Q: What is chess, how is it played, and when/where did it originate?

A: Read the Wikipedia article: Chess.



Q: What's with all of these initials and acronyms?

A: From local to international...
R.C.C.C. = Rutherford County Chess Club
T.C.A. = Tennessee Chess Association
U.S.C.F. = United States Chess Federation
I.C.C. = Internet Chess Club
F.I.C.S. = Free Internet Chess Server
I.C.C.F. = International Correspondence Chess Federation
F.I.D.E. = International Chess Federation ("Fédération Internationale des Échecs")
(pronounced FEE-day)

Also, O.T.B. means "over the board" (playing chess in person), and E.C.O. refers to the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings. P.G.N. stands for Portable Game Notation. If you ask what F.A.Q. means, you'll get slapped.



Q: Do you have a pronunciation guide for some of these chess terms and names?

A: You'll find it right here, slick.



Q: Who attends club meetings? You seem like a tightly-knit bunch. Is this an exclusive group? Are you guys members of the Illuminati?

A: We have regular players of all ages, from all walks of life, and from various countries; and new players wander in all the time. If your idea of fun is a Friday night of playing chess, then you should fit right in. True, many of the regulars have known each other quite well for years, and we do socialize outside of chess, but we're always accepting of everyone... even backgammon players. Our bylaws specifically prohibit discrimination of any kind, and we don't charge any fees for our weekly meetings. Regarding the Illuminati, we've been sworn to secrecy, so don't ask.



Q: Should I bring my own chess equipment?

A: At club meetings, it's optional, but it's always a good idea to bring your own regulation set, board, and clock. At most tournaments, it's required (bring a pen or pencil, too, for keeping score). For details on regulation equipment, see the U. S. Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess, 5th Edition.



Q: Do I have to be a U.S.C.F. or T.C.A. member in order to play?

A: At club meetings, you need no memberships at all, not even with us. In our U.S.C.F. rated tournaments, you must be a member of the U.S.C.F. in order to play, but no other memberships are required. The R.C.C.C. itself is a member of the U.S.C.F., as are most of our individual club members.



Q: I'm a beginner, or just not very good at chess, but I want to play. Will I be intimidated if I show up for a club meeting?

A: Beginners are more than welcome, and desire is all you need! We have players of all skill levels, and a few of our good players (and even a couple of bad ones) are willing to teach chess on an informal, casual basis. The main purpose of our weekly meetings is for anyone who enjoys chess to have fun in a stress-free atmosphere. This is as much a social club as it is a chess club. However, if you do want to play some serious games of chess, we'll be glad to oblige. While our USCF tournaments are serious events, our weekly meetings are very laid back, and we're more focused on playing chess and enjoying each other's company than getting involved in local chess politics. We like to have fun, and we're not the types who take ourselves too seriously... except during rated games. Obviously, when it comes to chess itself, we're serious enough to have formed a corporation, but our weekly meetings are fairly easy-going and sociable.



Q: Do any of your members offer private chess lessons for a fee?

A: The club itself does not receive any fees for lessons, but one of our members, Igor Zhislin, is a professional chess instructor and coach. He offers school chess programs as well as private lessons. He can be reached by phone at 615-896-3680 or by email at igorzhislin@gmail.com. Robert and Brian have also offered private chess lessons in the past. Just ask around at a club meeting.



Q: Does the R.C.C.C. participate in joint events with other chess clubs, and/or matches between clubs?

A: We're certainly open to the idea! Have your people contact our people, and we'll do lunch. Click here for the results of our team matches.



Q: Do you guys travel to tournaments as a group?

A: We have in the past. Feel free to check with other players about sharing rides and/or hotel rooms.



Q: Do I have to record my chess moves in tournaments? If so, how?

A: Yes, in regular U.S.C.F.-rated tournaments (G/30 and slower), players are required, by rule, to record their own moves and their opponent's moves, throughout the course of the game. Some older methods are still acceptable, but the modern standard method is Algebraic Notation.



Q: How do I record chess games for use with computer programs and websites, or to email games to my friends?

A: Portable Game Notation (P.G.N.) is the current international standard. It's easy to use, and 99% of chess software recognizes it. We have a quick guide, plus more P.G.N. information than you'd ever want to know, here.



Q: I'm a rookie, and I need to know where to get the basic regulation chess equipment at the best prices. Any suggestions?

