An Internet Chess Server, or ICS, is a place on the
+Internet where people can get together to play chess, watch other
+people's games, or just chat. You can use either telnet or a
+client program like XBoard to connect to the server. There are
+thousands of registered users on the different ICS hosts, and it is
+not unusual to meet 200 on both chessclub.com and freechess.org.
+
+
Most people can just type xboard -ics to start XBoard as an ICS
+client. Invoking XBoard in this way connects you to the Internet
+Chess Club (ICC), a commercial ICS. You can log in there as a guest
+even if you do not have a paid account. To connect to the largest
+Free ICS (FICS), use the command xboard -ics -icshost freechess.org
+instead, or substitute a different host name to connect to your
+favorite ICS.
+For a full description of command-line options that control
+the connection to ICS and change the default values of ICS options, see
+ICS options.
+
+
While you are running XBoard as an ICS client,
+you use the terminal window that you started XBoard from
+as a place to type in commands and read information that is
+not available on the chessboard.
-
An Internet Chess Server, or ICS, is a place on the
-Internet where people can get together to play chess, watch other
-people's games, or just chat. You can use either telnet or a
-client program like XBoard to connect to the server. There are
-thousands of registered users on the different ICS hosts, and it is
-not unusual to meet 200 on both chessclub.com and freechess.org.
-
-Most people can just type xboard -ics to start XBoard as an ICS
-client. Invoking XBoard in this way connects you to the Internet
-Chess Club (ICC), a commercial ICS. You can log in there as a guest
-even if you do not have a paid account. To connect to the largest
-Free ICS (FICS), use the command xboard -ics -icshost freechess.org
-instead, or substitute a different host name to connect to your
-favorite ICS.
-For a full description of command-line options that control
-the connection to ICS and change the default values of ICS options, see
-ICS options.
-
-While you are running XBoard as an ICS client,
-you use the terminal window that you started XBoard from
-as a place to type in commands and read information that is
-not available on the chessboard.
-
-The first time you need to use the terminal is to enter your login name
-and password, if you are a registered player. (You don't need to do
-this manually; the icsLogon option can do it for you.
-see ICS options.) If you are not registered,
-enter g as your name, and the server will pick a
-unique guest name for you.
-
-Some useful ICS commands
-include
+
The first time you need to use the terminal is to enter your login name
+and password, if you are a registered player. (You don't need to do
+this manually; the icsLogon option can do it for you.
+see ICS options.) If you are not registered,
+enter g as your name, and the server will pick a
+unique guest name for you.
+
+
Some useful ICS commands
+include
-
help <topic>
to get help on the given <topic>. To get a list of possible topics type
-help without topic. Try the help command before you ask other
-people on the server for help.
-
-For example help register tells you how to become a registered
-ICS player.
-
who <flags>
to see a list of people who are logged on. Administrators
-(people you should talk to if you have a problem) are marked
-with the character ‘*’, an asterisk. The <flags> allow you to
-display only selected players: For example, who of shows a
-list of players who are interested in playing but do not have
-an opponent.
-
games
to see what games are being played
-
match <player> [<mins>] [<inc>]
to challenge another player to a game. Both opponents get <mins> minutes
-for the game, and <inc> seconds will be added after each move.
-If another player challenges you, the server asks if you want to
-accept the challenge; use the accept or decline commands
-to answer.
-
accept
decline
to accept or decline another player's offer.
-The offer may be to start a new game, or to agree to a
-draw, adjourn or abort the current game. See Action Menu.
-
-If you have more than one pending offer (for example, if more than one player
-is challenging you, or if your opponent offers both a draw and to adjourn the
-game), you have to supply additional information, by typing something
-like accept <player>, accept draw, or draw.
-
draw
adjourn
abort
asks your opponent to terminate a game by mutual agreement. Adjourned
-games can be continued later.
-Your opponent can either decline your offer or accept it (by typing the
-same command or typing accept). In some cases these commands work
-immediately, without asking your opponent to agree. For example, you can
-abort the game unilaterally if your opponent is out of time, and you can claim
-a draw by repetition or the 50-move rule if available simply by typing
-draw.
-
finger <player>
to get information about the given <player>. (Default: yourself.)
-
vars
to get a list of personal settings
-
set <var> <value>
to modify these settings
-
observe <player>
to observe an ongoing game of the given <player>.
-
examine
oldmoves
to review a recently completed game
+
help <topic>
to get help on the given <topic>. To get a list of possible topics type
+help without topic. Try the help command before you ask other
+people on the server for help.
+
+
For example help register tells you how to become a registered
+ICS player.
+
who <flags>
to see a list of people who are logged on. Administrators
+(people you should talk to if you have a problem) are marked
+with the character ‘*’, an asterisk. The <flags> allow you to
+display only selected players: For example, who of shows a
+list of players who are interested in playing but do not have
+an opponent.
+
games
to see what games are being played
+
match <player> [<mins>] [<inc>]
to challenge another player to a game. Both opponents get <mins> minutes
+for the game, and <inc> seconds will be added after each move.
+If another player challenges you, the server asks if you want to
+accept the challenge; use the accept or decline commands
+to answer.
+
accept
decline
to accept or decline another player's offer.
+The offer may be to start a new game, or to agree to a
+draw, adjourn or abort the current game. See Action Menu.
+
+
If you have more than one pending offer (for example, if more than one player
+is challenging you, or if your opponent offers both a draw and to adjourn the
+game), you have to supply additional information, by typing something
+like accept <player>, accept draw, or draw.
+
draw
adjourn
abort
asks your opponent to terminate a game by mutual agreement. Adjourned
+games can be continued later.
+Your opponent can either decline your offer or accept it (by typing the
+same command or typing accept). In some cases these commands work
+immediately, without asking your opponent to agree. For example, you can
+abort the game unilaterally if your opponent is out of time, and you can claim
+a draw by repetition or the 50-move rule if available simply by typing
+draw.
+
finger <player>
to get information about the given <player>. (Default: yourself.)
+
vars
to get a list of personal settings
+
set <var> <value>
to modify these settings
+
observe <player>
to observe an ongoing game of the given <player>.
+
examine
oldmoves
to review a recently completed game
-
-Some special XBoard features are activated when you are
-in examine mode on ICS. See the descriptions of the menu commands
-‘Forward’, ‘Backward’, ‘Pause’, ‘ICS Client’,
-and ‘Stop Examining’ on the Step Menu, Mode Menu, and
-Options Menu.
-
+
+
Some special XBoard features are activated when you are
+in examine mode on ICS. See the descriptions of the menu commands
+‘Forward’, ‘Backward’, ‘Pause’, ‘ICS Client’,
+and ‘Stop Examining’ on the Edit Menu, Mode Menu, and
+Action Menu.