Games of Daze/Infomagic - Games of Daze (Summer 1995) (Disc 1 of 2).iso/x2ftp/msdos/rules/chess.faq

Internet Message Format | 1994-09-04 | 78KB

From [e-mail] Tue Sep  6 01:09:02 1994
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess,rec.answers,news.answers
From: [e-mail] (William R. Shauck)
Subject: rec.games.chess Answers to Frequently Asked Questions [1/2]
Followup-To: poster
Summary: This posting addresses some of the FAQ's on the
    rec.games.chess news group. Topics include International, National
    & Local Organizations, Mail and E-mail Organizations, Ratings and
    Titles, Tournaments, Self-Improvement, and Supplies.
Keywords: chess FAQ semimonthly answers
Supersedes: <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 07:51:25 GMT

Last-Modified: 1994/03/01
Archive-Name: games/chess/part1

This twice-monthly posting is intended to address some of the frequently asked
questions (FAQ's) on the rec.games.chess news group.  Because the answers may
not be complete, please feel free to ask questions.  This is only intended to
address first-level concerns, and not to stifle discussions.

This FAQ list hasn't been posted in about two months; but now I'm back!  I've
received several suggestions for improvements during this period; these will
be incorporated in the next posting.  Please address suggestions to
[e-mail].

This posting is in two parts.  Part 1 is about Organizations, Ratings &
Titles, Tournaments, Self-Improvement, and Supplies.  Part 2 is about Mailing
Lists, freely available Services and Material, Chess-playing Hardware,
Software, and Utilities, and a Miscellaneous section.

 Organizations: International, National, Local, and Mail/E-Mail
  [1] Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE)
  [2] The United States Chess Federation (USCF)
  [3] Chess Federation of Canada (CFC)
  [4] American Chess Foundation (ACF)
  [5] State and Local Organizations (USA)
  [6] Correspondence Organizations
  [7] Bulletin Board Systems (BBS's)
 Ratings and Titles
  [8] Ratings (with FIDE list)
  [9] How USCF Ratings are Calculated
  [10] How USCF Lifetime Titles are Earned
 Tournaments
  [11] Tournaments
  [12] The Swiss Tournament Pairing System
 Self-Improvement
  [13] I'm a Novice/Intermediate.  How Do I Improve?
  [14] Recommended Openings (and Books) for Novice to Intermediate
 Supplies
  [15] Publications
  [16] Where to Get Books and Equipment

This FAQ list may be obtained via anonymous FTP from rtfm.mit.edu under
/pub/usenet/news.answers/games/chess/part1.  Or, send email to
[e-mail] with 'send usenet/news.answers/games/chess/part1' in
the body of the message, leaving the subject line empty.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: [1] Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE)

FIDE (pronounced "fee-day") is an international chess organization that
organizes tournaments (e.g. Olympiad), grants titles, and controls the World
Championship cycle.  Write to: Federation Internationale des Echecs, Abendweg
1, P.O. Box 2841, CH-6002 Lucerne, Switzerland.  Phone [phone],9; fax
041 41 515846.

FIDE grants three over-the-board titles: FIDE Master (FM), International
Master (IM), and International Grandmaster (IGM; but more commonly just
"Grandmaster" and "GM").  FM can be obtained by keeping your FIDE rating over
2300 for 25 games.  IM and GM titles require performances at certain levels
for 25-30 games (2450 for IM and 2600 for GM).  This is usually achieved by
obtaining several "norms."  A norm is obtained when a player makes at least a
given score in a FIDE tournament.  The required score is a function of the
number of rounds and the strength of the opposition.  There are also minimum
rating requirements.  There are about 35 GM's, 60 IM's, and 100 FM's living
in the U.S., not all of whom are active players.

FIDE also grants titles for which only women are eligible: FIDE Woman Master,
International Woman Master (IWM; but _Chess Life_ often uses "Woman
International Master" and "WIM") and International Woman Grandmaster (WGM).
Women are also eligible for the other titles.

FIDE also grants titles for Chess Composition, Composition Judging,
Tournament Direction (as "Arbiter"), and Correspondence Chess; and maintains
a separate rating list (and titles) for "Action chess" (G/30).

------------------------------

Subject: [2] The United States Chess Federation (USCF)

The USCF is the national chess organization of the United States.  It does
several things: (1) computes ratings for players who play in USCF-rated
tournaments, (2) publishes a monthly magazine called _Chess Life_, (3)
sponsors national over-the-board tournaments such as the National Open and
the U.S. Open, and a variety of correspondence (postal) tournaments, and
(4) officially represents the interests of chess in the U.S. to international
chess organizations.  Most over-the-board tournaments held in the U.S. are
USCF-rated.  This means that to play in them, you must join the USCF (this can
normally be done at the tournament site if you prefer).

_Chess Life_ includes a listing, sorted by state, of USCF-rated tournaments
to be held in the following few months.  It periodically publishes the
addresses of all state chess organizations (see [5]).  It also has chess
news, games from the U.S. and around the world, instructional and enjoyment
articles, and embedded catalogs from which you can purchase books and
equipment.

Regular memberships are $30/year, including a _Chess Life_ subscription.
Youth memberships (same benefits) for age 19 & under are $15/year.
Scholastic memberships for age 19 and under (provides a bimonthly publication
called _School Mates_ instead of _Chess Life_) are $7/year.  Senior
memberships (age 65 and over) are $20/year.  Life memberships are $600 or can
be had by paying double the regular membership rate for 10 years running.
_Chess Life_ subscription (without membership): $33/year.  Write to: United
States Chess Federation, 186 Route 9W, New Windsor, NY 12553-7698.  Phone
800-388-5464 or 914-562-8350.

Those with access to Internet e-mail have active members of the USCF staff
available.  IM Elliott Winslow is Assistant Editor of _Chess Life_, and can be
reached at [e-mail].  For non-_Chess Life_ matters, Assistant Director
Larry King is available at [e-mail].

------------------------------

Subject: [3] Chess Federation of Canada (CFC)

The CFC maintains ratings of all players in good standing, runs tournaments,
attempts to promote chess in Canada, and sells equipment to both members and
non-members.  Members get a subscription to _En Passant_, a bimonthly
magazine.  The rating system used by the CFC is the Elo system, also used by
the USCF and FIDE.  Local variations make CFC ratings from 25-200 points
lower than USCF ratings for players of similar ability.  Dues range from
$25-$45 (Canadian), depending on province of residence.  Junior memberships
range from $15-$25 (Canadian).  Life memberships are also available,
depending on age.  Write to: Chess Federation of Canada, 2212 Gladwin
Crescent, E-1(b), Ottawa, Ontario, K1B 5N1, Canada.  Phone [phone]; fax
613-733-5209.

------------------------------

Subject: [4] American Chess Foundation (ACF)

The American Chess Foundation promotes chess in the U.S.  It sponsors some
promising young players and contributes money toward large tournaments (e.g.,
the U.S. Championship).  Write to: American Chess Foundation (President Fan
Adams, Executive Director Allan Kaufman), 353 West 46th St., New York, NY
10036.

------------------------------

Subject: [5] State and Local Organizations (USA)

Every state has its own chess organization affiliated with USCF, and most also
have a bimonthly or quarterly publication.  The state organizations are listed
in the annual _Chess Life_ yearbook issue (April).  From these state
organizations, information can be obtained on local chess clubs.  Another good
way to find a local club is to look at the tournament listings in the back of
every _Chess Life_.

------------------------------

Subject: [6] Correspondence Organizations

American Postal Chess Tournaments, c/o Helen Warren, P.O. Box 305, Western
Springs, IL 60558.  Also runs electronic "postal" chess on the USA Today
Information Center (see [7]).

Correspondence Chess League of America (CCLA), P.O. Box 3481, Barrington, IL
60011-3481.

International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF), c/o Max Zavanelli,
ICCF-US Secretary, 1642 N. Volusia Ave #201, Orange City, FL 32763.  Non-US
residents may contact ICCF directly to obtain information about their
respective affiliated national correspondence chess federation, by writing to
the ICCF Tournament Director, address: ICCF Tournament Director, c/o Ragnar
Wikman, Box 36, 20111 Abo, Finland.  Internet e-mail: [e-mail]

Transcendental Chess, c/o Maxwell Lawrence, 1655A Flatbush Ave., No. 1502,
Brooklyn, NY 11210.  Postal chess (PRE-chess!--first 8 moves set up the
pieces behind the pawns) organization.

------------------------------

Subject: [7] Bulletin Board Systems (BBS's)

CANADA
  Alberta: Chess Hackers.  403-456-5808.

USA
  CompuServe: 800-848-8990.
  HoloNet: 800-NET-HOLO (800-638-4656).
  Prodigy: 800-284-5933.
  Sierra Network: 800-SIERRA-1 (800-743-7721).
  USA Today Information Center: 800-826-9688.  Provides both on-line and
"postal" chess games, some of which are associated with American Postal
Chess Tournaments.  Address: USA Today Information Center, Four Seasons
Executive Center, Building 9, Terrace Way, Greensboro, NC 27403.
  CA: Charles Rostedt's chess BBS: 310-634-8549 (data), 634-8477 (voice).
  CA: Chess Hotline BBS: 310-634-8549.
  CA: Strategies and Tactics: 714-458-0818.
  Berkeley, CA: Berkeley BBS: 510-486-0795.
  Modesto, CA: Flightline of Dbase: 209-551-2227.
  Waterbury, CT: Chess Horizons BBS: 203-596-1443. 755-9749 (voice).  Rob
Roy, 54 Calumet, Waterbury, CT 06710-1201.  Free software catalog.
  Plant City, FL: The ChessBoard: 813-754-6043.
  Chicago, IL: ChessBoard: 312-784-3019.
  IL: Free! Board: 312-275-0848.
  Louisville, KY: The Chess Board: 502-271-5233.
  Metairie, LA: High Tech BBS: 504-837-7941.
  New Orleans, LA: Woodpusher BBS: 504-271-5233.
  Chevy Chase, MD: The Mystery Board BBS: 301-588-9465, 588-8142.
  Fort Meade, MD: Interstate Express: 301-674-6835.
  Durham, NC: The Isolated Pawn: 919-471-1440.
  Brooklyn, NY: The Round Table BBS: 718-951-6652.
  Columbus, OH: The Endgame BBS: 614-476-3351.
  Mansfield, OH: DK Jet-Works: 419-524-3959.
  Mansfield, OH: Procyon: 419-524-7825.
  Portland, OR: PDX Chess BBS: 503-232-2282.
  TX: Let's Play Chess: 512-244-3349.
  Austin, TX: Austin Chess Studio: 512-448-4861.

