The following is the document many of our tutors typically send to a candidate member.
(Version revised by Olle Ekengren, 1998.06.24)
Welcome to the IECG!
My name is [...] and I will be your "TE" (short for Tutor/Evaluator)
or "Coach" for your first game. I am at your disposal for any questions or
problems you may have regarding the IECG, chess by e-mail, or basic
rules of chess. I am here to help, so please do not feel you are
bothering me if you ask me something. Our game has only the purpose of
giving me the opportunity to help you, so the result will not influence
your rating and the game could be stopped before the end. Don't be worried
about that !
Good luck in your new club !
IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT!! IMPORTANT!!! IMPORTANT!!!!
PLEASE READ THIS TEXT COMPLETELY BEFORE CONTINUING WITH YOUR GAME!
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE REPORTING PROCEDURES.
International Email Chess Group
Introductory Game Class: T/E Pace: 10 moves in 40 days
Event: TE..AAA
............ (...) unrated .........@..................
XXXXXXXXXXXX (...) T/E .........@..................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear chess friend,
Welcome to the IECG Introduction Program!
1. PARTICIPANTS
a. White: PoChun Zhang
b. Black: T/E: XXXXXXXXXX <.........@..................>
2. PURPOSE
The purpose of this introductory program is:
a. to introduce the candidate to email chess.
b. to offer the candidate the opportunity to play rated matches
as soon as possible, after accomplishing the objectives.
3. OBJECTIVES
After finishing the tutorial game, the candidate will have
accomplished the following program objectives:
a. Be proficient in algebraic notation, using English piece
abbreviations.
b. Be proficient in maintaining an accurate time record.
c. Maintain an email chess game at the prescribed rate of play.
d. Adhere to a proper PGN format for reporting games.
4. PROCEDURES FOR THIS GAME
a. In the GAME the new player will have the White side.
To begin the Match, the player sends his/her first move to Black
and a carbon copy to either the American (Albrecht Fester) or the
European Office (Robert Dournes), whichever applies.
b. While the game is in progress, your T/E will evaluate your moves
and when you have proved that you are capable of following proper
reporting and notational procedures, the T/E will recommend that
you be graduated from the Evaluation program. This may happen at
any time during your game.
c. If notational errors are present in the moves, the T/E will send
a notice of correction to the player, outlining the proper procedures that
need to be complied with. Remember - the main objective of this
introductory game is to acquaint the player with all aspects of
IECG game reporting procedures. If in doubt about your move, or
your opponent's move, move description, time record or anything
else, ASK your T/E for assistance with the move.
d. Rate of play for this T/E game is ten moves in forty days.
e. If you do not receive a reply - or a notice of a leave of
absence - from your T/E after seven days, please RESEND
your last move. The message should clearly indicate that it is a
RESEND.
f. If you do not receive a reply 7 days after this resend, please
contact either the American (Mario Cocozza) or the European
Office (Robert Dournes), whichever applies to you.
g. Promptly reply to any status requests from this European Office.
5. ALGEBRAIC NOTATION
a. If you are not familiar with the Algebraic notation, request the
document "Algebraic Notation" from your T/E.
b. If you are not familiar with reflection time calculations, please
request the document "Reflection Time Made Easy" from your T/E.
c. Direct all questions to your T/E.
6. PGN FORMAT
Definitions:
"PGN Format" is short for "Portable Game Notation Format", referring
to the fact that game records can be transferred between two or more
data bases. "Paragraph Style" refers to a certain way of arranging the
lines that make up the preamble of a game, the records of the game,
and the completing lines.
Please send your opponent COMPLETE move lists with each move
transmission. To reduce the need for screen scrolling, and to
facilitate ease of import of your games into a chess database, it is
REQUIRED that your game notations conform to the PGN format and
PARAGRAPH style, either below or above the game diagram if
applicable. The following is an example of an ongoing game in PGN
format and PARAGRAPH style:
(Information contained within the '{}' braces are explanations
for this example only and should NOT be included in your game
records. Information contained within the '[]' brackets MUST be
included, including the '[]' brackets AND quotation marks.)
WHITE EMAIL: ......@......
BLACK EMAIL: ......@......
[Event "TE...."] {Enter the event ID - will begin with TE for T/E game}
[Site "IECG"]
[Date "1998.??.??"] {at the END of the game, complete as YYYY.MM.DD}
[Round "1"] {Round 1 = Game 1}
[White "L,f"] {Last name, first name}
[Black "L,f"] {Last name, first name}
[Result "*"] {*=in progress; finished: either 1-0, 0-1 or 1/2-1/2}
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Nf3 e6 4.d4 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3
7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 *
Your move received: 1998.06.13 White time: 2/23
I replied on: 1998.06.14 Black time: 1/21
{all dates: YYYY.MM.DD)
In the above example the figure before the slash means the time taken for
the move being sent, and the figure after the slash gives the total time
of reflection since the start of the game.
In matches, where two opponenents play two games simultaneously, we
recommend you to write as follows instead of "White time, Black time":
Time taken Name A 2/23 Name B 1/21
7. RECORD KEEPING
a. It is strongly recommended that each player maintain more than
one record of each game in case messages are lost. At least the
last post to your opponent should be saved - this also
facilitates resends if necessary. Manual records (pencil and
paper) or game printouts can also be useful.
b. An offline mail reader program is also strongly recommended.
This will avoid having to re-type the game records for each new
message - and will also greatly reduce typos!
c. There are many chess reader programs available to assist with
record keeping. These are usually more practical than setting up
chessboards for viewing games.
d. Direct all questions concerning the above to your T/E.
8. GRADUATION
a. After graduation, the players may continue the game if they
wish, of course, but this decision - and the final game score -
does not concern the IECG.
b. Players who do not conform to or meet the IECG reporting and PGN
Standards by the 25th move will not be recommended for
membership.
9. RATED GAMES
Once graduation has been recommended, your T/E will submit the
recommendation to the Tutorial Office. Accepted new members who
ALREADY HAVE an established rating with a recognized OTB or Correspondence
Chess Federation will then be advised by the T/E how to request rated
two-game matches and how to enter regular tournaments.
10. ACCEPTED NEW MEMBERS WITHOUT ESTABLISHED RATINGS
The Tutorial Office will give accepted new members who DO NOT HAVE an
established rating an initial rating of 800, unless more information
on chess history is provided on the registration form.
11. Good luck in your games, and we are sure that you will make many new
chess friends in the world with us in the IECG.
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