Top ICCF-US Players

Sure, but to be the top OTB player, you compete against (I don't know) 100s of thousands? Among them kids who were raised on chess. I'm guessing ICCF isn't like that.

Plus ICCF isn't about e.g. knowing theory (endgames and openings), so that might not be the best comparison. Maybe an ICCF player could tell you things you wouldn't need to know for OTB play like which openings just don't work, and which are best... of course using a completely different criteria because it's a different kind of game.

In my other post I mentioned competition, which I still think explains part of this, but this is a good point I think.

If you take away the engines, I wonder what the ratings would be like?

probably close to their otb rating.

I'm sure there are unique insights they could give, of course. They will probably have more experience with precise opening play and nuances. But I wouldn't say they would, everything else being equal, understand it better. It's just that they would be more familiar with every single little thing about that opening. I mean, if I studied 1 a4 with the help of an engine for weeks, there might be some things I understand better than a GM in that line, but given that it's an extremely narrow path that means very little. And whatever I did understand better, they would have probably learned zillions of times faster than me if they did the same thing.

The ratings of all chess players would be lower correspondence or not.

Does any1 know how exactly Over The Board correspondence chess work's. Its not like a tournement match? or is it? I figured it was more of a postal kind of thing. I honestly can not speak lol to much about it becuase I have no clue about any of it. I only know that chess.com offers some online chess which allows some features.

                H O G W A S H 

Well, I don't think that's an argument against correspondence the variant, I think that's an argument against the level of competition. Chess is a deep game, and if correspondence players try to reach the truth of a position then competing against 100s of thousands would be much more difficult I imagine.

I mean, I understand your sentiment, and in my heart I agree with you, just trying to play the devils advocate here. Someone who has played in ICCF would be able to offer better examples / argument I think.

Ratings are relative, not absolute.

If everyone was suddenly 100 points weaker, then the ratings wouldn't change.

What happens if a strong OTB player picks up correspondence chess?

This question was answered when Joop van Oosterom, who, by Tim Krabbé's words, was "operated by (former top 10 GM) Jeroen Piket", won two ICCF world championships.

I know of no other recent top OTB player competing in correspondence chess (Ulf Andersson in the 1990s was the last one I'm aware of). I have no doubts that any top 100 OTB player of today could repeat Piket's feats, the more so as today's generation is much more used to engines, unlike their predecessors.

If you take away their bikes, I wonder if they could run a marathon?

Apples to oranges.

I have played in ICCF but before there were strong chess engines ... 

I do not see anyone bragging about what they have done in correspondencee chess.  If you mean me, I played correspondenc chess before engines were of use and I did not even own an engine.

And I did not brag, I just responded to some idiots who were trying to claim I was only 1600 strength.

I just mentioned my rating of over 2500 and Reb and others were all over me, telling me in effect that I was a liar.

 The truth is I have a very high winning vs loss record against over the board masters.  For sure, at least 75%.

Haha, nothing wrong with devil's advocate, it can be a good perspective to have sometimes. And I understand your point about competition.

You, apparently, do not know how having chess engines has increased the knowledge of chess for all players. Much of current chess theory is partially derived from information using chess engines.

You just dont get it do you ponz ? ! Let me draw you a picture : I never called you a liar about your 2500 correspondence rating but I did ask for proof , which you havent provided . Lets say you are 2500 corr , why should that impress anyone when there are also B class players and unrated players ( OTB ) also rated over 2500 ?  Was your highest corr rating ICCF ?  Cant we see old ratings lists of theirs ? You won the 7th USCCC from 87-90 , correct ?  Can we see ratings lists from that event ? Wouldnt your rating peak after that result ? 

I did also.  In the preliminary round for the first USA Championship I scored 10 1/2 out of 12.  The preliminary round is all masters and experts.   

 Very unfortunately for me, these games were not rated and the fact that preliminary round games were not rated cost me a title.  I am only 3 games away from a title. [I could lose 3 games and get a title]

Later ICCF rated the preliminary rounds.

You just haven't had enough number recognition exercises to understand just how hard it really is.

LOL now that is a funny metaphor as well that is pretty good I think. Paint by numbers lol and you guys trying to hang it up next to picasso art. Out-ragious!!