December 20, 2013

Iceland - USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 31-board Friendly Match against a team from Iceland. This is another in our series of historic Friendly Matches. This time, it is because this match involves a record number of boards for Iceland! IM Kenneth Holroyd is playing Board 1 for the USA versus IM Árni H. Kristjánsson. Very active Friendly Match player Edwin Meiners is the USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

December 17, 2013

ICCF-US Top 50 Rating List Updated

Using the 2014/1 ICCF ELO (player rating) lists [effective 1 January 14], Bob Rizzo ICCF-US Titles Officer has compiled the latest ICCF-US Top 50 Rated Active Players list.

Welcome Gary Walters, Kristo S. Miettinen, David Sogin and Daniel S. Woodard to the Top 50 List, debuting in the #42, #46, #48 and #49 slots respectively. Biggest ratings gainer this month is Ken Holroyd with a 26 point rating increase from the previous list. Also notable are Bobby Johnson and Donald J.Harvey who each gained 19 points. Congratulations to all!

To access the list choose "PLAYER RANKS" from the upper left menu bar.

December 10, 2013

ICCF-US Friendly Matches Newsletter - Issue 6

The Friendly Post Issue 6 is now available. You can access it using the link in the lefthand column on this web page. If you have not seen these newsletters previously, please review the newsletter to learn of the ICCF-US Friendly Matches and how you can participate in them. If you are already familiar with The Friendly Post, please see this issue to learn of the latest options you have concerning upcoming Friendly Matches and information about the status of the many (16!) current Friendly Matches.

Please be aware of the survey on pages 1-3 concerning your potential interests in the Friendly Matches for 2014. If you have not already sent a reply to this survey, please do so right away to secure a place in matches now being organized. If you have already responded to the survey, please do not send a repeat reply unless you wish to make changes from your original response.

In any case, I hope you enjoy this latest issue!

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

December 3, 2013

Wolff Morrow and Carl Siefring Win 19th USCCC!

Wolff Morrow and Carl Siefring have finished the 19th USCCC as Co-champs with a score of 11 points in sixteen games. Wolff recently received his IM title, and has sights set on SIM. Carl has that SIM title, and is on the path to the GM title. Congratulations to both! We hope to add photos and annotated games soon.

Ken Holroyd and Liam Fuller were close behind with 10½ points, in what must be the most competitive USCCC ever. The complete cross table is at 19th USCCC Crosstable .

Corky Schakel, ICCF-US National Federation Rep

December 2, 2013

ICCF Rule Changes Effective January 1, 2014

Minutes from the 2013 ICCF Congress in Krakow, Poland are posted on the ICCF webserver (ICCF Congresses button on the left). Several rules changes were adopted effective 1.1.14, and a brief summary is below.

1. Tablebase mate claims may now be made to the TD for a forced mate with six or less pieces on the board. The 50 move rule is suspended in these cases. For those not familiar with tablebases, they have all positions solved for six or less pieces, and the following link is free to the public: Nalimov Tablebases
2. A few words were added to the ICCF Code of Conduct to address extremely slow play to delay a result for reasons that do not relate to the position on the board. This is sometimes called Dead Man’s Defense.

   (d) Extremely slow play in a clearly lost position is not proper behaviour in CC play, and is subject to a warning from the TD, and will result in disciplinary action if it continues or is repeated in other games.

3. Exceeding the time limit (ETL) is now defined to be a loss, not a Default loss. TDs will check with the player that he has not gone silent (if no response to the TD all remaining games will be scored as Default). Half of games lost by ETL will result in Defaulting all remaining games. If two players are silent at the same time, a double Default may be scored.
4. Special Leave is eliminated, replaced by 45 days regular leave per year instead of 30 days.
5. Conditional moves (“if moves”) are allowed for events where it is in the tournament announcement. This includes Champions League and Friendly Matches, and formalizes existing practice and server capabilities. Most ICCF events do not allow conditional moves.

Note that in a procedural change adopted a year ago all rules change proposals must be submitted to the appropriate Rules Committee prior to Congress. The above changes followed that procedure.