------------------------------

Subject: [8] Ratings (with FIDE list)

Different countries have different rating systems.  The most common system in
use is called the Elo system, named after its inventor.  An excellent book on
the subject is _The Rating of Chessplayers, Past & Present_ by Arpad E. Elo
(copyright 1978; ISBN 0-668-04721-6).  FIDE and the USCF use the Elo system,
although in the USCF there have been some adjustments and additions in the
past which have distorted USCF ratings vis-a-vis systems which have been
"pure Elo" forever.

FIDE Rating list, Open, 1 January 1993 (Kasparov & Short removed)
Rank(R), Player, Date of Birth, Country, Last 2 ratings,(1 and 2,93),
Current rating (1,94) and number of rated games
played (G) and the change in rating (Dif.) are provided.

R  Player            Birthdate Country     1.93 2.93 1.94 G  Dif
   Kasparov,Garri              Russia      2805 XXXX 2800 (unofficial)
1. Karpov,Anatoli     23.05.51 Russia      2725 2760 2740 40 -20
2. Anand,Viswanathan  11.12.69 India       2710 2725 2715 37 -10
3. Ivanchuk,Vassili   18.03.69 Ukraine     2710 2705 2710 33 +5
4. Kramnik,Vladimir   25.06.75 Russia      2685 2710 2710 32 =
5. Shirov,Alexei      04.07.72 Latvia      2670 2685 2705 47 +20
6. Kamsky,Gata        02.06.74 USA         2655 2645 2695 36 +50
7. Salov,Valeri       26.05.64 Russia      2660 2685 2685 31 =
8. Bareev,Evgeni      21.11.66 Russia      2670 2660 2685 29 +25
9. Gelfand,Boris      24.06.68 White Russia2690 2670 2685 23 +15
10.Epishin,Vladimir   11.07.65 Russia      2620 2655 2675 32 +20
11.Yusupov,Artur      13.02.60 Germany     2645 2630 2665 35 +35
   Short,Nigel                 England     2655 XXXX 2665 (unofficial)
12.Adams,Michael      17.11.71 England     2630 2630 2660 55 +30
13.Khalifman,Alexander18.01.66 Russia      2630 2645 2660 39 +15
14.Sokolov, Ivan      13.06.68 Bosnia      2640 2610 2650 52 +40
15.Beliavsky,Alexander17.12.53 Ukraine     2610 2635 2650 23 +15
16.Dreev,Alexei       30.01.69 Russia           2570 2645 34 +75
17.Kaidanov,Grigory   11.10.59 Russia      2620 2640 2645 25 +5
18.Topolov,Vesseline  15.03.75 Bulgaria    2635 2650 2640 31 -10
19.Chernin,Alexander  06.03.60 Hungary     2600 2615 2630 36 +15
20.Tiviakov,Sergei    14.02.73 Russia      2575 2635 2630 23 -5
21.Polgar, Judit      23.07.76 Hungary     2595 2630 2630 22 =
22.Nikolic, Predrag   11.09.60 Bosnia      2630 2625 2625 46 =
23.Lautier,Joel       12.04.73 France      2645 2620 2625 31 +5
24.Yudasin,Leonid     08.08.59 Israel      2610 2605 2625 30 +20
25.Vaganian,Raphael   15.10.51 Armenia     2615 2615 2625 17 +10
26.Azmaiparashvili,Z  16.03.60 Georgia     2655 2630 2625 11 -5
27.Dautov,Roustam     28.11.65 Russia      2625 2625 2625 0  =
28.Yermolinsky,Alexey 11.04.58 USA         2615 2605 2620 51 +15
29.Timman,Jan         14.12.51 Holland     2625 2620 2620 32 =
30.Benjamin,Joel      11.03.64 USA         2585 2620 2620 29 =
31.Andersson,Ulf      27.06.51 Sweden      2625 2625 2620 20 -5
32.Korchnoi,Viktor    23.03.31 Switzerland 2605 2625 2615 59 -10
33.Georgiev,Kiril     28.11.65 Bulgaria    2660 2660 2615 47 -45
34.Gulko,Boris        09.02.47 USA         2625 2635 2615 40 -20
35.Smirin,Ilia        21.01.68 Israel      2590 2640 2615 40 -25
36.Hertneck,Gerald    18.09.63 Germany          2565 2615 25 +60
37.Almasi,Zoltan      29.08.76 Hungary     2490 2580 2610 68 +30
38.Ehlvest,Jaan       14.10.62 Estonia     2625 2620 2610 43 -10
39.Gurevitch, Mikail  22.02.59 Belgium     2610 2605 2610 43 +5
40.Dolmatov,Sergei    20.02.59 Russia      2615 2630 2610 40 -20
41.Vishmanavin,Alexei 01.01.60 Russia      2620 2605 2610 41 +5
42.Greenfeld,Alon     17.04.67 Israel      2560 2590 2610 37 +20
43.Hubner,Robert      06.11.48 Germany     2620 2605 2610 24 +5
44.Akopian,Vladimir   07.12.71 Armenia     2615 2600 2605 47 +5
45.Piket,Jeroen       27.01.69 Holland     2590 2590 2605 46 +15
46.Speelman,Jonathan  02.10.56 England     2595 2605 2605 38 =
47.Rozentalis,Eduardas27.05.63 Lithuania   2595 2600 2605 34 +5
48.Van der Sterren,P  17.03.56 Holland          2525 2605 34 +80
49.Granda Zuniga,J    25.02.67 Peru        2590 2605 2605 23 =
50.Nunn,John          25.04.55 England     2580 2590 2605 19 +15
51.Morovic, Ivan      24.03.63 Chile            2575 2605 18 +30
52.Portisch,Lajos     04.04.37 Hungary     2580 2585 2605 13 +20
53.Ribli,Zoltan       06.09.51 Hungary     2620 2610 2600 15 -10
54.Ljubojevic,Ljubomir02.11.50 Yugoslavia  2605 2595 2600 8  +5
55.Malaniuk,Vladimir  21.07.57 Ukraine     2600 2635 2595 47 -40
56.Hjartarson,Johann  08.02.63 Iceland     2625 2605 2595 38 -10
57.Alterman,Boris     04.05.70 Israel      2600 2585 2595 30 +10
58.Wolff,Patrick      15.02.68 USA         2580 2585 2595 24 +10
59.Agdestein,Simen    15.05.67 Norway      2630 2610 2595 19 -15
60.Lutz,Christopher   24.02.71 Germany     2550 2605 2595 10 -10
61.Glek,Igor          07.11.61 Russia           2535 2590 63 +55
62.Miles,Anthony      23.04.55 England          2570 2590 55 +25
63.Shabalov,Alexander 12.09.67 US          2575 2590 2590 43 =
64.Illescas Cardoba,M 03.12.65 Spain       2615 2625 2590 42 -35
65.Oll,Lembit         07.11.64 Estonia     2585 2595 2590 42 -5
66.Lputian,Smbat      14.02.58 Armenia          2570 2590 30 +25
67.Gavrikov,Viktor    29.07.57 Switzerland 2575 2580 2590 27 +10
68.Morosewitsch,Alex. 18.07.77 Russia           2545 2590 22 +45 IM
69.Milov,Vadim                 Israel           2500 2585 69 +85
70.Psachis,Lev        29.11.58 Israel      2575 2585 2585 64 =
71.Bologan,Viktor     14.12.71 Moldavia         2510 2585 49 +75
72.Romanashin,Oleg    10.01.52 Ukraine     2590 2615 2585 48 -30
73.Goldin,Alexander   27.02.65 Russia           2540 2585 47 +45
74.Gurevich,Ilya      08.02.72 US               2575 2585 23 +10
75.Seirawan,Yasser    24.03.60 US               2575 2585 15 +10
76.Sveshnikov Evgeni  11.02.50 Russia           2570 2585 15 +15
77.Mozetic,Dejan      16.08.65 Yugoslavia  2580 2580 2585 6  +5  IM
78.De Firmian,Nick    26.07.57 USA              2545 2580 61 +35
79.Hansen,Curt        18.09.64 Denmark     2610 2590 2580 26 -10
80.Vladimirov,Evgeni  20.01.57 Kasahkstan  2585 2585 2580 9  -5
81.Arbakov,Valentin   28.01.52 Russia           2460 2575 64 +115 IM
82.Kozul,Zdenko       21.05.66 Bosnia      2550 2595 2575 61 -20
83.Khouzman,Alexander 10.04.62 Ukraine          2520 2575 53 +55
84.Vaiser Anatoli     05.03.49 France      2555 2580 2575 50 -10
85.Nenachev,Alexander 25.08.62 Uzbekistan  2565 2580 2575 39 -5
86.Polugaevsky,Lev    20.11.34 Russia      2635 2605 2575 16 -30
87.Mecking,Henrique   23.01.52 Brazil           2575 2575 0  =
88.Cvitan,Ognjev      10.10.61 Croatia          2550 2570 74 +20
89.Hodgson,Julian     25.07.63 England     2565 2625 2570 62 -45
90.Van Wely,Loek      07.10.72 Holland     2560 2585 2570 62 -15
91.Pigusov,Evgeni     31.03.61 Russia      2575 2585 2570 38 -15
92.Schneider,Alexander22.05.62 Ukraine          2560 2570 37 +10
93.Dorfman,Josef      01.05.53 France           2555 2570 36 +15
94.Van der Wiel,John  09.08.59 Holland          2570 2570 34 +5
95.Tukmakov,Vladimir  15.03.46 Ukraine     2605 2600 2570 33 -30
96.Eingorn,Vereslav   23.11.56 Ukraine     2575 2580 2570 28 -10
97.Lobron,Eric        07.05.60 Germany     2620 2575 2570 27 -5
98.Dokhojan,Yuri      26.10.64 Russia           2550 2570 24 +20
99.Krasenkov,Mikhail  14.11.63 Russia      2560 2595 2565 46 -30

