Correspondence Chess
Via E-mail
![hh01580a.gif (1311 bytes)](http://www.chesscorner.com/play/email/hh01580a.gif)
What is correspondence chess?
Some people believe that correspondence
chess is the "ideal chess". Due to the time
available to study the position without the
pressure of the clock ticking away as in OTB
(over the board) it is perhaps easier to
select the best move to play in the
position. It is also quite acceptable to
consult opening manuals, databases etc. in
the pursuit of perfection. E-mail is a great
way to play correspondence chess. There are
no long waits between moves as your postcard
travels across the earth to its destination.
Your email is normally delivered
immediately. Hence email games progress more
quickly than correspondence games relying on
regular mail.
Advantages
1.
Improve analytical skills
- There is plenty of time to reflect on the
possible moves available in the particular
position without the pressure of the clock
ticking away. It is also permissible to set
up the position on a board and to move the
pieces around while trying to determine the
best move which is, of course not allowed in
OTB play. Some people who want to improve
their OTB skills analyse the position as if
it were a live game and then check it by
moving the pieces before finally sending
their response.
2.
Able to fit chess playing into a
busy schedule - As long as you
stay within acceptable time limits you can
think about your move at any time of day or
night wherever you may be.
3.
Make friends with people from
all over the world - As well as
including your move with your message it is
also acceptable to include some chat too.
Disadvantages
1.
It can take a long time to complete a game -
It is not unknown for a game to take a year
or more to complete. However, games played
via e-mail are generally completed more
quickly than correspondence games played by
regular mail.
Different types of games
It
is very common to play two games at the same
time with each opponent, one as white and
one as black and most correspondence chess
organisations organise different types of
games. For example:
a)
Skittle games - played just for fun and are
unrated.
b)
Casual games - rated games but not part of a
tournament.
c)
Thematic Tournaments - a game is started
from a given position e.g. a variation of
the Sicilian.
d)
Team Tournaments - here a group of players
get together to play other teams. However,
moves are still made independently, without
consultation with team mates.
Record Keeping
Accurate record keeping is very important in
correspondence chess as a simple error could
lose the game. There are two aspects to
record:
1)
The position on the board - As soon as you
post your move you have to stand by it, even
if you have made a typing error. This is
considered the touch-move rule. A chess
recording program such as those listed below
helps to eliminate these errors to a certain
extent.
2)
Reflection time you and your opponent take -
This is the amount of time taken to think
about the next move. A time limit of about
10 moves in 30 days is common.
Cheating in Correspondence Chess
Correspondence chess is based on trust but
inevitably there have been cases of
cheating, just as there has been in OTB play
(such as agreeing to draw the game etc.) ,
or while playing chess on the internet
(using computers).
In
correspondence play it is considered
cheating to:
1.
Ask for advice about the position from a
stronger player.
2.
Use a chess computer to generate or check
moves.
Correspondence Game by Alexander Alekhine
Alekhine (World Champion from 1927 - 1935
and 1937 - 1946) began his career playing
correspondence chess and believed that
postal and OTB complemented one another. He
was also influential in the founding of the
International Correspondence Chess
Federation.
[Event
"Correspondence 1905-1906"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Giese"]
[Black "Alekhine"]
[Result "0-1"]
1.e4 e5 2.f4
exf4 3.Bc4 d5 4.Bxd5 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 g5 6.Nc3 Ne7
7.d4 Bg7 8.Nf3 Qh5 9.h4 h6 10.e5 Nbc6 11.Kg1
g4 12.Ne1 Bf5 13.Bxc6+ Nxc6 14.Ne2 Be4
15.Bxf4 Qf5 16.Qd2 0-0-0 17.Ng3 Qh7 18.Qe2
Nxd4 19.Qc4 Bc6 20.c3 Ne6 21.Qf1 h5 22.Bg5
Bxe5 23.Bxd8 Bxg3 24.Bf6 Qe4 25.Nd3 Nf4
26.Rh3 Qe3+ 27.Nf2 Nxh3+ 28.gxh3 Bh2+
29.Kxh2 Qf4+ 0-1 {as mate follows: 30. Kg1
Qg3+ 31. Qg2 Qxg2#}
![alekhine.gif (5519 bytes)](http://www.chesscorner.com/play/email/alekhine.gif)
Final Position