Official Rules of Chess, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Eric Schiller (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Cardoza; Revised edition (April 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580420923
• ISBN-13: 978-1580420921
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,992,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Two sets of "Official Rules" in the United States?, August 15, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Official Rules of Chess, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

Whearas, the "United States Chess Federation" has their own official rulebook it is not user friendly to a beginner or a person who is new to the tournament world in the US.
Did you know that the United States is the only country in the world who doesn't use the FIDE ("World Chess Federation") rules?
Now this being said what could the United States Chess Federation do to assist players with their rule book who are not experienced tournament directors and players?

The solution would be to write a book that:
1) Points out which rules are the most important rules from a practical standpoint for a player to know,
2) Explains in more simplistic wording and detail what the important rules mane to make them more understandable, ranging from the detailed sudden death rules to understanding how to read a crosstable.
3) Point out some of the faults with the rules. This is unlikely because the rule makers are unlikley to admit to any problems - BUT THEY DO EXIST.

Mr. Schiller's book calling itself the "Official" rules implies that it has "official" approval from the governing body of chess in the US, "The United States Chess Federation". It does not and many officials have found it rather offensive to say the least to see the word "Official" on the cover.

Non-the-less Schiller's book in interesting and to some degree helps give a different wording of what is intented to be an "official rule". Unfortunately, sometimes it changes the meaning of the rule. But getting Schiller's rule book is not a bad idea as long as you already own the USCF's Official Rulebook. Schiller's book cannot be used in USCF tournaments in any manner. There is at least one book, that is specifically directed to supplementing these rule books that doesn't change the meaning of the words but does take a large number of most important rules and explain them and points out some of their faults. It is a book called "Winning Chess Tournaments for Juniors". Very user friendly and is recommended for every newcomer to chess as a suppliment to the rulebook, or a book to be used to learn how to train in chess.

As far a Schiller's book goes it can use some updating, rewording, and should not call itself "official".

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Curious and yet interesting, April 29, 2003

By 

Robert H. Nunnally Jr. "gurdonark" (Allen, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Official Rules of Chess (Paperback)

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.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not what it purports to be, March 7, 2006

By 

bookandblanket (Spokane, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Official Rules of Chess, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I'll state upfront that I was reading the first edition of this book, not the second, so perhaps some of the flaws I saw were fixed in the second edition.
I found the first edition of this book annoying. I'm a parent, trying to run a chess club, and I was looking for readable tournament rules. This book IS readable, but it's filled with clunky definitions, what looks like a tiff with the USCF, and also several typos.
I also do not appreciate the word "Official" in the title of the book, which vastly misrepresents the book's place in the chess world.
My recommendation is to buy the latest edition of the real "official" book: the "United States Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess."