Preface 1) No set of rules can cover every possible situation. From time to time, there will be a disagreement between players which is not covered by the guidelines. The Arbiter or the Tournament Director (TD), whoever is involved with the dispute, will make the final decision which will take into account the rules, established practices and procedures which have proved to be fair in the past. This may sometimes involve adjudicating a result in a game which has not been completed or by using a policy which is not specifically covered in the guidelines. Any member who disagrees with any decision can write to the Director stating the details of the dispute and the reasons for the disagreement. The Guidelines apply to all games played under the auspices of the World Correspondence Chess Federation. 2) A New Member tutoring program is available to applicants who wish to compete in chess tournaments to allow them to learn the rules and procedures of the WCCF. Registration for new members may be submitted by clicking on Registration and completing the simple form with your legal name, your current e-mail address, etc. 3) Membership is free. New friendships have been started as games are played against opponents living in countries throughout the world. WCCF Forum can be also used by the members to submit their questions, discussing chess matters or other topics. 4) If, after the start of your membership, you need to change the e-mail address to be used in your chess games, please advise your opponents of the new address and send the information to the tournament director of each of the matches in which you are playing games, listing the new address and the address it is replacing. WCCF should be also informed by sending an e-mail message to address@ewccf.com. 5) Members who have a need to withdraw from games must notify their opponents and the T.D. who is supervising the tournament in which they are playing. A "silent withdrawal," without notification to the WCCF, may bring a termination of the player's membership if a legitimate reason is not offered. 6) Members must respond quickly and courteously to legitimate inquiries by the Tournament Director, Arbiter or other WCCF staff member. 7) Pairing of opponents is done in accordance with the ratings of the opponents. In an attempt to offer games in which both opponents have an opportunity to win and, therefore, increase his/her rating, the ratings will be separated by no more than 200 points at the start of the contest. 8) Tournaments have been formed using the following formats : A) Pawn. This involves 2 opponents playing 2 games, each playing the white pieces in one game. B) Knight. This involves 3 opponents playing 4 games, each playing the white pieces in one game against each of his/her opponents C) Bishop. This involves 4 opponents playing 6 games, each playing the white pieces in one game against each of his/her opponents. D) Rook. This involves 5 opponents playing one game against each of 4 opponents, playing the white pieces in 2 of the 4 games. E) Queen. This involves 7 opponents playing one game against each of 6 opponents, playing the white pieces in 3 of the 6 games. F) King. This involves 15 opponents playing one game against each of 14 opponents, playing the white pieces in 7 of the 14 games. G) Thematics. This involves 4 opponents playing 2 games against each of 3 opponents, playing the white pieces in 3 of the 6 games. H) Grand Championship. This involves 9 opponents playing 2 games against each of 8 opponents, playing the white pieces in 8 of the 16 games. 9). A breach in the rules, as listed below, may lead to the loss of membership in the WCCF. Rules 1. NOTATION:  a. The official notation used by WCCF is English short algebraic, and we also permit the use of any other system if agreed upon by both participants. English short algebraic is required for the initial evaluation game. b. If the participants cannot agree on the notation to use, the official notation is required.  2. IDENTIFY:  a. Always clearly identify the piece intended to move and/or the piece intended to be captured, making sure that the notation is not ambiguous. A pawn move always begins with a lower case character. Knight, bishop, rook, queen & king moves always begin with an upper case character. The destination square is always shown in lower case. Refer to examples shown on the Sample Message Format page. 3. SENDING MOVES:  a. Each player must maintain a complete written or electronic record of each game. This record should be a completely separate copy from the transmission of moves. ECTool is an excellent game recording program. b. Identify each game with an individual opponent as game "1", or game "2". If only one game is played with an opponent, this will be game "1" - [Round "1"] - in PGN header. c. The entire game record for each game should be sent in every message. PGN paragraph style format should be used. We strongly recommend that the previous ten messages be saved in case of error or dispute. d. In case an error is made in repeating opponent move, the move the opponent sent is binding, if legal and not ambiguous. If an unintended move is sent, it is final if it is legal and not ambiguous. If a move is either illegal or ambiguous it must be clarified before play is resumed. A false check or neglect to note check makes the move ambiguous. An illegal move may be replaced by any legal move, and an ambiguous move must be clarified by a notation using the same piece as originally noted.  e. The player receiving an illegal/ambiguous move must not make any presumptions, nor make any changes in the written move. The opponent who sent the illegal or ambiguous move must be immediately notified and requested to re-send the move so that it will be legal and unambiguous. f. If, in the course of a game, it is proven that an illegal/ambiguous move has been made and not retracted, the position reverts back to the board as it existed immediately before that move was made and the game shall be continued from that position. If part of conditional moves, then the position reverts to the game's moves immediately preceding and the piece that was incorrectly/illegally moved must be correctly/legally moved.  g. Clerical errors are binding and once sent, cannot be taken back. This is the e-mail chess version of the touch move rule. h. Always include full name (first/last) and e-mail address on all correspondence with opponents and WCCF officials. 4. CONDITIONAL MOVES:  a. Conditional or "if" moves may be included with the reply move or when sending the first move. All such moves must be numbered in exact sequence. All conditional or moves are binding on the player who offered them until they are accepted or declined by the opponent via his next reply. All conditional  moves are binding on the opponent, but only if such move or moves are forced. Forced means that no other continuation is legally possible and, should the conditional move or moves not be forcing, then the opponent is at liberty to disregard them. However, for each conditional move which is accepted, a reply must be made. If a dispute arises regarding the conditional move(s), the Tournament Director (TD) must be informed immediately, but the game shall be continued, if possible, while the dispute is being resolved.  