Correspondence chess - a couple of questions...

Hi! I always been fascinated by correspondence chess, as I see in it something "romantic". Now, my first and simple question is: how it is possible to control that the players are not using chess engine (wich I would consider unfair)? I mean, I just discover that exist a Worl Championschip of this speciality: wich kind of credibility can have? The second question is: it is consider regular to use books, for example to play the opening, or not? Personally I would not see why not, as the correspondence chess generate intrinsically different dynamics... but I do not know what is correct and what not, so I am here to discover it.

Thanks,
M.

You have to trust Lichess to police it. If you have suspicions then make sure to run the computer after you have analysed yourself and then you can see how accurate your opponent was, whether there was a consistent time to their moves, and then decide if you want to submit for cheating.

In general if you feel like you are close to crossing a line, then perhaps you have already passed it. Copying out moves from a book as you play a correspondence game is certainly not acceptable from my perspective. Study the moves by all means but you shouldn't have the book open whilst you're playing.

Thanks matt182! My question wantend however be more general: how can be controlled a World Championship? "Doesn't matter" if someone cheat on Lichess, but it matter if someone cheat in a World Chmpionship, or at least I tend to see it as more valuable.

About consulting books, two thoughts: 1) I tend to understand correspondence chess as something different: if both the player have access to the theory (books), the game keep to be on equal terms, and the quality of it can only increase. To have access to the theory doest mean to know wich move to do, as soon as the game enter in the middlegame. 2) if we say that the player can not consult a book during a correspondence game, we have to say that he don't have to study chess during this game, because he could accidentaly slip into the opening he is playing. But to ask someone not to study for one or more months is simply unrealistic. To use a chess engine is totally another thing, because he is telling you wich move to do.

That said, I am a neophyte in correspondence chess (and maybe in chess in general) and I am more than open to change my mind in front of good argues.

M.

I like to play CC Chess also and without any help or assistance by books, computers during the game.
Before or afterward and studying, learning, discussing it is great.
Like OTB on a distance without any help.
You against the other person, 100% brainpower.
100% fun, challenge and learning.
I hope more players like this approach and I have created [yesterday] a team with the NO assistance rules for connecting with each other to play against each other in this way.
The idea is to get members who abide by the NO assistance rules/concept so we know we can play against each other.
Maybe when we get some members. We can get leagues and tournaments with this way of playing

link here:
lichess.org/team/cc-game-players-no-engines-books-tables-toolsetc

The ICCF stupulates:
"6. In ICCF event games, players must decide their own moves. Players are allowed to
consult prior to those decisions with any publicly available source of information
including chess engines (computer programs), books, DVDs, game archive databases,
endgame tablebases, etc. TEAM: In addition, acceptable behavior includes
consultation between/among players of a team including a team captain about positions
in active games in their team event. No other consultation with another person
concerning analysis of an active position is allowed in either a team or individual event.”
iccfwebfiles.blob.core.windows.net/rules/2020/ICCF%20Rules%20-%20final%20copy%20for%201-1-2020.pdf

lichess prohibits engine use, but cannot patrol that for correspondence

Nice Im playing a game here, check it out
if you want but dont give any hint.


Its kings gambit
Learning the game, to play corresponde one needs the
habit, the persistence, the routine.
Hope I play the entire game, you do not need a schedule
but patience as your opponent, since It could take maybe
a month, about 3 days by turn, or maybe less,
both can play multiple moves in the same day.
So its not necessary to use the maximum time by turn.
Patience, a skill that is easily forgotten

I think corresponde chess its for those that like a very
nice beautiful game, they like to understand chess and
the board and forget about the clock.
However its too early for me to comment,
I wonder the resign botton, too many questions
It has a different pace and so on ...

Correspondence chess its for those that log in
in lichess daily, like a normal thing.

@Maliani

Correspondence chess has been around for a long time and its highest practitioners have been responsible for important contributions to chess theory, though the years.

As @tpr correctly pointed out, the ICCF rules governing their games allow the use of books, databases, even engines precisely because the goal and value of true correspondence chess is do dig as deeply as possible into the game. So, the notion that one should restrict oneself to prior study and analysis is completely antithetical to its very "raison d'être". A lot of online players are totally oblivious to the nature of true correspondence chess.

That said, Lichess has its own rules and all that is required is players abide by them. This is especially tricky, I think, for titled players if they don't take the trouble to read Lichess-rules because many of them may consider it a bit ridiculous to play correspondence chess without having the right to consult books and databases, at a minimum. I mean, these people are professionals and it is a bit pointless to them to play correspondence if they can't use it to study, it seems to me. I can understand the argument for lower-rated players though.

As for me, I play a lot of correspondence or "daily" chess on Chess.com but I play it for the convenience, not to deeply study. This way I can play when I want, from whatever location, without any real time-pressure. Though I can't be bothered to use a database, I personally don't care if an opponent does as we will be out of book soon enough, ha, ha. I tend to have a lot of games going at once so I don't get bored. I think it is a very happy medium for players trying to curb impulsive play which is often responsible for stupid mistakes and blunders.

There could be a note or a link above correspondence
games, of not using engines. Some sentence like

"It is not allowed external assistance, play by yourself,
Do not use books or engines, use your own mind"

Or in a similar fashion so that players do not get mistaken
by the rules, or at the start of the game, move 1.
Just a tip.

in game opening explorer here on lichess in the correspondance category. truncated games to some max ply.
allowed. engine not allowed.

in the rounds page, it is the analysis icon that open the page with the book icon below the move list.