Opening books, opening databases (online or software-based)
chess engines NOT allowed in chess.com
endgame table-bases NOT allowed (books allowed)
recently, online opening databases with computer evaluations also banned
consulting other people NOT allowed (except in vote chess - in that case, consultation allowed only within members who have joined) - thus you cannot ask other people's opinion on ongoing games (you can do so after the game is over)
A simple tabular presentation of the rules:
|
Resource |
What is it? |
Is it permitted DURING Turn-Based (and Vote Chess) play? |
Is it permitted DURING LiveChess play? |
|
Asking another person for advice |
Includes discussing a game-in-progress in the chess.com Forums |
NO* (except during VoteChess - when discussion WITHIN the team is expected) |
NO |
|
Books |
This is a static resource and involves no calculation of best move. |
YES |
NO |
|
Chess Engine (chess computer) e.g. Fritz, ChessMaster |
Software (or free-standing gadget) that calculates the best move from a given position |
NO (except by agreement of both players, where specifically arranged and must be UNRATED games e.g. in a tournament created for that purpose) |
NO |
|
Conditional Moves (Pre-Moves) |
Setting your response in advance to one or more of your opponent’s moves |
YES |
YES |
|
Internet articles; Google searches |
This is a static resource and involves no calculation of best move. |
YES |
NO |
|
Openings Database e.g. Game Explorer |
A database (or collection) of previous games, that is searchable. It is mainly used for Opening Lines (i.e. the initial few moves) but it actually contains complete games. |
YES |
NO |
|
Separate board for analysis e.g. chess.com’s Analysis Board |
|
YES |
NO |
|
TableBases (Endings Database) |
The results from an analysis of end games (stored in a database) in which the sequence of moves to achieve the best outcome has been calculated |
NO |
NO |
http://support.chess.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=17&nav=0,6
Your table is useful, but part of it is internally inconsistent.
A database (or collection) of previous games, that is searchable. It covers Opening Lines only i.e. the initial few moves.
A database that covers "opening lines" only would be game fragments, not games. Moreover, I do not see such specificity in the link you provided. Rather, in the knowledgebase article cited, the key determining factor is whether the database contains computer analysis.
Let's consider some of the searchable databases on my computer and the means for searching them.
1. Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, electronic edition
This is a searchable version of a static print resource. I see no grounds for ambiguity.
2. Chess Informants 1-103 (104-106 to be added soon), electronic edition. This database and ECO mentioned in number 1 are searchable using the software Chess Informant Expert. It is available in other formats--ChessAssistant, ChessBase, and PGN--so that every major database program can search it (see 4 below).
This resource would not be permitted according to the explanation in the table given (complete games searchable from start to finish), but I see no prohibition in the explanation given in the link that you provided.
3. ChessBase Big Database (version 2010 is available, but I use an old version that I have updated continuously via TWIC and other resources). ChessBase database software is my principle means for searching this and the next few listed databases. These are all searchable within the database functions of Fritz as well.
Again, these are complete games, so you would seem to exclude them. Even so, many of these games (complete) are available in Chess.com's Game Explorer. As I have stripped all annotations from these games, they contain no computer analysis.
4. Annotated Games. A database derived from Big Database, but containing annotations, many annotated using the full analysis feature of Fritz. Annotations also include notes from the books on my shelves, notes copied from magazines and websites, annotations imported from electronic versions of Chess Informant, ...
This database would seem to be disallowed according to the knowledgebase article because it contains computer analysis.
5. Pandolfini's Endgame Course (pgn database containing positions and moves from printed book).
I believe the knowledgebase article does not exclude this resource, but your table clearly seems to.
"It covers Opening Lines only i.e. the initial few moves."
There's no such limitation. Players are allowed to use databases with complete games as long as they don't contain computer analysis.
Your table is useful, but part of it is internally inconsistent.
A database (or collection) of previous games, that is searchable. It covers Opening Lines only i.e. the initial few moves.
A database that covers "opening lines" only would be game fragments, not games. ...
I believe the knowledgebase article does not exclude this resource, but your table clearly seems to.
Quite right. Thanks.
"It covers Opening Lines only i.e. the initial few moves."
