Cream of the Crop 22/Cream of the Crop 22.iso/os2/os2igc01.zip/OS2IGC.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1995-09-01 | 614KB | 4,510 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. OS/2 Internet Go Server Client Program (OS2IGC) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The OS/2 Internet Go Server Client Program (OS2IGC) is a program that allows
you to play Go through the Internet Go Server (IGS).

The following topics will guide you through the use of the OS/2 Internet Go
Server Client Program:

     Terminal View - Communicating with the IGS
     Who View - Seeing who is logged on and interacting with them
     Games View - Watching the games that are being played
     Configuring OS2IGC

 The following topic is a reference guide to the IGS commands:

     Help For The Internet Go Server

 The following topics contain information about this Beta Test:

     Beta Test News
     About The Author


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Terminal View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Terminal View allows you to send simple commands to the Internet Go Server
and receive responses from the IGS.

The following topics will guide you through the use of the Terminal View:

     Terminal View window
     Pop-up menu items
     Internet Go Server commands


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.1. Terminal View WIndow ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Terminal View window consists of an output field that displays messages
from the Internet Go Server and an input field where you can type commands to
be sent to the IGS.

When you open the Terminal View, the OS2IGC program connects to the Internet Go
Server. This requires that you have a TCP/IP connection established with the
Internet. If you haven't connected to the Internet before opening the Terminal
View, the OS2IGCprogram won't be able to connect to the Internet Go Server.

Once a connection is made with the Internet Go Server, the IGS will prompt you
to login to the server. If you previously specified your Login Name and
Password on the User page of the OS2IGC Settings Notebook, the program will
automatically respond to the login and password prompts from the IGS.  If you
have not specified this information, you will have to type your login name and
password when the IGS prompts you.

After you have successfully logged on to the server, you may send any IGS
command to the server.  If you send a who command to the IGS, the OS2IGC
program will automatically open the Who View when it receives the list of
people that are logged on to the server.  If you send a games command to the
IGS, the OS2IGC program will automatically open the Games View when it receives
the list of active games from the server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2.2. Terminal View Pop-up Menu Items ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Terminal View pop-up menu contains the following items:

 Connect   Attempts to connect to the Internet Go Server.  You can select this
           item if the OS2IGC program has failed to connect to the IGS (and you
           have fixed the problem) or after you have disconnected from the IGS.
 Disconnect Allows you to disconnect from the Internet Go Server.  If you were
           playing a game when you disconnect from the server, the game is
           automatically adjourned and saved by the server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Terminal View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Terminal View is an interactive window that allows you to send simple
commands to the Internet Go Server and see the responses from the server.

For a detailed explanation of each field in the Terminal View window, select
from the list below:

     Output field
     Input field


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Output Field ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The output field is the large area at the top of the Terminal View window. It
displays all messages received from the Internet Go Server.

You can scroll through old messages by using the scroll bar at the right of the
output field.

You can select text in the output field, but there is currently nothing you can
do with the selected text.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Input Field ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The input field is the small area at the bottom of the Terminal View window.

You can type any legal Internet Go Server command in this input field.  When
you press the Enter key, the OS2IGC program sends your command to the IGS.

For most commands, the response to your command is displayed in the output
field. However, the following commands perform special actions:

 Games     Opens the Games View
 Who       Opens the Who View


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Who View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Who View displays a list of all players currently logged on to the Internet
Go Server.

From the Who View window, you can interact with any of the players.

The following topics will guide you through the use of the Who View:

     Who View Window
     Pop-up Menu Items
     Interacting With A Player


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1. Who View Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Who View window is a details view of the folder containing Player Objects
for each player currently logged on to the Internet Go Server.

When you open the Who View, the OS2IGC program sends a Who command to the IGS
to get the information about who is logged on to the server.  It builds a
Player Object for each player and displays it in the Who View Window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2. Who View Pop-up Menu Items ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Who View pop-up menu contains the following items:

 Refresh now Sends a Who command to the IGS to update the information in the
           Who View window.
 Sort      Allows you to sort the Who View window by the player's names or by
           their ranks on the IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3. Interacting With A Player ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Player Objects that are displayed in the Who View window allow you to
interact with the players logged on to the Internet Go Server.

From the Player Object, you can:

     DIsplay The Player's Statistics
     Chat With The Player
     Send A Message To The Player
     Ask The Player For A Game
     Send A Match Command To The Player
     Send An Automatch Command To The Player


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Player Object ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Player Object describes a player logged on to the Internet Go Server.

The Statistics View of a Player Object is a Settings Notebook that contains the
information returned by the Stats command for that player.

The Chat View of a Player Object is an interactive window that allows you to
exchange messages with the player.

The following topics will guide you through the use of the Player Object:

     Statistics View
     Chat View
     Sending A Message To The Player
     Asking The Player For A Game
     Sending A Match Command To The Player
     Sending An Automatch Command To The Player


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. Statistics View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Statistics View of the Player Object consists of a Settings Notebook that
contains the information about the player. This information is returned from
the Internet Go Server in response to a Stats command.

The Settings Notebook looks somewhat different if you choose your own Player
Object. The pages in your Player Object allow you to modify some of the data,
which is automatically sent back to the IGS when you close the Settings
Notebook. This allows you to update your own player information without
learning the required IGS commands.

In either case, the Settings Notebook may contain the following pages:

     Stats
     Rating
     Info
     Defaults
     Options
     On Server
     Last Access


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1.1. Stats Settings Notebook Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Stats page shows you the basic statistics for the player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1.2. Rating Settings Notebook Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Rating page shows you the ratings information maintained by the IGS for the
player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1.3. Info Settings Notebook Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Info page shows you the player's information.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1.4. Defaults Settings Notebook Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Defaults page shows you the default settings for the player. This
information is used by the Automatch command when setting up a match with
another player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1.5. Options Settings Notebook Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Options page shows you your player options. This page is only displayed if
you are displaying the Settings Notebook for your Player Object.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1.6. On Server Settings Notebook Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The On Server page shows you the information about a player who is currently
logged on to the Internet Go Server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1.7. Last Access Settings Notebook Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Last Access page shows you the information about a player who is currently
not logged on to the Internet Go Server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Stats ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This page displays information returned by the Internet Go Server about a
player.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Language
     E-Mail Address
     IP Address
     Chosen Game
     Claimed Rank
     Registration Date


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Language ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Language field displays the language selected by the player in the last
Language command he sent to the IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> E-Mail Address ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The E-Mail Address field displays the electronic mail address for the player.
This field is set by sending a Register command to the IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> IP Address ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The IP Address field displays the IP address for a guest.  Since this player is
not registered with the IGS, he doesn't have an E-Mail address to display.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Chosen Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Chosen Game field displays the game selected by the player in the last
Choice command sent to the IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Claimed Rank ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Claimed Rank field displays the rank claimed by the player in the last Rank
command sent to the IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Registration Date ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Registration Date field displays the date and time the player registered
with the IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Stats ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This page displays your information returned by the Internet Go Server.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Language
     E-Mail Address
     Chosen Game
     Claimed Rank
     Registration Date


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Language ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Language field displays the language you selected in the last Language
command you sent to the IGS. If you never sent a Language command to the IGS,
your language is default

If you want to change your selected language, open the list box (by clicking on
the arrow at the right of the list box) and select the language you want. When
you close the Settings Notebook, OS2IGC will automatically send a Language
command to the IGS to change your language in its player profile.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, your selected language will be
changed to default.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> E-Mail Address ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The E-Mail Address field displays your electronic mail address.

If you want to change your e-mail address, make the changes in the entry field.
When you close the Settings Notebook, OS2IGC will automatically send a Register
command to the IGS to change your e-mail address in its player profile.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, your e-mail address will be
changed to the address that was originally returned by the IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Chosen Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Chosen Game field displays the game you selected in the last Choice command
you sent to the IGS. If you never sent a Choice command to the IGS, your
selected game is Go.

If you want to change your selected game, open the list box (by clicking on the
arrow at the right of the list box) and select the game you want. When you
close the Settings Notebook, OS2IGC will automatically send a Choice command to
the IGS to change your chosen game in its player profile.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, your selected game will be
changed to go.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Claimed Rank ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Claimed Rank field displays the rank you claimed in the last Rank command
you sent to the IGS. If you never sent a Rank command to the IGS, your claimed
rank is NR.

If you want to change your claimed rank, use the arrows at the right of the
spin button to select a new rank.  When you close the Settings Notebook, OS2IGC
will automatically send a Rank command to the IGS to change your claimed rank
in its player profile.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, your claimed rank will be
changed to NR.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Registration Date ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Registration Date field displays the date and time you registered with the
IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Rating ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This page displays the rating information returned by the Internet Go Server
about a player.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Rating
     Rated Games Played
     Wins
     Losses


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Rating ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Rating field displays the player's rating as maintained by the IGS.

If this field is followed by an asterisk (*), the rating is an official IGS
rating.  This indicates that the rating was calculated from enough IGS rated
games to insure that the rating is valid.  If this field is not followed by an
asterisk, it is an approximate rating based on the player's claimed rank and
the games he has played.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Rated Games ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Rated Games field displays the number of games the player has played with
other players that have official IGS ratings.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Wins ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Wins field displays the number of games the player has won while playing on
the IGS.

The player can reset this field to zero by sending two Reset commands to the
IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Losses ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Losses field displays the number of games the player has lost.

The player can reset this field to zero by sending two Reset commands to the
IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Info ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This page displays information returned by the Internet Go Server about a
player.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Player Information


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Player Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Player Information field displays the information the player last sent to
the IGS with the Info command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Info ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This page displays your information returned by the Internet Go Server.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Player Information


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Player Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Player Information field displays the information you last sent to the IGS
with the Info command. If you never sent an Info command to the IGS this field
contains <None>

If you want to change your player information, make the changes in the entry
field.  When you close the Settings Notebook, OS2IGC will automatically send an
Info command to the IGS to change your player information in its player
profile.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Defaults ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This page displays default settings returned by the Internet Go Server for a
player.  This information is used by the Automatch command when setting up a
match with another player.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Time
     Board Size
     Byo-yomi Time
     Byo-yomi Stones


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Time field displays the number of minutes of basic time for a game
established by the Automatch command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Board Size ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Board Size field displays the size of the board for a game established by
the Automatch command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Byo-yomi Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Byo-yomi Time field displays the length of each byo-yomi period (in
minutes) for a game established by the Automatch command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Byo-yomi Stones ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Byo-yomi Stones field displays the number of stones that must be played
within each byo-yomi period for a game established by the Automatch command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Defaults ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This page displays your default settings returned by the Internet Go Server.
This information is used by the Automatch command when setting up a match with
another player.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Time
     Board Size
     Byo-yomi Time
     Byo-yomi Stones


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Time field displays the number of minutes of basic time for a game
established by the Automatch command.

If you want to change your default basic time, modify the value in the entry
field. When you close the Settings Notebook, your new default time will be sent
back to the Internet Go Server in a Defs command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, your basic time will be changed
to 90 minutes.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Board Size ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Board Size field displays the size of the board for a game established by
the Automatch command.

If you want to change your default board size, modify the value in the entry
field. When you close the Settings Notebook, your new default board size will
be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Defs command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, your default board size will be
changed to 19.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Byo-yomi Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Byo-yomi Time field displays the length of each byo-yomi period (in
minutes) for a game established by the Automatch command.

If you want to change your default byo-yomi time, modify the value in the entry
field. When you close the Settings Notebook, your new default byo-yomi time
will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Defs command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, your default byo-yomi time will
be changed to 10 minutes.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Byo-yomi Stones ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Byo-yomi Stones field displays the number of stones you must play within
each byo-yomi period for a game established by the Automatch command.

If you want to change your default number of byo-yomi stones, modify the value
in the entry field. When you close the Settings Notebook, your new default
number of byo-yomi stones will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Defs
command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, your default number of byo-yomi
stones will be changed to 25.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Options ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This page displays your player options returned by the Internet Go Server.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Automail
     Bell
     Chatter
     Client
     Kibitz
     Looking
     Open
     Quiet
     Shout
     Verbose


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Automail ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Automail check box indicates whether or not you want the Internet Go Server
to mail you a list of the moves when you complete a match.

If you change the state of this check box, when you close the Settings Notebook
your new selection will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Toggle
command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, this check box will become
unchecked.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Bell ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Bell check box indicates whether or not you want the alarm to sound when
redrawing a board.

If you change the state of this check box, when you close the Settings Notebook
your new selection will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Toggle
command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, this check box will become
checked.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Chatter ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Chatter check box indicates whether or not you want to receive messages
from other players issuing the Chatter command for games you are observing.

If you change the state of this check box, when you close the Settings Notebook
your new selection will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Toggle
command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, this check box will become
unchecked.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Client ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Client check box indicates whether or not your software is an Internet Go
Server Client Program.

Note:  You cannot change the state of this check box. The OS2IGC program
requires that you be running in Client Mode.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Kibitz ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Kibitz check box indicates whether or not you want to receive messages from
other players issuing the Kibitz command for games you are observing.

If you change the state of this check box, when you close the Settings Notebook
your new selection will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Toggle
command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, this check box will become
checked.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Looking ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Looking check box indicates whether or not you are looking for a match. If
this check box is checked, the information returned for you by a Who command
includes a "!" symbol.

If you change the state of this check box, when you close the Settings Notebook
your new selection will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Toggle
command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, this check box will become
unchecked.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Open check box indicates whether or not you are available to accept Match
requests from other players.

If you change the state of this check box, when you close the Settings Notebook
your new selection will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Toggle
command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, this check box will become
checked.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Quiet ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Quiet check box indicates whether or not you want to be notified when
people logon or logoff from the Internet Go Server and whether or not you want
to automatically see game results.

If you change the state of this check box, when you close the Settings Notebook
your new selection will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Toggle
command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, this check box will become
checked.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Shout ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Shout check box indicates whether or not you want to see messages broadcast
by other players using the Shout command.

Note:  This option does not affect your reception of system messages.

If you change the state of this check box, when you close the Settings Notebook
your new selection will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Toggle
command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, this check box will become
checked.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Verbose ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Verbose check box indicates whether you want full boards or only the last
move sent to you.

If you change the state of this check box, when you close the Settings Notebook
your new selection will be sent back to the Internet Go Server in a Toggle
command.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, this check box will become
unchecked.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> On Server ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This page displays information returned by the Internet Go Server about a
player who is currently logged on to the server.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Idle Time
     Playing In Game
     Observing Game


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Idle Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Idle Time field displays how long the player has been logged on to the
Internet Go Server without sending any commands to the server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Playing In Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Playing In Game field displays the number of the game the player is
currently playing.

