Correspondence Chess

Correspondence Chess is when you send the moves by post. However, an increasing number of games are being played by email. Both players need to agree to do so as some still do not have access to a computer.

The Civil Service Sports Council continues to support the entry of the Civil Service teams (previously Civil Service Chess Association teams) in the British Correspondence Chess Team Championship(BPCTC), the British Correspondence Chess League(BCCL), and the Scottish Correspondence Chess League(SCCL) (both postal and webserver). Entry to the BPCTC is by invitation only, usually limited to the top three teams in the BCCL which we have been in, in the past. We reached third in the BPCTC last season (2008/9).

The BCCL is made up of four Divisions of teams and we have teams in all four. We have two teams in the SCCL postal league and one in the webserver league.

In the SCCL webserver league all games are played using the International Correspondence Chess Federation(ICCF) webserver. The Boards of the games are held on the webserver. You, therefore, enter the website, find the appropriate of your Boards, make your move on the Board with your mouse, and an email is sent automatically by the system to your opponent. They do the same and when you receive an automatic email you know the Board awaits your next move. Facebook runs a chess program on a similar basis.

In the postal Leagues you usually play just two games against one opponent, one game as white and one as black.

WHY NOT GIVE IT A TRY! All standards of chess players are welcome. You only have to be able to play the game, and it is a great way of improving while the time limits are measured in days. If you are interested give the Match Captain a telephone call on 01625 828119 or email him on raymond.pomeroy@lineone.net

The SCCL allows players from outside Scotland to play in the League but I would like to include more Scottish based players so if you are one then I would particularly welcome your call but all Civil Servants are welcome to play for us. Inclusion is dependent on the number of teams we can enter and sufficient players for a team.