SQL Server also accepts the simpler notation of:

SELECT A.F, B.G, C.H FROM TABLE_A A, TABLE_B B, TABLE_C C WHERE A.X = B.X AND B.Y = C.Y

Using this simpler notation, one does not need to bother about the difference between inner and cross joins. Instead of two "ON" clauses, there is a single "WHERE" clause that does the job. If you have any difficulty in figuring out which "JOIN" "ON" clauses go where, abandon the "JOIN" notation and use the simpler one above.

It is not cheating.

SQL Server also accepts the simpler notation of:

SELECT A.F, 
       B.G, 
       C.H 
  FROM TABLE_A A, 
       TABLE_B B, 
       TABLE_C C
 WHERE A.X = B.X 
   AND B.Y = C.Y

Using this simpler notation, one does not need to bother about the difference between inner and cross joins. Instead of two "ON" clauses, there is a single "WHERE" clause that does the job. If you have any difficulty in figuring out which "JOIN" "ON" clauses go where, abandon the "JOIN" notation and use the simpler one above.

It is not cheating.