Corky Schakel, ICCF-US National Federation Rep

November 28, 2013

Cuba - USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 42-board Friendly Match against a team from Cuba. Chris O'Connell is playing Board 1 for the USA versus Jose Manuel Gonzalez Cubertier. SIM Thomas Biedermann is the USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

November 27, 2013

Wales - USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 21-board Friendly Match against a team from Wales. IM Keith Rodriguez is playing Board 1 for the USA versus Anthony Balshaw. Ed Barr is the USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

October 16, 2013

ICCF-US Friendly Matches Newsletter - Issue 5

The Friendly Post Issue 5 is now available. You can access it using the link in the lefthand column on this web page. The newsletter describes our historical performance, upcoming Friendly Matches, simple instructions about how to participate in Friendly Matches, highlighted games from Friendly Matches, and more. Check it out!

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

October 12, 2013

Japan - USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 9-board Friendly Match against a team from Japan. This may be the first time our two countries have played such a match. William Merrell is playing Board 1 for the USA versus Atsushi Saitou. SIM Tom Biedermann is the USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

October 3, 2013

ICCF-US Top 50 Rating List Updated

Using the 2013/4 ICCF ELO (player rating) lists [effective 1 October 13], Bob Rizzo ICCF-US Titles Officer has compiled the latest ICCF-US Top 50 Rated Active Players list.

Welcome Larry Parsons and Glen Shields to the Top 50 List, debuting in the #48 and #49 slots respectively, and to returning Top 50 listers Corky Schakel (#42) and Matthew Clowes (#46). Corky was the biggest gainer with a 40 point rating increase from the previous list. Also notable is the rise of Wolff Morrow who gained 26 points which added to his previous increase of 31 points totals a meteoric rise of 57 points over the past two listings. Congratulations to all!

To access the list choose "PLAYER RANKS" from the upper left menu bar.

September 12, 2013

Peru - USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 26-board Friendly Match against a team from Peru. We have not played this country at least in many years. SIM Tom Biedermann is playing Board 1 for the USA versus SIM Carlos Sosa Patino. Very frequent Friendly Match participant Jon Leisner is the USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

August 6, 2013 (Belka Press Release Updated Sep 11, 2013)

Five ICCF-US Members Earn Titles

The ICCF-US Office would like to extend congratulations to five members of our Federation who have earned the following Correspondence Chess Titles:

• Dr. Carl L. Siefring – SIM
Siefring SIM Press Release
• Wieland Belka – IM
Belka IM Press Release (Rev A)
• Wesley Green – IM
Green IM Press Release
• Kenneth Holroyd - IM
Holroyd IM Press Release
• Wolff Morrow – IM
Morrow IM Press Release

The links above navigate to a separate Release for each new titlist with active links to the associated norm-earning tournament crosstables on the ICCF website. In addition, each contains a link to a game which has been selected and annotated by that player. The games are also available to play through from the "Featured Games" menu on the left of this web page. Enjoy the releases and the photos below recognizing the achievements of our new titlists.

SIM Dr. Carl Siefring

IM Wesley Green

IM Kenneth Holroyd

IM Wolff Morrow

No Photo Available for Wieland Belka

Robert Rizzo ICCF-US Titles Officer

September 5, 2013

Venezuela - USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 20-board Friendly Match against a team from Venezuela. This may an historic first, as this may be the first time we will play this country. Patrick Ryan is playing Board 1 for the USA versus César Jesus Reyes Maldonado. Mark Robledo Sr. is the USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

August 26, 2013

ICCF-US Represented at 2013 ICCF Congress

Three ICCF-US members attended the 2013 Congress in Krakow, Poland. Pictured are ICCF General Secretary Michael Millstone, NAPZ Director Jason Bokar, and National Federation Rep Corky Schakel.