FIDE Rating list, Restricted to women, 1 January 1993
 1.  Judit Polgar          Hungary             2595    +20
 2.  Zsuzsa Polgar         Hungary             2560    +20
 3.  Pia Cramling          Sweden              2525     -5
 4.  Maya Tschiburdanidze  Georgia             2510     +5
 5.  Jun Xie               China               2470    -15
 6.  Nana Ioseliani        Georgia             2460    +15
 7.  Alisa Gallyamova      Ukraine             2445    +45
 8.  Ketevan Arakhamya     Georgia             2440     +5
 9.  Svetlana Prudnikova   Russia              2420    +85
10.  Ketevan Kakhyani      Georgia             2420    +60
11.  Ildiko Madl           Hungary             2415     +5
12.  Irina Levytina        USA                 2415      0
13.  Alisa Maric           Yugoslavia          2415    +25
14.  Zsofia Polgar         Hungary             2415    -30
15.  Kanying Qin           China               2410    +95
16.  Yelena Donaldson      USA                 2405      0
17.  Svetlana Matveyeva    Kirgisia            2395    -40
18.  Ainur Sofiyeva        Azerbaidzan         2390     +5
19.  Vesna Bashagic        Bosnia-Hercegovina  2385     -5
20.  Natasha Boykovic      Yugoslavia          2385    +20
21.  Anna Akhsarumova      USA                 2385      0

USCF has rating classes as follows (with number in class as of 1 Nov 1992):
  title            range          number   (change-from-1991)
Senior Master   2400 and up          239         (+28)
Master          2200 - 2399          861         (+19)
Expert          2000 - 2199        2,407         (-68)
Class A         1800 - 1999        3,880         (-42)
Class B         1600 - 1799        4,851         (-59)
Class C         1400 - 1599        5,234         (-40)
Class D         1200 - 1399        4,994        (+201)
Class E          below 1200       11,123       (+5155)

There are more USCF members than the total 33,609 (+5198) listed here.  These
are just those who have been active in tournaments recently.  The average
rating on this list is 1421 (-125).  Your rating is determined by your results
and the ratings of the players you play against.

There is no hard and fast relationship between the various rating scales.

One question which often arises is: Do Elo historical ratings of famous
players of the past enable us to predict how well they would do against
present day players?

Some discussion of this issue occurred in (the now discontinued) _Chess
Notes_ in 1988.  Edward Winter wrote, "Elo's retrospective rankings look less
and less convincing the more one studies them.  For example, George Walker is
attributed 2360, the same as George Botterill in January 1988 (who has thus
had the benefit of insight into a century and a half of chess development
since Walker's time)."  Ken Whyld responded this "shows a misunderstanding of
ELO.  The ratings do not reflect how a player from a past age would fare
against a present-day player. . . . Elo's figures measure competitive
ability, NOT the quality of play. . . . In chess we can only know the
standing of players within the pool of which they are a part.  It is idle
speculation to make comparisons between discrete periods."  Arpad Elo himself
then got into the discussion, saying, "The historical ratings have generated
controversy partly because people misunderstand what they represent . . . Mr.
Ken Whyld . . . correctly points out how ratings should be viewed, i.e., as a
measure of competitive ability, and that proper comparisons can be made only
between players of the same milieu. . . . There is also a fundamental point
that should not be overlooked: the rating scale itself is an arbitrary scale,
open ended, . . . with no reproducible fixed points."

------------------------------

Subject: [9] How USCF Ratings are Calculated

The following is a simplified version of how the USCF rating system works;
for a full version, write to the USCF (see [2]).

*** For the first 20 games (provisional rating): ***

Take the rating of the opponent +400 if the player wins.
Take the rating of the opponent -400 if the player loses.
Take the rating of the opponent if the game is a draw.

Average these numbers.  (If unrated players play other unrated players, this
requires several iterations of the above.)

*** After 20 games (established rating): ***

The maximum amount a player can win or lose per game (called the "K" factor)
varies according to rating.  Players rated under 2100 have a 32-point
maximum; players rated 2100-2399 have a 24-point maximum, and players rated
2400 and up have a 16-point maximum.  (In a "1/4 K" tournament, divide these
maximums by four.)

If players of equal rating play, the loser loses half of the maximum, the
winner gains the same amount.  No change for a draw.

If players of unequal rating play, the higher-rated player gains fewer points
for a win, but loses more points for a loss.  (The lower-rated player does
the opposite, of course.)  A higher-rated player loses points for a draw; a
lower-rated player gains points.  For players rated 400 or so points apart,
the maximum rating change is used for an upset, and the minimum gain/loss is
1 point if the much higher-rated player wins.

The true formula for the number of points won/lost versus the ratings
difference is a curve, but a straight-line approximation for players with a K
factor of 32 points can be used, where every 25 points of ratings difference
is one additional rating point gained/lost starting from a beginning of 16
points for a win/loss, and from zero for a draw.  (I.e., for a 100-point
difference, the higher-rated player gains 16 - 4 = 12 points for a win, but
loses 16 + 4 = 20 points for a loss.  If a draw, the higher-rated player
loses 4 points, the lower-rated player gains 4.)

The actual formula is as follows:

K = K factor
delta_R = (Opponent's rating) - (Player's rating)
Expected_Wins = 1/(10^(delta_R / 400) + 1)
New_Rating = (Current rating) + K * ((Actual wins) - (Expected_Wins))

An established player's rating cannot drop below (his rating - 100) truncated
to the next lowest hundred (i.e., a 1571 player cannot drop below 1400).
This is called the rating's "floor."

------------------------------

Subject: [10] How USCF Lifetime Titles are Earned

USCF's class title norm system is similar to the system FIDE uses to
determine GM and IM titles (see [1]).  There is no time limit for
accumulating points towards USCF titles.

There are two titles per class from E to Expert: "Certified" and "Advanced."
Master-level titles have a different naming scheme: 2200 is "Life Master,"
followed by "1-Star Life Master" at 2300, "2-Star Life Master" at 2400, etc.

Points are earned toward titles by exceeding the expected score of a player
with the minimum rating of that level by a certain number of points.  Rules:
  1. A norm can be earned only in events of four rounds or greater.  (Norms
cannot be earned by playing a rated match.)
  2. A minimum score of two game points in the event is required, not
counting unplayed games.
  3. Ten "norm points" are required for a title.
  4. Making a norm earns two points toward the title for that level.
  5. A player who does not have the title 100 points below the norm level
also earns five points towards that title.
  6. A player who does not have the title 200 points below the norm level
automatically achieves that title.
  7. A player who achieves an established rating, but not the title
corresponding to 100 points below this rating, is awarded that title.
  8. Only established rated players can earn titles.

The Life Master title may still be earned by playing 300 games at the 2200
level.  After 1996, this title may only be earned through the norm system.

For a full description of the system, see _Chess Life_ May 1992.

------------------------------

Subject: [11] Tournaments

Chess tournaments can be large (1000 players) or small (10 players or even
less); long (1 round per day for 2 weeks) or short (a few rounds in one day).
There are tournaments only for Masters and tournaments only for beginners,
although most tournaments are open to anyone.  A typical _Chess Life_ will
list about 350 tournaments coming up in the U.S. in the next couple of
months, and there will be about the same number which are unlisted.  If you
want to participate in a tournament but are intimidated because you don't
know the procedures, by all means go and ask the director and/or other
players questions before things begin.  They'll be glad to help.

A typical tournament announcement will contain the following: (1) Date(s) and
name of the tournament.  (2) What kind of tournament it is, e.g., 4-SS or
3-RR.  The number given denotes how many rounds will be played.  "SS" stands
for Swiss System, which is a method of pairing the contestants (see [12]).
"RR" stands for round-robin, a format in which the players are divided into
groups of similar ratings before the tournament begins, and then each member
of a group plays every other member of that group.  Thus, in a 3-RR, the
group size will be four.  The Swiss System is by far the most popular in the
U.S.

(3) The time controls, e.g., "30/60, SD/60" or "G/60" or "20/1, 30/1."  The
number on the left is the number of moves, and the number on the right is the
time in minutes, or if that number is 1 or 2, in hours.  "SD" stands for
"sudden death," and "G" stands for game.  Where more than one time control is
listed, they are the controls which will take effect as the game progresses.
So, the three examples given above can be explained as follows.  In the first
example, the players would each get 60 minutes on their clocks, and would
have to have made their 30th moves before the 60 minutes expires (your clock
only runs when it is your turn to move).  Then, they each have another 60
minutes to finish the game completely.  Time left over from the first time
control carries over to subsequent time controls.  In the second example,
each player would begin with 60 minutes on his clock, and would have to
finish the game within that time.  In the third example, the players would
each get 1 hour for the first 20 moves, 1 hour for the next 30 moves, and
another hour for every subsequent group of 30 moves.

