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Online Chess Playing Sites - Various

Instant Chess

Although having a nice interface, instantchess.com is marred by an opaque administrative structure.

The windows interface is easy to use and has several good features. The site discourages trash talk while playing with a "chat abuse" button, which distinguishes it from ICC, and only allows you to "censor" opponents - stopping them from playing you.

Interpersonal skills among the "admins" are sorely lacking which although maybe excusable for non paying players is certainly not a desirable feature for a site that one has to pay for to be a member. I am a passionate chess player but am the first to admit that some players are a little "out there"! The admins on Instant Chess are a secretive, paranoid lot with a healthy dose of the G-d Complex.

The site does not have many high rated players, unlike ICC which has many. The bulk of players are in the C category which according to the site places them between 1400 and 1600 - a dubious rating scheme. An advantage of Instant Chess over ICC is that a lot of players play 15 minute chess. Although more subject to people cheating this is still a very satisfying time period to play a game of chess. (Although not quite getting why people cheat, my take is that even if it is a computer you are playing then your own rating must still be valid !!!)

All in all, instantchess.com is good for lower rated players who want to have fun playing chess. Steer clear of the strange, mysterious admins and you will enjoy the site. For serious club players who can stand the hurly burly of a little trash talk - go with ICC.

GameKnot

The chess playing site www.gameknot.com has to be one of the most inviting online experiences I have had to date. The graphic board displayed in the web browser, along with various colors and shadings on the pieces, is truly excellent. My only complaint about GameKnot is that the minimum amount of time allowed per move is 3 days. It is in line with their mission statement, but it would be nice if they had times in agreement with normal chess timed games. But for sure, GameKnot is excellent. You can play many games all at once, too! - Todd

GameKnot

I recently discovered the GameKnot online chess playing site and I like it very much. You can play up to 8 simultaneous games at once without paying a membership fee. If you want to play more than eight then you have to pay a membership fee. The display is very good and you usually have a few days time to make your move. You can see your rating, your profile, games won or lost, communicate with your opponent, etc. The more you play the more games you are allowed to play simultaneously. I think it is one of the best free sites on the internet. I also play a lot on the ICC as a member in real time in addition to playing simu games on GameKnot. I believe playing on both sites has helped my game quite a bit as I have a hard time studying the game as I probably should be doing. I live in a remote area of northern Michigan and there are not a lot of opportunity for OTB games up here, although there are a few very good players. Playing online is more convenient and easier and less time consuming for me. I try to play a few games at least every day and as long as my computer continues to work I never lack for a good opponent. Thank you for the opportunity to express myself.  --Ray J.

Chess.net

Chess net is a free chess playing server, for those who just want to have fun and play chess. It offers chat and play with ratings.

When you first enter chess.net as a guest, you will only be able to speak to admins or guides and play unrated games, but you will be asked by our auto-admin to register and be given the steps how.

This site offers free ratings and tourneys. There is an annual fee of $30 US for those who want to support the site, lose the banner and have increased list size. I strongly suggest you download chess.net for windows-free from the download site as most tourneys only allow people using the chess.net interface to join. The download cuts 99% of tourney cheating.

Chess.net is currently the site offering the most online tournaments on the web (averaging 1000/week during the last month). Of course, being a free site, there are no prize tourneys. It also offers league play.

If you need any help all you have to do is type /assist <your question> (without the < >).

Also on there you may set take-backs on or off (if on it will ask if you want to allow it, if off the one asking will get a small message telling him you do not allow take-backs) , set formulas, have games e-mailed to you (if you want to allow it), leave messages to players that are offline, autoflag and much more. -  jack m.

POGO

It's free, and the graphics are much , much better than the zone. I'm a member of ICC and Pogo chess site is my alternative, I would recommend pogo to anybody that wants a free site and strong players. The only draw back is that some use programs (cheaters) - the  digtman

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