Idaho Chess Union

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


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Q What is the Idaho Chess Union (ICU)
A The Idaho Chess Union (ICU) is an organization with the mission of encouraging the development of inexpensive, club-based chess events for adults in the state of Idaho.

The ICU was founded in July, 2004.

The ICU website can be found at: http://www.idahochessunion.com/

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Q What is the Idaho Chess History (ICH) project
A The Idaho Chess History (ICH) project is a website that provides an archive for chess related materials concerning the state of Idaho.

The ICH project was founded in 1997.

The ICH website can be found at: http://www.idahochesshistory.com/

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Q What is the Idaho Chess Association (ICA)
A The Idaho Chess Association (ICA) is the official state affiliate granted a charter by the United States Chess Federation (USCF) with the broad charter of promoting chess among all the residents of Idaho - young and old.

The ICA was founded in 1947.

The ICA website can be found at: http://www.idahochessassociation.com/

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Q What is the relationship between the Idaho Chess Union, the Idaho Chess History project and the Idaho Chess Association?
A The ICU cooperates with the ICA in the organization of the Tri-State Match (Idaho, Wyoming, Montana) in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. ICU also promotes ICA events even though the ICA events are not philosophically compatible with the world view of the ICU.

The ICU provides hosting, programming, and technology for both the ICA and ICH websites and the ICA provides access to its archival material for inclusion in the Idaho Chess History project.

Some Idaho chess scholastic organizers have baldly stated that the ICU wants to replace the ICA as the official United States Chess Federation (USCF) state affiliate. That is a LIE.
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Q What is the governing body of the Idaho Chess Union?
A The Idaho Chess Union is run by a commission.
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Q I would like to be a commissioner. How do I get elected to that office?
A New commissioners are appointed by the current commission and are expected to serve until death or expulsion from the ICU. If we need you, we will ask you to serve and you will serve if we ask!
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Q Who are the current commissioners?
A The names of all current commissioners are not generally publicly available due to harassment from certain members of the scholastic chess community. Commissioners are commonly referred to by number (ICU#6) or nickname (Private Pyle).
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Q Can I see a copy of the ICU constitution/ bylaws/ financial statements?
A No! If you needed to see those things, we would have already shown them to you.
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Q What are seagulls?
A We at the ICU call certain players seagulls because of their perceived resemblance to that type of bird. Seagulls fly in, make a lot of noise, crap on everyone and everything, and then just fly away - leaving someone else to clean up the mess. Have you ever met any chess players who seemingly engage in those sorts of behavior? Additionally, sometimes the seagulls are not players - chess parents and chess coaches are often members of that avian tribe.
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Q My son or daughter wants to learn chess. Can you recommend a coach?
A No, we can’t recommend coaches. If we were to start recommending coaches, some of the other coaches would be jealous and start seagulling all over us as a punishment. However, if your child is still interested in learning to play chess, your best option is to learn to play chess yourself and then teach them. We can recommend a number of accessible chess materials you can use for home study.
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