Idea - Page 2 - Chess Forums

JacksonWShowalter · 06-24-2008, 01:01 PM

A little history on what CC chess used to be like:

I’ve always considered myself as a CC player because of where I lived/worked and traveling to OTB events was difficult. We used to send post cards (a lot of people still play this way) and you would keep track of the positions in “Gilchers”. They were small cardboard albums with a board with pockets the pieces slipped into. A score sheet was on the opposite side. They cost $6 from Al Horowitz’ Chess Review magazine which (along with the old British Chess Magazine) was the best in the world. Of course I’m not counting the Russian Shakmatny which was difficult to get. I played a lot of international CC and games lasting 2-3 years weren’t uncommon. Some of those games, like against an opponent who was an oil pipeline worker north of the Arctic Circle and an opponent in Siberia, took what seemed like forever. When I returned to chess after a 10-12 year absence a few years ago and discovered the Internet I decided it was a big improvement. No more keeping track of dates moves were sent/received, time used, trips to the post office, and games finish much quicker.

One disadvantage to the Internet though is the anonymity which often brings out the worst in some people. Of course that can be avoided by playing for the CCLA or ICCF where you use your real name but I prefer one server site in particular because sometimes I only want to play a game or two, not an entire tournament.

Fromper · 06-24-2008, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Perseus

No, I don't. I grab a real live board, put it on a table; the dinner table is my favourite, and I'll usually work out moves when I'm having my meals. I agree you should put as much time into it as you need to think it through. And I always do.

I like doing this on my cheapo wooden board with ditto pieces instead of on my computer or laptop. I've tried CC while using winboard, didn't agree with me. Because I'm very much used to make fairly quick moves, and somehow my brain associates the computer display of the chessboard with time-controlled chess.
In CC I'll not make a move unless I have concluded with proper research(!) that it is the best move I can make and I can only do that with a real set.

You're right that having the position on the board makes things easier, but using common sense, I don't play more correspondence games simultaneously than I have hands (two). I have two other chessboards besides my wooden one, a fairly small glass set and a tiny travel set. I have both set up on the 'bar' separating the kitchen from the living room; if I'm playing two CC games, I leave both up to display the last known position.
Might sound like a hassle, but I really like it this way as it works for me

I don't have the space to leave boards set up all over. When I play cc online, the server shows you the position on the screen and you can bring up a separate board to move the pieces around while you analyze. I can pretty easily play 6-8 games at once. Sometimes, I end up with more than that (when I join tourneys, usually), and I have a little harder time keeping track of them all, but the servers usually have a "notes" feature that lets you leave yourself analysis notes that nobody else can see.

--Fromper

harrrrpo · 07-02-2008, 06:36 PM

It's obvious that u left the main idea of this thread

but in my opinion, u may make the site more (popular) by making the site's "Champion"

Just the idea make me -as a member from Egypt- excited to play against other "known" people , that I talk with every day on the forums

This even makes the forum ,not only place to chat

this is my opinion

Najdork · 07-03-2008, 04:28 PM

If we joined a site like red hot pawn we could play against each other. Also, we would be able to setup a fourm clan and a fourm club. If we started a clan we could play other clans while playing as a team - I think this fourm community could really benefit from games like that. The club could be setup to hold tournaments within our fourm community. Time control could be set with days per move with a timebank to allow plenty of time. After the tournament the game can be analized to allow maximum opertunities to improve at all levels of the game. Sounds good anyway.

Najdork · 07-07-2008, 09:54 PM

With permission from the moderator, I could setup a club in RHP that people could join. We could call the club ChessForums.org, but I would do it without permission first.

planetchess.org · 07-08-2008, 02:16 AM

Sounds like a great idea DarkFireAngel!

Perseus is friends with the owner, he's really the one to talk with about this.

Just to let you know, the owner is an absolute genius at web dev - So I'm sure your idea is well within his capabilities...

Cheers!
PC

Perseus · 07-08-2008, 02:34 PM

Well, I would like to consider myself a friend of the owner, though we know eachother only from a number of PMs and forum posts.

On the subject of creating a forum (it's a latin word) clan at RHP, I don't particularly mind; the only thing that needs considering is that those participating would also represent the forum. Or, put simply, if someone doesn't play nice, that could cast a shadow on all of us.
As said, I don't have a problem with it. You might want to ask the owner, StuntPope, but he made it clear that he has little time at present

PS, try not to spam harrrrpo, it makes my fingers itch

Najdork · 07-09-2008, 03:10 AM

Well I set up a club at RHP so if anyone wants to join and help test this site please let me know. I'm not 100% sure how this works but it will take 50 members to get a club ranking. Your club ranking does not affect your regular ratings. I named the club ChessForums.org; if anyone doesn't want me to use that name please let me know.

Perseus · 07-09-2008, 06:07 AM

The only one with any right to object is StuntPope, as said