Corky Schakel, ICCF-US National Federation Rep

Michael, Jason and Corky

August 21, 2013

Romania-USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 35-board Friendly Match against a team from Romania. This is a rematch from five years ago when we won the match 36-30. SIM Dr. Carl Siefring is playing Board 1 for the USA versus Gheorghe Pepene. SIM Dr. Carl Siefring is also our USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

July 23, 2013

Two South Carolina ICCF Players

Dr. Jason Bokar and Tony Kain

Pictured above are Jason Bokar and Tony Kain, getting together for some barbecue and chess talk in their home state of South Carolina. Dr. Bokar is a GM, and NAPZ Director for ICCF. Tony Kain is the newest member of the ICCF-US Board, with technical advisor responsibilities. CC players do not get together all that often, and we look forward to posting photos like this in the future.

Corky Schakel, National Federation Rep

July 15, 2013

ICCF-US Team Clinches Second in PanAM Team 10

The ICCF-US team in PanAm Team 10 just clinched second place, and will receive the silver medals and certificates at the 2014 Congress in Sydney, Australia. The team was Carl Siefring, Tom Biedermann, John Ballow, and Tony Kain. The team record was wins over nine opponents and equal with three, a full three points ahead of first place Peru, but Peru had the winning score in total games won, 32/48 with one game remaining. Our score of 30/48 will be ahead of the remaining contenders, still battling it out for third. Congratulations to the Peru team, and to our team, well done by both!

Corky Schakel, National Federation Rep

July 11, 2013

New ICCF-US Board Members

It is an honor to welcome Glen Shields and Tony Kain to the ICCF-US Board. Glen has been a leader for CCLA for many years, and has recently taken on the TO duties for all NAPZ events, along with volunteering to TO for our 2014 Invitational. He will continue his work with CCLA, a valuable contact for ICCF-US to allow experienced CC players to become aware of ICCF events. Tony Kain will be our technical advisor, with great knowledge of the latest software developments. Tony recently was placed on the ICCF list of TDs, on the path to the International Arbiter title. Many thanks to Glen and Tony from all ICCF-US members, and to all the other Board members, some of their many contributions outlined below.

Dan Perry – Webmaster for iccfus.com.

Tom Biedermann – Treasurer, including player entries (NF, DE, and invitationals).

Dennis Doren – Organizer for Friendly Matches, Friendly Post author, and TO for the Berliner Invitational.

Bob Rizzo – Title applications, announcements, and other communications.

Franklin Campbell and Kristo Miettinen – Advisors, TO assignments, and just all around great resources.

Corky Schakel, National Federation Rep

June 17, 2013

ICCF-US Friendly Matches Newsletter - Issue 4

The Friendly Post Issue 4 is now available. You can access it using the link in the lefthand column on this web page. The newsletter describes our historical performance, upcoming Friendly Matches, simple instructions about how to participate in Friendly Matches, highlighted games from Friendly Matches, and more. Check it out!

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

June 17, 2013

Price Rise in ICCF Tournament Entries Through ICCF-US

ICCF-US regrets to inform you that effective today, due to the increased exchange rate of the Euro in US dollars, we must raise the prices on the ICCF tournament entries through ICCF-US. The new prices have been posted under the "ICCFUS Store" tab accessed from the menu in the upper left column of this page. Prices through direct entry (through ICCF not ICCF-US) are unaffected as they continue to be posted in Euros with the exchange rate handled through the PayPal purchase.

June 11, 2013

ICCF-US Top 50 Rating List Updated

Using the 2013/3 ICCF ELO (player rating) lists [effective 1 July 13], Bob Rizzo ICCF-US Titles Officer has compiled the latest ICCF-US Top 50 Rated Active Players list.

Welcome Peter Cullen to the Top 50 List, debuting in the #50 slot. The biggest move this quarter is Wolff Morrow who jumped from 46th to 36th place on the strength of a 31-point rating increase. Congratulations to Peter and Wolff!

To access the list choose "PLAYER RANKS" from the upper left menu bar.

May 20, 2013

2013 ICCF-US National Federation Report Submitted

Corky Schakel , USA National Federation Representative, has submitted the 2013 USA National Federation Report with ICCF for the 2013 ICCF Congress in Krakow, Poland. This has been an active year for the US in ICCF play and governance with, among other things, 8 new Freindly Matches with other countries / federations. Please click on the hyperlink above to see what else your federation is doing!

