Correspondence chess

From Free net encyclopedia

Correspondence chess is chess played by various forms of long-distance correspondence, usually through a correspondence chess server, through e-mail or by the postal system; less common methods which have been employed include fax and homing pigeon. It is in contrast to over-the-board (OTB) chess, where the players sit at a chessboard at the same time (or perhaps play at the same time remotely).

Correspondence chess allows people or clubs who are geographically distant to play one another without meeting in person. The length of a game played by correspondence can vary depending on the method used to transmit the moves: a game played via server or by e-mail might last no more than a few weeks or months, but a game played by post between players in different countries might last several years.

1 Structure of correspondence chess
2 Current branches of correspondence chess
- 2.1 "Official" correspondence chess
- 2.2 "Casual" correspondence chess
3 Over the board players who also play correspondence chess
4 ICCF World Champions
- 4.1 Men
- 4.2 Women
5 External links
- 5.1 General
- 5.2 Correspondence chess servers

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Structure of correspondence chess

Correspondence chess differs from over-the-board play in several respects. While in OTB chess only one game is played at a time (the exception being in a simultaneous exhibition), in correspondence chess several games are usually played at once. All games in a tournament are played concurrently, and some players may have more than a hundred games continuing at the same time.

The time limits in correspondence play are usually between 30 and 60 days for every 10 moves. This allows for far deeper calculation, meaning that blunders are very rare. The use of any kind of assistance, including books, chess databases and chess programs, is often allowed, though many hobby players voluntarily do without them.

The new phenomenon of computer assistance has altered the essence of correspondence chess and in addition to profound chess knowledge and analytical discipline, the ability to interpret and guide computer analysis has become important. Given that a player with a computer can use the strongest programs to analyze his/her games, the gap between the beginner and master player has narrowed in recent years since a beginner can partially compensate for his poor chess knowledge with long computer analysis. However the influence of computer assistance is controversial in both official and casual play, and consensus on the issue of whether to allow computer aid is still lacking.

Also at stake is human supremacy over computer chess programs; some argue that a chess program - if left alone - is no match for a top-level correspondence player. An interesting parallel match between correspondence chess grandmaster Arno Nickel and six computer programs on the now defunct Chessfriend server ended +1=3-2. Nickel also played a two-game match against Hydra, currently the strongest chess machine, winning 2-0. In the rematch, the first game was drawn. The second game has been postponed because of the parties' schedules and server problems. Arno Nickel played in the final of the 2nd CSS/PAL Freestyle (see Advanced Chess) on Playchess, being the only player to obtain a winning position against the tournament winner Hydra Syclla, reaffirming his "anti-Hydra" status. He eventaully lost the game because of time trouble in the revised shorter time-control.

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Current branches of correspondence chess

There are two main branches of correspondence chess emerging in the chess world today, differentiated primarily by the involvement of an official regulatory body. The two distinct branches of correspondence chess are the following :-

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"Official" correspondence chess

Official correspondence chess is correspondence chess played under the auspices of an officlal regulatory body, such as the International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF), which is affiliated with FIDE, the international chess organization. However, the ICCF, which organizes postal and e-mail events, is not the only organization involved in correspondence chess. There are numerous national and regional bodies for postal chess, as well as a number of organisations devoted to organising e-mail play (such as the International Email Chess Group (IECG) and International E-mail Chess Club (IECC)). Other examples of groups devoted to guiding correspondence play include the USCF and the Correspondence Chess League of America ( CCLA). However it should be noted that groups other than the ICCF are not sanctioned by FIDE and thus are not considered official organizations.

The ICCF awards the titles International Master, Senior International Master and Grandmaster - these are equivalent to similar titles awarded by FIDE for over-the-board chess. The ICCF also runs the World Correspondence Chess Championships. Because these events can last a long time, they may overlap: for instance, in February 2005 Joop van Oosterom was declared winner of the 18th Championship (which began in June 2003), though the winner of the 17th Championship (which began in March 2002) had not yet been determined.

Up until 2004, ICCF correspondence chess was played only via e-mail and postal mail. For playing by these two forms of transmission, the ICCF developed their own game notation, known as the ICCF Numeric notation, especially for the purpose of ICCF correspondence chess.

In recent years, the use of increasingly powerful chess programs have brought forth new challenges for organizations like the ICCF and the USCF, necessitating sometimes controversial decisions on the admissibility of such programs in official correspondence play. [1]

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"Casual" correspondence chess

The emergence of the Internet has brought new opportunities for correspondence chess, not all of which are organized by official bodies. Casual correspondence chess includes correspondence play initiated through correspondence chess servers and games played between individuals who meet and play on their own. Online chess servers offer a more relaxed environment, where the use of nicknames is common and time controls vary widely. However, casual correspondence chess does not imply a lack of skill on the part of the players; it simply refers to the lack of an official organization regulating play.

Casual correspondence play does not lead to official ratings, though some chess servers will calculate ratings for the players based on results on that server, and entrance fees to tournaments or prizes for winning are uncommon (though cash prizes or direct gambling are not unknown in faster casual player [2]).

As in official correspondence chess, the increasing use of chess engines is an issue that has required attention; some chess servers discourage their use [3], while others do not.

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Over the board players who also play correspondence chess

Although nowadays the strongest correspondence players are specialists, a number of notable players in over-the-board (OTB) chess have in the past played postal games during their chess career. Paul Keres, an Estonian sometimes regarded as the strongest player never to become world champion, played many games of correspondence chess, apparently because he had difficulty finding players in his native country anywhere near strong enough to give him a decent game. Alexander Alekhine and Max Euwe also played. The modern GM Ulf Andersson also achieved very high ratings in both ICCF and Fide, remaining in the FIDE Top 100 unto June 2002 and consistently ranked second on ICCF. The two times British champion George Botterill is now a high rated correspondence chess player.

Also, there has been a recent trend of strong OTB players choosing to play in correspondence chess, either in part or whole. Many players who were in the world-class area in their younger years find that they do not have the time nor inclination due to family or careers to compete in OTB chess but still enjoy playing chess. Ulf Andersson of Sweden is the most notable of these, due to his high OTB rating to have joined the ranks of correspondence chess after an illustrious career in the world-class OTB arena.

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