I read a book while he played chess.

[Marika33]

I've learned that when you talk about two events or activities that started in the past, went on over the same period of past time and ceased in the past, you use the past simple in both clauses:

• I read a book while he played chess.

But when one action starts and ceases within the other acton, you put the one that is shorter in the past simple and the one that is longer in the past continuous, is my understanding correct?
If my understanding is correct (please let me know), I would like to continue and ask. Which of these below work well? Is any of them grammatically wrong?

• I read a book while he was playing chess.
• While I read a book, he was playing chess.
  
  
• He was playing chess while I read a book.
• While he was playing chess, I read a book.

• He played chess while I was reading a book.
• While he played chess, I was reading a book.
  
  
• I was reading a book while he played chess.
• While I was reading a book, he played chess.