I wonder if the day will ever come when correspondence players, such as those here on RHP will ever be looked upon as "legitimate" by those strictly over the board players. OTB players normally look upon correspondence chess players as "slightly less than legitimate" in terms of playing strength, and ability. As a former OTB player, I've found that this is just not true. I've learned a lot here at RHP, both in tournaments, and in the forums section. I suppose this is not super imporntant, but I do wonder sometimes...😏
I believe correspondence chess is actually a much truer measure of who is the best "pure chess player" -- as it eliminates almost all of the other stuff that can give certain players an advantage.
1. it's "open book" - which eliminates the advantage from having simply memorized more of the book than one's opponent.
2. the "board analysis" function eliminates the advantage from being better at "blindfold chess"
3. you have lots of time to consider each move, so you eliminate the advantage from simply being able to quickly size up your position and manage the clock.
4. you don't have the various psychological tactics and stress management challenges that are necessary to prevail in a long grueling high stakes OTB match.
so all that remains is your ability to assess a given position and find the best move or combination of moves -- chess at it's most pure level.....unless, of course, you're relying on someone named Fritz to make the moves for you...
obviously, these other factors are what makes OTB play the challenge that it is - and there's much to be said for a game that will begin and end within only a couple of hours. It would be unfair to claim that one or the other is inherently the "better" way to play chess -- and some would argue that "blitz chess" is ultimate test.
Originally posted by MelanerpesThe thing about that is I feel that all four of those are elements of chess skill in general. If you can calculate farther than your opponent, you would be the more skilled player. If you can think faster than your opponent, and thus put him into time pressure, you are the more skilled player. If you can study and memorize more opening moves than your opponent, in that regard you are more skilled. If you can stay psychologically calm in a tough situation and maintain stamina during the game, you are more skilled in that regard.
I believe correspondence chess is actually a much truer measure of who is the best "pure chess player" -- as it eliminates almost all of the other stuff that can give certain players an advantage.
1. it's "open book" - which eliminates the advantage from having simply memorized more of the book than one's opponent.
2. the "board analysis" function e ...[text shortened]... way to play chess -- and some would argue that "blitz chess" is ultimate test.
Perhaps we could say that correspondence chess is more "pure" version of OTB chess, but I think that it intrinsically is not as good of an indicator of skill as OTB is.
Originally posted by bill718Hopefully never.
I wonder if the day will ever come when correspondence players, such as those here on RHP will ever be looked upon as "legitimate" by those strictly over the board players. OTB players normally look upon correspondence chess players as "slightly less than legitimate" in terms of playing strength, and ability. As a former OTB player, I've found that this is ...[text shortened]... the forums section. I suppose this is not super imporntant, but I do wonder sometimes...😏
Originally posted by BentI don't play OTB, and have absolutely no desire to do so. I'm also largely indifferent towards what OTB players consider respected. when they're in my court, their moves must be sound or they get ripped apart. that's about all there is to it.
I play Correspondence chess and OTB chess.
OTB ability is respected more than Correspondence ability.
It always will be.
Originally posted by MelanerpesIn theory yes, but definitely NOT RHP correspondence chess. From my experience most players here don't take advantage of even half the things you listed and tend play it OTB style. Some of the blunders I've seen around here are shocking (i'm guilty as well), even worse than OTB blunders. Theoretically speaking, one should never get swindled in a won position in correspondence but it happens just as much as OTB. IMO, correspondence players take more time to do something at just the same level, sometimes even worse!
I believe correspondence chess is actually a much truer measure of who is the best "pure chess player" -- as it eliminates almost all of the other stuff that can give certain players an advantage.
1. it's "open book" - which eliminates the advantage from having simply memorized more of the book than one's opponent.
2. the "board analysis" function e ...[text shortened]... way to play chess -- and some would argue that "blitz chess" is ultimate test.
Though I enjoy correspondence chess I liken it to doing something under ideal conditions. Like saying I'm an awesome golfer but only in practice, with no pressure, nobody watching, with my coach beside me and oh not on windy days please.
When I joined here I expected the quality of correspondence chess to be better, but unfortunately, I did not find it to be.
Originally posted by bill718I see it as being like the 100metres verses a marathon. Both running but requiring different approaches...but training in one can develop the skill in another.
I wonder if the day will ever come when correspondence players, such as those here on RHP will ever be looked upon as "legitimate" by those strictly over the board players. OTB players normally look upon correspondence chess players as "slightly less than legitimate" in terms of playing strength, and ability. As a former OTB player, I've found that this is ...[text shortened]... the forums section. I suppose this is not super imporntant, but I do wonder sometimes...😏
Agree totally with jnguyen.
Some of the blunders on here are quite incredible.
The reason may be as simple as this.
The OTB games me and possibly jnguyen see are played between experinced players.
So although the blunders are still there,they are not as 'silly' or
as 'horrible' as the blunders you see on RHP.
I'd say a lot of the RHP players are home and casual players.
They play the game for fun (remember when we used to do that?).
Put that with playing maybe 30-40 moves a day and you will
get the crazy blunders.
Regarding respect the OTB players have for C.C. players.
I recall it was oodles of respect.
A strong C.C. player certainly carried a lot of weight.
Nowdays of course with the advent of computers this has paled.
Originally posted by greenpawn34I think the main reason for the silly blunders paradoxically is the slow pace.
Agree totally with jnguyen.
Some of the blunders on here are quite incredible.
The reason may be as simple as this.
The OTB games me and possibly jnguyen see are played between experinced players.
So although the blunders are still there,they are not as 'silly' or
as 'horrible' as the blunders you see on RHP.
I'd say a lot of the RHP pla ...[text shortened]... carried a lot of weight.
Nowdays of course with the advent of computers this has paled.
in OTB everything works for you concentration wise: it's a single session per game, you have weeks or months to mentally prepare for concentrating that specific day, you're surrounded by a hall of people who are doing the same. when you get deep into the game, you can just stay there until the last move.
in CC you're not required to focus for that one continuous stretch of a game. BUT you're required to show up at peak concentration practically every day of the year, remember what was going in the game previously (possibly even over years), and never be sick, drunk, tired, depressed, hung over or distracted in any other way. one bad day and the game is often over. -it's hard to keep that up indefinitely, and in practice you just can't.
sure you can think: "well, I just won't move when I'm not up to it." but in reality you won't be able to stick with it, nor will it be even always possible over a longer period of time. real life will happen.
like now, first I didn't get to sleep for a week, for various reasons. then I've had fever for the last week, with brain oozing out of my nose. do the games wait? no. I've ran almost all of my clocks down until I simply had to move. there will likely be carnage ahead because of all this.
keep in mind though a big difference in correspondence chess as compared to OTB chess. In correspondence chess it is much more possible to play several games at once. Also, the time between moves can eliminate your train of thought from the last time you moved...correspondence chess is more like puzzles I think, then real chess.