There's no such limitation. Players are allowed to use databases with complete games as long as they don't contain computer analysis.
Thanks for the clarification.
I don't see how computer analysis in static databases can be excluded. Especially since many books and magazines that you might be using may include engine based analysis, which would make them not allowed by that definition. I see not using active ananlysis on a database game but any analysis that already existed should be allowed.
Maybe that is actually what is meant but it doesn't read that way. I don't use most of the allowed resources at this point, mostly opening related options, but in the future, as I analyze more of my completed games they will include some computer anlaysis. By the above listings I couldn't then use my previously played games in correspondence since it would include computer analysis.
And again, that would exclude some (maybe many) newer book and magazine resources. I don't think you can even come close to guaranteeing those resource do not have computer based analysis, or at least GM based and computer checked analysis.
I don't see how computer analysis in static databases can be excluded. Especially since many books and magazines that you might be using may include engine based analysis, which would make them not allowed by that definition. I see not using active ananlysis on a database game but any analysis that already existed should be allowed.
Maybe that is actually what is meant but it doesn't read that way. I don't use most of the allowed resources at this point, mostly opening related options, but in the future, as I analyze more of my completed games they will include some computer anlaysis. By the above listings I couldn't then use my previously played games in correspondence since it would include computer analysis.
And again, that would exclude some (maybe many) newer book and magazine resources. I don't think you can even come close to guaranteeing those resource do not have computer based analysis, or at least GM based and computer checked analysis.
Martin_Stahl, I agree there are some grey areas. Current top level opening variations are generated by top engines under the direction of seconds or the GMs himself, it's been like that more than 10 years, and it seems we just need to wait for the engine moves to be played by GMa first. 
But there's no work around for that, otherwise it would effectively allow engine use.
The issue of analyzing your games also brings some grey areas. For example, you have just finished playing a game featuring a certain opening, and you have started another game with the same variation. Is it OK to analyze the first finished game extensively, even if it covers some areas that you've entered in the second game?
I think players will just need to combine responsibility with common sense, and as long as you are not blatantly cheating, you'll not get in any trouble.
"It covers Opening Lines only i.e. the initial few moves."
There's no such limitation. Players are allowed to use databases with complete games as long as they don't contain computer analysis.
Also, in what appears to be a very recent amendment, databases are also limited to those containing only human-versus-human games:
http://support.chess.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=711
"It covers Opening Lines only i.e. the initial few moves."
There's no such limitation. Players are allowed to use databases with complete games as long as they don't contain computer analysis.
Also, in what appears to be a very recent amendment, databases are also limited to those containing only human-versus-human games:
http://support.chess.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=711
Yeah that's a better way of putting it perhaps, because I wouldn't mind using Kasparov's analysis on his books where he says "Fritz suggests this and that" in one line.
Edit:
Actually allowing books cover that. Then, I wouldn't mind using the analysis of a chess com user that she posts in her blog and cites fritz for a certain move. (I guess? )
I think they're actually two different issues -- databases containing computer analysis on human-verus-human games is still prohibited.
I think they're actually two different issues -- databases containing computer analysis on human-verus-human games is still prohibited.
How about when I download those analysis done by human blog posters as pgn and collect them into a database?
Chessbase coverage of top tournaments also cite rybka or fritz in their post mortem on a regular basis. I could be collecting them into databases too.
(I'm not arguing or anything, just brainstorming for the fun of it.)
Nice to see i started a lively conversation. Thanks to all i guess i was just wondering if it would be ok to use my books and i see that it is. Although i do sometimes do post mortems with fritz, it seems that those anylised games will not be able to be used. Thanks again
Nice to see i started a lively conversation. Thanks to all i guess i was just wondering if it would be ok to use my books and i see that it is. Although i do sometimes do post mortems with fritz, it seems that those anylised games will not be able to be used. Thanks again
No no, you can use your own games that you have analyzed with fritz post mortem by all means.
You don't have to make the same mistake twice just because of that, it would be ridiculous.
Im just wondering what tools are allowed in turn based chess here on chess.com. I know in correspondence chess you can use books and stuff and sometimes even chess engines. I personally feel the use of the chess engines is wrong but can I use my opening books or endgame books etc.?