If the player is not currently playing a game, this field contains None.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Observing Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Observing Game field displays the number of the first game the player is
currently observing.

If the player is not currently observing any games, this field contains None.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Last Access ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This page displays information returned by the Internet Go Server about a
player who is currently not logged on to the server.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Last Access (GMT)
     Last Access (Local Time)


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Last Access (GMT) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Last Access (GMT) field displays the date and time (in terms of Greenwich
Mean Time) the player was last logged on to the Internet Go Server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Last Access (Local Time) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Last Access (Local Time) field displays the date and time (in terms of
local time) the player was last logged on to the Internet Go Server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. Chat View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Chat View of the Player Object allows you to interact with the player by
exchanging messages with that player.

The Chat View window contains an input area where you can compose your message
to be sent.  It also contains an output area that displays all messages
received from the player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Chat View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Chat View of the Player Object allows you to interact with the player by
exchanging messages with that player.

The top portion of the Chat View window is an output area that display all
messages received from the player.  The player must use the Tell command to
send messages to you.

The bottom portion of the Chat View window is an entry field.  You can compose
your message to the player and press the Enter key to send the message. OS2IGC
automatically constructs a Tell command containing your message text and sends
it to the IGS for you.  You only have to enter the message text in the entry
field.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3. Sending A Message To The Player ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can send a single message to the player by selecting the Send Message
option from the Player Object's pop-up menu.  This displays the Send Message
Dialog.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Send Message Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Send Message Dialog allows you to send a single message to a player.

The title bar of the Send Message Dialog contains the name of the player that
the message will be sent to.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Message


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Message field is an entry field in which you may type the message to be
sent to the player.

When you have completed typing the message, click on the OK push button to send
the message.

If you decide not to send any message to the player, click on the Cancel push
button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.4. Asking The Player For A Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can send a message to the player asking him if he would like to play a game
by selecting the Ask For Game option from the Player Object's pop-up menu. This
displays the Ask For Game Dialog.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Ask For Game Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Ask For Game Dialog allows you to send a message to a player asking him if
he would like to play a game.

The title bar of the Ask For Game Dialog contains the name of the player that
the message will be sent to.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Message


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Message field is an entry field in which you may type the message to be
sent to the player.

When you have completed typing the message, click on the OK push button to send
the message.

If you decide not to send a message to the player, click on the Cancel push
button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.5. Sending A Match Command To The Player ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can send a Match command to the player to start a game with him by
selecting the Match option from the Player Object's pop-up menu. This displays
the Match Dialog.

Note:  You should always send a message to the player asking if he would like
to play a game before sending him a Match command.  You can do this by selecing
the Ask For Game option from the Player Object's pop-up menu. If the player
agrees to the game, you can then send the Match command to him with the agreed
upon parameters.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Match Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Match Dialog allows you to compose a Match command and send it to the
player.

The title bar of the Send Message Dialog contains the name of the player that
the Match command will be sent to.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     My Color
     Board Size
     Basic Time
     Byo-yomi Time

 When you have filled in all of the fields, click on the OK push button to send
 the Match command to the player.

 If you decide not to request a match with the player,  click on the Cancel
 push button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> My Color Group ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The My Color group box contains two radio buttons.  Click on the Black radio
button if you want to play the black stones or click on the White radio button
if you want your opponent to play black.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Board Size ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Board Size spin button allows you to choose the size of the board you want
to play on.  The values range from 9 to 19, indicating a 9x9 to a 19x19 board.

You can use the arrows at the right of the spin button to select the board size
that you want to play on.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Basic Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Basic Time spin button allows you to specify the basic time for the game,
in minutes.  The values range from 0 to 999.  If you specify a basic time of 0,
each player will immediately go into overtime (byo-yomi).

You can use the arrows at the right of the spin button to select the basic time
for the game.  You can also type a time directly into the spin button entry
field.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Byo-yomi Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Byo-yomi Time spin button allows you to specify the length of each byo-yomi
period in the game, in minutes.  Each player must play 25 stones within each
byo-yomi period, or he forfeits the game. The values range from 0 to 999.  If
you specify a byo-yomi time of 0, a player will immediately forfeit the game
when he uses up his basic time.

You can use the arrows at the right of the spin button to select length of the
byo-yomi periods for the game.  You can also type a time directly into the spin
button entry field.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.6. Sending An Automatch Command To The Player ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can send an Automatch command to the player to start a game with him by
selecting the Automatch option from the Player Object's pop-up menu.

Note:  You should always send a message to the player asking if he would like
to play a game before sending him an Automatch command.  You can do this by
selecing the Ask For Game option from the Player Object's pop-up menu. If the
player agrees to the game, you can then send the Automatch command to him.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Games View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Games View displays a list of all games currently being played on the
Internet Go Server.

From the Games View window, you can open Observe Views to watch any game in
progress.

The following topics will guide you through the use of the Games View:

     Games View Window
     Pop-up Menu Items
     Observing A Game


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. Games View Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Games View window is a details view of the folder containing Game Objects
for each game currently being played on the Internet Go Server.

When you open the Games View, the OS2IGC program sends a Games command to the
IGS to get the information about all games being played on the server.  It
builds a Game Object for each game and displays it in the Games View Window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. Games View Pop-up Menu Items ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Games View pop-up menu contains the following items:

 Refresh now Sends a Games command to the IGS to update the information in the
           Games View window.
 Sort      Allows you to sort the Games View window by the game number, the
           white or black player's names, or the white or black player's ranks
           on the IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.3. Observing A Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Game Objects that are displayed in the Games View window allow you to
observe the games in progress on the Internet Go Server.

From the Game Object, you can:

     DIsplay The Game Board


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Game Object ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Game Object represents a game in progress on the Internet Go Server.

The Observe View of a Game Object shows a game that you are observing. This
view is dynamically updated whenever either player makes a move.

The Play View of a Game Object shows a game that you are playing. This view is
dynamically updated whenever either you or your opponent makes a move.

The following topics will guide you through the use of the Game Object:

     Observe View
     Play View


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1. Observe View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Observe View of the Game Object consists of a picture of the game board, an
area containing timing and prisoner information about the game, and a kibitz
window.

The following topics explain the various areas of the Observe View:

     Title Bar
     Game Board
     Timing Area
     Kibitz Window


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1.1. Title Bar ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The title bar tells you the number of the game and the names of the players, as
black player vs white player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1.2. Game Board ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The game board shows you the current state of the game.  The board is oriented
with the black player at the top and the white player at the bottom.

The black and white stones are represented by black and white circles on the
board.

The last move played by either player is represented by a stone that alternates
in color between gray and either black or white, depending on who made the last
move.  This makes it easy to locate the last move played.

You can change the color of the board by opening the Mixed Color Palette or
Solid Color Palette and dropping a color on the board.  You can change the
color of the lines on the board by holding the Ctrl key while dropping a color
on the board from one of the color palettes.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1.3. Timing Area ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The timing area is located to the right of the game board.  It consists of a
picture of a clock and areas in which byo-yomi stones and prisoners are shown.

The top window on the clock shows how much time (in minutes and seconds) is
left on the black player's clock.  When the game starts, this is the basic time
remaining until black enters overtime.  When the black player is in overtime,
this is the amount of time remaining in the current byo-yomi period.

Above the clock are indicators of how many stones the black player must play
within the current byo-yomi period and the number of white stones captured by
the black player.

The middle window on the clock shows the number of the last move and what the
move is. A normal move is indicated by the player's color (B or W) and the
coordinate where the move was made.

The bottom window on the clock shows how much time is left on the white
player's clock, either basic time or byo-yomi time.

Below the clock are indicators of how many black stones were captured by the
white player and how many stones white must play in the current byo-yomi
period.

The red lights at the top and bottom of the clock will flash to indicate which
player must make the next move.  When the game is over, or is adjourned, the
clock stops flashing.

You can change the color of the clock by dropping a color on the clock from one
of the color palettes.  You can change the background color of any of the clock
windows by dropping a color in the window.  You can change the color of the
text within any of the windows by holding the Ctrl key while dropping a color
in the window.  You can change the font displayed in the move (center) window
by dropping a font on the window from the Font Palette.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1.4. Kibitz Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The kibitz window is either to the right of the timing area or below the game
board, depending on the size you have chosen for the Observe View window.

The kibitz window consists of an output list box where kibitz messages from
other observers are displayed and an entry field at the bottom of the window.
You may enter a message in this entry field.  When you press the Enter key,
OS2IGC appends the message to a kibitz command and sends the command to the
server.  This message is then broadcast to all other observers of the game.

You may scroll back through the previous kibitz messages by clicking on the
scroll bar to the right of the output list box.

You can change the background color of the output list box or the entry field
by dropping a color on the appropriate field from one of the color palettes.
You can change the font used in the output list box or the entry field by
dropping a font on the field from the Font Palette.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2. Play View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Play View of the Game Object consists of a picture of the game board, an
area containing timing and prisoner information about the game, and a message
window.

The following topics explain the various areas of the Play View:

     Title Bar
     Game Board
     Timing Area
     Message Window
     Pop-up Menu Items


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2.1. Title Bar ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The title bar tells you the number of the game and the names of the players, as
black player vs white player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2.2. Game Board ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The game board shows you the current state of the game.  The board is oriented
with the black player at the top and the white player at the bottom.

The black and white stones are represented by black and white circles on the
board.

The last move played by either player is represented by a stone that alternates
in color between gray and either black or white, depending on who made the last
move.  This makes it easy to locate the last move played.

When it is your turn and you move the mouse over the game board, the mouse
pointer becomes your stone.  To make a move, move the stone over the
intersection where you want to play the stone and press mouse button 1.  If you
want to pass, resign, or issue some other IGS command, click on the system menu
(at the left side of the title bar) to obtain the pop-up menu and select the
desired pop-up menu item.

When the game is in Scoring Mode (that is, after three consecutive passes have
been made by the players), the mouse pointer changes toa tombstone symbol
(indicating "rest in peace").  Move the mouse pointer so the arrow coming out
of the tombstone points to a dead stone and press mouse button 1.  The group of
stones connected to the dead stone is removed from the board.  Continue
removing dead groups until only live groups are left.  When you are done
removing the dead groups, select the Done item on the pop-up menu.

You can change the color of the board by opening the Mixed Color Palette or
Solid Color Palette and dropping a color on the board.  You can change the
color of the lines on the board by holding the Ctrl key while dropping a color
on the board from one of the color palettes.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2.3. Timing Area ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The timing area is located to the right of the game board.  It consists of a
picture of a clock and areas in which byo-yomi stones and prisoners are shown.

The top window on the clock shows how much time (in minutes and seconds) is
left on the black player's clock.  When the game starts, this is the basic time
remaining until black enters overtime.  When the black player is in overtime,
this is the amount of time remaining in the current byo-yomi period.

Above the clock are indicators of how many stones the black player must play
within the current byo-yomi period and the number of white stones captured by
the black player.

The middle window on the clock shows the number of the last move and what the
move is. A normal move is indicated by the player's color (B or W) and the
coordinate where the move was made.

The bottom window on the clock shows how much time is left on the white
player's clock, either basic time or byo-yomi time.

Below the clock are indicators of how many black stones were captured by the
white player and how many stones white must play in the current byo-yomi
period.

The red light at the top and bottom of the clock will flash to indicate when it
is your turn.  When the game is over, is in scoring mode, or is adjourned, the
clock stops flashing.

You can change the color of the clock by dropping a color on the clock from one
of the color palettes.  You can change the background color of any of the clock
windows by dropping a color in the window.  You can change the color of the
text within any of the windows by holding the Ctrl key while dropping a color
in the window.  You can change the font displayed in the move (center) window
by dropping a font on the window from the Font Palette.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2.4. Message Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The message window is either to the right of the timing area or below the game
board, depending on the size you have chosen for the Play View window.

The message window consists of an output list box where messages from your
opponent are displayed and an entry field at the bottom of the window. You may
enter a message in this entry field.  When you press the Enter key, OS2IGC
appends the message to a say command and sends the command to the server.  This
message is then sent to your opponent.

You may scroll back through the previous messages by clicking on the scroll bar
to the right of the output list box.

You can change the background color of the output list box or the entry field
by dropping a color on the appropriate field from one of the color palettes.
You can change the font used in the output list box or the entry field by
dropping a font on the field from the Font Palette.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3. Play View Pop-up Menu Items ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Play View pop-up menu contains the following items:

 Handicap  Sends a handicap command to the IGS to set the handicap for the
           game.  This item is in the pop-up menu only if you are playing black
           and this is the first move of the game.
 Komi      Sends a komi command to the IGS to set the komi for the game.  This
           item is in the pop-up menu only if it is your first move.
 Free      Sends a free command to the IGS to indicate toggle whether or not
           this game counts for your IGS rating.  This item is in the pop-up
           menu only if it is your first move.
 Pass      Sends a pass command to the IGS to indicate that you want to pass.
           This item is in the pop-up menu only if it is your move.
 Resign    Sends a resign command to the IGS to resign the game.  This item is
           in the pop-up menu only if it is your move.
 Undo (playing) Sends an undo command to the IGS to undo your opponent's last
           move.  This item is in the pop-up menu only if it is your move.
 Request undo Sends a message to your opponent asking him to undo your last
           move. This item is in the pop-up menu only if it is your opponent's
           move.
 Score     Sends a score command to the IGS to request an estimate of the
           current score of the game.
 Request adjourn Sends an adjourn command to the IGS to request an adjournment
           of the game.  If your opponent agrees, the game will be adjourned.
 Save      Sends a save command to the IGS to request that the game be saved at
           the server.
 Undo (scoring) Sends an undo command to the IGS to reset the game board to its
           state when the game entered scoring mode (that is, there have been
           three consecutive pass commands issued by the players).  You, or
           your opponent, have to start removing dead groups again.
 Done      Sends a done command to the IGS to signify that you are done
           removing dead stones from the board.  This item is in the pop-up
           menu only if the game is in scoring mode.  When both players issue
           the done command, the game is completed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Handicap Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Handicap Dialog allows you to set the handicap for the game.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Handicap


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Handicap ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Handicap spin button allows you to select the handicap for the game. You
may choose a handicap between 0 and 9 stones.

