So the other day I'm playing bughouse and found out that standard northern california rules are a bit different where I live now.

For example, in calif you can drop a piece just about anywhere, even to deliver a check. But you can't mate by dropping a piece.

Well guess what? Where I live now you can't land on some square and make check OR mate. If you do, the offending piece is forfeit and immediately removed from the board to be shared with your team mate's opponent.

Another one would be landing a pawn on the 8th and instantly promoting. Verboten most places. But it's ok to drop a pawn on the 7th and prepare to promote your next move.

Probably there are other differences in just about every town. Being a bit of a globetrotter, this can be frustrating!

Is there a standard set of bughouse rules published by fide?

Hi Rich -

Here is a reply from a friend of mine who coaches students in tournaments that include bughouse (in Colorado):

"Those sound like strange rules. The "normal" way to play is:
No pawns placed on the 1st or 8th rank to instantly become another piece.
You may place check and checkmate.

http://main.uschess.org/content/view/7864/131/
These are from 2006 but it is from the United States Chess Federation website.

It says in part:

10. A partner has the option of either moving one of their pieces on their board or placing
a piece their partner has captured on their board.
a. A captured piece may be placed on any unoccupied square on the board, with
the exception that a pawn may not be placed on the first or last rank.
b. Pieces may be placed to create check or checkmate.
c. A promoted pawn, which has been captured, reverts to a pawn and not the
promoted piece."

Hope that helps. It sounds like "your" rules are the correct ones.

Linda