The Official Rules of Chess

Here’s a story to illustrate why you should have the official rules of chess. I was playing in a tournament once against a higher-rated player (a couple hundred points higher). I had played a good game and my opponent was struggling to get a draw with a three-fold repetition while his time was running out.

In fact, he had made the move to give the three-fold repetition when his flag fell. He claimed the draw and I claimed a win.

How should the point be awarded?

If you have the official rules of chess, you can probably make a reasonable answer to the question … and perhaps vindicate my claim for a win!

If you would like to play tournament chess, you should learn the official rules of chess. For players in the U.S., that means getting the U.S. Chess Federations official rules. I’ve added the United States Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess, Fifth Edition to my chess store for your convenience.

If you’re just starting out and haven’t played a lot of chess, you will first want to review my articles and videos on the rules of chess for the absolute beginner. But when you decide you want to play a little more seriously, play a few tournaments to get the feel for it; and to see if you really want to stick with it. If you decide you do want to play tournament chess in even a half-way serious manner, you really should read the official rules and keep a copy with you at every tournament. The official rules should go in your travel bag with your clock, set, and board!

Get the official rules of chess and enjoy a fun-filled tournament career!