Correspondence chess

Correspondence chess is chess played by some sort of long-distance correspondence, usually through a Correspondence Chess Server or e-mail or the postal system. Less usual methods which have been employed include fax and homing pigeon. It is opposed to so-called over-the-board (OTB) chess, where the players are sat at a chessboard at the same time.

Related Topics:
Chess - Correspondence Chess Server - E-mail - Postal system - Fax - Homing pigeon

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Correspondence chess allows people or clubs 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.

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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.

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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 chess databases and chess programs is allowed, although many hobby players voluntarily do without them. Due to computer assistance the essence of correspondence chess has changed and beside profound chess knowledge and analytical discipline the ability to interpret and guide computer analysis becomes important. Due to the fact that anybody with a computer can use the strongest programs to analyze his games the gap between the top level and beginner level has narrowed since a beginner can to a certain degree compensate his poor chess knowledge with long computer analysis. However the influence of computer assistance is controversially discussed and some argue that a chess program if left alone is no match for a top-level correspondence player. There is an interesting match between a correspondence chess grandmaster and six computer programs underway (Arno Nickel vs. Engines).

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