ACF Bulletin # 145a - 20 December 2001 Australasian Chess Online LAUNCH OF AUSTRALASIAN CHESS ONLINE - PAUL BROEKHUYSE Australian chess players are warmly invited to take part in a free three-month trial of Australasian Chess Online, a new internet playing service. We hope the service will help to unify Australian chess, by providing a cheap and convenient way for players to meet and play games online. To try the service, go to www.auschess.org (NOTE: no ".au") and follow the instructions. All players with an ACF rating should be able to register. Players without an ACF rating can simply download the software and play as a "guest" on the service. If there are any problems, please email Paul Broekhuyse at broekhuysep@hotmail.com Australasian Chess Online has an attractive interface and many appealing features. As the name implies, New Zealanders will also soon join the service. We hope it will soon be an important part of the local chess scene. Because of the desirability of having a large number of players online at any one time - so that it's always easy to get a game - players from the US (and soon the UK and Germany) will share the service. This helps to ensure there's always a critical mass of players, at any time of the day or night. However, Australasian players are easily identifiable, and tournaments and other events specifically for Australasian players will be organised in the new year. After the free trial ends, the ACF proposes to charge a small fee to use the service. Part of this will go to GamesParlor, which runs the server, and part will be used to promote chess in Australia. You'll be helping Australian chess by joining the service! With very best wishes to all. Graeme Gardiner President Australian Chess Federation 11 Hardys Road Mudgeeraba Queensland 4213 Phone +61 7 5530 5794 Mobile 0438 305797 Fax +61 7 5530 6959 Email ggardiner@auschess.org.au Chess - the Clever Sport!