Stanley T. Yamane 	  May 24 1992, 8:30 am     show options
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Followup-To: rec.games.chess
From: styam...@stone.Princeton.EDU (Stanley T. Yamane) - Find messages by this author
Date: Sun, 24 May 1992 20:54:29 GMT
Local: Sun, May 24 1992 1:54 pm
Subject: Introduction to ICS (revision 1.3)
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At some point, someone asked for a helpfile for ICS.  So, here it is!
A nice short help file.  I hope that it will prove useful to people who have
thought about trying ICS, but haven't done it yet.  Comeon and join in
the fun!

Revision Notes:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing major, just cleaned up a few parts of the document.  Also,
since most the first part of the document is all most people need,
I'm going to leave out the command summary to save money for people
who have to pay to get this stuff.  If you don't have the command
summary and you want it, send a request via e-mail and I'll send it
out.

Also, I'd like to make a request that if people have discovered problems
using ICS and workable solutions, I'd be happy to hear about them.  Others
may be having similar problems, and this may be an easy place to compile
such helpful hints.

..Stan (styam...@phoenix.princeton.EDU)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

         A simple helpfile for ICS (Internet Chess Server) v1.3

Note: This file does not try to be a complete helpfile for ICS, but rather
 a simple introduction for people trying ICS for the first time. Suggestions
 corrections and improvements are welcome. (styam...@phoenix.Princeton.EDU)

Contents:
---------
I.   Introduction
II.  Quick Start
III. Really Useful Commands
IV.  Complete Command List (Available by e-mail)

=======================================================================
I. Introduction

     The internet chess server (ICS) is an online service whereby anyone
with the ability to telnet to another site can play chess with opponents
from around the world.  

     ICS was started by Michael Moore (mmo...@peruvian.utah.edu) who
wrote the first version of the code, and put up the first server (the now
defunct lark.utah.edu).  The code is currently maintained by Richard
Nash (n...@visus.com).

     There are currently 2 ICS chess servers in operation:

  Name                IP Number          Location       Moderator
  eaststar.utah.edu   (128.110.128.120)  Utah           Aaron Putnam
  eve.assumption.edu  (192.80.61.5)      Massachusetts  John Shaheen

=======================================================================

II. Quick Start

From a machine running UNIX on the internet, type:

telnet <servername> 5000
example: telnet eaststar.utah.edu 5000
      or telnet 128.110.128.120 5000

[The port number 5000 is sort of a 'magic number'.  New servers are not
 required to use it, but so far everyone has (mainly for consistency)]

Please note, the '5000' is very important!  Without it, the host computer
will think that you're a normal system user logging in instead of someone
trying to get to the chess server.  

(Some people have been having problems getting their systems to accept
the '5000' parameter; if anyone has a workaround for this, please send it
to me, and I'll include it in later versions of this document.)

Shortly, a screen will come up welcoming you to the chess server and
offering you the chance to login.  If you are a first time user, type
in any name.  If the name is not in use, the server will let you in
after you give it 'guest' as the password.  A message will also come up
informing you of how to become a registered user.  (Don't worry, it's free.  
To register, send mail with the name and password you'd like to use to
n...@visus.com or shah...@eve.assumption.edu)

Getting a game:

Step 1) Find someone to play with
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The 'who' command tells you who is online right now.

A typical 'who' looks like this --
Players                 Standard                Blitz
-------                 --------                -----
 X [reg] Desmodus       (29 /15 /5  : 1801)     (67 /65 /37 : 1726)
 1 [reg] prabhu         (194/202/29 : 1766)     (302/343/44 : 1622)
  o[unr] Mackey         (0  /0  /0  : UNR)      (0  /0  /0  : UNR)
 1 [unr] Englishman     (0  /0  /0  : UNR)      (0  /0  /0  : UNR)
   [unr] patzer         (0  /0  /0  : UNR)      (0  /0  /0  : UNR)

 ^^-- This column has the most important information in it.

    Symbol   Meaning
----------   ----------------------------------------------------------
         X - This person is currently not accepting games.  In the example,
             Desmodus is not accepting games.
Any number - This person is involved in a game.  Games on the server are
             numbered.  In the example, prabhu and Englishman are involved
             in game #1.
         o - This person is observing a game [see the observe command]
             In the example, Mackey is observing a game
     blank - This person is not involved in a game.  In the example,
             patzer is not playing a game.

Step 2) Offer a match
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The 'match' command offers a match to your selected person.  The syntax
is:

match <name> <time>

example: match patzer 15

Would request a match with patzer (who we noted wasn't currently playing or
observing a game) with time controls of 15 minutes per person in which to
complete the game.  Note: This is the only form of time controls currently
understood by ICS.

If someone requests a match with you, you will see a message like:

Unregistered standard match in TIME requested with NAME
Use <match> or <decline> to respond.

If you want the match, simply type 'match NAME TIME' where NAME is the
name from the request, and TIME is the time from the request.  If you
do not want the match, simply type 'decline NAME'.