(4) The location of the tournament.  (5) The entry fee, sometimes by section
(see item 7).  (6) The total prize fund (if any), either "guaranteed" (G) or
based on a certain number of entries (e.g., b/30).  The difference is
guaranteed prizes must be paid, and "based on" prizes need only be paid in
full if the stated number of players enter.  If the stated number of players
do not enter, the prize fund is reduced proportionally, but only down to a
minimum of 50%.

(7) Sections, if any.  If none are listed, the tournament is an "open."
"Open" sections are always open to *any* player.  Other sections may be
restricted to players below a certain rating, and/or occasionally above a
certain rating.  Sometimes sections (or whole tournaments) are restricted to
certain age groups, school grades, etc.  "Class" tournaments separate players
by USCF rating classes.  Sometimes different sections carry different entry
fees.  (8) Prize fund breakdown (if any).  If the tournament is in sections,
each section shows its own prize fund.  In an small open, a typical prize
fund might look like this: $140-100-70, A 50, B 45, C 40, D/E/Unr. 35, Jrs.
20.  This means first prize is $140, second is $100, and third is $70.  The
top Class A player gets $50, etc.  The top player in the combined classes of
D, E, and unrated players gets $35, and the top Junior (under age 21) gets
$20.  (9) The registration time and time the rounds will begin.  (10) Where
to send an advance entry fee, and/or who to contact for more information.

------------------------------

Subject: [12] The Swiss Tournament Pairing System

The best way to get the rules for a Swiss System is to buy a copy of the USCF
rulebook, available for about $7.95.  (The FIDE rulebook also has rules for a
Swiss, which vary from USCF's rules.)

However, a VERY simplified summary of the USCF rules is:
1.  Arrange players in order by rating, highest to lowest, unrated either at
    the bottom or by estimated rating.
2.  For round 1, divide into two stacks.  The top players in EACH stack play
    each other, then the second players in each stack play each other, etc.
    This results in the highest-rated player playing the middle-rated player.
3.  After round one, divide up by score groups.  Win=1, Draw=1/2, Loss=0.
4.  Pair up each score group as in step 2.  If an odd number, the bottom
    person in higher point group plays top person in next score group.  If
    odd number in lowest score group, lowest rated player gets a full point
    bye. (Limit players to one bye each.)
5.  Where possible, players should alternate color, or at least equalize.
    (By round 4, players ideally should have had two Whites, two Blacks.)
6.  Players NEVER play the same opponent more than once.  If necessary, pair
    players with someone in next lower score group.  (Treat as if odd
    number.)
7.  To improve on color allocation as per step 5, if two players in the
    bottom half of a score group are rated within 100 points, they can be
    interchanged.  (If rated over 2100, 50 points is a better cutoff.)

------------------------------

Subject: [13] I'm a Novice (or Intermediate).  How Do I Improve?

There are lots of variations to the methods, but the things most good
teachers agree on is to emphasize (1) tactics, (2) endings, and (3) playing
with a plan.  Most people spend too much time studying openings.  Just learn
enough about openings to get to a playable middlegame.  The books listed
below should give you a great start on (1), (2), and (3).  Of course, playing
experience is important.  Review your games (with a much stronger player if
possible) to find out what you did right and wrong.  Seek out games against
stronger players, and learn from them.

Some books are listed below to help in the quest to improve.  You don't need
to buy all these--pick and choose as you please.  For example, buy #1 and see
what you might want to supplement it with later.  Or, buy one or two general
works (numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6), a tactics book, and an endgame book.

  1. _Comprehensive Chess Course_ 2nd edition by GM Lev Alburt and Roman Pelts
(ISBN 0-9617-207-0-5).  (Available as 2 separate vols. from Chess Digest.)
Expensive.  Chess neophytes (i.e., NOT most rec.games.chess readers) will find
volume I useful; otherwise, try volume II.  Good teaching material for an
intro-to-chess class.  (It is now in its 3rd edition.)

  2. _Essential Chess Endings Explained Move by Move_ by IM Jeremy Silman
(ISBN 0-87568-172-7).  Very clear explanations of basic endings.  For novices
and intermediates.

  3. _The Game of Chess_ by Siegbert Tarrasch (ISBN 0-486-25447-X).  Excellent
instruction for intermediates.

  4. _How to Reassess Your Chess_ by IM Jeremy Silman (ISBN 0-938650-53-X).
Explains how to formulate a plan.  An excellent improvement program for the
intermediate player.

  5. _Logical Chess Move by Move_ by Irving Chernev (ISBN 0-671-21135-8).
Looks at 30 or so games, and comments on the thought behind *every* move.
Bridges the gap between novice and intermediate books.

  6. _My System_ by Aron Nimzovich (ISBN 0-679-14025-5).  As per _The Game of
Chess_ above.

  7. _1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations_ by Fred Reinfeld (ISBN
0-87980-111-5).  A cheap book of 1001 tactical quizzes, most from actual
games.  Mix of easy & hard.  Great for improving tactical ability.

  8. _Pandolfini's Endgame Course_ by NM Bruce Pandolfini (ISBN
0-671-65688-0).  Another good endgame book for novices and intermediates.

  9. _Simple Chess Tactics_ by A. J. Gillam (ISBN 0-7134-6513-1).  A first
tactics book for novices.

  10. _Your Move_ by Yakov Neishtadt.  A good tactics book with 350 positions
for you to try with solutions and explanations.

------------------------------

Subject: [14] Recommended Openings (and Books) for Novices to Intermediates

Remember your goal is to reach a playable middlegame.  Don't worry about what
is popular, or what the Masters play.  As GM Lombardy once said, all openings
offer good winning chances in amateur play.

As you become stronger, you can shop around for an opening yourself.  But,
the openings recommended here are hardly inferior, and will serve you well
throughout your chess career if you so choose.

Besides what is recommended here, you may want a general manual to browse in
(not study from!).  _Modern Chess Openings_ 13th edition (MCO-13) or
_Batsford Chess Openings_ edition 2 (BCO-2) are good choices.

                         White Pieces

Opening 1.e4 is a really good idea, as it will get you into tactics fast.
Yes, you may last a few moves longer against a Master by cowering around with
1.Nf3 2.g3 3.Bg2 4.O-O etc., but you won't learn as much or improve as fast.
Add a gambit or two to your system if you open 1.e4.

Another good idea is the Colle System, where White opens 1.d4 and sets up
with Nf3, e3, Bd3, c3, Nbd2, O-O, and plays to open up the position with e4
and attack on the Kingside.  The great thing about the Colle is White has a
clear plan (and will encounter some tactics, too).

Recommended books for White Opening (pick one):

_Winning with 1.e4_ (ISBN 0-87568-174-5) by GM Andy Soltis.  Covers all
(reasonable) Black responses with good lines which tend to avoid the
well-trodden paths.

_Winning with the Colle System_ (2nd ed.; ISBN 0-87568-169-7) by Ken Smith
and John Hall.  Comprehensive coverage of this opening.

_Colle System_ by IM George Koltanowski, a real pioneer of this system.
Cheaper than the book above, but a bit less comprehensive.

                         Black Pieces

As a response to 1.e4, establish pawn control in the center by either 1. ...
e5 or 1. ... c5 (Sicilian), or make a "strong-point" at d5 by either 1. ...
e6 (French) or 1. ... c6 (Caro-Kann), followed by 2. ... d5.  Playing 1. ...
e5 will subject you to some hairy attacks, but again, you will learn tactics
thereby.  To help avoid reams of theory, use the Petroff defense (1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nf6) if you choose 1. ... e5.

1. ... c5 (the Sicilian) has rather a lot of White possibilities to play
against, but is sound and aggressive at the same time.  The French and the
Caro-Kann are a bit easier to play, but don't run into as many early tactics
(usually).

As a response to 1.d4, play 1. ... d5 and then follow 2.c4 (the most typical
2nd move) with either 2. ... dxc4 (Queen's Gambit Accepted), 2.  ... e6
(Queen's Gambit Declined), or 2. ... c6 (Slav Defense).  The first promotes
early tactics, and the other two have the advantage usually producing similar
pawn structures to the French Defense and Caro-Kann, respectively.  If you
play French and QGD or Caro-Kann and Slav, you are less likely to be confused
by transpositions if White varies his move order in the early stages, e.g.,
by opening 1.Nf3.

Recommended books for Black Opening (pick either I, II, or III):

I. Choose one from A. and one from B.

 A.
  _A Complete Black Defense to 1.P-K4_ by Cafferty and Hooper.  The main
   line is the Petroff Defense, but the authors also show how to handle the
   other possibilities, e.g., the King's Gambit.

  _How to Play the Sicilian Defense Against all White Possibilities_ (ISBN
   0-87568-168-9) by GM Andy Soltis and Ken Smith.

B.
  _A Complete Black Defense to 1.P-Q4_ by Cafferty and Hooper.  The main
   line is the Queen's Gambit Accepted, but the authors also show how to
   handle the other possibilities, e.g., the Richter-Veresov Attack.  The
   disadvantage is you aren't shown how to handle other closed openings
   such as 1.Nf3, 1.c4, etc. although these can frequently be transposed
   into the QGA.

   Or, as your B. choice, use the "closed" opening defenses from either
   II or III.

II. _A Complete Black Repertoire_ (ISBN 0-87568-163-8) by IM Jeremy Silman.
     Based around the French and Queen's Gambit Declined.