When you have selected the handicap, click on the OK push button to send your
selection to the server.

If you decide play an even game (that is, no handicap), click on the Cancel
push button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Handicap Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Komi Dialog allows you to set the number of komi points for the game.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Komi


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Komi ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Komi spin button allows you to select the number of komi points for the
game. You may choose a number between -99 and 99 points.  At the end of the
game, the number of komi points is added to the white player's score.  For
example, if the komi is 5.5 points (that is, you selected 5 in the komi spin
button), the white player gets an additional 5.5 points at the end of the game.
If the komi is -5.5 (that is, 5.5 points reverse komi), the black player
receives an additional 5.5 points at the end of the game.

Note that the number of komi points always includes one-half point, to insure
that there can never be a tied game.  In an even game, if the score is tied at
the end of the game, the white player wins by the default 0.5 komi points.

When you have selected the number of komi points, click on the OK push button
to send your selection to the server.

If you decide play a game with the standard 0.5 komi points (that is, an even
game), click on the Cancel push button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.4. Observe View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The following topics explain the various areas of the Observe View:

     Title Bar
     Game Board
     Timing Area
     Kibitz Window


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.5. Play View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The following topics explain the various areas of the Play View:

     Title Bar
     Game Board
     Timing Area
     Message Window
     Pop-up Menu Items


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Configuring OS2IGC ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To configure OS2IGC, open the Settings Notebook for the OS2IGC object:

   1. Point the mouse at the OS2IGC object and press mouse button 2.
   2. Select the Settings item from the pop-up menu.

 The following pages are available to configure OS2IGC:

     Server - Configure the connection to the IGS
     User - Configure your IGS user identifier and password
     Debug - Configure OS2IGC for debugging


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1. Server Settings Notebook Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Server page allows you to configure the connection to the Internet Go
Server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Server ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can change the Internet name for the Internet Go Server by typing a new
name in the Server Name field.  You can change the number of the port used to
connect to the IGS by typing a new number in the Port field.  Or you can
specify the name of a socks server in the Socks Server Name field.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Server Name
     Port
     Socks Server Name


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Server Name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Server Name field displays the Internet name of the Internet Go Server
(IGS).

You can change the name if you want to connect to another server that
understands the IGS command set by typing the new name in this field. This
field must contain an Internet name, not an IP address.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, the name will be replaced with
the name of the default server, igs.nuri.net.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Port ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Port field displays the number of the port used to connect to the Internet
Go Server (IGS).

You can change the port number if you want to connect to another port that
supports a telnet connection to the server by typing the new port number in
this field.

Note:  If you specify a port that does not support a telnet connection, you
will not be able to connect to the server.

Note:  If you click on the Default push button, the port number will be
replaced with the default port, 6969.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Socks Server Name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This field is used only if you are connected to an internal network and must go
through a Socks Server to reach the external Internet.

The Socks Server Name field displays the name of the Socks Server used to route
data to the Internet.

You can specify the name of a Socks Server by typing the server name in this
field.

Note:  This field must contain the name of a Socks Server, not an IP address.

Note:  The OS2IGC program initially attempts to connect to the IGS directly.
If the specified server name is not found and you specify the name of a Socks
Server, OS2IGC tries to locate the IGS through the specified Socks Server.  It
is safe to specify the name of the Socks Server even if you sometimes connect
directly to the external Internet.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.2. User Settings Notebook Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The User page allows you to specify your IGS user identifier and password so
OS2IGC can automatically log you on when it makes contact with the server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> User ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can specify your IGS user identifier (login name) by typing a name in the
Login Name field.  You can specify your IGS password by typing a password in
the Password field.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Login Name
     Password


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Login Name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Login Name field displays your IGS user identifier (login name).

You can specify (or change) the name if you want OS2IGC to automatically
respond to the login prompt from the IGS when you connect to the server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Password ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Password field displays asterisks (*) if you specified a login password.

You can specify (or change) the password if you want OS2IGC to automaticlly
repsond to the password prompt from the IGS when you connect to the server.

Note:  If you specify a password, you have no protection from anyone logging on
to the IGS with your user identifier and password.  If your computer is
accessible by other people, you shouldn't specify the password here, but should
enter the password manually when the IGS asks for it.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.3. Debug Settings Notebook Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Debug page allows you to request debugging information from OS2IGC.  You
don't need to specify this information unless you discover an IGS command
sequence that doesn't work properly with OS2IGC.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Debug ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can specify the name of a file to capture all data sent from the IGS. by
typing a file name in the Log File Name field.  You can specify the name of an
input script by typing a file name in the Input Script Name field.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Log File Name
     Input Script Name


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Log File Name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Log File Name field displays the name of the file in which OS2IGC saves all
input data from the IGS.

You can specify (or change) the file name if you want OS2IGC to save all input
from the IGS.  This is used to document sequences of commands from the IGS that
do not work properly with OS2IGC.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Input Script Name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Input Script Name field displays the name of the file that OS2IGC uses to
simulate input from the IGS.

This feature is used to test the response of OS2IGC to sequences of commands
received from the IGS.  The input script is normally a sequence of commands
captured from the IGS by using the Log File feature.

You can specify (or change) the file name if you want OS2IGC to take its input
from a script, rather than connect to the IGS.

Note:  If you specify an Input Script, OS2IGC will not connect to the IGS and
you will not be able to interact with the server until you remove the name from
this field.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Message Received From Player ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Message Received Dialog displays a message received from another player.

The title bar of the Message Received Dialog contains the name of the player
that send you the message.

For a detailed explanation of each field, select from the list below:

     Message
     Reply


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Message field dispays the message received.

If you want to send a reply to the player, type the message in the Reply field,
then click on the OK push button.

If you don't want to send a reply to the player, click on the OK without typing
a message in the Reply field.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Reply ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can type a message in the Reply field.  When you press the OK push button,
this message will be sent back to the other player.

If you don't want to send a reply to the player, click on the OK without typing
a message in the Reply field.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Beta Test News ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is a Beta Test version of the OS/2 Internet Go Client program, written by
Ira H. Schneider.

The intention of this program is to provide an OS/2 Warp client for the
Internet Go Server (IGS).  When the program is completed, it will allow access
to most IGS functions through the graphical user interface, mostly through
pop-up menu items. The goals of this program are:

     To provide a native OS/2 client program to communicate with the IGS.
     To free the user from having to learn the IGS commands.
     To allow the user to customize the program for his convenience.

 The current version of the program provides the following functions:

     Connect to the IGS through an existing Internet TCP/IP session.  This
      includes a session that you create by dialing an Internet service
      provider using SLIP, or a permanent TCP/IP connection to the Internet
      (including through a Socks Server).
     Automatically login to the IGS.
     Display a list of who is currently logged on to the IGS (Who View).
     Interact with anyone logged on from the Who View display, including
      getting the user's statistics, sending a message to the user, and
      initiating a match with the user.
     Play a game with any other player currently logged on to the IGS (Play
      View). Send and receive messages from your opponent within the Play View
      window.
     Display a list of games currently in progress (Games View).
     Observe any (or all) of the games in progress (Observe View).  Exchange
      kibitz messages with other observers within the Observe View window.
     Change your IGS settings, including default values, options, rank, game
      choice, player information, and e-mail address, through your Settings
      Notebook.  This is accessed through the Who View.
     Customize the program through the Settings Notebook, including server
      access, automatic login information, debug information, Who View and
      Games View display, sort, color, and font information, and the name of
      the client object.
     Customize the colors and fonts used in Play View and Observe View, and
      resize the Play View and Observe View windows.
     Provide help information on the operation of the program, as well as the
      IGS commands.

 Future versions of the program will add the following functions:

     More customization of the game board displayed in Observe View and Play
      View.
     Support for teaching games (Teach View).
     Invoke other IGS functions through the pop-up menu.
     Copy a game in progress (from Observe View, Play View, or Teach View) to
      local storage and be able to navigate through the game, possibly adding
      variations.
     Review games stored on the IGS.
     Converse with any other player currently logged on to the IGS (Chat
      View).

 The program will be distributed through the common IGS repository,
 bsdserver.ucsf.edu.  Announcements about new versions of the program will be
 posted on the rec.games.go newsgroup on the Internet.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. About The Author ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Ira H. Schneider

I can be contacted via e-mail at [e-mail] and can be found on the
IGS as iras.

I would like to hear any comments about the OS/2 IGS Client program. I am
particularly interested in the following:

     Comments on the user interface (both good and bad).
     Comments or suggestions on the useability of the program.
     Bugs you find in the program.
     Suggestions for new features, changes to the user interface, etc.

 I will try to answer all mail about the program.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Terminal View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Terminal view is the command line interface to the Internet Go Server. You must
open Terminal view to establish a connection to the IGS.

When you open Terminal view, OS2IGC connects to the IGS.  After the connection
is made, you may logon to the IGS and start using the IGS functions.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Games View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Games View displays a list of the games that are currently being played on the
Internet Go Server.  You can watch any game in progress by just opening its
icon in the Games View.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Connect ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Connect tries to establish a connection with the Internet Go Server. You
normally select this option after you close the connection with the IGS or
after correcting a problem that stops OS2IGC from contacting the IGS.

For example, if you open the Terminal View before establishing a connection to
the Internet, OS2IGC will not be able to contact the IGS.  You can establish
the connection to the Internet and select the Connect pop-up menu item to try
contacting the IGS again.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Disconnect ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Disconnect terminates the connection with the Internet Go Server. This can be
used instead of issuing the Exit command directly to the IGS.

Disconnect also closes the Who View and the Games View.

You can also disconnect from the IGS by closing the Terminal View.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Who View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Who View displays a list of the players that are currently logged on to the
Internet Go Server.  You can get the statistics for any player by just opening
his icon in the Who View.  You can also send a message to any player or request
a match with a player using the player's pop-up menu in Who View.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Statistics View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Statistics View displays the statistics for the player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Chat View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Chat View displays a window that allows you to exchange messages with the
player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Send Message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Send Message allows you to send a message to the player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Ask For Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Ask For Game allows you to send a message to the player requesting a match.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Match ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Match allows you to request a match with the player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Automatch ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Automatch allows you to request an automatic match with the player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Refresh now ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Refresh now allows you to request that the Who View data be updated from the
Internet Go Server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Sort ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Sort allows you to specify in what order the contents of the Who View window
appear.

If you select Sort a pop-up menu appears that displays the choices of how the
Who View window is to be sorted.  These choices are:

 Sort By Name The data in the Who View window are to be sorted by the player's
           name.
 Sort By Rank The data in the Who View window are to be sorted by the player's
           rank.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Sort By Player Name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Player name specifies that the data in the Who View window be arranged in
alphabetical order by the player's name.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Sort By Rank ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Rank specifies that the data in the Who View window be arranged by the player's
rank, in decreasing order.  The list starts with the professional players,
continues with the dan ranked players, and finishes with the kyu ranked
players.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Refresh now ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Refresh now allows you to request that the Games View data be updated from the
Internet Go Server.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help - IGS Commands ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

IGS Commands displays help for the Internet Go Server commands.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help - Beta Test News ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Beta Test News displays information about the Beta Test version of the OS/2
Internet Go Client.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help - About The Author ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

About The Author displays information about the author of the program and how
to contact him.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help - Product Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Product Information displays information about the version of the program that
you are using.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Observe View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Observe View displays the state of a game in progress on the IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Play View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Play View displays the state of a game you are playing on the IGS.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Pass ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Pass specifies that you want to pass as your move.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Resign ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Resign specifies that you want to resign from the game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Request adjourn ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Request adjourn specifies that you want to adjourn the game.  If your opponent
agrees, the game is saved and adjourned.  If your opponent doesn't agree to the
adjournment, the game continues.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Score ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Score specifies that you want to see an estimate of the score of the game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Save specifies that you want the IGS to save the state of the game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Request Undo ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Request Undo sends a message to your opponent asking that he undo your last
move.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Undo ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Undo specifies that you want the IGS to undo your opponent's last move.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Undo ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Undo specifies that you want to reset the game to the state it was in when
Scoring Mode was entered.  This replaces all removed dead stones from the
board. You would choose this pop-up menu item when either you or your opponent
accidentally removed a living group from the board during Scoring Mode.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Handicap ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Handicap specifies that you want to set the number of handicap stones being
used in this game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Komi ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Komi specifies that you want to set the number of komi points being used in
this game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Free ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Free specifies that you want to mark this game as not counting (or counting)
towards your IGS rating.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Done ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Done specifies that you are done removing dead groups from the game board and
you want the final score for the game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Help For The Internet Go Server ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Internet Go Server

The Internet Go Server (IGS) allows you to play go with anyone else logged on
through the Internet.

The following topics will explain the commands used by the IGS:

     Commands to get you started
     Commands


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Commands to get you started ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Here are some common commands that you should start with:

 who       List who is on the server.
 games     show the current games
 match     Offer to play someone.
 save      Save your game
 shout     Tell everyone something.
 yell      Send a message to the specified channel.
 tell      Tell someone something.
 kibitz    Send a message to people on the observe list
 observe   Observe a game.
 coords    Describes what coordinates can be used to make moves.
 toggle    Toggle the various player flags.
 rank      Set your rank.

 help commands gives a list of commands.  help <command> gives help on the
 command.

 See also:

     IGS Commands


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Commands You Can Use While Playing A Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 addtime   Add minutes to your opponent's time.
 chatter   Send a message to people on the observe list
 coords    Describes what coordinates can be used to make moves.
 free      Changes a game from counting towards ratings to not counting.
 handicap  first move by Black to place handicap stones
 kibitz    Send a message to people on the observe list
 komi      Komi mediation between players.
 pass      Pass a move--takes 3 to score a game.
 resign    Quit a game (chicken)
 save      Save your game
 say       Say something to your opponent

 See also:

     Commands You Can Use While Waiting For A Game
     Commands You Can Use Any Time


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Commands You Can Use While Waiting For A Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 decline   Refuse to play someone.
 kibitz    Comment on a game.
 load      Load a previously unfinished game.
 match     Offer to play someone.
 observe   Observe a game.

