email chess organisations comparison

[D***@gmail.com]

Since i stopped playing in my local club and since i dont enjoy the
fast time controls in fics, i took an advice given by a friend and
looked around to see what email chess is offering. I thought that my
findings may be helpful for others too, so here they are:

1) ICCF. email.The most "formal" organization. It is not really free
for beginners since you can get in through national chess federations
only and i ve read, but i was unable to confirm, that there is a fee.

2) letsplaychess-chessworld.net web-based 400000 members!!! BUT full
membership is not free. The biggest drawback is that free members are
unrated. Time controls 1day-15d/move

3) redhotpawn-chessatwork-redhotchess-timeforchess-theimmortalgame web-
based 18485 members, but full membership is not free. Free members get
a rating, but cannot take part in tournanments and teams and they are
restricted to the number of simultaneous games.

4) IECG email and web-based 12000 members 40days/10moves or 10d+1d/
move

5) IECC email 4000 members

6) FICGS web-based 2360 members but only 600-700 active ones

7) WCCF email 1083 members 10moves/30days chess engines may be used
upon previous agreement

8) chess-mail web-based 472 rated members+288 provisional ones and
2578 inactive 5d+36h/move or 5d+12h/move

I left out services which are either not free or with a small member
pool

I think thath the best choice for a beginner in this form of chess is
IECG, unless somebody has a different opinion. Anyone willing to
contribute his personal experiences is more than welcomed.

[Alfredo]

Post by D***@gmail.com
I think thath the best choice for a beginner in this form of chess is
IECG, unless somebody has a different opinion.

IECG is good...but you can try http://www.schemingmind.com

[GREG NIEMI]

A big one you missed is net-chess.com. Free site, large base

Post by D***@gmail.com
Since i stopped playing in my local club and since i dont enjoy the
fast time controls in fics, i took an advice given by a friend and
looked around to see what email chess is offering. I thought that my
1) ICCF. email.The most "formal" organization. It is not really free
for beginners since you can get in through national chess federations
only and i ve read, but i was unable to confirm, that there is a fee.
2) letsplaychess-chessworld.net web-based 400000 members!!! BUT full
membership is not free. The biggest drawback is that free members are
unrated. Time controls 1day-15d/move
3) redhotpawn-chessatwork-redhotchess-timeforchess-theimmortalgame web-
based 18485 members, but full membership is not free. Free members get
a rating, but cannot take part in tournanments and teams and they are
restricted to the number of simultaneous games.
4) IECG email and web-based 12000 members 40days/10moves or 10d+1d/
move
5) IECC email 4000 members
6) FICGS web-based 2360 members but only 600-700 active ones
7) WCCF email 1083 members 10moves/30days chess engines may be used
upon previous agreement
8) chess-mail web-based 472 rated members+288 provisional ones and
2578 inactive 5d+36h/move or 5d+12h/move
I left out services which are either not free or with a small member
pool
I think thath the best choice for a beginner in this form of chess is
IECG, unless somebody has a different opinion. Anyone willing to
contribute his personal experiences is more than welcomed.

[Mickey]

Hi,
I would be very careful of reading too much into the quoted member numbers,
these are unlikely to be 'unique' members and many are members who have
played little more than the odd event or game. For free email chess your
best bet is Scheming Mind or IECG, both will actually also give you a club
rating which can be useful. You could also take advantage of the ICCF offer
of two free games on their excellent webserver. Indeed many people are
forecasting the end of email chess as more and more players move to the
webservers such as those mentioned in the original post.

ICCF are the best organisation in my opinion but you do have to pay for
tournament entry so they tend not to attract the casual player. You do get
value for money though, my experience is that player drop out is less and
the events are very well organised. Worthy of note is that membership of
Scheming Mind gives you access to ICCF events via the fact that SM is a
member of the England National Federation, IECG no longer have any
affiliation to ICCF.

Best Wishes,
Mickey