III. _A Black Defensive System for the Rest of Your Chess Career_ by GM
      Andy Soltis.  Based around the Caro-Kann and Slav.

------------------------------

Subject: [15] Publications

_Ajedrez Universal_, Luis Hoyos-Millan, P.O. Box 10020, Staten Island, NY
10301.

_American Chess Journal_, P.O. Box 2967, Harvard Square Station, Cambridge,
MA 02238. Phone [phone]; fax [phone]; e-mail [e-mail].
Edited by Christopher Chabris, Timothy Hanke, and GM Patrick Wolff. 128
pp./issue, book format, 3 issues/year. Single copy $12 to U.S.,
$14 to Canada/Mexico, $16 elsewhere; 3-issue subscription $30, $36, $42;
6-issue subscription $54, $66, $78. Emphasizes good writing, in-depth
analysis, history, and reviews.

_APCT News Bulletin_, c/o Helen Warren, P.O. Box 70, Western Springs, IL
60558.  Correspondence chess.

_BDG World_, 303 Cleveland St., P.O. Box 66, Headland, AL 36345.

_Blitz Chess_, WBCA, 8 Parnassus Rd., Berkeley, CA, 94708.  Edited by GM
Walter Browne, who also founded the World Blitz Chess Association.  The WBCA
runs "blitz" (5 minutes/game) tournaments and has a separate rating system.

_Caissa's Chess News_, P.O. Box 09091, Cleveland, OH 44109.

_Chess_, Chess & Bridge, Ltd., 369 Euston Road, London, England NW1 3AR.
Phone [phone].  General manager is IM Malcolm Pein.  12
issues/year; subscription rates are: UK L23.95/yr, L45/2 yrs; Europe
L29.95/yr, L56.95/2 yrs; USA/Canada (2nd class airmail) $49.95/yr, $95/2 yrs.

_Chess Chow_, Chess Chow Publications, P.O. Box 3348, Church St. Station, New
York, NY 10008.  212-432-6546.  Edited by GM Joel Benjamin.  6 issues/year;
$25/yr, $45/2 yrs; Foreign rates: $40/yr & $75/2 yrs.  48 pp., many guest GM
and IM contributors, emphasis on instruction and entertainment.  (More info:
e-mail [e-mail]).

_Chess Horizons_ by the Massachusetts Chess Association, c/o George
Mirijanian, 46 Beacon St., Fitchburg, MA 01420 is published bimonthly and
contains about 64 games/issue, many of them from outside the U.S.  $10/year;
$18 Canada; $19 Europe; $20 Australia.

_Chess Informant_ by Sahovski Informator, P.O. Box 739, Francuska 31, 11001
Beograd, Yugoslavia (Serbia).  Published in March, August, and December
(semi-annually before 1991).  Consists of "good" games (judged by committee)
>from major tournaments; as well as interesting positions (combinations,
endings) given as a quiz, and tournament crosstables.  There are about 750
games/issue classified by opening (known as _ECO_ classification).  Notation
is figurine algebraic; games are annotated (often by the players) with
special ideographs (defined for 10 languages).  The January & July FIDE
rating lists are published in the following edition.  _Informant_ games are
also available in ChessBase/NICBase formats.

_Chess Life_ magazine and/or _School Mates_ magazine--see [2].

_The Computer Chess Gazette_, Box 2841, Laguna Hills, CA 92654.
714-770-8532.  Focuses on computer chess.

_Computer Chess Reports_ published semiannually by ICD Corp., 21 Walt Whitman
Road, Huntington Station, NY 11746.  Phone [phone].  Subscriptions are
$12/year.  Focuses on computer chess, and rates dedicated chess-playing
computers and software.  The main contributor is IM Larry Kaufman.

_GMA< News_, 2 Avenue de la Tanche, 1160 Brussels, Belgium.

_Inside Chess_ magazine published biweekly by International Chess
Enterprises, Inc.  Subscriptions in the U.S. are $45/year, $80/two years.
Subscription address: ICE, Inc., P.O. Box 19457, Seattle, WA, 98109.  Phone
800-677-8052 (or 206-325-1952).  _Inside Chess_ describes itself as THE
magazine for the serious player.  Edited by GM Yasser Seirawan.

_International Computer Chess Association (ICCA) Journal_ published quarterly.
Membership/subscription is $30/year.  Follows computer chess worldwide.  ICCA,
c/o Don Beal, Department of Computing Science, Queen Mary and Westfield
College, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, England.  ICCA Europe, c/o Prof. Dr. H.
J. van den Herik, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maasticht, The Netherlands
(Membership/subscription is Hfl. 50).

_New In Chess_ published by Interchess BV, P.O. Box 393, 1800 AJ Alkmaar, The
Netherlands.  U.S. distribution: Chess Combination Inc., P.O. Box 2423 Noble
Station, Bridgeport, CT 06608-0423.  Phone [phone]; fax [phone];
e-mail [e-mail] (Albert Henderson).  8 issues, $68 by air
mail, $58 by surface; intro subscription: 6 issues, $34 by air.  Sample issue
$5 (free for Internet or CompuServe users).

------------------------------

Subject: [16] Where to Get Books and Equipment

American Chess Equipment (DeWayne Barber), 524 S. Avenida Faro, Anaheim, CA
92807.  714-998-5508.  Good source for sets and boards in quantity.

Australian Chess Enterprises, 4/69 Garfield Road East, Riverstone, NSW 2765
Australia, ph: 61-2-838-1529 fax: [phone]. Chess supplies, software,
promotions and publications.

Dale Brandreadth, P.O. Box 151, Yorkland, DE 19736.  302-239-4608.  Used chess
books.

Caissa's Press, P.O. Box 609091, Cleveland, OH, 44109-0091. Buys and sells
used (and some new) books; send $1 for current list.

Chess Digest, Inc., P.O. Box 59029, Dallas, TX 75229.  800-462-3548; fax
214-869-9305.  Massive selection of books; also boards, sets, and clocks.
Limited computers and software.  Large (!) catalog available.

Chess House, P.O. Box 12424, Kansas City, KS 66112.  800-348-4749 or
913-299-3976; fax [phone].  Books, boards, sets, clocks, computers.
Catalog available.

Chessco, P.O. Box 8, Davenport, IA 52805-0008.  319-323-7117.  Associated
with Thinker's Press publishers.  Books, boards, clocks.  Catalog available.

Computer Chess Gazette, Box 2841, Laguna Hills, CA 92654.  714-770-8532.
Chess computers and software.

Electronic Games, 1678 Mayfield Road, Lapeer, Michigan 48446.  800-227-5603
or 313-664-2133.  Computers, software, and clocks.

ICD Corp., 21 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station, NY 11746.  800-645-4710
or 516-424-3300.  Chess computers and software.  Associated with _Computer
Chess Reports_ (see [15]).

Lindsay Chess Supplies, Box 2381, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.  313-995-8738.  Books,
sets, clocks.  Possibly the cheapest source for _Informants_.  Catalog
available.

Metro Game Center (Jeff Prentiss), 4744 Chicago Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN
55407.  612-874-9555.

National Chess and Games, P.O. Box 17278, Anaheim, CA 92817.  714-282-8483.

PBM International Corp. Inc., 11 Church Street, Montclair, NJ 07042.
800-726-4685; fax [phone].  Computers, software, and clocks.  Catalog
available.

Jon C. Rather, P.O. Box 273, Kensington, MD 20895.  301-942-0515.  Used chess
books.

Fred Wilson, 80 E 11th St, Suite 334, New York, NY 10003.  212-533-6381.
Specializes in out-of-print and rare chess books; also fine chess sets.

USCF - books, boards, sets, clocks, computers, software (see [2]).

------------------------------
--
William R. Shauck                   Internet: [e-mail]

From [e-mail] Tue Sep  6 01:09:07 1994
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess,rec.answers,news.answers
From: [e-mail] (William R. Shauck)
Subject: rec.games.chess Answers to Frequently Asked Questions [2/2]
Followup-To: poster
Summary: This posting addresses some of the FAQ's on the
    rec.games.chess    news group. Topics include E-Mail games, Internet
    Chess Server (ICS), Material available via FTP servers, Dedicated
    Computers, and Software for Playing, Databases and Utilities.
Keywords: chess FAQ semimonthly answers
Supersedes: <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 07:51:29 GMT

Last-Modified: 1994/03/01
Archive-Name: games/chess/part2

 Publicly available playing, e-mail lists, or material
  [17] E-Mail Games, ICS, Mailing Lists, Gopher, Usenet Reader
  [18] Material Available via Anonymous FTP
 Commercially available playing or material
  [19] Chess-Playing Computers
  [20] Chess-Playing Software
  [21] Database Software
  [22] Utility Software
 Miscellaneous
  [23] Using Graphic Chess Symbols in Printed Text
  [24] Trivia
  [25] Common Acronyms
  [26] Rules
  [27] Variants
  [28] Disclaimer and Copyright Notice

This FAQ list may be obtained via anonymous FTP from rtfm.mit.edu under
/pub/usenet/news.answers/games/chess/part2.  Or, send email to
[e-mail] with 'send usenet/news.answers/games/chess/part2' in
the body of the message, leaving the subject line empty.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: [17] E-Mail Games, ICS, Mailing Lists, Gopher, Usenet reader

Rob Buchner ([e-mail]) organizes e-mail games on "ladders."
If you would like to be included on the ladder, simply send him a message.
Contacting potential opponents and setting up matches is your initiative.
Just let him know whenever a match starts or ends.  Also, after a game has
been completed, include the following information:
 white   score   black   completed       moves   opening
 *****   *****   *****   *********       *****   *******
 name     ?:?    name    date            number  type
Ladder updates are posted to rec.games.chess about once a month.

