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Main
Date: 07 Oct 2006 18:12:59
From: Chris
Subject: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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Can you please let me know which one you like better and why? I have been
on USChess live but i've noticed connection/lagging issues as of late and
I'm wondering if I shouldn't go with ICC when my mebership runs out this
month.
Maybe FICS? does this server run fine? I love playing chess online so a
reliable server with easy to match games is my priority.
Thanks
Chris
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Date: 20 Oct 2006 06:35:01
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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Chris wrote:
> Can you please let me know which one you like better and why? I have been
> on USChess live but i've noticed connection/lagging issues as of late and
> I'm wondering if I shouldn't go with ICC when my mebership runs out this
> month.
>
> Maybe FICS? does this server run fine? I love playing chess online so a
> reliable server with easy to match games is my priority.
>
> Thanks
>
> Chris
1) ICC
Distant Second: Playchess.
Both servers have webcasts of live GM events. ICC does a better job
with the commentary, and Mr. Spock is an ICC-specific LectureBot that
will give lectures on various subjects at the top of every hour.
$60 is peanuts. You can get to play titled players in simuls every day,
and most days more than once, and at reasonable, US time zones, for
FREE if you are a member. You can watch famous players play blitz
(Talion = Gata Kamsky, smallville = Nakamura, to name two). You can
find chess teachers through their vendor services.
They have a decent library of famous games and past events.
ICC is better, Playchess is slicker and is based on Chessbase products.
Both are good.
USChessLive blows. I used to be a member, but there is practically
nobody there most of the time.
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Date: 09 Oct 2006 15:54:47
From: Mr. Wizard
Subject: Re: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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Hugh wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> [email protected] says...
> >
>
> > ICC has the most people playing on it. Very easy to find a game
> > FICS has fewer people
> > Chessbase has about the same as FICS
> > and goodluck finding anyone on Chessmasters.
> >
>
> Is this still true ?
>
> Any time I look, chessbase has more players than any other site, eg
> right now, (UK time 22:21) ICC has 2689 players online, and chessbase
> has 3963.
>
> --
>
> Regards, Hugh
It depends on which side of the pond your on. If your in Europe then
most likely chessbase would be your best bet.
My vote:
1. FICS - No cost and can find a decent game.
2. ICC - Comes at a price and can find a decent game.
3. Playches - Comes at a price, time difference, can find a decent game.
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Date: 19 Oct 2006 12:51:31
From: Thomas T. Veldhouse
Subject: Re: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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Mr. Wizard <[email protected] > wrote:
>
> It depends on which side of the pond your on. If your in Europe then
> most likely chessbase would be your best bet.
>
Or more importantly, it matters what time of the day that you like to play.
--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1
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Date: 09 Oct 2006 12:43:21
From: JLohner
Subject: Re: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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Chris wrote:
> Can you please let me know which one you like better and why? I have been
> on USChess live but i've noticed connection/lagging issues as of late and
> I'm wondering if I shouldn't go with ICC when my mebership runs out this
> month.
>
> Maybe FICS? does this server run fine? I love playing chess online so a
> reliable server with easy to match games is my priority.
I have tried four different servers, Playchess (chessbase), FICS, ICC
and CM10k's
I cant stand any of the FICS interfaces, which is very important to me.
ICC's Blitzin interface is probably the best
chessbase sites interface is almost as good as Blitzin.
Chessmasters interface is very good as well.
ICC has the most people playing on it. Very easy to find a game
FICS has fewer people
Chessbase has about the same as FICS
and goodluck finding anyone on Chessmasters.
Overall I would recommend ICC. It may cost the most, but it
is definately the best.
If you own either Fritz or Chessmaster, try out their services ... as
they are
pretty good.
I don't care for FICS at all, even free... the interfaces are just
plain aweful.
Just my opinion. Im sure others will disagree :) ICC has a free one
week demo period.
try it out and judge for yourself if it is worth $60/year. I believe
it is.
J.Lohner ICC 'Inconnux'
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Date: 09 Oct 2006 22:22:46
From: Hugh
Subject: Re: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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In article <[email protected] >,
[email protected] says...
>
> ICC has the most people playing on it. Very easy to find a game
> FICS has fewer people
> Chessbase has about the same as FICS
> and goodluck finding anyone on Chessmasters.
>
Is this still true ?
Any time I look, chessbase has more players than any other site, eg
right now, (UK time 22:21) ICC has 2689 players online, and chessbase
has 3963.
--
Regards, Hugh
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Date: 09 Oct 2006 11:41:04
From:
Subject: Re: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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Chris wrote:
> Maybe FICS? does this server run fine? I love playing chess online so a
> reliable server with easy to match games is my priority.
I use FICS and I'm happy with it. I've played 321 games. FICS and ICC
were originally one server. The FICS folks decided to stay free. The
ICC folks decided to start charging money. They're both good servers.
As far as number of players, I specify I only want to play people
within 100 points of my rating and I can find a 2+12 game instantly or
a 15+10 game within 30-90 seconds. Note: If you're rated 2000+ you will
have a harder time finding opponents.