A few notes on time here: In deciding how long you want each player to
have during a match, you should consider a couple of factors not present
in normal chess games.  1) You are playing on a computer board, and
moving imaginary pieces.  You'll probably find that it takes longer for
you to visualize the board and to type in your moves.  2) The international
network that makes ICS possible is not a perfect medium.  It experiences
fluctuations in load as well as normal transmission delays.  Because of
this, you will experience delays of between 1 second and several
minutes during your game.  (This is the 'netlag' you hear people talk about)
These factors will probably make your games take a little longer via
computer than in person, and may become critical in blitz games.  

Step 3) Moving your pieces
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
     ICS accepts move notation in either algebraic or coordinate/
absolute notation.  Absolute notation would notate moving the White
King's pawn forward two squares (P-K4) as "e2-e4".  Algebraic notation
would notate the same move as "e4".  Moving the King's Knight to King's
Bishop 3 is either "g1-f3" in coordinate or "Nf3" in algebraic.  
     If you've never used notation before, you may find coordinate
notation to be easier.  Simply find the coordinates of the piece you
want to move (the board is labeled on the left side and bottom) and
type them in, letter then number.  Next type a hypen, and finally the
coordinate of the square you want the piece to move to.
     For algebraic notation, you type a letter denoting the type of
the piece to move (nothing or P for pawns, N for knights, B for bishops,
R for rooks, Q for the queen, and K for the king) followed by the
coordinates of the square you want the piece to move to.
     In both cases, to castle kingside, type 'o-o'.  To castle queenside,
type 'o-o-o'.
     If you type a move, but ICS doesn't seem to register it, first
check that it is a legal move (you wouldn't be putting yourself in
check, for example).  Next, check that there aren't two pieces which
could make the move.  If there are, you need to add an additional
number or letter to differentiate the two pieces or use coordinate
notation.  (For example: Raf1 to move a rook at a1 to f1)  ICS responds
"Unknown command" to an ambiguous move.
     For those of you familiar with algebraic notation, there are a few
differences in the form supported by ICS.  The 'x' denoting a capture is
not supported.  For example, "dxe" doesn't work.  Simply use "de" under ICS.
(This deficiency has been corrected on the eaststar server)

Step 4) Winning and Losing
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
     ICS watches and will end the game at checkmate.  If you would like
to offer a draw to your opponent, type 'draw'.  If your opponent also
types 'draw', a draw is agreed upon.  If you would like to resign,
simply type 'resign'.
     Note that ICS doesn't know certain drawing and winning conditions.
For example, ICS doesn't know the 'sufficient mating material' rule, so you
can still lose on time, even if your opponent only has a king!

Step 5) Leaving
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Simply type 'quit' and you will be logged off.  It is considered
discourteous to logoff in the middle of a game.  If you have to
leave, tell your opponent ('say <message>' see: Useful Commands)
and either 'save', 'resign' or 'adjourn' the game.
=======================================================================

III. Really Useful Commands
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem: My screen got messed up by line noise/too many messages/etc.
Type :  'refresh'

This command redraws the board.  It's useful if a lot of messages have
gone by (if you don't like the messages, quiet them down by typing 'quiet'
and/or 'inform') or if line noise has messed up your screen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem: I'd like to say something to my opponent
Type :  'say <message>'
example: say Hi there, nice to meet you.

This command sends the message you type in to your opponent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem: I'd like to say something to someone else
Type :  'tell <name> <message>'
example: tell patzer Hi There, nice to meet you.

This command sends your message to the person named in <name>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem: The beep is making too much noise/causing people to look at me
Type :  'bell'

This command toggles the bell that sound after each move on or off
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem: I don't like the way the board looks
Type :  'style'

If you're online from a normal text terminal, there are a few different
board styles built into ICS.  Type 'style' to see a list.  Choose one,
then type 'style <num>' where <num> is the number of the style you want
to try.  

Alternately, if you are running on a system with X-windows, you can
use XICS, an Xchess based interface to ICS.  XICS is available by
anonymous ftp from:

Site: export.lcs.mit.edu
File: /contrib/xics.both.tar.Z

Site: sevenlayer.cs.wisc.edu
File: /pub/xics.epi.small.tar.Z and /pub/xics.tar.Z

See the rec.games.chess FAQ if you need help using ftp.

Many thanks to the anonymous author of XICS and Urban Koistinen
(md85-...@nada.kth.se) for this improvement to ICS life.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem: I just want to watch for awhile before I try playing a game.
Type   : 'observe <game#>'
Example: observe 0
   This will observe game 0 as named by the list of games shown by
   typing 'games', or looking at the game number given by 'who'.

This will let you watch the game you specify.  Each time someone moves,
you will get an update on your screen.  Observing will turn off either
when the game ends, or when you type 'observe <game#>' again.  (It really
just toggles observing on and off.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Problem: Has <name> been around recently?
Type   : 'last <name>'
example: last Mackey

If the user who's name you typed has been on the server lately, a
note showing the time he or she last logged on will appear.  If you
type 'last' with no arguments, you will see the handles of the last
20 or so people to login.
=======================================================================