The Internet Chess Server (ICS) was originally developed by Michael Moore
([e-mail]).  ICS allows interactive chess games for those with
Internet telnet capability.  Use telnet (e.g., "telnet ics.uoknor.edu 5000")
to connect.  All may log on and play chess, but if you wish to have your games
recorded and develop a rating, register on the system you use (see help on the
system for more information).  Send questions to [e-mail] or
[e-mail].  There are currently two IC Servers running:
   ics.uoknor.edu (129.15.10.21) 5000 (Univ. of Oklahoma, USA)
   bentley.daimi.aau.dk (130.225.16.62) 5000  (Aarhus, Denmark)
       (if 5000 doesn't work, try 5001 or 5002)
ICS only displays ASCII boards. For graphical interfaces for X, NeXT, MacOS or
MS-DOS, see [18] (Miscellaneous) for an associated FTP server.

Michael Nolan has set up a mailing list "echo" of the rec.games.chess news
group.  Messages sent to the list will be posted in rec.games.chess, and all
posts to rec.games.chess will be sent to the mailing list.  The address to
send messages to be posted to rec.games.chess is:
          [e-mail]           (UUCP: tssi!chessnews)
The mailing list administration address is:
          [e-mail]   (UUCP: tssi@chessnews-request)
Requests to be added to the mailing list should include a clear indication of
the e-mail address to be used, and will be verified before being accepted.

There is a mailing list which is not associated with rec.games.chess called
"chess-l."  It averages about 4 posts/day, which are sent to subscribers via
e-mail.  To subscribe to the chess-l news group, send the message "subscribe
chess-l Your-Real-Name-Here" to [e-mail].

A mailing list for those interested in scholastic chess has been set up by
Kenneth Sloan ([e-mail]).  Send a request to be added to the list to
[e-mail].

Gopher is "a document delivery service"; sort of a stripped-down menu-driven
FTP.  Those with access to a gopher client can access kasey.umkc.edu for
chess-related material.

For those on the Internet whose sites do not receive rec.games.chess, it can
be read (along with all other Usenet groups) from an experimental bulletin
board system (EBBS) run by the University of North Carolina.  The Internet
address for EBBS is launchpad.unc.edu (152.2.22.80).  A news reader
(read-only) is available to all users, but posting is limited to those who
have been verified by land mail.  Internet e-mail privileges are also
available to verified users.  All access to this system is free at this time.

There is a Special Interest Group (SIG) on a pool of computers: the Free-Net
System at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  Try "telnet
freenet-in-[a,b,c].cwru.edu" (replace "[a,b,c]" with one of a, b or c).  Login
as a visitor and explore the system.  Try "go chess" to find local chess
bulletin boards and an e-mail chess group.  Request membership at
[e-mail] [The Cleveland Chess Sig (FNCF), 4382 Tiedeman
Rd., Brooklyn, Ohio 44144].

There is a FidoNet conference for chess which offers games by e-mail.
Contact the moderator of the CHESS conference: Rita Goudreau @ 1:167/133.
(Internet equivalent: [e-mail]).

There's an e-mail chess pairing service run by William Moxley.  To get an
opponent, send your NAME, E-MAIL ADDRESS, and LEVEL-OF-PLAY (Novice,
Intermediate, or Expert) to [e-mail].  If you don't hear
back within a week, you cannot be reached at the e-mail address provided.

------------------------------

Subject: [18] Material Available via Anonymous FTP

FTP is a way of copying files between networked computers.  Information on it
is available via anonymous FTP from rtfm.mit.edu in the file
/pub/usenet/news.answers/finding-sources.  If you do not know how to use
anonymous FTP or do not have access to it, you can retrieve the file by
sending an e-mail message to [e-mail] with "send
usenet/news.answers/finding-sources" as the body of the message.  (Send a
message containing "help" for general information on the server.)  Or, see the
posting titled "How to find sources (READ THIS BEFORE POSTING)" in the news
groups comp.sources.wanted or news.answers.  Information on what the various
compression extensions mean (like ".Z") and what utilities are available to
deal with them can be found in the comp.compression FAQ list (see the posting
in comp.compression or news.answers titled "comp.compression Frequently Asked
Questions," or get /pub/usenet/news.answers/compression-faq/* from
rtfm.mit.edu).

Miscellaneous.  A general repository for chess-related material is somewhat
associated with the Internet Chess Server (ICS).  Currently, the 'ICS FTP
host' is chess.uoknor.edu (129.15.10.254).  Material is in the pub/chess
directory.  New material may be placed in pub/chess/uploads.  Many freeware
chess programs for different platforms, including graphical ICS (see [17])
clients, are available (e.g., for MS-DOS, MacOS, AmigaOS, NeXT, and UNIX vt100
or X Windows interfaces).  Scores of various matches and other groups of games
as well.

Chaos.  A chess tournament pairing program (Swiss pairing as well as Round
Robin), GNU General Public License, runs on the Commodore-Amiga, available
>from AmiNet mirrors (e.g., wuarchive.wustl.edu), under /pub/aminet/game/think.

GNU chess.  Gnuchess is a freely available chess-playing software program.
Gnuchess 4.0 can be FTP'ed from prep.ai.mit.edu, export.lcs.mit.edu, and
probably other sites.  It can be compiled for X Windows (with XBoard, below),
SunView, curses, IBM PC character set, or ASCII interfaces.  Included in the
package are the utilities gnuan (analysis program), game (PostScript
printout), postprint (prints hashfile), checkgame (checks a game listing for
illegal moves), and checkbook (checks the opening book for illegal moves).
It has been posted to gnu.chess.

LaTex chess macros.  Piet Tutelaers' ([e-mail]) chess LaTex
package (version 1.2) may be FTP'ed from sol.cs.ruu.nl (131.211.80.5); please
restrict access to weekends or evenings.  A server can answer e-mail requests
(put "send HELP" as the message to [e-mail]).  Get
TEX/chess12.*.  See [23].

Notation.  Notation is a chess game score preprocessor written by Henry
Thomas ([e-mail]).  It reads chess games, either in full algebraic or
shortened notation (i.e., Nf1-g3 or f1g3 or Ng3) and is able to output the
games and/or the board at any move, in ASCII, PostScript, TeX, or nroff.  It
also can generate output for the gnuan and XBoard programs.  It is
multi-lingual for piece identification; understanding French, English,
German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Polish, etc.  The program also handles
variations and symbolized comments.  It works fine on UNIX (Sun SPARCstation
and Sun-3).  It uses standard C, and function declarations are done in both
K&R-C and ANSI-C.  It won't be difficult to compile for MS-DOS with MSC.
Sources have been posted to comp.sources.misc.  You can also get them from
Mr. Thomas by e-mail.  They may be FTP'ed from wuarchive.wustl.edu, in
/usenet/comp.sources.misc/volume28/notation/*.Z (European users use
garbo.uwasa.fi).

Chess notation tool kit.  The Standard Algebraic Notation (SAN) Kit chess
programming C source tool kit is designed to help chess software efforts by
providing common routines for move notation I/O, move generation, move
execution, and various useful position manipulation services.  There are
substantial additions to the previous version which include a standard
position notation scheme along with some benchmarking tests.  A main program
is included which gives sample calls for the various routines.  Simple I/O
functions are also provided.  A clever programmer needs only to add a search
and an evaluation function to produce a working chessplaying program.  A
programmer who already has the source to a chessplaying program may improve it
further by including tool kit routines as needed for standardization.  The
author of this package is Steven J. Edwards ([e-mail]).  The SAN Kit
may be retrieved from the 'ICS FTP host'.

XBoard.  XBoard is an X11/R4-based user interface for GNU Chess or ICS.  As an
interface to GNU Chess, XBoard lets you play a game against the machine, set
up arbitrary positions, force variations, or watch a game between two
machines.  As an interface to the ICS, XBoard lets you play against other ICS
users or observe games they are playing.  You can also use XBoard as a
chessboard to review or analyze games.  It will read a game file or allow you
to play through a variation manually.  This is useful for keeping track of
email postal games, browsing games off the net, or reviewing GNU Chess and ICS
games you have saved.  Beginning with version 2.0, Tim Mann <[e-mail]>
has taken over development of XBoard.  The program can be FTP'ed from the 'ICS
FTP host.'

------------------------------

Subject: [19] Chess-Playing Computers

There are numerous dedicated chess-playing computers available commercially,
as well as chess-playing software for various personal computers.  Prices
vary from perhaps $10,000 for the most expensive dedicated computer to
perhaps $30 for the cheapest software (see [20]).  The differences are
basically how strong the machine (or software) plays, and the other features
it has to offer (e.g., for dedicated machines: size of board, wood/plastic,
autosensory or "push the pieces," etc.).

When purchasing a chess computer or software, it is best to buy something
which plays at least 300 points above your rating.  Here are the estimated
USCF ratings for some of the more popular dedicated chess computers.

The following list of estimated ratings for dedicated chess computers is from
_Computer Chess Reports_, 1993.

