I'm interested in learning chess. I know the rules, and can play, but
I'm not very good yet. However, I'm an experienced go player, and know
what it takes to play a game like this.

Since I live in the country, way too far from any clubs, it seems that
my best choice would be to play on the net. But it seems that the only
good servers are ones you must pay for. Am I missing something?

Can someone point me to where I can play a bit for free, before deciding
whether I want to pay for ICC?

Also, would anyone be interested in helping my by playing some e-mail
games, offering some simple advice and explanations as the game goes on?

Thanks,

Kirk

Kirk McElhearn wrote:
Can someone point me to where I can play a bit for free, before deciding
whether I want to pay for ICC?

FICS, the Free Internet Chess Server is at

http://www.freechess.org/

but their server has been down for the last few days due to hardware
failure (the website still works so you can look around that). I've been
playing there for about eighteen months and this is the first time their
server has been down for more than an hour or so that I've noticed in that
period. They're usually extremely reliable.


Also, would anyone be interested in helping my by playing some e-mail
games, offering some simple advice and explanations as the game goes on?

Sure, though I'm not very good myself. (I think I hover around the mean
mark on FICS.)


Dave.

--
David Richerby Pickled Cat (TM): it's like a cuddly
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ pet but it's preserved in vinegar!

Server is back up


"David Richerby" wrote in message
...
Kirk McElhearn wrote:
Can someone point me to where I can play a bit for free, before deciding
whether I want to pay for ICC?

FICS, the Free Internet Chess Server is at

http://www.freechess.org/

but their server has been down for the last few days due to hardware
failure (the website still works so you can look around that). I've been
playing there for about eighteen months and this is the first time their
server has been down for more than an hour or so that I've noticed in that
period. They're usually extremely reliable.


Also, would anyone be interested in helping my by playing some e-mail
games, offering some simple advice and explanations as the game goes on?

Sure, though I'm not very good myself. (I think I hover around the mean
mark on FICS.)


Dave.

--
David Richerby Pickled Cat (TM): it's like a
cuddly
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ pet but it's preserved in
vinegar!

"Kirk McElhearn" wrote in message
...
I'm interested in learning chess. I know the rules, and can play, but
I'm not very good yet. However, I'm an experienced go player, and know
what it takes to play a game like this.

Since I live in the country, way too far from any clubs, it seems that
my best choice would be to play on the net. But it seems that the only
good servers are ones you must pay for. Am I missing something?

Can someone point me to where I can play a bit for free, before deciding
whether I want to pay for ICC?

Also, would anyone be interested in helping my by playing some e-mail
games, offering some simple advice and explanations as the game goes on?


The ICC has a free 7 day trial.

E-mail me if you want to play via e-mail, I can perhaps give a few tips as
we go. I am a reasonable club player, about 1850 Elo.

Thanks

Alex