so what do you think about correspondence chess?

It seems like people have many different opinions of correspondence chess. I personally think it has helped me improve vastly because I probably take an average of 3 to 5 hours per game to truly understand the positions and calculate everything I can. It is like working on a painting a little bit every day and really focusing on all the details, as opposed to finishing it in one sitting or doing a quick sketch. I know some people suspect their opponent of setting up a board and analyzing variations otb - something I consider cheating and a waste of time - and yes it is unfortunate that this is always possible but either way you are playing quality chess games.

I've had a few instances where my opponent's account was closed by chess.com. I suspect this is because they were caught using an engine. Sure I got free points for these games, but I have also lost and agreeed to draws to people whose accounts were closed after the game. I figure the two balance each other out ratingwise.

Let me know your thoughts!

I dont think setting up a board to analyze is cheating, they even give you an analysis board.

It's not upon you to decide what's cheating. Setting up a board is of course allowed. Does noboby even read the rules before starting to play?

Okay it's not cheating, just something I frown upon because I don't do it. In real chess you have to calculate in your mind so I don't know why people would not do that in practice. Seems like a waste of time.

In real chess you don't have days to look things over. Correspondence is an analysis session, not a game. There's little point in comparing it to one.

So Correspondence Chess, being around for centuries now, is not real chess?

And of course, it's not a waste of time at all. Would you say that a professional long distance runner wastes their time when going a much lower speed in training than in competition? Of course not. They are using the lower speed to improve specific aspects of their performance, while other aspects are being developed in different training sessions with higher speed.

Analysing your games is no waste of time. Online chess is like that, only that analysis starts with the game.

I don't play it.  It is not real chess in my opinion.  

I use correspondence chess as a fun learning  learning tool though I don't play it on chess.com. You are (at least on other sites) allowed to consult opening books and databases and can learn whilst you play. Using engines is of course cheating. Remember in the past before chess engines world championship matches were often adjourned and the players and their teams allowed to analyse the game over the board before recommencing the game.  

Many years ago, I moved to a location without a handy chess club, or without many area tournaments.  I took up Postal chess (the real correspondence chess!) and my understanding of the game improved imensely.

Later, I moved again and renewed playing OTB; of course my rating shot up.  IMO, Correspondence chess is the next best thing to a chess coach and if I had a coach, I'd probably still play correspondence if I wanted to improve OTB.

By the way, Bullet is not real chess. LOL

I have grown to love it for what it is, a great way to improve your game.  

1. On chess.com you can use opening books and databases
2. Using engines is not cheating on some other servers, such as iccf and ficgs

Yeah, the internet plays a major part in why I don't play it for obvious reasons.  Analyzing is art of course but I rather analyzing and calculating in your head before the move is played on any board and feel that is more beautiful and deserving more credit.

I do not like CC, not real chess IMO.

I saw your thread about me being some Yuri dude that appeared to be a troll.

I also see you blocked me, meaning that you are the ultimate sissy. Why don't you unblock me so I can prove your arguments wrong with a single sentence?

I was considering opening a thread to difamate people like you did but I won't fall as low as you...

If we are talkingabout the same site.  I tried to sign up and they sent me a reply letting me know that chess engines are allowed.  So i decided not to join.

Yeah.  I don't know planet using a chess engine is permited in.

@Donaldo

Everybody knows you are Yuri apparently as clear by my thread.  I did not have to post it.  I blocked you because I had blocked Yuri and I don't want trolls posting in my future threads! :D

You can't know something when you don't have proofs.

Liking Bobby Fischer is too general. Every player that hopes to achieve mastery would love Fischer.

Criticizing your stupid annotations (at first I didnt care but took a look on it because you mention it a lot, almost as if someone bullied you there) is also normal. Maybe if they were actually interesting or made sense my view on them would be different.

And I already forgot what I posted on your endgame thread.

You blocked me for recommending you a nice endgame which  is famous between chess players and thought it would help you on endgames as you seemed interested on them? No, you blocked me so you can pust your nonsense without having to worry about Donaldo making you like a retard.

And finally the sentence (more like sentences, you can't answer to such stupid arguments with only one sentence) that refutes your stupid difamation.

You have no way to prove I am the so called Yuri. Guessing isn't a prove kiddo. The fact that someone likes Fischer or criticizes your annotations is not a prove.

Good luck refuting what I just said.