TASC R30 "King"                          2558
Mephisto Lyon 68030                      2468
Mephisto Vancouver 68030                 2463
Mephisto RISC 1MB                        2444
Saitek Kasparov RISC 2500                2439
Mephisto Portugal 68030                  2432
Fidelity Elite 10 68040                  2377
Mephisto Vancouver 32 bit                2361
Mephisto Lyon 32 bit                     2358
Fidelity Premiere Vancouver              2342
Mephisto Berlin                          2342
Fidelity Elite 9 68030                   2331
Mephisto Vancouver 16 bit                2316
Mephisto Portugal 32 bit                 2315
Mephisto Lyon 16 bit                     2314
Mephisto Almeria 32 bit                  2293
Saitek Galileo BruteForce                2284
Fidelity Mach IV/Designer 2325           2276
Mephisto Portugal 16 bit                 2252
Fidelity Elite v5 dual                   2234
Mephisto Polgar 10                       2234
Mephisto Roma 32 bit                     2220
Mephisto Dallas 32 bit                   2217
Mephisto Almeria 16 bit                  2214
Novag Diablo/Scorpio                     2201
Fidelity Mach III/Elite 2                2189
Novag SuperExpert/Forte C                2184
Mephisto Mondial 68000                   2175
Mephisto Polgar                          2170
Mephisto MM5                             2160
Mephisto Roma 16 bit                     2153
Mephisto Milano                          2152
Mephisto Dallas 16 bit                   2152
Novag SuperExpert/Forte B                2138
Mephisto Academy                         2137
Fidelity Mach II L.A.                    2124
Mephisto Amsterdam                       2119
Fidelity Travel Master                   2117
Mephisto MonteCarlo 4                    2116
Saitek GK 2000                           2111
Mephisto Modena                          2110
Saitek Galileo Maes D                    2107
Mephisto MM4                             2104
Mephisto Mega 4                          2103
CXG Sphinx Domin                         2096
Saitek Travel Champion                   2093
Novag SuperExpert/Forte (6 MHz)          2087
Novag SuperExpert/Forte (5 MHz)          2048
Fidelity Designer 2100 Display           2048
Fidelity 68000 xl B                      2040
Saitek Corona2/TurboKing2                2037
Saitek Statos                            2034
Saitek Corona/Simult                     2021
Excalibur Legend/Accolade                2020
Fidelity ParEX/Chesster                  2014
Mephisto MM3                             2010
Novag Expert (5 MHz)                     2008
Novag Forte B                            2008
Novag Forte                              1999
Saitek TurboKing                         1984
Fidelity Excel 4                         1983
Novag Expert (4 MHz)                     1976
Saitek TurboKasparov                     1958
Mephisto MM2                             1952
Fidelity Excel/Designer 2000             1952
Saitek Prisma/Blitz                      1951
RadioShack 2150L                         1927
Novag SuperNova                          1918
Novag SuperConstellation                 1917
Mephisto Blitz                           1893
Novag Super VIP                          1889
USCF Academy/Mephisto Marco Polo/Europa  1864
Novag Primo/VIP                          1835
Novag Constellation 3.6                  1834
Novag Quattro                            1826
Novag Constellation                      1777
Advanced StarChess                       1755
Fidelity Sensory 9                       1699
Saitek Astral/Conquistador/Cavalier      1678

Ratings are the average of CCR30', CCR10', Computer Chess News Sheet
and the "Ply" list from Sweden.  See the Volume 3, Number 2 issue
of _Computer Chess Reports_ for more details.

There are a number of non-commercial chess-playing machines, the strongest
and most famous of which is "Deep Thought."  Deep Thought was built and
programmed by graduate students Feng-Hsiung Hsu, Thomas Anantharaman, Murray
Campbell, Peter Jansen, Mike Browne, and Andreas Nowatzyk at Carnegie Mellon
University, and who are now working (some of them, anyway) for IBM.  The
current version of Deep Thought has beaten several GM's and many IM's.  It
has a USCF rating of about 2520.  (The Oct. 1990 issue of _Scientific
American_ goes into more detail on Deep Thought.)  Another Carnegie Mellon
product, "Hitech," was developed by former World Correspondence Champion Dr.
Hans Berliner and sports a USCF rating just over 2400.

------------------------------

Subject: [20] Chess-Playing Software

The strength of chess-playing software is highly dependent on the hardware it
runs on (all software discussed is for MS-DOS; programs available for MacOS
are noted).  Here is a method to approximate the strength differences for the
same software running on different hardware (source: _Computer Chess Reports_).

Processor                        "Chess MIP's"

8088                      Speed in MHz divided by 19
80286, 1 wait state       Speed in MHz divided by 8
80286, 0 wait states      Speed in MHz divided by 6
80386, no cache memory    Speed in MHz divided by 6
80386 with cache          Speed in MHz divided by 4.7
80486                     Speed in MHz divided by 2.3

(Note that math coprocessors--used before the 486--don't change the speed,
since chess programs don't use floating point arithmetic at all.)

Now, if a program has a given rating on a 1 (Chess) MIP machine, this is how
to adjust the rating for other MIP's (interpolate between points):

MIP:  0.25 0.5 1 1.5  2  3   4   6   8   12  16  24  32  48  64
Adj.: -180 -87 0  47 80 124 154 195 223 261 287 323 347 379 402

For example, a program running on a 10 MHz 8088 (0.5 MIP's and -87 points)
will be about 272 USCF rating points weaker than the same program running on
a 33 MHz 80386 (no cache: 5.5 MIP's and +185 points).

    CCR Ratings List PC Program Ratings

ChessMachine Madrid King 2.0        2558
ChessMachine Madrid Schroder 3.0    2498
Chess Genius                        2494
MChess Professional                 2460
ChessMachine Schroder ARM2          2420
ChessMachine King ARM2              2399
Socrates                            2392
Fritz 2.0                           2360
Zarkov 3.0                          2350
Psion 2                             2318
Zarkov 2.5 & 2.6                    2312
Grandmaster                         2297
Rexchess 2.3                        2283
Sargon 5                            2278
Alpha                               2274
Fritz 1/Knightstalker               2237
Chessmaster 3000                    2201
Chess Champion                      2175
Psion 1                             2121
Colossus x                          2070
Chessmaster 2100                    2057
Final Chesscard                     1894

Ratings are the average of autotest at 30" to 1' per move, Computer
Chess News Sheet from England and the "Ply" list from Sweden.  PC
programs are rated on an i486 PC running at 33MHz.  See the Volume 3,
Number 2 issue of _Computer Chess Reports_ for more details.

  MChess Pro          ~2480  by Marty Hirsch, San Rafael, California
Runs on a 286 with 640K, but a 386 with 12 Meg is recommended (10 are used for hash tables).
   Opening book is 7x as large as amateur version and is programable.
   Improved graphics.  DM 250
MChess 1.1 - 1.72    2400  by Marty Hirsch
   DM 180
Zarkov 2.6           2350  by John Stanback / Chess Laboratories
   Interfacing to the chess database software Bookup.
   Supersedes Zarkov 2.5 (USCF 2280) by John Stanback.
   Best analyzation features.  DM 135
ChessChampion 2175   2340  by Chris Whittington
   Program uses Shannon B strategy, not brute force like all the others.
   Supersedes ChessPlayer by Chris Whittington.  DM 115
KnightStalker II    ~2300  by Frans Morsch / ChessBase
   Interfacing to the chess database software ChessBase.
   Program can be used as background-evaluator while working
   with ChessBase 4.0.  It can read ChessBase libraries.  DM 178
   Supersedes KnightStalker I (USCF 2260, DM 99) by ChessBase.
Grandmaster Chess    2300  by John Stanback / Capstone
   Mass market version of Zarkov 2.55 with pull-down menus and fancier graphics
   (2d and 3d board), but is missing some of Zarkov2.6's features such as
   generating multiple candidate moves when analyzing games, annotations,
   generating PCX or WPG chess diagrams, interfacing to Bookup7 etc.  DM 110
Rexchess 2.30        2290  by Larry Kaufman
   DM 99.  Will be superseded by TitanChess by Larry Kaufman,
   which is expected to come out Dec 92.
   - Heuristic Alpha by Larry Kaufman
      Written for 8086er and 80286er in C.  Selled to Electronic Arts.
      Expected to come out spring 93.
   - Sokrates by Larry Kaufman
      Written for 80386er and 80486er in Assembler.
      Hasn't found any publisher up to now.
Psion 2              2290  by Richard Lang / Psion Ltd.
   Supersedes Psion 1 (USCF 2140) by Psion Ltd.
   Program of Mephisto Amsterdam, recompiled for IBM PC.
CheckCheck                 by Wolfgang Delmare / Digital Concepts
   German but completely self-explaining (mouse/buttons/icons).
   Full version contains complete database of four-piece-finishings.
   That needs 16 Mb on the hard disk.
   DM 99 without database or DM 168 for full version.  VGA only
Chessmaster 3000     2170  by Software Toolworks
   Excellent graphics.  DM 99
   A windows version of Chessmaster 3000 is marketed as well for DM 119.
   A CD ROM version can be bought for DM 145.
   Supersedes Chessmaster 2100 (USCF 2070) by Software Toolworks.
Sargon V            ~2100? by Dan and Kathy Spracklen / Activision
   DM 115.  Supersedes Sargon IV by Spinnaker.
Colossus Chess X     2090
   DM 50
BattleChess                by Interplay
   Very weak program with the most entertaining graphics.  DM 50
   A windows version of BattleChess is marketed as well for DM 110.
   Little trap: BattleChess II isn't a chess but a chinese chess program.

Available for MacOS: Chessmaster 3000 & 2100, Sargon IV (V due soon),
BattleChess and CheckMate.  Available for the Amiga: Chessmaster 2000 and
2100, Sargon III and IV, Chessplayer 2150 and Chess Champion 2175, BattleChess
and CheckMate, ChessMate, The Art of Chess, Colossus Chess and the
ChessMachine.

Gnuchess is a freely available chess-playing software program (see [18]).
Its strength varies widely based on the machine for which it's compiled.

