Help
FICS
8708 31ST Ave N
New Hope
Mn 55427
intro_playing
PLAYING IN CHESS MATCHES
This chess server's main purpose is to link users who want to play chess.
Among other things, the server allows you to contact other users about playing
chess matches, checks to make sure that your moves are legal, keeps track of
the board position while you play, and updates ratings of players after the
match.
LOCATING AN OPPONENT
There are several ways to locate an opponent. (a) To see who is available
for a match, type "who a" or its alias "players" ("p" for short). (b) You use
a cshout to say "I would like to play a game of type ... ." (c) You can place
an ad using the "seek" command. You can also read the ads of other users;
read "help sought" for details.
STARTING A MATCH
The basic way of contacting a user about playing a chess match is by using
the match command. There is a separate help file for the match command, so we
will not go into details here. But here is the simplest way to ask another
user for a match:
match user_name
The other user will be asked to accept or decline your match request. If the
user accepts, the server will determine who plays White and Black and will
notify you that a match has begun with that user. The starting position will
be sent to you, and play will begin. Similarly, you may be challenged to a
chess match, which you may then accept or decline.
PLAYING A GAME
During a chess match, you and your opponent will moves the pieces on the
board and also issue various commands or requests. The help file
"intro_moving" explains how to move the pieces on the board. Here is a list
of other commands and requests you may need to use during a match (remember
that requests are sent to your opponent, not to the server, and must be
accepted by your opponent in order to occur):
command function
------- --------------------------------------------
abort request that a game be canceled
adjourn request that the match be stopped, saved and continued at
another time
draw request that the chess match be declared a draw
flag end the match because your opponent is out of time
moves have FICS send you the moves to the match you are playing
pause request that the match be suspended temporarily, but not
adjourned
promote set the kind of piece a pawn will be promoted to when it
reaches the back rank
refresh display the current board position
resign give your opponent the win, and end the match
say communicate with your current (last) opponent
switch request that you and your opponent change sides (colors)
takeback request that one or move moves be taken back (canceled)
unpause request that a paused match be resumed
withdraw cancel a request you have made
It is possible to play matches with more than one user simultaneously, much
like a simultaneous exhibition at many major chess tournaments. If you are
interested in playing more than one chess game at once, or interested in
playing against someone with simultaneous matches, read the "simuls" file.
See Also: accept adjournments decline intro_moving match pending seek
simuls sought [and the individual commands]
[Last modified: January 9, 1997 -- Friar]
