THE CORRESPONDENCE CHESS TODAY
In his first database for Modern Chess, GM Nikolai Ninov made a theoretical overview of the ICCF 19th Correspondence Olympiad Final. GM Ninov is one of the few Grandmasters at Correspondence and OTB chess. As we know, correspondence games are full of interesting theoretical ideas and high-quality novelties.
The author divided the material into 10 chapters dedicated to different openings: The Reti, The Gruenfeld, The Catalan, The Slav Defence, The Anti-Slav Deviations, The Nimzo-Indian Defence, The Ragozin Defence, Open Games, The Sicilian Defence, The London System
Any chess player who is interesting in modern theoretical developments will something interesting for him in this database. Below you will find how GM Ninov presents his work:
Last year will be remembered for the historical Bulgarian victory in the previous postal Chess Olympiad, the ICCF 19th correspondence final. In the '70s, our little country could boast of silver medals (in the new century, in the 8th final, our women's team finished second as well) in the 7th men's Olympiad. Still, since then, we have had to wait almost four decades for a new finalist and nothing to say about a new podium. I have recently been asked often about correspondence chess, which made me think about its essence nowadays. Once upon a time, matches by telegraph were organized, followed by tournaments, in which the moves were transmitted by the ordinary post. About three decades ago, emails became available alternatives as well. Sometimes, all these questions came from people with many years of experience in practical chess. A man sitting next to us often played an online game on his phone. Well, is not this a sort of correspondence chess after all? Is there any difference between preparing the opening lines between the OTB and the correspondence players? This theme was once touched on in one of the conversations and made me curious. Even more, can we today trust more the chess elite, who, as a rule, are well equipped and not working alone? For example, what about the story with Giri, who is affected by an opposite opinion by the distinguished author and publisher Jacob Aagaard on the pages of New in Chess reinforced his ultimate objection by exclaiming, "I have the best computer in the world." The same hot argument could have been thrown at any devotee of correspondence chess as well. Even though they pass to the ICCF server and will considerably shorten, long-term tournaments are not everyone's cup of tea. Peter Leko was suffering on the 1st board at his only attempt, Jan-Krzysztof Duda has just felt on himself the specific features of online chess in the company of ICCF champions. However, to name a few, two compatriots of Giri's - Twan Burg and Erwin L'Ami are doing very well.