 See also:

     Commands You Can Use While Playing A Game
     Commands You Can Use Any Time


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Commands You Can Use Any Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 all       List who is observing a game.
 best      List the best players
 chars     Change the board display.
 decrease  Decrease your rank by one.
 delete    Remove an adjourned game.
 dump      Change the dump variable.
 games     show the current games
 help      Get help.
 increase  Increase your rank by one
 info      Change your info line.
 last      List last to log on to the server
 look      Look at an ajourned game.
 mail      Mail a Smart Go Format file
 moves     List the moves of a game.
 password  Change your password.
 players   List who is on the server.
 quit      Logout.
 rank      Set your rank.
 refresh   Redraw a board.
 reset     Reset player stats.
 sgf       Look at some of the sgf games.
 shout     Tell everyone something.
 stats     List a players info.
 stored    Look at ajourned games.
 tell      Tell someone something.
 time      List time left on a game.
 toggle    Toggle the various player flags.
 watching  List the games you are observing
 who       List who is on the server.

 See also:

     Commands You Can Use While Playing A Game
     Commands You Can Use While Waiting For A Game


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1. IGS Commands ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The command line interface to the Internet Go Server supports many commands.
Each command is listed in the topics that follow.

In General:

   <required stuff>       <--- angle brakets are used for required arguments
   [not required stuff]   <--- square brakets are used for non-required

In the commands the <, >, [, and ] are not part of the commands.

Please note that commands can be abbreviated.  For example 'match' abbreviates
to 'mat' and 'quit' abbreviates to 'q'.

Also   ;   means   yell,   .  means  tell,   '  means  kibitz,
       ?   means   help.   ,  means  say

Some commands are only valid at certain times.  Select one of the following
topics to see the commands that are valid at special times:

     Commands You Can Use While Playing A Game
     Commands You Can Use While Waiting For A Game
     Commands You Can Use Any Time

 For information on the rating system:

     IGS Rating System

 For answers to Frequently Asked Questions:

     Frequently Asked Questions

 See also:

     FTP
     Many Faces Of Go (computer program)
     American Go Association (AGA)


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.1. Addtime ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Addtime command

Usage: addtime value

Addtime adds 'value' minutes to the your *opponent's* clock.

Addtime also puts in a kibitz saying how much time was added to which player.

If a real big number is used as a value, addtime could have problems. I believe
the limit is around 4,000,000 minutes.

See also: match time


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.2. Adjourn ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Adjourn command

Usage: adjourn

Request the adjournment of the game.  The game will be saved--you may want to
save first it so it may be started later.  Adjourn is also used to agree to
adjourn.

See also: decline stored save


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.3. Alias ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Alias command

Usage:  alias [<new command>] [ <string to alias>]

Alias is used to shorten commands.  Alias without arguments displays your
current aliases.  Alias with only one argument will remove that alias.

Examples:

   #> alias tt tell tim
   #> alias
   tt means tell tim
   #> tt hi
   #> alias tt
   #> alias
   #>

In the above, 'tt' will expand to 'tell tim'.  So 'tt hi' is the same as 'tell
tim hi'.

The command 'unalias' will disable aliases for the current login.  When you
login, you say unalias and you will not be able to use aliases until you
logout.  Your aliases will still be saved.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.4. All ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

All command
Usage: all game#

List who is observing the game number specified.

See also: observe match


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.5. Automatch ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Automatch command

Usage:  automatch <oppenent>

Automatch asks for a match with oppenent.  The arguments used to start the game
come from you defaults, set with the command defs.  The color is automatically
choosen, as is the komi and handicap. The color is choosen in a subtle way.  If
a player has a *'ed rating it is used.  Other wise a player's declared rank is
used.  Given the above, if both players are equal, who gets black is dependent
on the current time, or randomly.  An example is I (a 4k) match someone with a
rating of 28.01, I get black.  If that player toggles rank off, and is rank if
4k, it is random as to who gets black and who get white.

If two players' defs disagree, the challengers defs are used.

Example:

   tim #> automatch one
   one #> automatch tim  <--- will use tim's defs

See also: byo-yomi defs match


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.6. Append ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Append Command
Usage:  append < action> <info>

**** APPEND IS NOT IMPLEMENTED ***

Append is used to add information at the current move of a game begin reviewed.
As a result it is simple to use, but has lots of uses.  All of the actions
below can be abbreviated:

 comments  Displays the comments associated with the current move.

 Example:

     'app com This is bad' adds that comment to this move.

 See also: forward backward review current


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.7. Ayt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Ayt Command

Usage: ayt

This command just prints a 'yes' at your terminal.  This allows one to tell if
they are connected to the server.  The 'ayt' stands for 'Are You There', and is
part of the telnet protocol. In fact if you make your telnet session send AYT,
the server will respond with as 'yes', just like the 'ayt' command.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.8. Backward ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Backward Command

Usage:  backward

Backward moves to the previous move.  You can only back up to the beginning of
the game.  If you are using a client you are set the current move information
using Smart Go Format encoded data.  If you are not a client a board is drawn.
If you wish to see more, then you have to use the command 'current'.

Once you enter into a variation, you cannot go backwards.

The char '=' is shorthand for backward.

See also: forward review current


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.9. Beep ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Beep Command

Usage: beep <player>

Sends a beep and a message to the player.  Toggle bell off will turn off people
beeping you.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.10. Best ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Best Command

Usage: best [rank]

List the best players registered with the server. If a rank is suplied, then
all of the player of that rank are listed.  If there are more players than will
then the tail of the player list is listed.  There is a limit of 48 lines of
best you can get.

See also: display rating statistics stats


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.11. Channels ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Channels Command

Usage: channels [# command args]

For each channel it channels displays the title of the channel, if the channel
is moderated, the moderator and if the channel is open.  Below the title is the
list of players listening to that channel.

To start up a channel, simply 'yell' into that channel:

   #> ; \1
   Changing into channel 1.
   #>

Channels can also be used for setting the parameters for that channel:

   #> channel 1 title This is a title  <--- must be moderator, or
                                             channel is unmoderated.
   #> channel 1 moderate
   #> channel 1 open                   <--- must be moderator
   #> channel 1 remove player          <--- must be moderator
   #> channel 1 clean


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.12. Chars ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Chars Command

Usage: chars BWEDTtScM

Chars set the characters used to draw the board. The characters are as follows:

 B         Black
 W         White
 E         Empty
 D         Dame
 T         White territory
 t         Black territory
 S         Startpoint
 c         Counted
 M         Mark

 The default is:  '#@....+.X'


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.13. Chatter ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Chatter Command

Usage:  chatter [#] message

Sends the messsage to the observation list of game '#'.  '#' may be omitted if
you are observing only one game or you are playing.  The message is limited to
184 characters.  (Usually, telnets will allow you to type in 255.)  Players do
not see chatters.  Players do not see their oppenents chatters.

The 'chatter' command does not record its messages in the game record.
Therefore, this command should be used for idle kibitzes that are not related
to the game.

There is a short hand 'chatter': a double quote ("). The game number is only
necessary if you are observing more than one game.  When one uses the short
hand one needs the space after the double quote.

Example:

   #> " W dead.
       ^----------------NOTE:  a space after ".

   produces:

   Kibitz observer [rk]: Game white vs black [#]
     W dead.

See also: kibitz observe say shout tell toggle


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.14. Choice ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Choice Command

Usage:  choice <game>

Choice is used for deciding which game one wishes to play. Choice without the
'<game>' argument, displays what games are available on this server.  Only one
game will count towards ratings.  The current choices are:

     Go
     Shogi (Japanese Chess)
     Chinese Chess

 Examples:

     #> choice
      1:  go
      3:  shogi
      4:  chinese-chess
     #> choice go
     Game set to go.
     #> choice chin
     Game set to chinese chess.
     #>


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.15. Current ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Current Command

Usage:  current <action>

Current is used to get the information at the current move of a game begin
reviewed.  As a result it is simple to use, but has lots of uses.  All of the
actions below can be abbreviated:

 comments  Displays the comments associated with the current move.
 info      Information about the current game.
 help      The list of actions.
 marks     Tells you where marks are on the board.
 move      Redraws the current move.
 letters   Tells you where letters are on the board.
 variations Displays the number of variations in the current node.

 Example:

     'cur com' displays the kibitzes made during this move.

 See also: append forward backward review


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.16. Coords ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Coords Command

Select the type of game you are interested in:

     Go
     Shogi
     Chinese Chess
     Drawing The Go Board


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Coordinate System For Go ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Usage: <letter><number>

The coordinate system used by this server is [A..Z][1..25], depending on the
board size.  'I' is not a valid letter. The maximum board size is 19.

On a 19x19 board A1 is lower left, T19 is upper right, D4 is the lower left
star point.

Black's first move can be the handicap:  'Handicap #', where '#' is the number
of stones.  '#' has to be between 2 and 9 inclusive.

During the game 'pass' is also a valid move.  It takes 3 passes to score a
game.  See match.

Undo is also valid during a game and during scoring.

There can be no spaces in between the letter and number.

Examples:

   To place a stone on the lower left (LL, or ll) star point:  d4, D4
   To pass:  pass
   To set a handicap of 5 stones:  handicap 5


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Coordinate System For Shogi ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Usage: <piece|+><*|coord>-<coord>

Capitalization matters.  You cannot have spaces in the movement.

Pieces:
     K:  King    G:  Gold    s:  Silver  n:  Knight
     r:  Rook    b:  Bishop  l:  Lance   p:  Pawn
     S:  Promoted Silver    N:  Promoted Knight
     R:  Promoted Rook      B:  Promoted Bishop
     P:  Promoted Pawn      L:  Promoted Lance
To move the far left black pawn forward one space:  p1g-1f
To promote a black pawn:  p1d-1c+, or p1d-1c^, or p1d-1c'
To drop a pawn:  p*1c
To do a handicap:  handicap 2b 7b
  This will remove the peice at 2b and 7b
A move with a promotion and a drop is not allowed.

See also: How To Play Shogi


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Coordinate System For Chinese Chess ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Usage:

       <piece><column><f|b|h><column|amount>
       <f|r><piece><f|b|h><amount|column>
       <piece><#><letter>-<#><letter>: # is 1-9 and letter is a-j

You cannot have spaces in the movement command.

     Pieces:
          K:  King (shuai, jiang)      S:  Guard (shi)   R:  Rook (ju)
              [marshal , general]                                 [chariot]
      M:  Minister (xiang)         C:  Cannon (pao)  N:  Knight (ma)
      P:  Pawn (bing, zu) [solder]
     To move the rook in the bottom right forward one:  R1f1
          Both sides type the same command.
     To move the cannon from the second column to behind the center pawn: C2h5
      Move the cannon in column 2 horizontal to column 5
     To move the far right pawn forward: P1f1
      Move the pawn in column 1 forward 1 space
     To move the minister from bottom to the right side: M7f9
      Move the minister on column 7 forward to column 9
     To move the knight from bottom to the left forward: N2f3
      Move the minister on column 7 forward to column 9

If there are two pieces on the same column, you have to use the 'f' and 'r' as
the column.  To move the front pawn forward one space: fPf1


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Drawing The Go Board ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This describes how a board is drawn.

Along the top and bottom rows, are the letters for the coordinates. Along the
side of the board are the numbers.  The characters that are used to draw the
individual pieces is set be the chars command. The info to the right of the
board is pretty self explanatory. If there is a '*' in front of the 'Last
move:', this means the last command processed by one of the players was an
undo.

See also: refresh


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.17. Decline ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Decline Command

Usage: decline

Refuse a match after someone has offered one.

See also: open match


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.18. Decrease ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Decrease Command

Usage: decrease

Decrease lowers your rank, as shown by 'stats', and 'who'.

See also: increase stats display rank who


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.19. Defs ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Defs Command

Usage: defs [<field> <value>]

Change values for which automatching works.  If you like a particular size of
board or time/byo-yomi combination, this command changes the values.  When you
automatch someone, those values are used to ask for the match.

Fields:

      size
      stones
      byotime
      time

 Example:

     defs size 19      <--- 19x19 board size
     defs stones 2     <--- two stones per byo-yomi period
     defs byotime 2    <--- two minutes per byo-yomi period
     defs time 90      <--- 90 minutes for per player playing period

 See also: automatch match


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.20. Delete ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Delete Command

Usage: delete <game name>

Deletes an adjourned game.  The <game name> has the form:

   whiteplayer-blackplayer.

After an adjourned game is deleted, it cannot be recovered.  Both players need
to delete the game before the game is actually removed.

Games stored longer than the time specified in the uptime command will still be
automatically removed.

See also: load stored uptime


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.21. Display ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Display Command

Usage: display

Shows the currently supported ranks.

 k         Kyu; 30 kyu is the lowest, goes to 1 kyu
 d         Amateur dan; 1 dan is the lowest, goes to 9 dan
 p         Professional dan; same as above
 IGS92     (Internet Go Server 1992) is a special title awarded to the winner
           of the 1992 IGSWCT. Internet Go Server World Computer Tournament.
 McM93     is a special title awarded to the winner of the 1993 McM Tournament
           (stats lyu).

 There are also various other ranks (currently two). They should be self
 explanatory.  NR and ??? Ranks above 6d can only be set by the administrator.

 See also: decrease increase rank


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.22. Done ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Done Command
Usage:  done

Done is used to signify when players are done removing dead stones from the
board and are ready to score.  Be wary of people who remove live stones.

Both players have to type done before the game is scored.

See also: coords pass score


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.23. Erase ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Usage: erase

Erase will remove any messages you have.  After you type erase you will see a
line which says 'Messages erased.'  Even if you have no messages, you will get
the same notice.

See also: message notify stats


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.24. Exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Exit Command

Usage: exit

Quit the go server.  If you are playing, it attempts to save your game.

See also: load save


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.25. Find ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Find Command

Usage: find <email address>

Find will list all of the accounts which belong to the email address.  A
partial address may be given.

Example:

   #> find chih                   <--- notice this is beatme
   Finding chih:
            beatme          George             ooo
   Found 3 accounts.

The list which is scanned to find the accounts is built once a day, the same
time cron is run.

If the address given to find begins with a dash '-', find will look for that
substring within the address data base.

   #> find -.fr

Will find all of the people which have '.fr' in their email addresses.

See also: register stats


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.26. Forward ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Forward Command

Usage:  forward

Forward advances the current place in a review file.  If you reach the end of
the file, it starts over at the beginning.  If you are using a client you are
set the current move information using Smart Go Format encoded data.  If you
are not a client a board is drawn, then comments are displayed.  If you wish to
see more, then you have to use the command 'current'.

When reviewing, just hitting return is the same as forward.

When the end of a variation is reached, the next variation is automatically
shown.

