FAQ - Chess over the Net
First, some definitions
Correspondence Chess | |||
Chess played by transmitting and receiving moves, in contrast to "real time" play where 2 players are engaged at a board with clocks (either OTB or online). | |||
Receiving / transmitting moves: People have used telegraphs, radio, and postcards in the past. The trend is to use email today, although postal remains the official medium for the "highest" play, unless both players agree to email. | |||
Email Correspondence Chess | |||
All Correspondence Chess has TD support. The difference in email correspondence is the record keeping by player. There are two types: | |||
Player responsible for records | |||
The most common form, and the form demanded by "official" organizations | |||
The records kept are the game score, times for moves sent/received, etc. In international chess it is common to use a numeric notation, else English PGN (unless both players agree to other common format). Both individual matches, and tournaments. Rated only. | |||
Website responsible for records | |||
Newer, just a few sites support this. Both in individual games, and tournament format. | |||
There is a website where moves are entered, and an email is sent to the other player. The website keeps moves times, etc. For these sites, the play is organized as individual games, or tournaments. Rated and unrated. |
One "over-the-net" players recommendations are:
Organization | Type | Rated | TD Support | Records | Format | Member | |
ICCF | |||||||
International Correspondence Chess Federation "the official correspondence chess org" |
Email, Postal |
yes, recognized by ICCF |
yes | by Player | Int'l Numeric | thru country org | |
ICCF-NAPZ | |||||||
North America / Pacific Zone of ICCF (Zone 3 admin purposes only) no website, admin only |
n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | thru country org | |
ICCF-US | |||||||
US branch of ICCF-NAPZ (official US organ of ICCF) Players enter through participating US organization |
Email, Postal |
yes, recognized by ICCF |
yes
|
by Player | Int'l Numeric | thru country org | |
CCLA | |||||||
Correspondence Chess League of America (member of ICCF-US) | Email, Postal |
yes, recognized by ICCF |
yes | by Player | algebraic | $25 USD/yr | |
APCT | |||||||
American Postal Chess Tournaments (member of ICCF-US) | Email, Postal |
yes, recognized by ICCF |
yes | by Player |
algebraic
|
$24 USD/yr | |
US Chess | |||||||
US Chess Federation (member of ICCF-US)
|
mostly Postal, email not well organized |
yes, recognized by ICCF |
yes | by Player | algebraic |
$40 USD/yr Note: Free for USCF.members |
|
IECG | |||||||
International Email Chess Group | yes | yes | by Player | algebraic | Free | ||
IECC | |||||||
International Email Chess Club | yes | yes | by Player | algebraic | Free | ||
Playchess | |||||||
(email tournaments via website) |
Web (notified by email) |
yes | no | by web | use web board | $25 USD/yr | |
It's Your Turn | |||||||
(email single games via website |
Web (notified by email) |
no | no | by web | use web board | Free | |