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Title: Official Rules Of Chess by Eric Schiller, Richard Peterson ISBN: 1-58042-025-7 Publisher: Cardoza Pub Pub. Date: 01 April, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $9.95

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Average Customer Rating: 2.5 (2 reviews)

Rating: 3
Summary: Curious and yet interesting
Comment: The United States Chess Federation (USCF) publishes an "Official Rules of Chess" which is more generally thought of as "the" official US tournament rules. I wondered, therefore, whether publication of "another" set of "official rules" made any sense, other than as a marketing ploy. This book, though, proposes a workable set of rules for play. The authors take a small swipe at a flaw or two in the USCF rules, which swipe seems to me largely unnecessary. The authors do make the useful observation that most chess is not played under USCF auspices. However, most US "live" rated chess probably is, which this book obscures. But if the title "Official Rules of Chess" is a bit strong, given that the USCF "official rules" are probably used for more over-the-board rated games, the book is nonetheless an enjoyable read. I suppose I wish that the title were "Rules of Chess--a Proposal", but even that title would not quite work, as this set of rules is in use for at least one scholastic chess league.

Why should one buy this book when it is not a "USCF" official rules book? Perhaps because it's got good sections on chess etiquette, good suggestions for rule variations, and an easy, free flowing style. Mr. Schiller's smooth style remains quite readable.

I docked this book a star because of its title "Official Rules".
But I found it a fascinating read, nonetheless. It's a good buy for those interested in chess possibilities, but perhaps a less essential buy for those literally hunting US "official rules", who would do much better by buying the USCF official rules.

Rating: 2
Summary: Not what it purports to be
Comment: I suppose anybody can start a chess organization, write a rulebook, and declare the book to be the "official" rules of the organization. In this case the breakaway organization appears to be the Chess Education Association, whose All-America Cup in November 2000 drew 29 players to its high school section. Similar events run by the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF), the generally recognized governing body of American chess, regularly draw in the thousands. This book is certainly not for the beginner attempting to learn the rules of chess. Few beginners could figure out how the knight moves, based on the book's explanation: "The knight moves to one of the squares nearest to that on which it stands but not on the same rank, file or diagonal." The definition of checkmate is just plain wrong, as "a position such that the opponent's king has no legal move which would avoid the capture of the king on the following move". This definition overlooks interposition and capture as ways to get out of check, and fails to distinguish between checkmate and stalemate. The book is not for the aspiring tournament director, either, as the details are woefully inadequate, especially the discussion of Swiss pairings. The book might be acceptable for the player who already knows how the pieces move and is about to enter his first tournament, but even here there are pitfalls. For example, standard USCF rules state that, if both players run out of time before either notices, the game is drawn, while this CEA version tries to make the arbiter figure out which player's flag fell first. If this book has any strong points, they are the Etiquette section and the advice to Chess Teachers, Coaches, and Trainers. These sections fill a need in the often overlooked area of sportsmanship at scholastic chess events. The book would be improved by a more honest title, such as "Proper Procedures for Young Chess Players", and the removal of such words as "absurdity" in the discussion of USCF rules. If you buy this book for amusement, be sure to read it with a grain of salt. Greatly preferable is the USCF version, either the current 4th edition or the upcoming (in about a year) 5th edition.