* The irony in the title "Rules of the Game" lies in the fact that there are no clear or straightforward rules in the game of life. The protagonist, Waverly Jong, learns this as she navigates through her childhood in America.
* Another example of irony is the way in which Waverly's mother uses the game of chess to teach her life lessons. Chess is a game of strategy and calculation, and yet Waverly's mother uses it to teach Waverly about the importance of intuition and instinct.
Symbols
* The chessboard is a symbol of the world, and the pieces on the board represent the people in Waverly's life.
* The game of chess itself is a symbol of the challenges and obstacles that Waverly faces as she grows up.
* Waverly's mother is a symbol of traditional Chinese values, while Waverly herself represents the American dream.