Dan Perry, ICCF-US Wemaster

April 7, 2013

Czech Republic-USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 55-board Friendly Match against a team from the Czech Republic. The Czech Team Captain has informed us that this is the largest Friendly Match their country has ever played. GM Stephen Ham is playing Board 1 for the USA versus GM Jan Židu. SIM Thomas Biedermann is our USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

April 7, 2013

Portugal-USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has also begun play in a 27-board Friendly Match against a team from Portugal. IM Corky Schakel is playing Board 1 for the USA versus Paulo Leal. Patrick Ryan is our USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

March 28, 2013

New Events for NAPZ

North America Pacific Zone Promotional events (Open, Higher, Master Class) are now available under New Events on the ICCF webserver page. These are equivalent to the World Individual Promotional events, but are limited to players in NAPZ countries (see Nations & Zones on the webserver page) and those countries in the geographical area that are not ICCF member federations. Master Class will be seven player sections, instead of eleven, the same as Open and Higher, same entry fee. The time control will be different: 40 days for 10 moves for the NAPZ events, rather than 50/10. Thanks to Glen Shields for taking on the role of Tournament Organizer! He will receive the entries from Direct Entry and National Federation entries, and will set the sections up on the server.

Corky Schakel, ICCF-US NF Rep.

March 28, 2013

Netherlands-USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 64-board Friendly Match against a team from the Netherlands. We last played the Netherlands in a Friendly Match in 1985 (info thanks to Alex Dunne!). SIM Thomas Biedermann is playing Board 1 for the USA versus the over-the-board IM Twan Burg. Harry Ingersol is our USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

March 24, 2013

ICCF-US Top 50 Rating List Updated

Using the 2013/2 ICCF ELO (player rating) lists [effective 1 April 13], Bob Rizzo ICCF-US Titles Officer has compiled the latest ICCF-US Top 50 Rated Active Players list.

Welcome IM Cesar Musitani to the Top 50 List. The biggest move this quarter is Peter Dessaules who jumped from 37th to 23rd place on the strength of a 30-point rating increase. Congratulations to Cesar and Peter!

To access the list choose "PLAYER RANKS" from the upper left menu bar.

March 12, 2013

Cape Verde-USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 15-board Friendly Match against a team from Cape Verde. This is another historic Friendly Match for us as we have not played Cape Verde previously. Kyle Biedermann is playing Board 1 for the USA versus Antunio Barbosa. Joseph Korman is our USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

March 12, 2013

Norway-USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 21-board Friendly Match against a team from Norway. We last played Norway in a Friendly Match almost 30 years ago. GM Jason Bokar is playing Board 1 for the USA versus GM Arild Haugen. SIM Thomas Biedermann is our USA Team Captain

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

March 5, 2013

ICCF-US Friendly Matches Newsletter - Issue 3

The Friendly Post Issue 3 is now available. You can access it using the link in the lefthand column on this web page. The newsletter describes our historical performance, upcoming Friendly Matches, simple instructions about how to participate in Friendly Matches, highlighted games from Friendly Matches, and more. Check it out!

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

February 28, 2013

Panama-USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in a 12-board Friendly Match against a team from Panama. This is another historic Friendly Match for us as we have the honor to play Panama in its first Friendly Match - Panama just recently became an ICCF Member Federation. IM Cesar Musitani is playing Board 1 versus Hermann V. Rösch M. SIM Thomas Biedermann is our USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer

January 10, 2013

Russia-USA Friendly Match Started

ICCF-US has begun play in an 81-board Friendly Match against a team from Russia. This is the historic first time we are playing Russia in a Friendly Match, with a previous match against the USSR having occurred long ago, during the early to mid-1980s. It is also the largest Friendly Match the USA has had in recent time, going much beyond the recent history record holder 64-board match versus the Ukraine in 2010. IM Wieland Belka is playing Board 1 versus SIM Vil Usbekovich Yamaliev. David White is our USA Team Captain.

Dennis Doren, ICCF-US Friendly Match Organizer