------------------------------

Subject: [21] Database Software

Chess databases store games and information about games, and can manipulate
and recall that information in a variety of ways.  The "big three" of chess
databases are NICBase, ChessBase, and Bookup.  You can purchase data disks for
each of these databases.  NICBase and ChessBase are game-oriented, while
Bookup is opening-oriented.  Each has its strengths and weaknesses.  A good
(but dated) review of these programs was written by Eric Schiller and appeared
in the Sept. 1990 _Chess Life_.  A more current review was written for the
APCT, and Jon Edwards has volunteered his e-mail address for information:
[e-mail].  Bookup interfaces with Zarkov; ChessBase
interfaces with KnightStalker/Fritz.

Bookup from Chess Laboratories, P.O. Box 3541, S. Pasadena, CA 91031.
818-799-7567.  Version 7 for MS-DOS costs $99 and version 1.3 for MacOS costs
$59.

ChessBase 3.0 (MS-DOS only); basic $295, deluxe $395, upgrade from 2.2 $75.
ChessBase ACCESS $39.95.  ChessBase USA, P.O. Box 133, Hagerstown, MD 21741.
301-733-7541 (orders only: 800-524-3527); fax [phone].  USCF prices: 3.0
$279, ACCESS $37.95.  ChessBase 4.0 is out; upgrade from 3.0 is $60-70,
Depending on manual.  $5 demo disk.

NICBase 3.0 (MS-DOS or Atari ST: $195 with 5,000 games; $595 with 50,000
games) & NICTools ($125) from Chess Combination, Inc. P.O. Box 2423 Noble
Station, Bridgeport CT 06608-0423. Phone [phone] or 800-354-4083; fax
203-380-1703; e-mail [e-mail] (Albert Henderson). Free
catalog and sample of _New in Chess_. NICBase 3 demo disk free to users of
CompuServe and the Internet. NICBase 3 was reviewed in _Chess Horizons_
Jul/Aug 1992, Canadian _En Passant_ Apr 1992, _California Chess Journal_
Feb/Mar 1992, and USAT _Chess Perspectives_ Nov 1991.

------------------------------

Subject: [22] Utility Software

Eric Churchill's Chess Recorder, a (PC) Windows program that records chess
moves, suitable for keeping track of postal games, will be uploaded to GEnie
and submitted to comp.binaries.ibm.pc.  (It even keeps a log of when the
moves were entered, which could be used to keep track of postal time limits.)
You can enter annotations and other comments and they appear in a separate
window when the corresponding move is displayed.  The program will print out
the moves of the game (with annotations).  $15 shareware fee.  Graphics are
quite good--looks OK even on monochrome systems.  The colors of the pieces on
color systems are 'interesting.'  It can now flip colors to put Black on
bottom.

Swis-Sys, a $70 Swiss System pairing program, is available from Thad Suits
(the author), 2125 1st Ave North, Great Falls, MT, 59401. 406-453-6160.

Chaos, another pairing program (Swiss pairing as well as Round Robin), GNU
General Public License, runs on the Commodore-Amiga, available from Aminet
mirrors (wuarchive.wustl.edu for example), directory /pub/aminet/game/think.

        Thanks, Jochen

& Jochen Wiedmann
For other software utilities see [18].

------------------------------

Subject: [23] Using Graphic Chess Symbols in Printed Text

There are basically three ways of composing chess texts in international
figurine notation (or including diagrams in printed text):

1) Use a word processor or page-layout program and a chess font.  For
instance, for the Apple Macintosh there are at least 3 different sets of
fonts usable with standard word processors like Microsoft Word, MacWrite,
Nisus or WriteNow; or with page-layout programs like Illustrator or
PageMaker.  Most of these fonts are proprietary (you must purchase them).
The fonts usually can be used for both the figurines and the diagrams.  A
freely available/usable PostScript font, including a variety of figurines,
diagrams and _Informant_ symbols, has been posted to comp.fonts and
rec.games.chess by Andy Walker ([e-mail]).

2) Use a chess-specific writing application.  ChessWriter (Apple Macintosh)
offers an interface including a chessboard and a text window.  Moves made on
the chessboard are automatically transformed into characters in the text
window.  ChessWriter is proprietary.
   CC-Publisher (MS Windows) is another commercial chess-specific writing
application.  You must have MS Windows, a word processing package (Word,
WordPerfect, AmiPro), and a chess database system (for generating
diagrams--although this could be done by hand--like ChessBase or Zarkov).  It
comes in two versions.  The basic version supports HP LJ-compatible laserjet
printers ($49.95).  The deluxe version supports any PostScript printer, and
comes with PostScript Type I or TrueType fonts ($139.95).  You get integrated
utilities to move you from game-entry or diagram-creation to conversion and
import into your word processor, with special Tips and Tricks for MS Word,
Lotus AmiPro, and WordPerfect users.  Extremely easy installation, and your
fonts become available to all Windows applications.  There's a comprehensive
user manual on the installation disk, and you get free technical support!
(_Chess Chow_ subscribers get disconts: basic--$10, deluxe--$20.)  To order,
see address for _Chess Chow_ in [15].

3) Use the LaTeX chess macros and fonts package by Piet Tutelaers (see [18]).
TeX is an advanced public-domain system for text formatting available on
mainframes, workstations and personal computers.  LaTeX is a set of
text-formatting macros for TeX.  METAFONT is a font generator program for
TeX.  For general information on all of these, and pointers to reference
manuals, see the FAQ list posting in comp.text.tex.)  Once you have the chess
package, you'll need to 3a) be able to use METAFONT to generate chess fonts
starting from the programs contained in the package; 3b) be able to install
the LaTeX macros in your TeX system; and 3c) learn the macro language to
format chess texts.  Activity 3a can become tiresome if you do not have any
help from a TeX wizard.  Using LaTeX to write chess text is not very simple,
but the results are worth the effort.

------------------------------

Subject: [24] Trivia

How long is the longest possible chess game?

The basic idea is a player may claim a draw if fifty moves elapse without a
capture or a pawn advance.  Ignoring the special cases where more than 50
moves are allowed by the rules, the answer is after Black's 5948th move,
White is able to claim a draw.  The simple calculation is (<Pawn_moves> +
<Captures> - <Duplicates> + <Drawing_interval_grace_period>) *
<Drawing_interval>, or (16*6 + 30 - 8 + 1) * 50 = 5950; we're able to trim
two moves from this total by observing that sequences of Captures/Pawn_moves
must have (at least) 4 alternations between the two players.

------------------------------

Subject: [25] Common Acronyms

AI       Artificial Intelligence ("Anything we can't do with a computer")
BCE      _Basic Chess Endings_ (see your local chess book source)
BCF      British Chess Federation
BCO      _Batsford Chess Openings_ (see [14])
DT       Deep Thought (see [19])
DT II    Deep Thought; latest version
ECO      _Encylopedia of Chess Openings_ (see your local chess book source)
ELO      Arpad Elo's rating system (see [8])
FAQ      Frequently Asked Question (see news group news.answers)
FIDE     Federation Internationale des Echecs (see [1])
FM       FIDE Master (see [1])
F-S II   Fischer-Spassky match held Sept-Nov '92 (Fischer won 10-5)
GM       Grandmaster (see [1])
ICS      Internet Chess Server (see [18])
IGM      see GM
IM       International Master (see [1])
IWM      International Woman Master (see [1])
KIA      King's Indian Attack (see opening books)
KID      King's Indian Defense (see opening books)
MCO      _Modern Chess Openings_ (see [14])
N        Novelty (see TN)
NM       National Master (or just "Master"; see [8])
OTB      Over-the-board (as opposed to correspondence/postal chess)
QGA      Queen's Gambit Accepted (see opening books)
QGD      Queen's Gambit Declined (see opening books)
SM       Senior Master (see [8])
TD       Tournament Director
TN       Theoretical Novelty
   A new idea in an opening line (usually used when a GM first tries it)
USCF     United States Chess Federation (see [2])
WGM      International Woman Grandmaster (see [1])

------------------------------

Subject: [26] Rules

Steve Rix ([e-mail]) has volunteered to supply either a plain
text or TeX version of the FIDE Laws of Chess to any who ask via e-mail.  He
also periodically posts the plain text version to rec.games.chess.

------------------------------

Subject: [27] Variants

Over the centuries, many variations of chess have appeared and more have been
invented recently by gaming enthusiasts.  Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (28
South Main Street, Rutland, VT 05701) has published a general book on the
subject: _Chess Variations: Ancient, Regional, and Modern_ by John Gollon.
Two of the most popular alternatives to our version of chess are known as
Chinese Chess (or shiang-chi or xiangqi) and Shogi (or Japanese Chess).  Ishi
Press International (76 Bonaventura Drive, San Jose, CA 95134) sells good
books on both of these games.  (_Chinese Chess for Beginners_ by Sam Sloan
and _Shogi for Beginners_ by John Fairbairn.  Warning: Sam Sloan's eccentric
views about chess history are far from universally accepted.)  One relatively
recent variation of chess is called Ultima and is described in detail in the
book _Abbott's New Card Games_ by Robert Abbott.

------------------------------

Subject: [28] Disclaimer and Copyright Notice

Some answers given may reflect personal biases of the author and the chess FAQ
listing's contributors.  In cases where the answers name specific products and
their respective manufacturers, these are not to be taken as endorsements of,
nor commercials for, the manufacturer.  Where cost information is stated this
is based on "street" information, and is in no way binding on the seller.
Unless otherwise stated, prices, addresses, and telephone numbers are in
United States' terms.  The answers contained herein pertain to discussions on
the rec.games.chess news group, and are by no means exhaustive.

The chess FAQ list owes its existence to the contributors on the net, and as
such it belongs to the readers of rec.games.chess.  Copies may be made freely,
as long as they are distributed at no charge, and the disclaimer and the
copyright notice are included.
--
William R. Shauck                   Internet: [e-mail]