© 2003 Valentin Iliescu
http://www.valil.com/chess
For comments, suggestions please send emails to viliescu@valil.com
About the game
Left-click to select a piece and left-click again where you want to
move it. To castle, just move the king two square to the right or to the
left - the castling rook will be moved automatically.
When playing against a chess engine and the engine is thinking, the
menu bar is not available (it is disabled).
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Move history
By selecting one of the moves from the history, the game will go to the
status preceding that move and the moves after it will be removed from
history. Note: the move history is not saved when you save a
game, edit the board or exit the game.
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Settings
You can choose the side (white or black), the opponent (local engine
or, if internet connectivity is available, web service) and the
difficulty level (from 1 to 6). The difficulty level applies to
both local engine and web service. You can also choose two-player mode
to play with no chess engine. If you are playing against the web service
and the game cannot access it (e.g. the connection drops), you are
asked if you want to retry or not. If you choose no, the game exits and
the next time it will start with local engine as opponent instead of web
service.
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Editing
When in editing mode, drag to move pieces and right-click to show the
menu. You can empty the board or change the settings of the current
position (side to move, castling availability, en passant target, number
of halfmoves since the last capture or since the last time a pawn was
moved, number of moves). When going back in playing mode, the status of
the board is checked and an error message shows up if it's illegal (e.g.
more than one black or white king). If with the current settings
the local engine or the web service is the first to move, you have the
option to switch to two-player mode.
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Saving/opening games
The game saves and opens the chess games in FEN (Forsyth-Edwards
Notation) format, permitting importing from and exporting to other chess
programs. When opening a FEN file, the status of the board is checked
and an error message shows up if it's illegal (e.g. more than one black
or white king).
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Multiplayer
MSN Messenger 5.0 or better and internet connectivity is required in order
to play with one of your buddies over the internet.
Login to the chess server using MSN Messenger email and password. The email
is automatically saved, and optionally the password.
After a successful login, the current multiplayer game is resumed,
otherwise the new game window will show up – you can choose your side,
the starting board configuration (a new game or a loaded FEN file) and your opponent
(from your online buddies).
During a multiplayer game you have the ability to draw or resign,
to go back to single player mode or to quit the application.
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Freeware License Agreement
This Software is being distributed as Freeware. It may be freely used,
copied and distributed as long as it is not sold, and all original files
are included, including this license. You are NOT allowed to make a
charge for distributing this Software whether as a stand-alone product, or
as part of a compilation or anthology, without explicit prior written permission.
You may not decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, or otherwise
attempt to derive the source code for the Software.
NO WARRANTY. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR 'AS IS' AND ANY
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY
DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN
ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
Copyright © Valentin Iliescu 2003. All rights reserved.
This Software contains work derived from the RSA Data Security, Inc.
MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm
Copyright © 1991-2, RSA Data Security, Inc. Created 1991.
All rights reserved.
License to copy and use this software is granted provided that it is
identified as the "RSA Data Security, Inc. MD5 Message-Digest
Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing this software or
this function.
License is also granted to make and use derivative works provided that
such works are identified as "derived from the RSA Data Security, Inc.
MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing
the derived work.
RSA Data Security, Inc. makes no representations concerning either the
merchantability of this software or the suitability of this software for
any particular purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or
implied warranty of any kind.
These notices must be retained in any copies of any part of this
documentation and/or software.
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