>>>>>>>>>>>>That's all true except that 'sealed move' wasn't invented at Fischer-Spassky time. Actually, it was used all time since official tournaments started, i.e. since 19th century. Currently, it became obsolete because games are not interrupted more, i.e. players are required now to finish game during one playing day. Snail mail play is also extinct. The reason is quite simple: computer age.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Not completely extinct. I've been playing via mail with a couple of opponents since I was in high school.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>FWIW I'm also an avid CW (morse code) ham operator.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Some things just don't die.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Do you mean you still play via mail?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Yep. Just a tradition.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I understand, you can play with friends whom you trust. However, official tournaments are not feasible anymore. As it stands now, even regular chess tournaments, without 'sealed moves' (i.e. all games must be finished in the same day) still bring accusations that some players use computers in restrooms, or get correct moves by cellphones, etc., i.e. it becomes technically challenged environment.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I bet you are a pretty good chess player, aren't you? That's not a leading question in any way, or an invitation to be boastful (you wouldn't be), just curious.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I didn't play in tournaments for very long time, i.e. not in this country; and I have never been 'pretty good'. If for some reason I would decide to play now, then I could count on ~2300 rating. I know it because sometimes I play fast chess on weekends with active players.
>>>>>
>>>>>Which is pretty darned high. That's just a level below international master, which is just a level below grandmaster. I knew it.
>>>>>
>>>>>Slight change of pace, do you have a theory about why so many chess experts have been Russian?
>>>>
>>>>Sure, it is often discussed in 'my circle'. The consensus is that specific conditions of Russian life (in Soviet days) pushed talented people to excel in chess because they could not excel in traditional careers (the latter were not available).
>>>
>>>Probably naive questions from your POV but I have two sincere ones: Do you mean Jewish, and have most of the Russian world champions been Jewish? I honestly don't know.
>>>
>>>I know Bobby Fischer was Jewish. Now there was one of the most troubled men who ever walked the earth.
>>
>>No, you misunderstood me. It is true that Soviet Union had certain degree of national discrimination, and it is also a fact that Jewish people used to play chess. However, my point was related to another kind of discrimination that was applied to every person living under Soviets. People were forced to be equal and, in practical terms, it meant equality by the lowest denominator. Here, in free world, talented people make careers, primarily in business, medicine and law. Soviet Union did not like the words "make career"; two choices (business and law) were just not available, and medicine wasn't a career choice in American sense (doctors were one of the most poorly paid people in Soviet Union). So it is not surprising that getting high proficiency in chess could land a person in better position than being a doctor or some other college graduate professional.
>
>I would beg to disagree. I think the fact that chess is/was very popular in the Soviet Union had more to do with a) state of mind of russian people (sklad uma) that tend to be very analytical b) a lot of idle time to kill. For example, I know from somewhat personal experience that chess was very popular in russian prisons (lageria) among uneducated and often times violent people. And they certainly were not trying to get any better positions there.

I think you got distracted by Mike's suggestion. I said that equality (that created btw idle time) was the commonest thing, i.e. applied to everybody, all social groups.