Definition of IMC

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Joshua Gibbs

Definition of IMC

Post by Joshua Gibbs » Wed May 29, 2019 1:07 am

Does anyone know what IMC stand for in this link please?

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=64766

Geoff Chandler
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Geoff Chandler » Wed May 29, 2019 1:24 am

I think it mean International Master at Correspondence Chess or International Master at Composition (Studies, problems etc...)
I'm a member at Chessgames, I'll ask there. The person who posted it will tell us.

Geoff Chandler
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Geoff Chandler » Wed May 29, 2019 1:30 am

Found someone else asking the same question. it's an International Master of Correspondence Chess.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/kibitzin ... 84&reply=2

Joshua Gibbs

Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Joshua Gibbs » Wed May 29, 2019 1:33 am

Geoff Chandler wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 1:30 am
Found someone else asking the same question. it's an International Master of Correspondence Chess.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/kibitzin ... 84&reply=2
thanks for taking the time to find that out for me.

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Wed May 29, 2019 8:30 am

Just to clarify that, the ICCF would say "IM" - https://www.iccf.com/Titles.aspx (I hope you don't need to log in to see that)

I assume chessgames.com have used IMC to distinguish the titles, as they have games played in both modes.

Ian Thompson
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Ian Thompson » Wed May 29, 2019 8:56 am

Kevin Thurlow wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 8:30 am
Just to clarify that, the ICCF would say "IM" - https://www.iccf.com/Titles.aspx (I hope you don't need to log in to see that)

I assume chessgames.com have used IMC to distinguish the titles, as they have games played in both modes.
I thought the more usual abbreviation was CCIM to distinguish a correspondence chess IM from an OTB IM.

It appears they don't have a proper acronym for a Senior International Master of Correspondence Chess. The one I looked up was called a "Senior IMC".

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Wed May 29, 2019 9:33 am

"I thought the more usual abbreviation was CCIM to distinguish a correspondence chess IM from an OTB IM. "

I agree - but "CCIM" isn't "official". ICCF and FIDE both use IM for their players as they don't care about anyone else - I assume problemists and composers do the same.

I worked for many years on terminology and chemical nomenclature and it was so frustrating that an individual would use a chemical name (and even get it published in journals) when the same name was used to mean something else by official bodies. Some even wrote papers with titles like "Analysis of AA in …" and didn't even define what AA was! "Oh, but we all know what it means".

John McKenna

Re: Definition of IMC

Post by John McKenna » Wed May 29, 2019 9:51 am

What is this "AA" then?

To me it's either Alexander Alekine or Alchoholics Anonymous.

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Michael Farthing
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Michael Farthing » Wed May 29, 2019 10:28 am

Eat your heart out Automobile Association.

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Wed May 29, 2019 11:12 am

That's the point, AA can mean absolute alcohol, ascorbic acid, acetic acid, abietic acid, atomic absorption (and I'm bored now...)

Neill Cooper
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Neill Cooper » Wed May 29, 2019 12:15 pm

Similarly IMC is actually Intermediate Mathematical Challenge

Paul Habershon
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Paul Habershon » Wed May 29, 2019 12:24 pm

Ian Thompson wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 8:56 am
Kevin Thurlow wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 8:30 am
Just to clarify that, the ICCF would say "IM" - https://www.iccf.com/Titles.aspx (I hope you don't need to log in to see that)

I assume chessgames.com have used IMC to distinguish the titles, as they have games played in both modes.
I thought the more usual abbreviation was CCIM to distinguish a correspondence chess IM from an OTB IM.

It appears they don't have a proper acronym for a Senior International Master of Correspondence Chess. The one I looked up was called a "Senior IMC".

The cynic in me interprets CCIM as Clever Computer IM. Circumstances prevented me joining a chess club till I was 19 so I attribute my chess education mainly to postal chess. Many thanks to B H Wood's Junior Postal Chess Club. Perhaps it was a blessing that there were no strong chess computers in the 1960s. I believe that Paul Keres, at a higher level of course, attributed some of his strength to correspondence activity.

Julie Denning
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Julie Denning » Wed May 29, 2019 12:33 pm

Neill Cooper wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 12:15 pm
Similarly IMC is actually Intermediate Mathematical Challenge
… or Instrument Meteorological Conditions, for those of an aviation bent.

And as for those who think CAA stands for Chess Arbiters Association … !

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Thu May 30, 2019 12:24 am

"And as for those who think CAA stands for Chess Arbiters Association … !"

As I have also advised the Civil Aviation Authority on safety matters, I know just what you mean!

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Definition of IMC

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Thu May 30, 2019 11:37 pm

"The cynic in me interprets CCIM as Clever Computer IM."

But you won't reach IM at CC by just believing the computer. You have to know when to overrule it, even these days.

I have used CC to practise openings I'm not ready to unleash OTB. However, my recent experiment with the Evans Gambit (drawn in 104 moves) makes me doubt I'll use it in a tournament...

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