See also: backward review current


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.27. Free ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Free Command

Usage: free

Free makes a game not count towards ratings.  It is only valid during a game.
You can only use 'free' before the second move.  Either player may use 'free'
to not have the game count.

Example:

   one #> match tim
   tim #> match one
   tim #> free                <--- the game does not count
   tim #> free                <--- the game does count

If you and your oppenent do not agree, then you might want to adjourn and not
finish the game.  This is something which should be agreed upon before a game
starts.

If a game is free there is a 'F' in the games dispaly.

See Also: IGS Rating System


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.28. Games ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Games Command

Usage: games [game #]

List the games currently in progress.  White is always listed first.  If a game
number is suplied, it is the olny game listed.

[##]  white name [ rk ]      black name [ rk ] (Move size H Komi BY FR) (###)
[ 9]        page [ 1d ] vs.         tie [ 1k ] (176   19  0  0.5 15  I) (  0)

In the header, ## is the game number and [ rk] are the players ranks.  Then the
number of moves into the game, the size of the board, what is the handicap for
the game, komi, and the byo-yomi period.

The last numbers of the listing is the number of people observing each game.

If a game is a free game, there is a 'F' under the flags column. If a game is a
teaching game, there is a 'T' under the flags column. If a game is a tournament
game, there is a '*' under the flags column. The type of game will be listed in
the 'R' column.  The types of games are (S) for shogi, and (C) for chinese
chess.

See also: all choice watching


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.29. Goto ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Goto Command

Usage:  goto <variation>  or  goto <move number>

Goto goes to the place in the review file named <variation>.  The variation
names are displayed when you enter into a new variation. You only need a
partial match to get to a named place.

The variation names are listed on the side of the board, when using a
non-client review.

You cannot go to a previous place in the file.

Variation can be a number.  This number for games is close to the move number.
For SGF files with variations in them, it is the number of SGF 'nodes' (how
many ';' there are in the SGF file.)  If the variation name begins with a
numeral, it is treated as a number.

See also: backward forward review sgf variation


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.30. Handicap ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Handicap Command

Usage: handicap #stones

This should be black's first command after starting a game to place the
handicap stones.

See also: coords match


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.31. Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Help Command

Usage: help <command>

Help command gives a list of commands.  Help <command> gives help for the
specified command.

In General:

    <required stuff>       <--- angle brakets are used for required arguments
    [not required stuff]   <--- square brakets are used for non-required

In the commands the <, >, [, and ] are not part of the commands.

Please note that commands can be abbreviated.  For example 'match' abbreviates
to 'mat' and 'quit' abbreviates to 'q'.

Abbreviations:

 ;    yell

 .    tell

 '    kibitz

 ?    help

 ,    say


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.32. Increase ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Increase Command
Usage: increase

Increase raises your rank, as shown by 'stats', and 'who'.

See also: decrease stats display rank who


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.33. Info ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Info Command

Usage: info [message]

Sets the your info to be message.  It will handle up to 255 characters.  Be
warned that some terminals only display 80 columns.

See also: games stats toggle


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.34. Kibitz ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Kibitz Command

Usage:  kibitz [#] message

Sends the messsage to the observation list of game '#'.  '#' may be omitted if
you are observing only one game or you are playing.  The message is limited to
184 characters.  (Usually, telnets will allow you to type in 255.)  Players do
not see kibitzes.  Players do not see their oppenents kibitzes.

The 'kibitz' command records its messages in the game record.  The 'chatter'
command should be used for idle kibitzes that are not related to the game.

There is a short hand 'kibitz': a single quote ('). The game number is only
necessary if you are observing more than one game.  When one uses the short
hand one needs the space after the single quote.

Example:

   #> ' W dead.
       ^----------------NOTE:  a space after '.

   produces:

   Kibitz observer [rk]: Game white vs black [#]
     W dead.

See also: chatter observe say shout tell toggle


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.35. Komi ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Komi Command

Usage: komi value

One player types in 'komi #.#'.  A message is sent to both players informing
them of the value that player wanted.  The second player types in 'komi #.#',
where '#.#' is the same value.  The server then changes the value of the komi,
for the game.

'Value' is allowed to be negative.

After a handicap move, the komi is set to 0.5.  Otherwise the default is 5.5.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.36. Language ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Language Command

Usage: language [language]

Language will set your default language, which will be used to read help files,
to the appropriate language, if possible.

Given no arguments, it lists the languages which it knows about, which are:

     default
     chinese
     english
     korean
     japanese

 See also: stats


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.37. Last ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Last Command

Usage: last [player]

Lists the users who used the server recently. If given a name, lists that
names' past logins.  If given a count, lists the last count logins.

A name can be truncated.  If one says 'last t', all of the accounts which have
logged in and begin with 't' are listed.

See also: who games


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.38. Load ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Load Command

Usage: load <file name>

Load a saved game.  You must remember your file name. The file name will be
whiteplayer-blackplayer.

See also: adjourn delete look save stored


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.39. Look ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Look Command

Usage: look <file name>

Look at saved game.  You must know the file name. It will be either
"you-opponent" or "opponent-you".

See also: adjourn load save stored touch


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.40. Mail ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Mail Command

Usage: mail address whitename-blackname-day-hour-minute

This mails the moves of the last game between whitename and blackname to the
address specified.  The game had to have already completed, not adjourned.  The
day is the day of the month the game completed, the hour is the hour, and the
minute is the minute the game completed.  If you want to find the list of the
files, use 'sgf player'.

Please use your correct address.  I get the mail that is not correctly
addressed.  A correct address has to at least have '@', and '.' in the address.

If you have an address in your address field, you can use 'mail me
white-black-05-10-58'.  'mail me' means use the address from your address
field.  That address is your registration e-mail address. registration address.

See also: automail psmail sgf


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.41. Match ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Match Command

Usage: match player_name [color [board_size [time [byo-yomi minutes]]]]

Offer a game to an opponent or accept one offered to you.  You must supply your
prospective opponent's name.  Optional arguments are your color, the
board_size, and time for the match.  If you do not supply the color the
offering player is black (the second player to type "match opponent" is white.)
The default board size is 19 and the default match time is one and one half
hour per person.  The color argument is 'W' or 'B'.  Both board_size and time
are integers.  Time is measured in minutes.

The first move by black can be "handicap #" where # is the number of handicap
stones.  See the "coord" help file.

"Pass" is how you go from playing to scoring. At the end of the game, after all
dame have been filled, it takes three passes to score a game.  The prompt will
change from "#>" to "Enter Dead Groups:"  Enter the coords of groups which are
dead and the server will erase the dead groups. Type "done" to score.  If you
make a mistake while scoring, 'undo' will restore the board.  Both players have
to type done.

See also: automatch byo-yomi coords decline games open pass quiet refresh say
score undo verbose


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Byo-yomi ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Byo-yomi is the period, or periods, of the game after the initial time has
expired.  There are two rules for games on IGS.

Under the IGS rules, byo-yomi is as many periods of the time specified in the
match commands.  If you specify 15 (for 15 minutes) as the last number of the
match command, each byo-yomi period will be 15 minutes. During that time, you
have to make 25 moves, or you lose.  A period of 10 minutes is the default.
(IGS originally started with a 5 minutes, 25 moves period but that was too hard
on people with net lag.)

You are given three periods to of 1/6th the initial time.  Although you can
make as many moves as you want, as soon as you run out of time, you lose the
match.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.42. Message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Message Command

Usage: message [<player> message string]

With the account and message string, message appends that string onto the
message file of <player>.

Example:

       #> message tim Thanks for the server.

   Will add:

       <you> mm/dd/yy hh:ss: Thanks for the server.

Where mm/dd/yy hh:ss is the time that the message was left to tim's message
file.  Without the player and message, you read your messages. An anouncement
is made of the for:  'You have messages.' just after the motd if you have
messages. Please try to restrict the line length of the messages.  Some players
lose past 80 characters on a line.  Use erase to remove any messages you have.
Messages are automatically removed after the message file is over 30 days old.

See also: erase notify stats


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.43. Moves ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Moves Command

Usage: moves [game_number]

List all of the moves of the game game_number.  The default game is your own.

See also: observe all watching


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.44. Name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Name Command

Usage: name < white|black> <Name of player>

For teaching games, this will provide a way of naming the players. The players
names will appear when the board is refreshed.  The game will still be saved
under the name of the person who starts the teaching game.

Only the person who started the teaching game can set the names.

See also: teach title


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.45. Notify ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Notify Command

Usage: notify [<player>]

Notify without any aruguments will list who is currently waiting for whom.

Notify with a player will tell you when that player logs on. It will give you a
message, then beep your terminal.  The person is taken off the notify list,
when they log on.

If you are waiting for a person, with notify, already then 'notify person' will
remove that person from the notify list.

See also: message


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.46. Observe ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Observe Command

Usage:  observe #

Puts you on the observation list of match number '#'. You can be on multiple
observation lists.  To quit observing a game type "observe #" again.  The white
player is listed first in reports.

See also: watching all match unobserve


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.47. Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Open Command

Usage:  open

This toggles if other people can try to match you.

See also: toggle


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.48. Pass ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Pass Command

Usage: pass

Used to pass when playing.

See also: coords


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.49. Password ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Password Command

Usage:  password <new password>

Sets your current password to the password given.  The password must be at
least five characters long.

See also: toggle


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.50. Players ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Players Command

Usage: players

See 'help who'

See also: who


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.51. Psmail ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Psmail Command

Usage: psmail address whitename-blackname-day-hour-minute

This is exactly just like mail except the sent file is PostScript (tm) as
opposed to a Smart Go File.

Ninty-nine moves a page are printed, along with all of the kibitzes.

See also: mail


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.52. Quiet ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Quiet Command

Usage:  quiet

This toggles if you get systems messages. System messages are the ones which
have '{' and '}' surrounding them.

See also: toggle


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.53. Quit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Quit Command

Usage: quit

Quit the go server.  If you are playing, it attempts to save your game.

See also: load save


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.54. Rank ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Rank Command

Usage: rank <number><class>

Sets your rank.

Clases:

 k         Kyu; 30 kyu is the lowest, goes to 1 kyu
 d         Amateur dan; 1 dan is the lowest, goes to 9 dan
 p         Professional dan; same as above

 Example:

     rank 4k
     rank 1d
     rank NR

 Ranks above 4d can only be set by an administrator.

 Special titles:

 IGS92     Internet Go Server 1992 was awarded to the winner of the 1992
           Internet Go Server World Computer Tournament (m6).

 McM93     McMahon 1993 was awarded to the winner of the 1993 tournament (lyu).

 QKB93     Quicky King Blitz 1993 was awarded to the winner of the fast game
           tournament (tigerman), organized by zhuge and magpie.

 GOE94     Ing 1994 was awarded to the winner of the 1994 tournament (nomad),
           olli was the organizer with nearly 300 people in the tournament

 To have your rank, not your rating, set above 4d, you probably need to use the
 computer to promote you.

 See also: display IGS Rating System


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.55. Refresh ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Refresh Command

Usage: refresh [game number]

Redraws the board.  If verbose is off, refresh lists the past move.  If a game
number is given, redraws that game.  Refresh also updates the time during a
game.  If someone runs out of time, the game is then resigned by that person,
unless the game is being loaded after an adjourn.

Along the top and bottom rows, are the letters for the coordinates. Along the
side of the board are the numbers.  The characters that are used to draw the
individual pieces is set be the chars command. The info to the right of the
board is pretty self explanatory. If there is a '*' in front of the 'Last
move:', this means the last command processed by one of the players was an
undo.

If you have verbose turned off just the last move is sent, using the coordinate
system.

If you are in client mode, the last move is sent along with the number of
captured stones, the current time allotment and if the players are in byo-yomi.

See also: coords status verbose


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.56. Register ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Register command

**  New Users:
      Usage: register <account name you want> <email address to mail password>
**  Current users or those needing to re-register:
      Usage: register <email address to mail password>

Note:  Do not use  <  >  in your email address.

The register command is used to register new accounts, and to change the
address of existing accounts. Register needs two things from a guest account:
an account name, and an email address. It takes both of these to create an
account. You must use a valid email address. You CANNOT send email to an IP
address.  Please make sure the address you use is correct, or you will not be
registered. To register a named account (accounts which are not guest##), just
give an email address.

If you have made no errors in your email address, your registration will be
successful, and you will receive your password and registration letter usually
within a few minutes, or at most a few hours.  If you do not get a response
within a few hours, consider your registration unsuccessful. A NEW account must
be used within 20 hours after the password and registration letter is received,
or else the account will be automatically deleted. Register again if you are
unsuccessful.

You cannot log into your account until you receive the registration letter with
your password.  Please read the registration letter carefully.

Use the correct email address. You *cannot* send email to an IP address. Note:
Do not use  <  >  in your email address.

Example:

   New users      #> register <name you want> <YOUR email address>
   Current users  #> register <YOUR email address>

See also: stats who


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.57. Reset ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Reset Command

Usage:  reset

After typing reset twice, during any one session on the server, your won/lost
record will be set to zero.

See also: stats


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.58. Results ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Results Command

Usage: results [person|*]

Looks at the results of the games that have been played recently. If given a
person to look for, lists that persons' results.

If you say 'results t' you will get all of the results for players whose name
begins with 't'.  If I say 'results tim', then I get results for 'timin' as
well.  This is to allow for abbreviations of player names when getting results.

If results is used with no arguments, you get the results for you. In order to
see all of the previous games, you need to use '*' as the player name.

Most fields are self explanatory.  However, the numbers at the end of the line
are the day of the month, the hour, and the minute the game completed.

See also: sgf


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.59. Resign ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Resign Command

Usage: resign

Resign the game that you are currently playing.

See Also: adjourn


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.60. Review ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Review Command

Usage:  review <title>

Review is designed to allow players to review any Smart Go File. Review loads a
file.  Once loaded, the commands forward, backward, and goto are used to look
at the contents of the SGF file.  Once review is started, you must use
'forward' to look at the text.  When started, review will display the
variations in the SFG file.

Clients are sent the actuall Smart Go Format data, every time a node is entered
(at the forward command).  (A typical node will have a move, comments, and
possibly variations.)  If you are connected through telnet directly, you will
be shown a board, just like during a game.

You can go through the entire file with the commands forward, backward, and
current.

If no argument is given, while reviewing, the current review session is ended.
If no argument is given while not review, a list of the currently available
file for reviewing is shown.

