intro6

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.

  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 a list of the various commands
that you may want to learn about (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
    -------      --------------------------------------------
    match        request a match with another user 
    abort        request that a game be canceled
    accept       accept a request from a user
    adjourn      request that the match be stopped, saved and continued at
                 another time
    decline      decline a request from a user
    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:  match  simuls  [and the individual commands]

[Last modified: June 16, 1995 -- Friar]