True Classical Correspondence Chess
Correspondence Chess is REAL chess, not just fun dopamine rush style. More chess, less time management and of course the highest prestige in the most meaningful and competitive sphere of all of chess. Chess is measured by how long it takes to play. Bullet is taken less seriously than Blitz than Rapid than Classical, if OTB (Over The Board, in-person) tournaments are anything to go by. By that logic, Correspondence is one notch over Classical in the meaningful department.
- No traveling.
- No nerve-wracking OTB live, in-person chess.
- Virtually no time management, at less in the short term.
- You have the time to look for the best move you can make, which avoid a lot of blunders and mistakes.
You play your opponent at their absolute best while being at your absolute best.
Doing so, you should concentrate 100% on every move with maximum effort and focus.
Centaur vs Classical
However, these days in Correspondence Chess, engine users have taken over. So much so that the ICCF (International Correspondence Chess Federation) permits all engines, since it is virtually impossible to control who uses them and who does not.
Websites like Chess.com, Lichess, etc. forbid the use of engines but allow the use of opening books and databases, as long as no computer evaluations are involved??
BUT, where do you draw the line?
What about playing Correspondence Chess the way you’re supposed to play any OTB or online chess game—without any assistance, just pure brain power!
Correspondence Chess without the use of any Engines, Books, Tools, Tables, etc. Just like a classical chess game without time pressure.
- During active game(s) you are making every decision and move by yourself.
- You will NOT use or study any opening books, engines, software, databases, cheat sheets, tables, etc. to assist you in any way during any started or running game.
- NO cyborg and centaurs players and/or tools is allowed.
- It is like playing OTB (Over The Board) using 100% your own brain power alone.
Above all, playing and learning the challenging game of chess using 100% brain power.
By joining you pledge your word of honor that wouldn’t use an engine and promise to adhere to the above mentioned “rules” and “way of playing chess” against another member within the group.
World Correspondence Chess Championship
Long-term goals.
If interested we can build leagues or organize tournaments to further develop this way of playing chess the classical way.
Finding the true legit human Correspondence Chess World Champion of the modern era. Not the “Centaur” ICCF World Champion.
The last legit human Correspondence Chess World Champion is Tõnu Õim (1994-2000).
A new revolutionary format for World Correspondence Chess Championship
- Standard chess
- Correspondence
- Place: Chess.com
- Tournament format: 15 players round robin Correspondence Chess (Daily Chess) tournament (14 games per player, duration 2 years)
- No Vacation
I have no problem with the term “World” Correspondance Chess Championship. There is currently 5 boxing “world” champions in each weight division.
CorrespondenceChess.club
https://www.chess.com/club/classical-correspondence-chess
Contact if interested: pygod@pygear.com
Now let’s get back to reality.
Let’s be real for a moment.
Gentlemen’s agreement?
Well, is it really possible?
I don’t think so!
There will always be cheaters.
Let’s be real for a moment.
A gentlemen’s agreement sounds nice — the idea that everyone will play fair, just for the love of the game. But in the online world, that’s wishful thinking. There will always be cheaters.
On major Chess platforms like Chess.com, cheating is an unfortunate reality. With modern engines running quietly in the background, some players can get near-perfect moves at the click of a button. Detection systems catch many offenders, yes — but they’re not foolproof. The slower the time control, the harder it is to spot suspicious play. And that’s exactly where Daily Chess becomes the ideal playground for cheaters. Players have 24 hours or more per move — plenty of time to consult Stockfish, analyze lines, or even build databases that no human could possibly calculate over the board.
That’s why anyone truly interested in Correspondence Chess — real, strategic, long-term play — should go where the discipline still holds meaning: the ICCF (International Correspondence Chess Federation). Unlike casual online platforms, ICCF officially allows computer assistance. It’s open, honest, and transparent — a Centaur model where human intuition and engine precision combine.
But don’t be fooled — Centaur Chess is not easy. Managing multiple engines, understanding their evaluations, guiding them through complex positions, and steering the analysis toward human-like understanding takes real skill. It’s a demanding art form that teaches you how to play Perfect Chess — not by guessing, but by learning from the best analytical minds (and machines) in the world.
If you want to study pure accuracy, logic, and truth on the board, ICCF is the arena. It’s where Chess becomes science — and where you learn what perfection really looks like.
Most players don’t realize it, but ICCF ratings are every bit as official as FIDE ratings.
The International Correspondence Chess Federation is recognized by FIDE as the governing body for Correspondence Chess worldwide. ICCF titles — like International Master, Senior International Master, and Grandmaster — are formally sanctioned and carry the same level of legitimacy as over-the-board titles. ICCF ratings are published publicly, maintained with strict verification, and recorded in the official FIDE-recognized system. In other words, when you compete and earn a rating in ICCF, you’re building a record that’s just as real and respected as any classical FIDE rating.
We need new blood in ICCF.
For more information, visit ICCF.com.
The only place to play REAL Correspondence Chess.
Correspondence Chess has always been anything goes anyway!
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