You can only review *one* file at a time.  In order to stop reviewing, and go
to the next file, you have to 'review', with no arguments.

See also: backward forward goto sgf variation


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.61. Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Save Command

Usage:  save

Saves the current game you are playing.

See also: load match mail


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.62. Say ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Say Command

Usage: say message

Say will deliver <message> to your opponent.  It is only good during games
(when you have an opponent).  The message comes out in the same format as tell.

Say can be abreviated to ','.

Example:

   , bad move

  comes across as '*tim*: bad move', during a game.

See also: tell shout yell


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.63. Score ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Score Command

Usage: score <game #>

Score will list two scores. The first is the score IGS *believes* the score
should be. IGS trys to removes some obviously dead stones then counts the
score. Then IGS prints the score that will be calculated after the done command
is entered. When the two scores are in agreement, the game is ready to be
scored. Pay close attention to the number of dame printed in the score command.

To score a game:

The players must pass three times in a row to enter scoring mode. When in
scoring mode, which is indicated by the prompt "Enter Dead Group: ", enter the
coordinate of one of the dead stones for each dead group.  All dead stones
*must* be removed before entering 'done'.  At the end of this type 'done' at
the scoring prompt.  Both players have to type done in order to score the game.

Once a game has been scored, the result cannot be changed.

See also: done


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.64. SGF ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Sgf Command

Usage: sgf <person>

Shows you the listing of games that are saved in Smart Go Format.  Each line of
the listing corresponds to a completed game.  The <person> '-' will match
everyones' account games. If I wanted to look for joebobs' games, 'sgf joebob'
would do the trick.  The files are dated.  A file will look like:
white-black-day-hour-minute white is the white player, black is the black
player, day is the day of the month, hour and minute are the hour and the
minute the game completed.  tim-one-10-06-19 is an example, where the time is
10th day, 6th hour and the 19th minute.  The time is local server time.

In order to view Smart Go Format games, you need to ftp from bsdserver.ucsf.edu
and get Go/prog/mgt.22.sh.Z  Compile it and it will view SGF games.  Also
available is xmgt23.sh.Z

If you do not wish to go through that trouble, you can use psmail to mail
yourself a PostScript file of the game.  This file should be printable on any
PostScript printer.

See also: ftp mail psmail tokens


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Tokens ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

These are the tokens which IGS uses in SGF files:

 EV  EVent
 PW  PlayerWhite, person who plays white
 WR  WhiteRank, The rank/rating of the white player
 PB  PlayerBlack, person who plays white
 BR  BlackRank, The rank/rating of the black player
 TM  TiMe, the time limit of the game in seconds
 DT  DaTe, Date the game was played in YYYY-MM-DD
 GM  GaMe, the type of game, go is type 1.
 SZ  SiZe, the size of the board on which the game is played.
 CP  CoPyright, Copyright notice for the game.
 GN  GameName, The name given to a game: white-black(B) (IGS)
 PC  PlaCe, where the game took place
 RE  REsult, who won: W|B+<points>|<Time>|<Resign>
 KM  KoMi, the komi for the game
 LT  LoseonTime, present in the root node if losing on time happens
 C   Comment, a comment during a move (10000 chars max)
 BL  BlacktimeLeft, Black's time left after black has made a move
 WL  WhitetimeLeft, White's time left after black has made a move
 B   Black, a move make by black
 W   White, a move make by white


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.65. Shout ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Shout Command

Usage: shout message

Send a one line message to everybody.

See also: tell yell


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.66. Stats ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Stats Command

Usage: stats [<player>]

List information about the player the defaults are in parenthesis '()':

   Game:          go (1)          <---- Game and game number of your choice (1)
   Rating:        NR   0.0        <---- calculated rating (0)
   Rated Games:        0          <---- number of games for the above (0)
   Rank:          NR              <---- rank you inserted with 'rank' (NR)
   Wins:          0               <---- # of wins, help reset (0)
   Losses:        0               <---- # of losse, help resets (0)
   Last Access(GMT):  (On Server)    Thu Apr 22 20:41:52 1993  <--- some date
   Address:  <None>               <---- help address (None)
   Info:  <None>                  <---- help info (None)
   Defaults (help defs):  time 90, size 19, byo-yomi time 10, byo-yomi stones 25
   Verbose  Bell  Quiet  Shout  Automail  Open  Looking  Client  Kibitz  Chatter
        On    On    Off     On       Off    On      Off     Off      On     On

The server will display in what games a person is play and or observing. If the
game has an 'I' after the number, the game is using IGS rules.

See also: automatch defs info rank Rating System register reset toggle who IGS
Rating System


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.67. Status ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Status Command

Usage: status <status game #>

Gives the board position for the supplied game number.

Format:

   <white name> <# of captured stones> <time left> <byoyomi stones> <T|F>
   <black name> <# of captured stones> <time left> <byoyomi stones> <T|F>
   ##: ################### (size of the board times)

   The '##:' is the line number of the board.  The rest of the numbers
   are as follows:
           0:  Black      4:  White Territory
           1:  White      5:  Black Territory
           2:  Empty      6:  Starpoint
           3:  Dame       7:  Counted

See also: games


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.68. Stored ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Stored Command

Usage: stored [person]

Shows you the listing of games the person has saved. Games which are stored
more than a certain number of days, are removed automatically.

See also: delete load save uptime


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.69. Teach ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Teach Command

Usage:  teach #

Start a teaching game with a board sized '#'.  A teaching game is the same as a
regular game, except one person inputs all of the moves.  (The same player
plays black and white.)  The person who is the player can hear kibitzes.
Teaching games are not counted towards ratings.  When you play a teaching game
a 'T' is in the flags for that game.

If you want a title for the game you are teaching use the title command.

See also: games match name title


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.70. Tell ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Tell Command

Usage: tell <person> message goes here.

Send a message to the account 'person'.  Current one line messages are the
limit.  The 'person' argument may be '.'. In that case, it sends the message to
the last person you used 'tell' with.  The 'person' argument may also be '$'.
The recipient will be the last person to log in, or last person listed by
'who'.

As a short cut to 'tell . message', the server understands '. message'.  '.' ==
'tell .'.

Examples:

   #> tell tim want to play a game?  <--- after specifing 'tim'
   #> . how about a 10 min game?     <--- you can omit the players name.
   *lyu*: hi
   #> tell ^ hi
   Setting your '.' to lyu.
   #>

    ^---------- Note the space after the '.'

See also: say shout who


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.71. Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Time Command

Usage: time [game #]

Tells how much time is left of a game.  If a game is in byo-yomi There is a
'(B)' displayed after the time, as well as how many stones are left to play.

Without arguments time displays the amount of time you have left in your game,
if you are playing.  If you are observing then time displays the time info on
all of the games you are observing.

See also: addtime games refresh


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.72. Title ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Title Command

Usage: title description of the game

The title will be displayed at the entry into an observation of a game.  The
title will also appear in the SGF file.

See also: name teach


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.73. Tmatch ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Tmatch Command

Usage: tmatch player_name [color [board_size [time [byo-yomi minutes]]]]

This is exactly like match except tells to players are blocked while playing in
a t-match.  This is designed for use in tournaments.

Say can be used for both players to communicate.

See also: byo-yomi match say


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.74. Toggle ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Toggle Command

Usage: toggle <option> [<value>]

Toggle changes the option given.  If given no 'value', toggle sets the
specified option to the opposite of what it was.

Valid options:

 automail  Have the server mail you moves after you complete a match (check you
           e-mail address).
 bell      If your bell will ring on redraw of boards.
 chatter   Block chatters on games.
 client    Sets the server to transmit to a client.  Implies 'toggle verbose
           false'.
 kibitz    Block kibitzes on games.
 looking   Really want to play, shows a '!' under info.
 open      If 'On' then you are available to accept 'match' requests from other
           players.  Other wise you never know about them.  If you are playing
           you do not get match requests.
 quiet     If set then you do not hear about people logging in/out, game
           results. This flag does not stop shutdown messages.
 shout     Players shouts, but not system messages.
 verbose   If set then full boards will be sent to you, otherwise only the last
           move will be sent.

 Valid values: true, false, on, off, 0, 1;  case insensitive.

 See also: chatter kibitz match Rating System shout stats who


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.75. Touch ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Touch Command

Usage: touch <file name>

Touch will keep a file from being removed.  It resets the date of the game to
be the current date.  This will keep games from being automatically removed.
The current date is displayed in the 'look' command.  The number of days a game
is kept before it is automatically removed is in the 'uptime' command.

See also: look save stored uptime


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.76. Translate ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Translate Command

Usage: translate <word>

Translate takes a word and gives all of the possible phrases for the given
word.  A 'word' is very lose.  If one says 'translate at', every phrase with
the letters 'at' in it will be displayed in every possible language.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.77. Undo ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Undo Command

Usage: undo

Undo undoes the last command typed in by your *opponent*.  This makes sure both
parties agree about taking back the move.

All sequential undos will be saved into a variation in the SGF (Smart Go
Format) files.  Sub-variations cannot be saved and comments are not aligned
with the variations.

Undo during scoring means the board will be restored to what it was just before
scoring started.

See also: coords


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.78. Unobserve ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Unobserve Command

Usage:  unobserve <#>

Removes you from the observation list for game <#>.  Without arguments removes
you from observing all games.

See also: watching all match observe


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.79. Uptime ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Uptime Command

Usage: uptime

Gives the current time, in local time and GMT. Gives the amount of time the
server has been up. Also, alot of various other pieces of information.

   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Time Table (all around the world)
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                       today                    |     tomorrow
                     yesterday                  |      today
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                  | Std time -- Daylight time   |
                  |    is one hour greater.     |
    Europe  GMT     USA     USA     USA     USA    Taiwan  Korea     NZ
                  pacific  moun  central   east            Japan
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   01:00   00:00   16:00   17:00   18:00   19:00   09:00   10:00   13:00
   05:00   04:00   20:00   21:00   22:00   23:00   13:00   14:00   17:00
   09:00   08:00   24:00   01:00   02:00   03:00   17:00   18:00   21:00
   13:00   12:00   04:00   05:00   06:00   07:00   21:00   22:00   01:00
   17:00   16:00   08:00   09:00   10:00   11:00   01:00   02:00   05:00
   21:00   20:00   12:00   13:00   14:00   15:00   05:00   06:00   09:00
   01:00   24:00   16:00   17:00   18:00   19:00   09:00   10:00   13:00
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.80. User ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

User Command

Usage: user <country name>  or  <rank range>

Examples:

   user korea
   user 1k-2d

List online users by name, info, country, rank, won/lost games, game observed,
game played, idle time, who flags, language setting.

Name        Info          Country  Rank Won/Lost Obs   Pl Idle Flags Language
 ^           ^             ^        ^      ^      ^    ^   ^    ^     ^
 |           |             |        |      |      |    |   |    |     |
User name   User info     Country  Rank Won/Lost  |    |   |    |     |
                                          Observed |   |    |     |
                                        game   |   |   Who   Language
                             Game  |   flag  setting
                                                          Idle
                                  time
See also: find stats who


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.81. Variation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Variation Command

Usage:  variation [Game #] [Move #] <Smart Go Format Text>

Variation sends this as a variation to other people observing a game. If you
omit either the game # or the move # (but still have one #), the number left is
assumed to be a move #.

Example:

   #> observe 1
   #> variation 1 2 (;W[jj])  <--- move 2 should have been at K10.
   #> variation 2 (;W[jj])  <--- move 2 should have been at K10.

If you omit both the game # and the move #, the move # is taken to be the next
move.

Example:

   #> variation (;W[jj])  <--- move 3 should have been at K10.

The only Smart Go Token supported in variations are W[xx], and B[xx], where 'x'
is a coordinate letter.

For client users the variation will print out

   Var observer [rank] @ move number (move coords): <SGF text>

For non-client people

   Var observer [rank] @ move number (move coords): B|W <move coord>...

The Smart Go Format text is parsed to see if it makes sense.  The move number
has to be even for white and odd for black.  There can be no spaces.  For the
SGF coords, 'aa' is A19 and 'ss' is T1.

See also: kibitz


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.82. Verbose ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Verbose Command

Usage: verbose

This toggles if you get verbose boards, or just the moves.  Most clients use
verbose off to cut down time.

See also: toggle


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.83. Watching ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Watching Command

Usage: watching

Shows the games currently being observed by you.

See also: observe


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.84. Who ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Who Command

Usage: who [<rank range> [flags]]

List who is currently logged in to the server. The information in who is:

   Info      Name       Idle  Rank      : Info   Name       Idle  Rank
    QX -- -- tim          1   4k
                              ^^^----The player's ranking.
                         ^^^---------The player's idle time, ##d, ##h, ##m ##s,
                                     for days, hours, minutes, seconds.
          ^^-------------------------The game number the player is playing.
       ^^----------------------------The first game being observed.
   ^^^-------------------------------The player's current state.

If there is a 'Q' under the info it means the player has quiet set (ie. not
listening to system messages).  If there is an  'X' under the info, it means
the person is not accepting matches. If there is a '!' under info, it means the
person is looking for a match.  A 'S' under the info means the person cannot
hear shouts.

<rank range> is a range:

who '2d-4d', 'who 3k', 'who all' <flags> are 'l', for looking for games, 'o'
for open, and 'p' for playing: 'who all o' looks for players that are open for
games, 'c' is for people on channels, 'r' is for rated players, 'g' is for
guest logins, '!' will do the opposite, multiple flags are not thought out,
yet.  '1' is for go games, '4' is for shogi games, '3' is for shogi games, 'v'
is for verbose.

See also: games stats toggle


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1.85. Yell ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Yell Command

Usage: yell \[channel #] <message >

Send a message to the specified channel number.  If the channel number is left
out, the previous channel number is used.

There is a short hand for 'yell', it is ';'.  This means that

   'yell 1 message' is the same as '; 1 message'

Examples:

   #> ; \1                       <-- will just subscribe to the channel.
   #> ; \1 hello                 <-- After specifing '1' as the channel
   #> ; how is everything going <-- everything 'yell'ed is on that channel.
   #> ; \-1                      <-- This leaves all channels.

       ^--------------------- Note the space after the ';'.

See also: channels say shout tell who


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2. IGS Rating System ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The IGS Rating System  *FIRST DRAFT* Table of contents
(Written by John Bate, bate on the server.)

