Customer Reviews

Official Rules of Chess, 2nd Edition

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

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".

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.

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."

If you don't find this helpful, then i'm sorry!!

To sum it up:

Competitive Players:
The USCF's official rules of chess is fine if you want an in depth book which has every possible necessary rule you would need in a tournament. If you want an "Official, In-depth book" this is it. No other book has rules that are official - period -.

Learning the Basics:
If you are a beginner and want to learn the rules of chess, first you just need to know how the pieces move and check/checkmate. If you have come further along to the concepts of promotion and castling, thats good too. Anyone who fully understands enpassant must have a knowledge of the rules that gets them farther than most people want to go with chess. "Play winning chess" by Seirawan or any number of all the beginner books out there will teach you the rules.

Learning Tournament Basics:
I'm talking about clock etiquette, 3 move repetition, and so forth. Most people learn these rules from friends or coaches at a tournament, but if you really need a book on it, "Winning Chess Tournaments For Juniors" is fine. anything else is a waste of $$$.

Learning the unofficial "official" rules of chess:
What was schiller thinking??? And why do we need a 2nd edition? as if the rules have changed??? His "official" board has decided that the "official" rules have changed.

Or more likely:

Schiller: I don't know if we can go on vacation this summer if we don't have the money

Publisher: Just write another book tomorrow

Schiller: I know, I'll write the official rules of Chess!!! Dumb people will want it!

-next year-

Schiller: You know, after writing such dumb books like Standard Chess Openings (he acts like he's the authority!) and cranking out some other junk, I still don't have enough money. I know, we'll alter the rules of chess. We'll call it a "2nd edition"

Publisher: Sounds good Eric, shall I have it edited?

Schiller: No need, no one will notice!

Very few of Schiller's books are worth it

Conclusion:
Don't Buy!!!!
Ever!

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.