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.
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