Select one of the following topics:

     Introduction
     Computing Handicaps
     How Ratings Are Calculated
     Mathematical Details
     An Example
     Cycles In The Rating System
     Entry Into The Rating System
     Rating Statistics
     A Few Suggestions
     Common Questions

 If you want a listing of your rating performance, day to day, please email me
 at [e-mail], and I will send it to you.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2.1. Introduction ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A game of Go is most enjoyable when the players are evenly matched, and each
must play to the best of his or her ability in order to win. This requires that
an appropriate handicap be used, which in turn requires an accurate estimation
of the strengths of the players. This is the intended purpose of the rating
system. Consistently using the differences in the players' ratings to determine
handicaps will, in the long run, provide the most interesting and challenging
games for everyone. Also, by using the rating system, each player should
eventually win about 50% of his or her games.

To use the rating system, set your RANK to a reasonable value (using the "rank"
command) and then begin playing games. You will receive a numerical RATING
which will automatically be updated, usually once per day. (A rating of 32.00
corresponds to a rank of 1 dan.) The "stats" command will display both your
rating and your rank. If you use the command "toggle rank on", then other
players will also see your rating, and "who" will show an approximate rating
value, instead of your rank, marked with "*". The command "toggle rank off" may
be used to keep your rating private. Note that once you have a numerical
rating, your RANK and your RATING are completely independent. You may set your
RANK manually to any desired value, but it will not have any effect at all on
your RATING, which is computed solely from the results of your games. Your RANK
is used only to initialize your RATING to a reasonable starting value.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2.2. Computing Handicaps ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A rating difference of 1.00 corresponds to a difference of 1 handicap stone,
which is considered to have a value of about 10 points. An even game (with 5
komi) is correct when there is no difference in the players' ratings. A no-
komi game gives Black an advantage of about 5 points, or 1/2 stone, which is
perfect when the rating difference is 0.5. A 2-stone game (without komi) gives
Black an additional advantage of exactly one stone, and so this is appropriate
when the rating difference is 1.5 (*not* 2.0). In general, an N-stone handicap
is ideal for a rating difference of N-1/2. The following table may be used to
determine the most reasonable handicap.

   Rating Difference  Handicap Komi    Ideal Rating Diff
       0.0-0.25          0      5            0.0
       0.25-1.0          0      0            0.5
       1.0-2.0           2      0            1.5
       2.0-3.0           3      0            2.5     etc.....

Note that the proper number of handicap stones may be found by taking the
rating difference *UP* to the next integer. There is a tendency to use smaller
handicaps, giving White the advantage. This is fine, but if Black is to have a
truly even chance (and White is willing to lose half the games) then the above
table should be used. For even more accuracy, the komi may be adjusted by 1
point for each 0.1 that the rating difference departs from the ideal.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2.3. How Ratings Are Calculated ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

In this section, the operation of the ratings system will be described in
general terms. The exact mathematical details will be given later for those who
are interested.

Each player has a "seed" rating. When a player first enters the rating system,
the seed is set to the stated RANK value (which is the ONLY time that the rank
is used). After that, the seed is changed to the current RATING value on a
regular basis. A "likelihood" is assigned to every possible rating for a given
player. This likelihood is highest at the seed and decreases on either side of
it.

Each game between two players in the rating system is also assigned a
likelihood value which depends on the handicap, the komi, the RATINGS of the
two players, and the winner of the game. (Other factors, such as the margin of
victory, are ignored.) The system will determine which player had the advantage
based on the handicap, the komi, and the players' ratings. The likelihood will
be 0.5 if the game was exactly even (in other words, if the handicap was ideal
for those ratings). It will be larger if the winning player had an advantage
(the handicap was too small), and smaller if the winning player was at a
disadvantage (the handicap was too large).

The ratings system uses the seeds of all of the players in the rating system
and the results of all the games between these players. It then computes a set
of ratings for ALL of the players AT ONCE which maximizes the total likelihood
of the entire system. This likelihood is the product of the likelihoods of each
player's computed rating, and the likelihoods of the results of each game,
given those ratings.

Here is a good analogy which will help in understanding the ratings system.

Think of each player's seed as a fixed post, and each player's rating as a
movable post attached to the seed by a rubber band. Think of each game as a
spring joining the ratings posts of the two players. If the lower ranked player
won, the spring will be stretched and will try to pull the ratings closer
together. If the higher-ranked player won, the spring will be compressed and
will try to push the ratings apart. The strength of the spring will depend on
the accuracy of the handicap. If the winning player had an advantage, the
spring will be weak, but if the winning player was at a disadvantage, the
spring will be strong. The entire system of posts, rubber bands, and springs
will have a stable position which will determine the ratings of the players.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2.4. Mathematical Details ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The likelihood of a particular player's rating is p(d)=exp(-((d/sigma)^2)/2)
where d is the difference between the rating and the seed, and sigma indicates
the degree of confidence that the seed accurately represents the player's
strength. Sigma begins at 1.0 for new players 9k and above, and decreases by
0.02 for each game that is processed by the rating system, until a minimum of
0.3 is reached.  For players 10k abd below, the sigma is 2.00 and has a minimum
of 0.6.  (Sharp-eyed readers with a good knowledge of statistics may realize
that this formula should be divided by root-two-pi to be a proper likelihood
function. But this constant factor may be ignored in the ratings system.)

The likelihood of a particular game result is calculated as follows, given
H=handicap stones, K=komi, W=White's rating, B=Black's rating:

   Effective Handicap:  E = if H=0 then 0.5-0.1*K else H-0.5-0.1*K

This computes the "ideal" ratings difference that would make the game exactly
even. For example, a 2 stone game (H=2, K=0) gives E=1.5 and an even game (H=0,
K=5) gives E=0. This corresponds to the "ideal rating difference" column in the
table in the previous section.

   Black's Advantage:   A = E - (W-B)

This adjusts the effective handicap by the difference in the strengths of the
players, giving the net advantage for Black (if positive) or White (if
negative). For example, if the difference in ratings is W-B=2.0 and a 2-stone
game is played (E=1.5), then A=-0.5 indicating that White still has a 1/2-
stone advantage.

   Likelihood of Black winning: L = if A>=0 then 1.0 - 0.5*((3/4)^(2*A))
                                            else 0.5*((3/4)^(2*-A))

This function gives L=0.5 if the game is exactly even (A=0), higher values if
Black has the advantage (A>0), and lower values if White has the advantage
(A<0). The value of L is between 0 and 1.

   Likelihood of the result: G = if Black won then L else 1-L

This gives the likelihood of the observed result. It will be 0.5 if the game
was exactly even, higher if the player with the advantage won, and lower if the
player with the advantage lost.

The system calculates the ratings of all of the players which will maximize the
product of all of the likelihood values (for both players and games).  To avoid
numerical problems, the sum of the logarithms of the likelihoods is used. (The
details of the algorithm that does this are beyond the scope of this document.)


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2.5. An Example ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Suppose that PlayerA, with a rank of 1d, wins an even game (with 5 komi)
against PlayerB, also with a rank of 1d, and that this is the only game in the
system. The seeds of both players will be initialized to 32.00, and their sigma
values will be 1.0. First, try setting their ratings to 32.00, which will give
likelihoods of 1.00 for both. The advantage of PlayerA in the game is 0, giving
a game likelihood of 0.5 and a total likelihood of 1*1*0.5=0.5. Now try giving
PlayerA a rating of 32.25, and PlayerB a rating of 31.75.  This will give both
players a likelihood of 0.969 which is only a little less than 1.0 since these
ratings are still close to the seed (the rubber bands haven't stretched very
much). Given these ratings, PlayerA had an advantage of 0.5 which would
increase the likelihood of the game (since the player with the advantage won)
to 0.666 giving a total likelihood of .969*.969*.666=0.625 which is higher than
the 0.5 produced before. Now try giving PlayerA a rating of 33, and PlayerB a
rating of 31. These values are a lot farther from the seeds, giving likelihoods
of 0.607 (the rubber bands are being stretched a bit more). PlayerA would now
have an advantage of 2.0 which increases the likelihood of the game to 0.901
(since if PlayerA is really 2 stones stronger, then the result is very likely).
But the total likelihood is only 0.607*0.607*0.901=0.332 which is smaller than
before. So this change in the ratings is too big. By using an iterative search
algorithm, the optimum values may be found, which are ratings of 32.333 for
PlayerA and 31.667 for PlayerB, giving a total likelihood of about 0.635 which
is the maximum. If the game had been played with no komi, then the players'
ratings would change by about 0.238 if Black won or 0.454 if White won. (Since
it is more likely that Black will win a no-komi game, it will affect the
ratings less when it happens.) It is left as an exercise for interested readers
to verify these values. :-)

Below is a *very* typical letter about the ratings on IGS.  The person who
wrote me is the '> ' lines and I am the rest of the lines.  I am reluctant to
post about ratings system.  People read more into the ratings than the system
was designed to accommodate.  It is supposed to be used to setting the proper
handicap, that is it.  Here is the letter:

> ...First example was zb (me :-)) who played Lim and won but got a
> dropped rate by 0.25.  If it was due to that Lim was not calculated into the
> system, then there should be NO effect on zb's rating.  In no reason a winner
> should have a decreased rate instead.  Another example is about players ong and
> fei.  fei won a game over ong yesterday but fei got a decreased rating while
> ong got an increased one.  You may argue that ong played strong players.
> However before ong got his rate increased, he played fei(4d*), xzhao(5d*), and
> ylwang(NR*) and lost all.  As you stated ylwang was NOT calculated at that time
> (as NR*), so the counts for ong should be fei(4d*) and xzhao(5d*), and both had
> rating scores LOWER than ong when they played!  Therefore no reason should fei
> got a decreased rating score while ong got an increased one.

Below are the games which affected fei and ong.  The above example is just a
tiny sliver of the total information.  Below I included the *partial* games
used in computing fei and ong rating.  If you can say, by inspection, what
should happen given the data below you are doing a lot better than I. In order
to show any fault in the ratings system, you would have to use two player which
do not play *anyone* else.  John Bates did this, and the ratings system
performed as well as can me expected.

If one does a stats Lim (I did a show of Lim), one can see that he has not
played any games, his rank is NR, and he has no rating.  Lim has *nothing* to
do with the ratings system.  'zb' rating drop was from something else in the
ratings system, not from Lim.  A player's rating can change just by being
active in the system.  That is all it takes.  Lets say you have 15 people
playing each other (they are active).  One new person comes in, as a 6d, and
plays and wins.  The new person wins so much he becomes an 8d. As he gets
promoted, he pulls all the people he played with him up, also. The other people
do not even have to play to get pulled up.  They just have to have be part of
the 'playing network', if you will.  For example the new person plays lyu, lyu
plays m6, m6 plays zhong, zhong plays fei, and so on. If fei plays no games,
while the new person is winning, his rating will increase.  We all saw this
happen with nyws.  Instead of winning, if the nyws had lost badly, he would
have pulled people down.

What this boils down to is some 'local' instability, for global stability.
Players may see their ratings change, a little here and there, but globally the
ratings are accurate.

If you can show me an example with a two players who do not play anyone else
but themselves, then I can look at the behavior and go from there.

>       From the above examples I think the rating system on IGS is not working
> appropriately sometimes.  I hope you can check it out and make the rating a
> perfect one.  Thanks a lot for your time and patience.

I think it is working, from the above example.  Or at the very least it is
arguable as to what it is doing.

Here is the data.  The format is similar to the 'games' command. Most of the
info is kept with the player, so 'NR' means nothing, as does 'xx' and the bogus
score at the end.

0016 xzhao   [ NR ](W) : player1 [ NR ](W) H 2 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0016 ong     [ NR ](W) : player4 [ NR ](W) H 4 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0016 player1 [ NR ](B) : xzhao   [ NR ](B) H 2 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0016 fei     [ NR ](W) : player2 [ NR ](W) H 0 K 5.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0016 player1 [ NR ](B) : xzhao   [ NR ](B) H 2 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0016 player4 [ NR ](B) : player5 [ NR ](B) H 0 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0016 player1 [ NR ](B) : xzhao   [ NR ](B) H 2 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0017 ylwang  [ NR ](W) : ong     [ NR ](W) H 0 K 5.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0017 xzhao   [ NR ](W) : ong     [ NR ](W) H 0 K 5.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0017 fei     [ NR ](B) : ong     [ NR ](B) H 0 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0015 player1 [ NR ](W) : player3 [ NR ](W) H 0 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0015 player3 [ NR ](W) : player4 [ NR ](W) H 0 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0015 player1 [ NR ](B) : xzhao   [ NR ](B) H 2 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0015 ong     [ NR ](W) : player4 [ NR ](W) H 4 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0015 xzhao   [ NR ](W) : player1 [ NR ](W) H 2 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0016 player3 [ NR ](B) : player6 [ NR ](B) H 0 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0018 player7 [ NR ](W) : player3 [ NR ](W) H 0 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0015 player1 [ NR ](W) : player3 [ NR ](W) H 0 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0015 player3 [ NR ](W) : player4 [ NR ](W) H 0 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0016 player4 [ NR ](B) : player5 [ NR ](B) H 0 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0
0017 player8 [ NR ](W) : player5 [ NR ](W) H 2 K 0.5 xx W 0.0 B 0.0

Players Ratings:

player1         34    34.2852    0.9400        1
xzhao         36    35.2148    0.5000        1
ong           36    36.6328    0.5000        1
player2         35    34.7031    0.9800        1
fei           35    35.3789    0.5800        1

As you can tell, what happens to player one and player2 affect ong and fei. So
does player3, player4, player5, player6, and player7.

tim


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2.6. Cycles In The Rating System ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The rating system operates in cycles, as follows. At the beginning of a cycle,
each player's seed is initialized to his or her current RATING value, and a new
collection of games is started. During the cycle, each player's rating is
recalculated on a daily basis using the results of all of the games played
since the beginning of the cycle, and the seed values that were set at the
beginning of the cycle. Note that the ratings will change daily, but the
underlying seed values (to which the ratings are attached by "rubber bands") do
NOT change during a cycle. Each day, a new set of games (springs) are added to
the system which will affect the ratings (movable posts), but the seeds (fixed
posts) remain anchored. At the end of the cycle, the seeds are changed to the
computed ratings, and the games are discarded. (All of the tension is removed
from the system by moving the fixed posts to match the movable posts, and
discarding all the springs.) Then a new cycle is started.