5. TIME CONTROLS:  a. All games in an event must be played at the same time.  b. Reflection time allowed is 30 days for 10 moves per player and unused reflection time can be carried forward to the next 10 move group. Reflection time means the number of days from the date/time message arrives in mailbox until the reply message is sent. Due to the members living in many different time zones all over the world, calendars are inaccurate in keeping totals of reflection time. Clocks are much more accurate. If you answer a message in less than 24 hours from the time you receive your opponent's move, you add no day to your total. If you send your answer more than 24 hours from the time you received your opponent's move, but less than 48 hours, you add one day, etc. The same process should be used in determining your opponent's reflection time. c. If no reply is received from an opponent within 5 days, send a repeat message. If no reply is received after another 10 days (15 days total), send another repeat to opponent and a time complaint report using the web form. Provide a message dispatch history using time complaint form. The Arbiter will acknowledge the inquiry and send a message to the opponent requesting a prompt reply. If, after another 5 days (20 days total), no response has been received from opponent, the games will be awarded to the complainant upon request..  d. Complainant must officially claim the win in order to receive credit. Complainant must advise the Arbiter if the opponent resumes play prior to the end of 20 days.  e. Always advise opponents and TD in advance for known periods of abscence (vacations, business, health reasons) of inability to temporarily continue playing games. Adjournments of up to 30 days in a calendar year or by agreement are always allowed upon request.  f. Players who have accumulated three time complaints in one year will forfeit their games upon receipt of the fourth time complaint.  g. Arbiter's or Director's decisions are final and binding.  h. Players must notify WCCF immediately by using an alternate computer of any substantial period of hardware or software failure which prevents the receipt and/or transmission of moves. A player  will be considered as withdrawn if he/she fails to notify WCCF and he can't be be contacted by normal e-mail transmission.  i. Games running beyond the event time limit will be declared cancelled for purposes of event scoring. A player  may send in an game to TD for adjudication in order to obtain a decision on the final result of the game. A complete record of the game is required using the game repot form. Diagrams are not acceptable. The decision of the TD will be final and binding. The adjudication request should be sent at least ten days before the time limit deadline.  j. Event extensions will not be granted for games that exceed the time limit. At the expiration date, the events will be closed and the prizes awarded to the winning player(s) at that time.  k. Do not hesitate to file time complaints. It is the only way we can assist and be certain that an opponent has not actually silently withdrawn. Points can be lost and possibility of winning event with  failure to follow through with time complaints on players who do not respond. If we are not told, we won't know. Help us to help you with non-responding opponents. File a time complaint if opponent exceeds the overall time limits. 6. REPORTING RESULTS: a. WINNING player only (only WHITE if a draw) should report at the conclusion of each game to the Tournament Director.  b. Report a result as soon as the game is decided. Do not accumulate wins and/or draws, as that can adversely affect rating and points can be lost with the delay. Do not report a win/draw/loss unless opponent has acknowledged, except in the case of withdrawals. In cases where the Arbiter awards the win due to a forfeit, game reports are not necessary. c. If a result has been reported and it has not been acknowledged or appeared on our internet site statistics pages, send an inquiry to Webmaster indicating that it has not been posted. All the game results are posted on the web site in a database available at: www.ewccf.com/cgi-bin/all.cgi. Do not send a duplicate report unless requested to do so. d. A game is considered as "started" after the player playing the Black pieces has sent his first move in answer to White's opening move. Any game which does not meet this standard will be cancelled and not rated. 7. DISPUTES:  a. Always try to settle disagreements amicably by exchanging diagrams and/or score sheets. If unable to reach an agreement about the game(s) or in the application of the Rules, both players should send the facts to the Arbiter for a decision. His decision will be binding.  b. Do not send messages citing the rules to an opponent.  c. Never, never resort to abusive, profane or impolite language, as it is not condoned and can be cause for dismissal.  8. CONSULTATION:  a. Players are free to consult chess publications or literature, in printed or electronic form. Advise from another chess player is strictly forbidden. b. The use of a chess engine (such as Chessmaster, Fritz, Rebel, etc.) or any other form of electronic consultation is strictly forbidden.  9. ADJOURNMENTS/WITHDRAWALS:  a. Players must notify opponents and the TD for any period that is expected to temporarily be unable to continue games, such as vacation, sickness, business or any other reason.  b. Adjournments of up to thirty days per calendar year are always allowed upon request.  c. If a player will be unable to participate for more than thirty days, he/she must withdraw.  d. If it is absolutely necessary to withdraw from ALL play, notify opponents and WCCF. Opponent(s) will be given credit for the win(s), and withdrawing player will be debited for the losses. 10. WCCF POINT EXCHANGE: a. Winner: N=(D/25)+16.  b. Loser: N=(D/25)-16  c. Draws: N=(D/25)  d. View Rating Formula 11. GENERAL SUGGESTIONS:  a. Be friendly, sign full name to messages, include event number and feel free to chat with opponents. A chat room is available at: www.ewccf.com/chat/  b. Religion, politics and sex can be pure dynamite, so we suggest that you avoid these subjects no matter what your opinion may be on any subject.  c. Win modestly, and lose graciously. Refrain from telling opponent that he has a hopeless game and should resign. When there is an obviously lost game, admit it, resign and save on postage.  d. Players will undoubtedly meet other members with whom correspondence is a great joy. The best way to keep in touch with them after the assigned games are completed is to request a challenge match from the WCCF.  e. Unregistered games are not acceptable for rated play.  f. Lasting friendships have been made through correspondence chess games.