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How does Correspondence actually work?

#1

Hi, I'm actually wandering how does correspondence game actually work? How can I be sure that my opponent isn't cheating or studying the opening while we are playing the game? Maybe I'm just paranoid but I don't see the point of playing correspondence online. If there's some correspondence player can I know if it's right to study an opening while your playing a correspondence game. Let's imagine that you're playing as white in a 1 day move, we are playing the QDG exchange variation, let's also say that I'm studying the position...isn't that not right? I'm not saying that people cheat, but how this can be legit if I could be studying the position that I'm playing in?
p.s.
I never played a Correspondence game, I would like to start but I want to be sure that I won't get beat up by someone that could be potentially be studying the position or maybe getting helped by coaches or friends

Hi, I'm actually wandering how does correspondence game actually work? How can I be sure that my opponent isn't cheating or studying the opening while we are playing the game? Maybe I'm just paranoid but I don't see the point of playing correspondence online. If there's some correspondence player can I know if it's right to study an opening while your playing a correspondence game. Let's imagine that you're playing as white in a 1 day move, we are playing the QDG exchange variation, let's also say that I'm studying the position...isn't that not right? I'm not saying that people cheat, but how this can be legit if I could be studying the position that I'm playing in? p.s. I never played a Correspondence game, I would like to start but I want to be sure that I won't get beat up by someone that could be potentially be studying the position or maybe getting helped by coaches or friends
#3

Back in the pre-engine days, people actually used to send their moves on postcards (that ́s why it ́s called correspondence chess). Use of existing opening theory (i.e. books and journals, or asking the local expert down at the club) was allowed, and this has now been extended to include digital opening books.

Footnote: the Scotch opening first became more widely popular after a series of postcards made the arduous journeys by stage coach between Edinburgh and London in 1824. The Scottish club won :)

Back in the pre-engine days, people actually used to send their moves on postcards (that ́s why it ́s called correspondence chess). Use of existing opening theory (i.e. books and journals, or asking the local expert down at the club) was allowed, and this has now been extended to include digital opening books. Footnote: the Scotch opening first became more widely popular after a series of postcards made the arduous journeys by stage coach between Edinburgh and London in 1824. The Scottish club won :)
#4

@Wasted_Youth said in #3:

Use of existing opening theory (i.e. books and journals, or asking the local expert down at the club) was allowed

Not only allowed. When I played a correspondence chess tournament once back in the 80's, the standard way of starting the game was that one of the players suggested few (I don't remember the exact number) opening variants from an official list, the other selected one of them and then they started the game from that point. It was also possible to go move by move from the beginning if preferred but it wasn't very common, AFAICS.

Footnote: the Scotch opening first became more widely popular after a series of postcards made the arduous journeys by stage coach between Edinburgh and London in 1824. The Scottish club won :)

Talking about ardous journey, 170 years later, one of the cards with a move from my opponent took two weeks to get to me - and she lived in the same city. :-)

@Wasted_Youth said in #3: > Use of existing opening theory (i.e. books and journals, or asking the local expert down at the club) was allowed Not only allowed. When I played a correspondence chess tournament once back in the 80's, the standard way of starting the game was that one of the players suggested few (I don't remember the exact number) opening variants from an official list, the other selected one of them and then they started the game from that point. It was also possible to go move by move from the beginning if preferred but it wasn't very common, AFAICS. > Footnote: the Scotch opening first became more widely popular after a series of postcards made the arduous journeys by stage coach between Edinburgh and London in 1824. The Scottish club won :) Talking about ardous journey, 170 years later, one of the cards with a move from my opponent took two weeks to get to me - and she lived in the same city. :-)
#5

I’ve had good experiences with correspondence games. There are those that might be using unfair methods, but m not really worried about them. Good games!

I’ve had good experiences with correspondence games. There are those that might be using unfair methods, but m not really worried about them. Good games!
#6

I've been playing correspondence chess on the web since 2003 (at another site) and I've played here at Lichess since 2019. I don't believe I've ever played someone who cheated. Now I'll never really know for sure but I just don't think about it.

Correspondence players are a different breed. They aren't in a hurry (most cheaters play much faster games because they have little patience.)

It's also a great way to learn openings...Just play a few games and see if you like it...

That's my two cents...

I've been playing correspondence chess on the web since 2003 (at another site) and I've played here at Lichess since 2019. I don't believe I've ever played someone who cheated. Now I'll never really know for sure but I just don't think about it. Correspondence players are a different breed. They aren't in a hurry (most cheaters play much faster games because they have little patience.) It's also a great way to learn openings...Just play a few games and see if you like it... That's my two cents...
#7

@mkubecek - that ́s interesting, I didn ́t know about the list of opening variants being suggested; seems a very practical way of getting straight to the nitty-gritty.

Two weeks within the same city is pretty spectacular. I recently received a postcard from Madrid for which the sender had paid 2 Euros for "express" delivery; it took six weeks to get to me in Berlin, but then there are the Pyrenees in between, so maybe the runners got stuck in snowdrifts or something.

@mkubecek - that ́s interesting, I didn ́t know about the list of opening variants being suggested; seems a very practical way of getting straight to the nitty-gritty. Two weeks within the same city is pretty spectacular. I recently received a postcard from Madrid for which the sender had paid 2 Euros for "express" delivery; it took six weeks to get to me in Berlin, but then there are the Pyrenees in between, so maybe the runners got stuck in snowdrifts or something.
#9

@CagnusMarlsenStudy said in #1:

Благородный человек и думает благородно, при проступке своих братьев вызывает на дуэль, остальным плеть.

@CagnusMarlsenStudy said in #1: > Благородный человек и думает благородно, при проступке своих братьев вызывает на дуэль, остальным плеть.
#10

It would be easy to agree upon a starting position with someone you'd friended and then just send a correspondence game challenge starting from the agreed upon starting position. Jus a fen after all. Easy to do in the digital age.

My main problem with correspondence was that one of the two players loses track of the game and never continues. I've been on both receiving and giving end of this (my apologies, i simply forgot!). But I also didn't have the impression (or concern) that someone was cheating. The games were always interesting because one could think deeply when it was needed.

It would be easy to agree upon a starting position with someone you'd friended and then just send a correspondence game challenge starting from the agreed upon starting position. Jus a fen after all. Easy to do in the digital age. My main problem with correspondence was that one of the two players loses track of the game and never continues. I've been on both receiving and giving end of this (my apologies, i simply forgot!). But I also didn't have the impression (or concern) that someone was cheating. The games were always interesting because one could think deeply when it was needed.

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