Is it ok to use red and white pieces in a USCF tournament? I know then need to be black or brown for FIDE, not sure about USCF (I know in earlier times almost anything made the cut, tournaments always short on equipment).
I don't have the rulebook in front of me, but I don't think red and white would be considered standard equipment. If your opponent didn't have an issue with it, then it could be used.
I was about to ask the same question? Also, can I use my magnetic chess set in a tournament?
I just looked briefly at both the FIDE and USCF rules (on color) - both seem to indicate just that one side needs to be lighter in color than the other - they do specify that the lighter is to be referred to as "white" and the darker "black" but not that the pieces need to be those colors. So most color combinations should be acceptable as long as one color is clearly lighter than the other.
I just looked briefly at both the FIDE and USCF rules (on color) - both seem to indicate just that one side needs to be lighter in color than the other - they do specify that the lighter is to be referred to as "white" and the darker "black" but not that the pieces need to be those colors. So most color combinations should be acceptable as long as one color is clearly lighter than the other.
The USCF 6th Edition rulebook states the "Pieces should be the colors of naturally light and dark wood (for example, maple or boxwood and walnut or ebony) or approximations of these colors, such as simply white and black." (emphasis mine)
This is from the 7th edition rules (7-19-19):
2B. Description.
The chessboard is composed of sixty-four squares of identical size, eight squares by eight squares, alternately light and dark. The light squares are referred to as white squares and the dark squares black squares, even though other colors are frequently used. (For instance, in tournament play black squares are often green.)
3A. Each player’s pieces. At the beginning of the game, one player (White) has sixteen light-colored pieces (the white pieces); the other (Black) has sixteen dark-colored pieces (the black pieces).
I reference the board rules because they highlight the disctintion of shades of relative darkness rather than the specific colors.
This from the USCF store:
https://www.uscfsales.com/chess-sets/tournament-chess-sets/design-your-own-deluxe-tournament-combo.html
The drop down menu for the pieces shows various color combos - including red and white. (It comes under a larger heading called "US Chess Federation Tournament Chess Sets".)
House of Staunton has essentially the same combos.
I've seen kids Tournaments with many different colored pieces. Maybe that's just for kids but still sanctioned tournaments.
I've seen kids Tournaments with many different colored pieces. Maybe that's just for kids but still sanctioned tournaments.
We have this listing (again from the USCF storefront):
https://www.uscfsales.com/regulation-silicone-tournament-chess-set-pieces-3-75-king.html
"They're ideal for schools, clubs, kids and more! These chess pieces meet all chess tournament standards and regulations, and feature the traditional Staunton pattern design." I wonder what they mean by "more" and "all tournament standards". I would be hard pressed to tell some of the color pairings from each other let alone which is lighter/darker. 
Is it ok to use red and white pieces in a USCF tournament? I know then need to be black or brown for FIDE, not sure about USCF (I know in earlier times almost anything made the cut, tournaments always short on equipment).