Correspondence Chess - The road to improvement

[bergil]

There are 27 of Kellner's games and a few paragraphs of biography at this url:
http://www.chessgames.com/player/john_kellner.html

The last time I saw Kellner he was comparing young Ian Rogers' simul at Circular Quay (about 1979/80).

I had the distinction being the first person to lose their game and the TV crew wanted to get a pic of my game -- but I called the presenter "Love" and got totally ostracised...

Thank mate

[Davidflude]

One of my opponents who is beating me not only uses a computer. He generates strings of non forced conditional moves according to what his computer thinks is best play.

The reason I am losing is not that I am playing a computer but because I followed the wrong plan in the early middle game.

[BearDrinkingBeer]

This is a shameless plug for the Correspondence Chess League of Australia (CCLA). The CCLA is
running short of members (less than 500 now) and is asking that those who do play (such as
myself) to encourage others to join up.
The cost is only $16 a year ($8.00 for students and pensioners) and for that you get the
Australian Correspondence Chess Quarterly (4 issues a year) and the opportunity to play in
CCLA organised tournaments.
The general tournaments are free to enter, while championship events have a small entry fee
(usually $10). There is also a number of email tournaments (my usual choice of event), which
are free to enter. Further details are available at http://www.ccla.asn.au . To join just send
$16 (or $8) the CCLA, GPO Box 2360, Sydney NSW, 2001

Why play correspondence chess? For players already playing over the board (OTB), the obvious
answer is "To Improve". Especially for younger players, good study habits and analysis
techniques are something that you need to really leap ahead. By playing correspondence chess
you get to develop these skills instead of being caught up in the "thud and blunder" of
endless blitz games. You will also be playing a number of games at once (11 in championship
events or 6 in more casual events), which keeps you constantly working on your chess. And of
course the time limit (usually 2 or 3 days per move) gives you the chance to develop a more
thoughtful approach to analysing your games.
So my suggestion to players who wish to improve, and haven't found a good approach to doing so
is: Try Correspondence Chess, you'll be suprised at what you discover.

After you join the CCLA, will they provide a list of tournaments currently open to play?

Also, there's no way of joining ICCF web server tournaments directly without being a member of an affiliated national correspondence organisation, right?

[Garrett]

I have found correspondence chess to be a fun way to improve.

The site I play at is quite good :- chess.com.

Computer assistance is not allowed and I don't think many people cheat.

Basic membership there is free.

The site also has videos, tactics training, chess mentor, articles, forums, vote chess.

I am a member of team Australia there and we play in league matches against other countries which adds a lot of interest.

cheers Garrett.

[lost]

I have found correspondence chess to be a fun way to improve.

The site I play at is quite good :- chess.com.

Computer assistance is not allowed and I don't think many people cheat.

Basic membership there is free.

The site also has videos, tactics training, chess mentor, articles, forums, vote chess.

I am a member of team Australia there and we play in league matches against other countries which adds a lot of interest.

cheers Garrett.

Garrett,

How does one obtain an ICCF rating? Like do you have to play 9 games to get one? Is there "blocks" at all? What are the requirements?

lost

[Garrett]

Garrett,

How does one obtain an ICCF rating? Like do you have to play 9 games to get one? Is there "blocks" at all? What are the requirements?

lost

Hello Lost

I don't know as I don't play at ICCF.

The site I play at has it's own rating system.

cheers Garrett.

[lost]

Hello Lost

I don't know as I don't play at ICCF.

The site I play at has it's own rating system.

cheers Garrett.

Garrett,

Not having a go now, but you mean to tell me there is no International Correspondence Rating System at all?

lost

[Garrett]

Garrett,

Not having a go now, but you mean to tell me there is no International Correspondence Rating System at all?

lost

There probably is, but I am not the person to ask.

What I am saying is, I play correspondence chess at Chess.com which has its own internal rating system for correspondence play (and separate rating systems for bullet, blitz, and standard chess).

Cheers Garrett.

[Bill Gletsos]

You can check out ICCF ratings here.

[Brian_Jones]

Better at https://www.iccf.com/RatingList.aspx

[Davidflude]

The Australian correspondence Chess League.

I strongly recommend the Australian Correspondence Chess,

1) you will earn an ICCF rating and if you are good enough you may earn International Master, Senior International Master and Grandmaster titles.

2) As you improve you can play in tougher and tougher tournaments.

3) You will receive copies of "The Australian Correspondence Chess Quarterley"

4) There are a wide range of tournaments including fixed openings tournaments and Fischer random Chess tournaments.

[Desmond]

Do you know of anywhere to find high-rated corro FR games to play through David?

[Brian_Jones]

Do you know of anywhere to find high-rated corro FR games to play through David?

www.iccf.com

[RiverHollow]

Can Australians still play ICCF tournaments, is the CCLA still alive?