against the edge of the rules with particular techniques or strategies not to, as the referee’s interpretation of the rules governing a particular grey area may differ from yours or those of your coach.
Refereeing requires intense concentration over prolonged periods. Referees are human and can make mistakes. Not all coaches or competitors know the rules as well as they should. Most competitors with long careers will tell you in confidence that questionable referee decisions have as often gone their way as not. I would encourage anyone wishing to become a sport jiu-jitsu coach to spend some time refereeing.
4.2 Guard Pass (3 points)
When the athlete in top position manages to surmount the legs of the opponent in bottom position (pass guard or half-guard) and maintain side-control or north-south position over him/her for 3 (three) seconds.
Note 1: Guard is defined by the use of one or more legs to block the opponent from reaching side-control or north-south position over the athlete on bottom.
If an athlete attempts to pull guard from standing, messes it up and the opponent makes some sort of passing move to a stabilised position for 3 seconds, the opponent can earn 3 points for a guard pass.
The athlete must be presented with some sort of guard to pass, and the opponent have a chance to sweep, to be awarded guard pass points.
Taking an opponent down from standing directly into side control, north-south, mount, or knee ride does not earn guard pass points.
A guard pass should finish with the opponent on his back, in side control, front control, kneeride or mount.
If the athlete passes directly to kneeride and stabilises the position for three seconds, they will be awarded 3 points for the guard pass plus 2 for the kneeride.
If the athlete passes directly to mount and stabilises the position for three seconds, they will be awarded 3 points for the guard pass plus 4 for the mount.
A guard pass that ends up in a kneeride on the opponent’s back will be awarded the 3 points for the pass, provided the opponent is stabilised for the required 3 seconds. Kneeride on the back is not a scoring position, so no additional points.
A guard pass that ends up in reverse kneeride (facing the legs, instead of the head) or reverse mount and held for 3 seconds will accrue the 3 points for a guard pass. There will be no additional points as reverse kneeride and reverse mount are not scoring positions.
The double underhook flip directly backwards to put the opponent on their knees is not regarded as a passing attempt. If an athlete in his opponent’s guard gets double underhooks under the legs and flips the opponent straight back in the air onto their knees, this does NOT constitute a guard pass. Neither 3 points nor an advantage should be awarded.
If an athlete has a lasso guard in place, but the opponent passes the guard to kneeride and stabilises it, the guard pass (3) and kneeride (2) points should be awarded. The lasso on its own does not constitute a guard.
If the the athlete has a spider guard foot on the bicep, and keeps his leg extended and keeps the opponent away from him, and the opponent gets to kneeride but does not remove the foot on bicep, this is NOT treated as a guard pass or kneeride. If the athlete has a foot on the bicep but allows the leg to bend and the opponent to come to side control with chest contact, this WILL be treated as a guard pass and the 3 points awarded after 3 seconds of stabilisation.
Note 2: Half-guard is the guard where the athlete on bottom is lying on his/her back or side and has one of the top-positioned athlete’s legs trapped, blocking him/her from achieving side- or north-south control over the bottom-positioned athlete for 3 (three) seconds.
Note 3: The position of the top athlete’s legs determines whether it is half-guard or reverse half-guard, according to the following examples:
Example 1: In half-guard with his right leg trapped, his left leg is positioned alongside the right leg of the opponent playing guard.
Example 2: In reverse half-guard with his right leg trapped, his left leg is positioned alongside the left leg of the athlete playing guard.
If while attacking from top position, such as an armbar, for example, the athlete ends up on bottom and does not use his/her legs to prevent the opponent from reaching side-control, no points or advantages shall be awarded for the guard pass, according to the definition of guard.
5.6.2 Advantage from Guard Pass
As well as the specific circumstances below, a pass which is completed to a scoring position but in which the opponent is not pinned there for 3 seconds should earn an advantage.
Advantages here can accumulate, e.g. a pass to kneeride or mount which is completed but not stabilised for three seconds should earn an advantage for the pass and a second advantage for the scoring position, i.e. the knee ride or mount.
When the athlete passing guard stacks the opponent, or allows the opponent to roll back his/herself, controlling the opponent’s back in four-point-kneeling position and maintaining at least one knee on the ground, without needing to place hooks.
The advantage for the opponent going to his knees is given only when the opponent is forced to go to his knees to prevent his guard being passed. An advantage should not be given if the opponent goes to his knees when no passing pressure is applied.
The top player must control the bottom player on his knees for 3 seconds to be awarded the advantage. If the opponent rolls over his knees to successfully recover guard in a continuous movement, no advantage should be awarded.
When starting from guard (or from pulling guard) the athlete achieves half-guard control over the opponent, but does not solidify the pass in the ensuing sequence, in accordance with article 5.5.
You must partially pass the guard to get to half guard to be possibly eligible for an advantage. Going from side control, mount, etc, to half guard of your own volition will not make you eligible for an advantage or subsequent pass points. If the opponent achieves half guard for 3 seconds in an attempt to escape a top position, and then you complete the guard pass from there, you should be awarded 3 pass points. He achieving a half guard momentarily in an escape attempt from side control, mount, or knee ride which you then counter should not be considered as a pass by you.
(Article 5.5) The referee may only award an advantage point once there is no longer a chance of the athlete reaching a point-scoring position.
When an athlete passes to top half guard, the referee should wait to see if he completes the pass to a scoring position before awarding points or an advantage. If the top athlete successfully completes the pass and holds for 3 seconds, the referee should award 3 points. If the bottom athlete successfully recovers full guard, or sweeps, stands up, or otherwise permanently stops the possibility of completion of the pass, only then should the referee award the top player the advantage.
Getting top position when the opponent gets deep half guard, reverse half guard, or Z guard will not be awarded an advantage. It should be chest to chest control or half mount with both knees free and on the mat to gain an advantage. An incomplete knee slice pass is insufficient. Who has control? Is the criterion.
If an athlete pulls regular half guard from standing and the opponent stabilises in the top position, but does not complete the subsequent guard pass, the opponent is entitled to an advantage.
If one gets an advantage for half guard on one side and after a scramble, etc., ends up in half guard on the other side and stabilises, a second advantage should be awarded.