As far as reliability, the last downtime was July 16, 2006. It was
brief enough that I didn't even notice the outage.
As far as support, there's a help channel that answers most questions.
As far as cheating, it hasn't happened to me, as far as I can tell.
As far as poor sportsmanship, it happens in maybe 3% of games. Eg,
letting the clock run down instead of resigning, claiming you're using
a computer, or getting mad. If you play only registered opponents it
drops down to 1% of games, because those types get banned quickly.
I hope you decide to join. If you do, a few tips: (1) Start with a good
interface like BabasChess. Goto freechess.org and click Download to get
it. (2) Type "set autoflag 1" the first time you login--this means you
want to win automatically when your opponent runs out of time. (3) Be
courteous. A simple "hello" before the game and "good game" after the
game goes a long way. :-)
---
likesforests
Become a Chess Expert - http://likesforests.blogspot.com/
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Date: 19 Oct 2006 10:33:28
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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<[email protected] > wrote:
> I hope you decide to join. If you do, a few tips: (1) Start with a
> good interface like BabasChess. Goto freechess.org and click
> Download to get it. (2) Type "set autoflag 1" the first time you
> login--this means you want to win automatically when your opponent
> runs out of time. (3) Be courteous. A simple "hello" before the game
> and "good game" after the game goes a long way. :-)
I much prefer `Thanks for the game'. It's rather annoying to be told
`good game' after a complete blunderfest, even though I realise it's
an automatic statement and it really just means `goodbye'. :-)
Dave.
--
David Richerby Disposable Gerbil (TM): it's like a
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ children's pet but you never have to
clean it!
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Date: 09 Oct 2006 17:28:24
From: Thomas T. Veldhouse
Subject: Re: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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Chris <[email protected] > wrote:
> Can you please let me know which one you like better and why? I have been
> on USChess live but i've noticed connection/lagging issues as of late and
> I'm wondering if I shouldn't go with ICC when my mebership runs out this
> month.
>
> Maybe FICS? does this server run fine? I love playing chess online so a
> reliable server with easy to match games is my priority.
>
I have used the following; ICC, PlayChess (chessbase), FICS, US Chess Live,
WCN and Chess.net. I have found that the only real servers that have any
volume are ICC, PlayChess, FICS and WCN. The latter is not very flexible and
is not really desirable, but it is easy to find an opponent. ICC is the best
in my opinion and FICS is sort of a free version of it [with significantly
less volume and features]. PlayChess has some excellent players and has some
nice features, but it is purely chessbase software based and the vast majority
of players seem to be in Europe [so timeshift as appropriate]. Chess.net and
US Chess Live seemed to have frequent technical issues and low volume, but I
have not used either of these in a couple of years now.
In short, I recommend:
1. ICC
2. FICS (free)
3. PlayChess (chessbase)
In that order.
--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1
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Date: 07 Oct 2006 11:21:23
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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Chris wrote:
> Can you please let me know which one you like better and why? I have been
> on USChess live but i've noticed connection/lagging issues as of late and
> I'm wondering if I shouldn't go with ICC when my mebership runs out this
> month.
>
> Maybe FICS? does this server run fine? I love playing chess online so a
> reliable server with easy to match games is my priority.
There have been varioius threads on this topic. While there are many
more players on ICC than FICS, I'm having trouble with the idea of the
(in my opinion) very high $60 per year fee. I would pay $30 without
much of a second thought but not $60.
Now before someone comes back and says, it's only a few cents a day,
don't be so cheap, my objection is more philosophical. $60 is much
higher than the fees for most game sites. The average is around $30,
in fact (anecdotal evidence). ICC has such a blatant, obvious profit
motive. FICS, on the other hand, is there to support chess. Big
difference.
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Date: 07 Oct 2006 14:37:35
From: Ange1o DePa1ma
Subject: Re: USchesslive vs ICC vs FICS
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<[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Chris wrote:
>> Can you please let me know which one you like better and why? I have
>> been
>> on USChess live but i've noticed connection/lagging issues as of late and
>> I'm wondering if I shouldn't go with ICC when my mebership runs out this
>> month.
>>
>> Maybe FICS? does this server run fine? I love playing chess online so a
>> reliable server with easy to match games is my priority.
>
> There have been varioius threads on this topic. While there are many
> more players on ICC than FICS, I'm having trouble with the idea of the
> (in my opinion) very high $60 per year fee. I would pay $30 without
> much of a second thought but not $60.
>
> Now before someone comes back and says, it's only a few cents a day,
> don't be so cheap, my objection is more philosophical. $60 is much
> higher than the fees for most game sites. The average is around $30,
> in fact (anecdotal evidence). ICC has such a blatant, obvious profit
> motive. FICS, on the other hand, is there to support chess. Big
> difference.
I should also point out, as an ICC member for the past 10 years, that there
is zero customer service. You can email them 1000 times and they never
respond.
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