Official Rules – Correspondence Mastery Open
Engine-Assisted Play Allowed
These rules define the structure and expectations for the Correspondence Mastery Open, a modern correspondence event where all forms of external assistance are permitted. By joining the tournament, every participant accepts these conditions fully and without exception.
1. Allowed Assistance (Everything Listed Below Is Fully Permitted)
Participants may use any and all external resources, including but not limited to:
✔ Chess engines
Stockfish
Leela
Komodo
Any private engine
Cloud engines
Local engines
Multi-engine comparison
✔ Opening resources
Opening books (digital or physical)
Online opening explorers
Databases (Chess.com, Lichess, MegaBase, private DBs)
Repertoires, theory files, and personal notes
✔ Human assistance
Friends
Coaches
Grandmasters, IMs, FMs
Study groups
Discord analysis rooms
Personal team support
✔ Any analytical tools
Endgame tablebases
Engines for middlegame planning
Annotated books
YouTube explanations
Chess.com lessons
Any research method
If it exists, you may use it.
There are no restrictions.
2. No Accusations of Cheating (Zero Tolerance Policy)
Because external assistance is explicitly allowed:
🚫 It is strictly forbidden to accuse any opponent of cheating.
This includes:
Messaging them directly
Posting publicly
Reporting them
Complaining in chat
Mentioning “engine use” in any form
Every player has the same legal advantages.
Therefore, no player can be accused of unfair play.
A violation of this rule results in:
Immediate forfeit of the match
Removal from the tournament
Possible account restrictions for harassment
3. No Reports to Chess.com Regarding Engine Use
Players may not report engine use in this tournament.
All reports will be dismissed because this event intentionally allows engine assistance.
Only report behavior unrelated to gameplay, such as:
Harassment
Spam
Abusive language
Threats
Game quality or suspicious moves are not grounds for any complaint.
4. Voluntary “Human-Only” Play Is Allowed — At Your Own Risk
Any player who wishes to play without external tools may do so — but entirely at their own discretion.
They cannot:
Claim unfair advantage from others
File complaints about engine usage
Request special treatment
Appeal game results
Ask for protection from stronger analysis
This is a “Full-Tools Format” tournament.
Playing human-only is a personal challenge, not a protected category.
5. Tournament Spirit and Purpose
The purpose of this event is to:
Encourage deep research
Produce master-level games
Generate theoretical novelties
Allow players to use engines openly and responsibly
Reduce cheating accusations in other formats
Create an honest environment where analysis thrives
This format is an evolution of classical correspondence chess, embracing the modern era with transparency.
6. Fairness and Respect
All participants must maintain:
Good sportsmanship
Respectful tone
Zero toxicity
No trash talk about “engines vs humans”
Acceptance of the tournament’s unique rules
Failure to follow these standards may result in removal.
7. Arbiter Policy
Arbiters (or Chess.com staff) will:
NOT investigate engine use
NOT overturn games based on move quality
ONLY intervene for violations of communication, harassment, or platform rules
Game outcomes stand as final.
8. By Joining the Tournament, You Agree To All Rules Above
Joining the tournament constitutes full acceptance of:
Engine-assisted play
External research
Equal tools for all players
No accusations
No engine reporting
No appeals on move quality
Total transparency and respect
Final Reminder
This tournament is designed for:
Analysts
Researchers
Engine users
Opening theorists
Correspondence veterans
Deep-thinkers who want to create high-quality games
If you want a pure human-vs-human experience, please choose a different tournament.
This event is built precisely on the opposite foundation.
Tournament:





