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ChessMAGIC! 4.01 (c)1991-93 KnightWare All Rights Reserved KnightWare/Bud Bradley P.O. Box 464711 Lawrenceville, GA 30246 * * Support BBS * * The IntelliLink BBS Atlanta, GA (404) 978-2893 14.4/24hrs PLAYER'S REFERENCE MANUAL Copyright (c)1991-93 Bud Bradley/KnightWare All Rights Reserved I N T R O D U C T I O N This document was written as a navigational aid for ChessMAGIC! users and is a subset of the master "Sysop's Reference Manual." This manual should benefit all ChessMAGIC! users, whether their favorite BBS is running the unregistered demo shareware package or the full registered version. Those of you able to play on a fully registered ChessMAGIC! system, will enjoy the many added benefits and features described. Depending upon how your Sysop decides to configure his ChessMAGIC! system, you will be able to participate in various gaming areas (i.e. Rated, Unrated, Teams, Tournaments, etc.). ChessMAGIC!, unlike other BBS chess programs, uses the same algorithm for calculating its ratings as does the USCF or the CFC, depending on how your Sysop configured ChessMAGIC!. These ratings will be consistent throughout each and every one of your rated chess areas. Unlike ChessMAGIC!, other BBS chess programs maintain no master records, so they are unable to provide for maximum ratings efficiency and accuracy. ChessMAGIC! is highly integrated in the fact that it carries only 1 rating per player, no matter how many rated areas there are. All player data is maintained in a centralized data base and shared by all rated chess areas. This provides a more realistic rating system per board. More good news is, all areas are accessible from the ChessMAGIC! menu. No more need for a sysop to set up different door menu options. T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s Section Title 1.0 ALL ABOUT THE MENU 1.1 Menu Use and Option Descriptions 2.0 PLAYING AREA 2.1 Making Moves 2.2 Board Commands/Options 2.3 NotePad & Message Editors 3.0 USER vs USER IN REAL TIME! 4.0 GAME INQUIRY/DOWNLOAD 5.0 CMReader - Graphic Game Viewer 6.0 CMCom - Online Graphical Interface ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.0 ALL ABOUT THE MENU ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shown below, the top box of the main menu provides the ChessMAGIC! credits, registration status/name, current chess play area and whether a single or multinode version. ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ KnightWare ChessMAGIC! Version 1.41 (c)1991 │ │ *UnREGISTERED COPY* │ │ GAME AREA TITLE Single Node Version │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The menu selections are shown in the next three boxes. To select a command, enter the highlighted letter and press <ENTER>. ┌────[ GAMES ]─────┐ ┌─────[ STATS ]──────┐ ┌─────[ MISC ]──────┐ │ Play Your Games │ │ Ratings │ │ ? = Help │ │ Start New Games │ │ Win/Loss % │ │ Information │ │ Join New Games │ │ Game History │ │ + COLOR TO Laptop │ │ View Games │ │ Player List │ │ Design Board │ │ Play Online Game │ │ See Who's Online │ │ Select Game Area │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Game Inquiry │ │ │ │ Quit/Exit to BBS │ └──────────────────┘ └────────────────────┘ └───────────────────┘ The last box shows player name, statistics and current game status. The unregistered version will not update the wins, losses or draws categories. ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Wins: Losses: Draws: │ │ │ │ Last Access: Your move in Games │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.1 Menu Items and Descriptions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [ GAMES ] Commands P Play Your Games -Used for actual game play. A list of your current games along with play status (i.e. flagged if your move) is shown. * S Start New Games -Used to open new games as white or black. An existing opponent may also be specified, thus reserving games to prevent otherwise open joining by any player. * J Join New Games -Used to join open games that are awaiting opponents. V View Active -View/Replay any game currently in progress. C View Completed -View/Replay any completed game. O Online REAL TIME -Used to enable real-time online play against a human opponent on another node! I Game Inquiry -Used to view and/or download completed games. * NOTE: Upon using one of these commands, you must use command A to actually play in your games. [ STATS ] Commands R Ratings - Prepares/displays a ratings report. W Win/Loss % - Same as above, but sorted by percentages. G Game History - Lists completed games detailing wins and losses. L Player List - Displays complete list of current players. H See Who's Online - Displays status of other nodes/players. [ MISC ] Commands ? Help - Displays detailed menu information describing commands and their functions. F Information - Product credits and registration information. + Color Setting - Current display setting, will toggle through three possible choices: COLOR to Mono MONO to Laptop LAPTOP to Color D Design Board - Displays game board in current color and tile configuration, allowing user to customize white and black squares to suit their own tastes. A Select Area - Used to move from one gaming area to another, based on Sysop configuration. Shortcut use is Axx where xx = area number. (unregistered version only provides two areas) Q Quit to BBS - Exits ChessMAGIC! and returns to BBS. X Exit to BBS - ditto ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.0 PLAYING AREA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The playing board is drawn using ANSI graphics. White pieces are white letters on a black background and black pieces are black letters on a white background. As shown, the pieces are letter equivalents: P = Pawn R = Rook N = Knight Q = Queen B = Bishop K = King Game data displayed includes game number, current move number, player names, ratings and clock times. The player whose move it is, is flagged with a "->" beside that player's name. The options box shows the available playing area commands. The status box will display various status messages when needed such as White Wins, Game Drawn, Message Waiting, etc. These messages will be highlighted and blinking, so as not to be overlooked. All moves and commands are entered in the designated "Enter Command/Move" box. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.1 Making moves ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Algebraic notation (i.e. e2-e4) is REQUIRED when making ChessMAGIC! moves. A delimiter is also required in move entry, consisting of any character (i.e. e2 e4, d2;d4, b1=c3, etc.). The only exception to algebraic notation is when castling. In that case, you MUST move as o-o (king-side) or o-o-o (queen-side). Use lowercase letters, NOT the numeral 0! After entry of your command/move, press <ENTER> and the system will perform upon your request. Invalid commands/moves will not be allowed, nor acted upon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.2 Board Commands/Options ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ C - Used to display white & black list of captured pieces and their corresponding point values. D - Used to offer your opponent a draw, but only after you have made your move. Until your opponent makes his next move, the draw offer remains. Once your opponent has moved, the draw offer is automatically removed. R - Used to resign your game. U - Used to take back your current move. I - Used to invert (i.e. reverse) the game board. K - Used to kill a waiting game. If someone reserves a game and has specified you as their opponent, but you don't wish to participate, this option is available. The game will be deleted without affecting either ratings or statistics (i.e. it never existed). L - Used to display complete list of game moves. M - Used to enter a message to your opponent (see next page for detailed description). N - Used to go to the [N]ext available game whether in view or play mode. When in play mode, this will take you to next game in which it is your move. By specifying a valid game number, you can go directly to that game without stepping through several others: n34 (will step directly to game #34) P - Used to access ChessMAGIC!'s Note Pad. This will enable you to enter private notes (unseen by your opponent) to yourself as an aid in the current game. (See next page for full description.) F - Used to refresh the game screen in case something such as line noise causes things to get jumbled. V - Used to replay a game online. The commands will appear in the status box, [F]orward, [B]ackward, [R]eset and [Q]uit. F = advances 1 move. B = Backs up 1 move. R = resets the board to the starting position. Q = Quit the view option. T - If/Then Moves. This feature permits a player to enter up to 20 moves in advance. The player can attempt to guess what his opponent's reply will be, and if it matches, it will proceed in making the move contained in the If/Then list. When selecting this feature, the player will make moves for both sides. To redo or delete the if/then moves, quit the if/thens, then select if/thens again. The previous if/then moves will be cleared (deleted). There is no way to undo a single if/then move. You clear the entire set out and start over. Q - Used to quit from play mode and return to ChessMAGIC!'s main menu. X - Used to exit ChessMAGIC! and return to BBS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.3 Note Pad & Message Editors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [ NotePad ] Each player has their own Note Pad for keeping game notes within each and every game. These notes are completely private and unviewable by their opponents or other observers. [ Messages ] Public notes can be entered by each game player to their opponents. Viewable by everyone, only the players of that game are able to access the editing features. Users are notified of waiting mail. When selected to read/enter a message, additional message entry options are displayed in the "status" window: ┌─[ Status ]────────────────────────┐ │ [L]ong [S]hort [V]iew [A]bort MSG │ └───────────────────────────────────┘ L - used to enter a long message, described below S - used to enter a single line message V - used to view long message A - used to abort message mode, returning to play mode Long Message Entry/Edit - The game board will clear and in its place will be a message entry area for up to 23 lines of text. Simply begin typing, hitting <ENTER> at end of each line. Don't worry about typos, those can be corrected by using the special edit features. However, the backspace is destructive for immediate corrections, if you wish. The <ESC> key can be pressed anytime to bring up the following command options: Commands: [A]bort, [E]dit, [H]elp, [S]ave, or [C]ontinue These commands are explained as follows: A - Used to abort the current message entry session without saving anything. E - Used to enter cursor placement mode for editing typos and such. <NumLock> MUST be ON in order for cursor positioning to work. Special editing commands are available in this mode and are explained below. Cursor movement corresponds to your numeric keypad as follows: Cursor LEFT = 4 or Left Arrow Cursor RIGHT = 6 or Right Arrow Cursor DOWN = 2 or Down Arrow Cursor UP = 8 or Up Arrow Other editing functions are performed with additional keys on your numeric keypad: Insert space = 0 or <Ins> Delete to end-of-line = 1 or <End> Delete character = . or <Del> Cursor to "home" position = 7 or <Home> Delete entire screen = 9 or <PgUp> The Q command is special in that it exits from the cursor/edit mode and returns to the command line options. H - Used to display helpful information about editor use. S - Used to save message and return to the game screen. The opponent is automatically notified of the awaiting note. C - Used to pick up where the cursor was left for continuing with the message entry process. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.0 USER vs USER IN REAL TIME! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Version 3.xx offers a much improved interface to the Online Play. Now all that is required, is to select "O" (online play) from the main menu, then join the "Waiting Room". You can then go anywhere in ChessMAGIC! and you can be paged by another player, or you can page another player that is on the "Waiting Room" list. The "Waiting Room" is designated for players wishing to play a online or cross node game with another player. Only players that are listed in the Waiting Room can be paged to be engaged in an online game. To place your name in the Waiting Room, enter "J" and press <ENTER>. You will see your name added to the list. You may now page another player, or go elsewhere in ChessMAGIC!. If another player wants to play you, you can be paged. To remove your name from the list or leave the Waiting Room, enter "L" and press <ENTER>. You will see your name removed from the list. You can no longer be paged. Upon logging off from ChessMAGIC!, you will automatically be removed from the Waiting Room list. To page another player, enter the ID of player to be paged and press <ENTER>. The player will be notified, and you will receive a response from the player. Be patient, as the player may be between menus or engrossed in a game, so it may take several seconds for a response. * PLEASE STAY in the Waiting Room until the other person arrives. * * If you leave before the other person arrives, the LINK with that * * person will be lost and you will need to page them again. * To exit the "Waiting Room", press "ESC" to return to the previous menu. Summary of Commands =================== H = Help J = Join the Waiting Room L = Leave the Waiting Room nnn = ID of a player to page ESC = Exit to the main menu Acknowledgment of a Page ======================= You will receive a Y (yes) or N (no) response when someone pages you. If you answer Y, you need to go to the waiting room quickly! After entering the Waiting Room a menu will be displayed. The person INITIATING the page has control of the menu selections, with the exception of Quit. Either player may exit from the linked session. Session Menu ======================= The session menu will be displayed after a player has been paged, and then enters the Waiting Room. Of course if they're already in the Waiting Room, the menu will be displayed immediately. ************************************************************* * Online Selections * * <1> Chat * * <2> Start New Game * * <3> Continue Existing Game * * <4> Select Game Area * * Enter Selection [ ] <Q>uit (Terminates Session) * ************************************************************* <1> Chat : initiate chat; You should chat first to decide on game settings. Chatting data will not be transmitted until you press <ENTER>. <2> Start New Game : Start new game. Select colors/time controls. <3> Continue Existing Game : Select an existing game with your opponent. The selection is identical to the one on main menu with the exception it only displays games between you and your opponent. <4> Select Game Area : Change game area. Choose between rated or non rated areas. This should be done FIRST before selecting <2> or <3> <Q> Quit : Terminates session, removes both players from the waiting room and returns both to the main menu. Possible Delays! ======================== You should be aware that sometimes there may be a delay in response. There's alot going on in the background so be patient! Especially if you have control of the menus. Your opponent may be following slightly behind you and baud rates make a big difference. Time Control Default ======================== A player will default a game when their time exceeds the time control selected. It must be noted that the time you see for your opponent may be different on their screen due to traffic delays. This only occurs when it is their move. However, after each move the time showing on their screen as of that move, will be displayed or refreshed correctly on your screen. Playing a Game ======================== Playing a game is the same as you normally would with the exception of some disabled functions. Undo is not permitted in online play. Listing moves, displaying captures, long messages are not permitted. You can send short messages, resign or request draws. After completing a game, you may return to the Session Menu to start another one, or exit out of online play. Once a player EXITS the playing area, the other player will AUTOMATICALLY be exited as well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4.0 GAME INQUIRY/DOWNLOAD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a powerful feature and one that will be quite popular with the serious chess buffs! The I option enables your users to view game stats and DOWNLOAD any/all games (active or completed) based on specific search criteria! NOTE: This feature WILL NOT WORK, if you don't have LHA v2.13 or later! You must place it to be found within your normal PATH. If you do not have this utility, download it from KnightWare BBS. The following information will first be displayed: Search Options Search Criteria Description ================ ==================== ========================= [A]rea : ** Unrated Chess ** game area [D]ate........ : ALL date to start search [P]layer...... : ALL first name is OK [G]ame # Range : ALL low/high game numbers [S]tatus...... : B Active/Completed/Both Format [1] [2] : 1 = CMReader 2 = Chessmaster 3000 Set criteria, then [V]iew Stats Prior to Downloading then [R]eceive/Download Games Using the default settings, ALL games (active and completed) in the current game area will be found when the V command is used. To narrow the field of search, specific information may be entered: [A]rea : Select the game area for inquiries. [D]ate : Games with dates prior to that entered will be ignored. [P]layer : A full name, first name or partial first name may be entered (i.e. by typing in JOH, all games matching the player name of JOH will be found -- this could be John Barley, Johann Sebastian, Johnathan Daniels, etc). [G]ame # Range: This would allow you to select a range of games or even a single game. If single game, specify that game number for start and end. [S]atus : Self-explanatory. Completed, Active or Both. Format : Game download format for offline viewing. Use the above search criteria in any combination you wish to narrow your field of search to specific game information. The [V]iew command MUST be used BEFORE the [R]eceive command! The V command will display the game statistics based on your specified search criteria. The [R]eceive command is used ONLY AFTER the [V]iew command! After choosing R, a list of transfer protocols specified by the Sysop will be displayed. Choose one and ChessMAGIC! begins sending the requested games in a self-extracting archive. 12.txt 23.txt 36.txt ...etc. The file name is the game number with the extension of .txt. Once these members are extracted on the user's end, the games may be easily viewed/studied offline. We suggest you download and use the program available on KnightWare BBS as CMREADxx.EXE -- The ChessMAGIC! Offline Reader. If you prefer, the games can be received in a format Chessmaster 3000 can utilize. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5.0 CMReader - ChessMAGIC! Offline Game Viewer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CMReader is a graphical offline game viewer. You can download games from ChessMAGIC!'s Inquiry feature and replay them from start to finish in CGA or EGA graphics! This product can be downloaded from KnightWare BBS (404) 978-2893. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6.0 CMCom - ChessMAGIC! Graphical Interface ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CMCom lets you access ChessMAGIC! in stunning CGA/EGA graphics! Now leave ANSI behind and enjoy your games in graphics the way they should be played. This product can be downloaded from KnightWare BBS (404) 978-2893. (mouse supported)