ICCF: International Correspondence Chess Federation
ICCF
Definition
ICCF stands for the International Correspondence Chess Federation, the world governing body for organized correspondence chess. Founded in 1951 as the successor to earlier postal-chess organizations, ICCF oversees world championships, team events, ratings, and titles specifically for games played over extended time controls by post, email (historically), and now primarily via its dedicated web server.
What ICCF Means in Chess
Usage
In chess contexts, “ICCF” refers to the official correspondence chess circuit and its ecosystem:
- ICCF-rated events and titles are distinct from FIDE over-the-board ratings and titles.
- Games are conducted with long time limits measured in days, allowing deep home analysis.
- ICCF rules permit the use of chess engines and databases; outside human assistance is prohibited.
- The federation administers the Correspondence Chess World Championship (individual and team), zonal events, and thematic or invitational tournaments.
Titles and Ratings in ICCF
Titles
ICCF awards its own titles based on norms and performance in ICCF events. Common titles include:
- Grandmaster (GM)
- Senior International Master (SIM)
- International Master (IM)
- Correspondence Chess Master (CCM)
- Correspondence Chess Expert (CCE)
- Lady Grandmaster (LGM) and Lady International Master (LIM)
Ratings
ICCF runs an Elo-based rating list separate from FIDE’s OTB ratings. Many players have different strengths in correspondence versus over-the-board chess due to the unique analytical demands and permitted tools in ICCF play.
Events and Time Controls
World and Team Championships
ICCF organizes:
- Individual World Championship cycles (Preliminaries → Candidates → Final).
- Correspondence Chess Olympiads (national teams on multiple boards).
- Continental championships (e.g., European Team/Individual events) and zonal tournaments.
Time Controls
Historically, correspondence games used postal schedules like “10 moves in 50 days.” Modern ICCF server events often use a “triple-block” system, allocating a fixed pool of reflection time in three periods rather than per-move increments. Vacation/leave time and server-based adjudication procedures are built into the framework.
Strategic and Historical Significance
Impact on Chess Theory
Because players can consult engines, databases, and tablebases, ICCF games are extraordinarily accurate. Many opening novelties and critical corrections emerge from ICCF praxis and later influence over-the-board theory, especially in sharp, forcing systems like the Poisoned Pawn Najdorf, the Marshall Attack, and the Botvinnik Semi-Slav.
Evolution of the Medium
ICCF began in the postal era (handwritten postcards and “conditional moves”), transitioned through email events, and now primarily uses a secure web server. This evolution increased fairness and transparency and enabled modern time controls and automated rule enforcement.
Notable Champions
Early world champions included Cecil Purdy (the first, 1950–53), Viacheslav Ragozin, and Albéric O’Kelly de Galway. Hans Berliner, a later champion (mid-1960s), is renowned for deep analysis and influential writing. Their games helped establish correspondence chess as a rigorous, theory-driving discipline.
Practical Considerations in ICCF Play
Analysis and Tools
- Engines: Using chess engines is permitted; selecting, configuring, and critically interpreting engine output is a core skill.
- Databases: Players rely on comprehensive correspondence databases to track cutting-edge lines and opponent tendencies.
- Tablebases: Seven-piece endgame tablebases provide perfect endgame information; reaching a tablebase win/draw can decide match strategy.
- Notes and Files: Carefully maintained analysis trees and versioned files are standard; disciplined record-keeping prevents transposition traps.
Ethics and Restrictions
- No outside human help is allowed (no coaching, joint analysis, or team consultation—even in team events, players must work independently).
- Published materials, engines, and tablebases are allowed; secrecy and originality still matter in critical novelties.
Examples
Opening Line Often Explored in ICCF
The Najdorf Poisoned Pawn is emblematic of ICCF-level depth. After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2, the board features Black’s queen on b2 targeting b2/b-file tactics, White’s center poised to advance, and razor-sharp play with many tactical branches. Such positions are ideal for deep home analysis and engine-assisted scrutiny.
Illustrative line (not a specific historical game):
After 8...Qxb2, picture the board: White king e1, queen d2, knights on c3 and d4, bishops c1 and g5, rooks a1/h1, pawns a2,b2,c2,d4,e4,f4,g2,h2; Black king e8, queen on b2, knights b8/f6, bishops c8/f8, rooks a8/h8, pawns a7,b7,c5,d6,e6,f7,g7,h7. This is the kind of critical tabiya correspondence specialists examine to extreme depth.
Endgame Emphasis
ICCF players often steer toward endgames where tablebase access clarifies objectives. For example, converting a technically winning rook-and-pawn endgame into a known tablebase win avoids practical risk; conversely, defending toward a tablebase draw (e.g., a fortress) can neutralize a long-term disadvantage.
Interesting Facts and Anecdotes
- Postal-era ICCF games used “conditional moves,” where a player would pre-write a forced sequence on the postcard to speed up obvious lines.
- Modern ICCF events see a high draw rate at the top because engine-assisted defense is incredibly accurate; decisive results often come from deep novelties or long technical squeezes.
- Some over-the-board grandmasters have also excelled in ICCF, and vice versa—showcasing different skill sets: practical calculation and psychology OTB versus long-form analytical rigor in correspondence.
- ICCF’s allowance of engines is deliberate: by legalizing ubiquitous technology, the playing field is leveled while celebrating analytical excellence and theoretical discovery.