Internet Chess
 

I assume that if you're reading this then its probably fair to say that at one time or another you've played chess on the net or you've foolishly thought I was going to write something educational.
The choices as to where to play are many, Playchess.com, (my choice) ICC, MSN, Yahoo and many more.
Personally I play very little 'net chess'.

The time controls some players use are ludicrous, many opt for the 1 minute each game, which can be translated as 'whoever has the fastest connection to the server wins'! What's the point of that? Its not what chess is supposed to be. The net is also home to some very poor sportsmanship, I suppose it comes with the anonymity of the Net. People become very brave/insulting when not sat directly opposite a 'real' person.

While surfing, the 'sea' boats, beach and lighthouse are populated predominantly by Americans, your stereotypical Americans to boot! Arrogant, ignorant, insular and just plain rude!

Some of those 'dudes' I've played are so stupid it beggars belief, for example; during one particular game I was asked " r u from usa?" No, England I reply, "wow do u know the queen?" - I mean, come on, does the dummy think we all live in the Palace and have tea and biscuits with the Queen all day! I know we live in a small country but sheesh! Perhaps I should have said I was the Prince of Wales, I may have heard his slack jaw dropping across the Atlantic!

When I occasionally 'grace' the net and have a game or two, I prefer a 6 minute time control, and there are two reasons for this,
1. Any longer than 6 minutes and computers enter the equation, I think Playchess must combat this with computer detecting software as the cheaters are banned regularly.

2. When in a totally winning position, your (usually American) opponent instead of resigning like a 'normal' person will just sit and let the clock tick down, I find this interlude is the perfect time to practice my speed typing, I'm up to 20 swearwords a minute!

I seem to have given the chess playing citizens of our closest ally a 'slating' so, just to put the record straight (and because they all have guns) I've had some really good banter with the many yanks out there too.
The one really good thing about the Internet is whatever the time of day you know that a game of chess is only a couple of mouse clicks away, which can't be a bad thing.

By Collin Smith