A: There are plenty of Internet stores to check, but we don't officially endorse any particular retailers. As a courtesy to local players, we do offer some basic equipment ourselves, so check with us during a tournament or club meeting. Some of the online stores with which we've done business include:

Cajun Chess
Chess Mate
Chess U.S.A.
Chessco
Chesstopia World
Legend Products
The Chess House
The Chess Piece
The Chess Store
The House of Staunton
U.S.C.F. Store

Click here for more.



Q: I'm a complete dork. Which way am I supposed to roll my vinyl chess board?

A: Geez, what a dork! To avoid dorkdom in the future, roll your board with the playing surface facing outward. That way, the corners won't be curled up when you play, and you won't be subject to ridicule by the cool players.



Q: Cash is burning a hole in my pocket. What about high-end chess equipment?

A: Talk to Lee or Stefanie. They're into the collection thing. In the U.S.A., The House of Staunton and Legend Products are good places to start shopping. Historically, Jaques of London (pronounced "Jayks") and the British Chess Company (no longer in business) have been the most prestigious names in the U.K., and The House of Staunton and Legend Products are currently the big names in the U.S.A. Boards and clocks are made in just about every country, but many of today's wooden chess sets are actually manufactured in India, regardless of the name brand or quality.

In my opinion, the best designs and highest quality (sets and boards) come from The House of Staunton. The best mass-production electronic digital chess clock, for both quality and functionality, is the Chronos (with the normal buttons, not the touchy-feely pads). No other digital clock even remotely compares to the Chronos, which is well worth the US$100.00 price tag. The Garde World Championship clock is still the highest quality mechanical analog chess clock, although the buttons are not as comfortable and the flag not as functional as some of the newer designs (such as the Insa and Hetman clocks). The A.P.F.v.Rolland 4000 Quartz is the best electronic analog (quartz) clock, if you can find one. -Stef



Q: I need to improve my skills! What books, videos, and/or computer programs should I use for studying chess?

A: Check with just about anyone at the club, but we do have some recommendations here on the website.



Q: Who's this "Caissa" chick, and what's her her deal?

A: Caissa (KI-suh) is the muse and/or goddess of chess. For more information, read the Wikipedia article: Caissa.



Q: What is your corporate status?

A: The R.C.C.C. is currently organized as a nonprofit, member benefit corporation in Tennessee (number 0485280). We are not exempt from federal income tax, therefore, any donations we receive will not be tax deductible for the donors. However, paying taxes does allow us a bit more freedom than enjoyed by tax-exempt organizations. It's a trade-off. For more details, click here.



Q: What's up with this "pig roast" I keep hearing about?

A: That's what happens when a chess player from Spain and a chess player from New Orleans start talking about food. Occasionally, we get together and roast a whole pig, lamb, goat, spotted owl, Komodo dragon, dolphin, polar bear, California condor, megalodon, or whatever creature dares to cross our path. It's a lot of fun, and the food and drinks are great! We also have less extravagant get-togethers on a regular basis.



Q: I'm looking to play some backgammon on the side. Should I contact you guys?

A: No.



Q: I'm looking to play some poker on the side. Should I contact you guys?

A: Now you're talking! Ask Brian or Stefanie. Naturally, we play only for amusement.



Q: Chess software: gimme the lowdown! Yeah, sorry, that's more of a demand than a question.

A: Visit our Chess Software page.



Q: What is the strongest chess playing computer program (chess engine)?

A: That seems to change from week to week, but the strongest engines include Rybka, Fritz, Junior, Shredder, Hiarcs, Chess Tiger, Zappa, and a few others, which are always surpassing one another with each new version. These are software applications that can be played on various systems, as opposed to dedicated chess supercomputers such as Hydra and Deep Blue.

For more information, visit our Chess Software page.



Q: Who is the best human chess player in history?

A: Paul Charles Morphy. Actually, among those who've officially held the title of World Champion, Garry Kimovich Kasparov, José Raúl Capablanca, Robert James "Bobby" Fischer, and Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine are the four who are most often cited as having had the best all-around understanding of the game. Morphy was the last of the unofficial champions, before chess became organized and was considered a respectable profession. Based on achievement and O.T.B. game quality, it's difficult to argue against Kasparov, but there's really no way to accurately compare players of different eras. The comparisons make for fun discussions, but they are purely academic and largely subjective.

Top