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Subject: Re: a bit off topic (sorry),but whats the best online chess server to join?

Author: Sandi Ordinario

Date: 15:53:19 02/12/03

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On February 11, 2003 at 16:11:13, Angrim wrote:

>On February 11, 2003 at 10:00:06, martin beaver wrote:
>
>>worldchessnetwork?
>>chess.net ?
>>blitzin ?
>>playchess.com ?
>>
>>any opinions on the above or any i dont know about?
>
>blitzin is not a chess server, it is an interface used by ICC.
>Which server is best depends on what you want from a server,
>but my personal favorite is FICS(freechess.org port 5000)
>The FICS web page at http://www.freechess.org/ includes a
>download section from which you can get a choice of interfaces
>for any major platform.  FICS allows rated play once you are
>registered, and registration is free. The main weak point of
>FICS is that since it does not support exchanges of money, there
>are very few GM level players who use it.
>
>Angrim (angrim on FICS also)

Hi Angrim,
I play on both USChessLive (ID:totalmoron) and
WorldChessNetwork(ID:jedidiah_amadeus) I can give you some tips for both. On
USCL, you could specify your playing time for people to challenge. You could
even give a rating range for challengers say, only 1800 to 2200 for example.
There are some masters and grandmasters playing there and also Crafty and Chezzz
which you can challenge specifying your desired playing time. For WCN they use a
very good chess graphics. The only thing is there is no mouse drag and release
option. So when you make a move, you left click on the piece you want to move
and leftclick again where you want that piece to move. Conceivably you lose a
fraction or so of a second by this type of movement. There are several
international masters and grandmasters more so than in USCL playing there but if
they don't want to play you they come up with weird excuses. There is less of
that in the USCL. The only available playing times are 1,3,5 and some other
higher integral numbers but the increment unlike that of USCL which is
selectable, is only 5 seconds. If your rise in rating is fast so that you have
beaten some masters and/or computers in the process, the TDs will penalize you
by temporarily suspending rated play for you claiming that you are cheating
(using another computer to pit against your opponent). I have been penalized by
both but sites but no hacker in their areas can tell me definitively how they
have arrived at such conclusion because I don't cheat. In fact I could hardly
afford another computer with which to cheat. USCL have re-instated my rating
which is 2200+ in less than a month of sanction but WCN has not. I think they
just treat me as persona non-grata so that I will just run my bill and not renew
despite my having a good friend there who is also a TD. It seems like you are
guilty by consensus of a few top players who hate your meteoric rise if you
will, is their 'democratic' way of handling these situations.

Sandi



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