How to play correspondence chess

  

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Bradley Small    (2008-12-30)
How to play correspondence chess

I am brand new to corr chess. I wonder what are the specific practical/ethical considerations? Will people be using databases, computer analysis, other people and the like? Should I be using these resources? What is considered expected and what is considered cheating? -- B


Thibault de Vassal    (2008-12-30 20:19:18)
Chess engines & databases

Hello Bradley, it's all in the rules :

http://www.ficgs.com/membership.html

Everything's allowed (but in the NO ENGINES category). Using chess engines is recommended if you want to make deep analysis & reach the highest ratings. The only way to cheat (that is strictly forbidden) is to mirror 2 games, as explained in the rules.

Best wishes for the new year,
Thibault


Bradley Small    (2008-12-30 21:20:28)
RTFM I guess

Blaming it on the layout is probably a lame excuse, but it is all I can use. I really must have overlooked that page. As for what is allowed, I will let that be my guide. However, for what is expected, what do most people do as a matter of strategy? For instance, when it is one's time to move... Do you go to the databases and research each move, or simply play from your own head unless you just don't feel like you see a good move? Or somethign else?...


Thibault de Vassal    (2008-12-31 00:37:01)
One player, one strategy...

I suppose everyone has a personal idea on this, it all depends on the time you want to spend on each move. The very best players obviously use Rybka 3, recent databases and may search games played by their opponents (you may use the "Search games" option) to avoid the openings they master.