The plan is to make each cycle last for one week, so that one entire week's
worth of games are collected before making any permanent changes to the ratings
(by changing the seeds). However, as this document is being written (March 18,
1993), the ratings system is still in the VERY FIRST cycle which began when the
ratings system was restarted on February 1, 1993. This means that each player
still has the same seed that they had on that date, and the "rubber bands" will
prevent the ratings from moving very far from those seeds. The system contains
a very large number of springs and rubber bands which are under a considerable
amount of tension, making it difficult for any new games to have much effect at
all. Weekly cycles will begin soon, probably when the server moves from
Berkeley to San Francisco. (Right, Tim? :-)  [tim -- I started a new cycle.  It
will be run until I get to the server next.]


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2.7. Entry Into The Rating System ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To enter into the ratings you need to have your rank set greater than 25k.
Once in the ratings system, you can change your rank to be what- ever you wish.
The initial rank is used as your seed rating.

The only other condition is that you play someone with their rank set in the
same maner, or play someone already in the ratings system; to have the game
count.

If one player is not in the rating system and has their rank set to NR, the
game will not count.  Both players have to meet the conditions for the game to
count towards ratings.  If you play a NR player, the game may still count.  The
NR player can already be in the ratings system, ie, have a rating.

See also: rating


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Rating ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

All games completed when both players have computed ranks.  A player may
*still* have a computed rank, without having a '*' next to his rank.

You have to play 20 RATED games to be allowed to display a '*'.  Not all games
are counted towards a rating.  Please see 'help entry'. In order to get a '*',
you have to be a rank greater than 25k.

Note:  Please play a few games BEFORE deciding what your rank should be. This
will allow for a good starting point within the IGS rating system.

The ratings computed on IGS are generally only acurate to about 0.5.  The
reason for this is how handicap/komi is generally choosen.  There is also a lot
of noise in the lower divisions (in the kyus) from people 'testing the ratings'
and various other missinformation.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Rating Statistics ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Rk        The rank.
 Rank Cnt  The number of players with that rank.
 Rating Cnt The number of players with that rating.
 Avg Rating The average rating for that rank.
 Avg Diff  The average difference of rating - rank.

    Rk   Rank    Rating     Avg        Avg
       Cnt      Cnt    Rating          Diff
     1:   35       42     23.9681    22.9681
     2:  115       35      5.4196     3.4196
     3:   23       32      6.5197     3.5197
     4:   28       29      4.8147     0.8147
     5:   27       36      5.7506     0.7506
     6:   11       53      7.4901     1.4901
     7:   78       32      7.5876     0.5876
     8:   62       40      9.6276     1.6276
     9:   29       38      9.5205     0.5205
    10:   22       44     11.3061     1.3061
    11:   19       43     12.1530     1.1530
    12:   75       34     12.7690     0.7690
    13:   27       43     12.4387    -0.5613
    14:   32       53     14.2983     0.2983
    15:   34       45     15.5515     0.5515
    16:   55       74     16.2064     0.2064
    17:   82       58     16.5648    -0.4352
    18:   44       62     17.4907    -0.5093
    19:   47       49     17.6200    -1.3800


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2.8. A Few Suggestions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The ratings system will work best when the ratings have had a chance to adjust
themselves to reasonably accurate values. Note that the assignment of the value
32.00 to "1 dan" is entirely arbitrary, and that this value may drift over time
due to the continual addition and deletion of accounts from the system. There
is also a wide variation in ranks from one country to another, and so it is
best not to pay too much attention to the "rank" that corresponds to your
"rating". In the long run, it is quite possible that all of the "real" 1d
players (whatever that means) will have ratings close to 30.00 or 34.00 or some
other value. Pay attention to the DIFFERENCE between your rating and your
opponent's rating, but don't worry too much about the numbers themselves.

The system will also work best when most games are played with handicaps that
are "correct" given the current ratings of the players. Games played with
handicaps that are far too large or far too small may have extreme and
undesirable effects. When you play a game, determine the numerical difference
between your rating and your opponent's, round it *UP* to the next integer, and
use that number of handicap stones. If you think you are giving away too many
stones (or getting too few), perhaps you have been improving or playing well
lately. Use the computed handicap. Losing is good for you. :-) If you think you
are giving away too few stones (or getting too many), perhaps you have been
losing a lot recently. Use the computed handicap. Maybe you will win and get
your confidence back. In the long run, using the proper handicaps will make the
game more enjoyable for everyone.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2.9. Frequently Asked Questions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Q: What do I do about problems or suggestions I find?
 A: Please email [e-mail] any questions you have about the ratings.
    There are ratings results stored from March, 1993.  Most, if not all
    questions can be answered with this data.

 Q: What happens if results of a game does not count towards my rating?
 A: Please make sure the game would be against a rated player.  After this, as
    soon as you can email [e-mail] and see if there is a logical
    explaination.  If the results are gone by the time something needs to be
    done, it is too late.

 Q: What do I do if my rating is not changing?
 A: If your rating is not changing one of two things is happening.  1)  You are
    playing as expected of your rating, or 2)  The ratings are not counting
    your games.  To find out the differece, make sure the number of rated games
    you are playing is chaning, from day-to-day, as expected.  If this number
    is changing, the ratings system is counting your games.

 Q: Do 9x9 and 13x13 games count?
 A: No.  All games which are not 19x19 do not count towards ratings.

 Q: Does a game with a 'NR' player count?
 A: help entry.

 Q: Why does my rating chage when I do not play?
 A: Your rating depends not only on the games you play, but also on the people
    you play.  If you play fred and fred does very well, your rating will
    increase as well, without you playing anyone else.

 Q: I set my rank too low initially, can I change it and have the rating change
    accordingly?
 A: No.  You just have to wait for 20 games until your rating is displayed.
    After 20 games I would think your rating will stablize. If it is more than
    5 stones off, them you may need it adjusted.

 Q: How can I reset my seed and start over again?
 A: You cannot.  I (tim) have not seen a need for this.

 Q: How do handicap games affect the ratings?
 A: Handicap games are treated just the same as regular games.  If a teaching
    you cannot keep a rating with a teaching game, you probably cannot keep the
    rating.

 Q: Why did my rating change when I didn't even play that day?
 A: As soon as you play one game with another rated player, your rating (post)
    is attached to everyone else's ratings through that game (a spring), until
    the start of another cycle. Any change in your opponent's rating will pull
    on the spring and cause a change in your rating, too. In theory, it is
    possible for a game to affect the ratings of every player in the system.
    For example, if you (as a 1d) lose an even game to a 3k player, it will
    cause a fairly large decrease in your rating. :-( But if that "3k" player
    then wins several more even games against 1d and 2d players, this will
    increase his or her rating quite a bit, and this in turn will reduce the
    change in your rating. (Perhaps that game was not so unlikely after all.:-)

 Q: I initially set my rank at 5k, but that turned out to be too low.  I
    changed it to 1d, but my rating didn't change. Why?
 A: When you set your rank and play ONE game against another ranked player,
    your seed is initialized and you enter the ratings system. From then on,
    your RANK and your RATING are entirely separate. Your RANK is only set
    manually with the "rank" command, and your RATING is computed
    automatically. The moral of the story: pick a reasonable rank BEFORE your
    FIRST game. After that it is too late.

 Q: How accurate are the ratings?
 A: Probably not more than 0.5.  The games played are usually played down to
    one 1.0

 Q: Why do the ratings not move 'fast enough'?
 A: The ratings do move about the speed they should.  You actually can move
    from 25k* to 5k* in a matter of months.  The players 10k* and below are
    allowed to move more quickly than the stronger players. This is to allow
    for people learning.  After about 10k*, the ratings are as slow as they are
    for every other player.

 Q: Why do I have the wrong rating?
 A: If you have played 20 games, given a close seed (within a few stones), you
    probably have a rating close to your true IGS rating.  Your IGS rating will
    possilby not be the same as the rank you are used to using in your local
    club.  There is no absolute strength for a give rank.  A one dan on IGS is
    different than a one dan any where else.  The names are the same, but they
    are same names for differnt strengths.

 Q: Why are there drops in my rating, or *everyones* rating?
 A: The ratings system is quite inflated.  As it adjusts itself peoples'
    ratings become higher and higer.  We adjust the ratings DOWN or UP by
    tracking a few players throughout the system.  For example, if you have a
    consistent player who gains a stone in strength, in a short time (less that
    a year); then the ratings are probably too strong.  This is a result of all
    of the fake 4ds.  I would allow the ratings to stablize more quickly, but I
    think that people would complain more, so the adjustment is taking a lot of
    time.  The goal for ratings is in years, not days.

 Q: I have played games with other ranked players, but my rating doesn't
    change. Why?
 A: There is a lower limit (currently 25k) below which ranks and ratings and
    games are ignored. (This is because some players use 30k, 29k, etc. just
    for fun, and because very low ranks are inaccurate and unstable anyway.) If
    your  seed was set to a value lower than this, nothing will ever change it.
    Start over with a new account and set your rank to something higher than
    25k BEFORE  your FIRST game. (Also look at the answer to the next
    question.) [tim -- There was also a bug in the ratings code which picked
    what games get used.  This bug has sinced been fixed.]

 Q: What can I do to reset my seed and start my rating over again?
 A: In the future (as of this writing) the "reset" command will reset your seed
    to your current RANK, as well as zeroing your wins and losses, just as if
    your account was brand new. (However, at the moment this does not happen.)
    I (tim) am thinking of a command to affect your 'sigma'.

 Q: What are the parts of the rating system?
 A: There are three things which describe the ratings:  rating, seed, sigma.
    The seed is the anchor of your ratings.  You are close to your seed, in
    rating.  Your seed was an old rating from which your rating is compted. The
    sigma is a measure of how acurate you rating is.  If the sigma is high,
    then the 'believability' or your current seed is low.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. The American Go Association (AGA) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

AGA - The American Go Association is the national organization of go players in
the United States.  Among its activities:

     Publish the American Go Journal and the American Go Newsletter
     Coordinate and assist a growing network of local go clubs in the U.S.
     Sanction and promote local and regional AGA-rated tournaments
     Organize annual U.S. Go Congress (first week in August)
     Arrange and coordinate educational tours by go professionals
     Maintain a national player rating system
     Distribute listings of go clubs and AGA members
     Seek and coordinate people and projects aiming to promote go

 Your participation in the American Go Association will support this work and
 keep you informed of go activites here and abroad.  For information on joining
 the AGA send electronic mail to [e-mail] or contact

     AMERICAN GO ASSOCIATION
     Box 397, Old Chelsea Station
     NY, NY  10113


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. Many Faces of Go ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A computer opponent is sometimes available.  It will announce itself when you
login.  This opponent is a connection to The Many Faces of Go, the current
North American computer go champion, which plays at about the 12 Kyu level.  We
need a volunteer with a fast Hewlett Packard machine to run the computer
opponent more often.  Please let David Fotland ([e-mail]) know
if you are interested.

David

Editorial note:

I.E.  Do not tell me. :)

tim


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. FTP ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To ftp from bsdserver.ucsf.edu do the following: (*something* is typed by the
computer.)

Note:  igs.nuri.net is also a mirror anonymous ftp site for the Go archives.

   *%* ftp bsdserver.ucsf.edu
   ...
   *Name: (account)* anonymous
   *Password: * [e-mail]  [Your e-mail address for passwd].
   *ftp* cd Go
   *ftp* binary
   *ftp* get <filename>
   *ftp* quit

     Files:
        FAQ    aga         PLAYERS  README
        RULES  RULES.PS.Z  RULES.SG

     Directories:
        comp   clients     games    igs         info
        mgt    pro         prog     incoming

If you want to look at the directories, just cd into them and type 'ls'. For
example 'cd Go/igs' followed by 'ls' will give a list of files available for
ftp, about IGS. Clients are in the 'clients' directory.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. How To Play Shogi ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Rules Simplified for Easy Understanding
by Brian Leist "Gosh"  [e-mail]
edited by Arlin Anderson "aea"

Objective:

The objective of shogi is to capture (or checkmate) the King of the opposing
army. The only other way to win is for your opponent to resign.

Board and Pieces: The board is 9x9 numbered 9 to 1 from left to right and
either with letters a through i (on IGS) or with roman numerals i to ix
(standard numbering) from top to bottom.  Each side starts in the three rows
nearest it's side of the board.  These last three rows also make up the
promotion area for the opposition (discussed later).  Each side has twenty
pieces: 1 King, 2 Golds, 2 Silver, 2 Knights, 2 Lances, 9 Pawns, 1 Rook and 1
Bishop.  The pieces are set up with the pawns across the 3rd row.  The bishop
one in from the left on the second row and the rook one space in from the right
on the second rank.  The 1st row has the king in the middle, flanked by the
Golds then the silvers, the knights and finally the lances. (Diagram below).
The pieces have no color (useful in the drop move explained later) and each
side's pieces are identified by the way they face or by a = or # on IGS.

      9    8    7    6    5    4    3    2    1
    +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
  a | =l | =n | =s | =G | =K | =G | =s | =n | =l | i
    +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
  b |    | =r |    |    |    |    |    | =b |    | ii
    +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
  c | =p | =p | =p | =p | =p | =p | =p | =p | =p | iii
    +----+----+----*----+----+----*----+----+----+
  d |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | iv
    +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
  e |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | v
    +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
  f |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | vi
    +----+----+----*----+----+----*----+----+----+
  g | #p | #p | #p | #p | #p | #p | #p | #p | #p | vii
    +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
  h |    | #b |    |    |    |    |    | #r |    | viii
    +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
  i | #l | #n | #s | #G | #K | #G | #s | #n | #l | ix
    +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
       9    8    7    6    5    4    3    2    1

Pieces Movement:

The King can move only one space in any direction.

The Golds can move only one space as well in any nondiagonal and one space in
the forward diagonals.

The Silvers can move only one space in any diagonal and one space straight
forward.

   +----+----+----+  +----+----+----+  +----+----+----+
   |  \ |  I | /  |  |  \ |  | | /  |  |  \ |  | | /  |
   +----\--I-/----+  +----\--|-/----+  +----\--|-/----+
   |  ---  K ---  |  |  ---  G ---  |  |    |  s |    |
   +----/--I-\----+  +----+--|-+----+  +----/----\----+
   |  / |  I | \  |  |    |  | |    |  |  / |    | \  |
   +----+----+----+  +----+----+----+  +----+----+----+
         KING              GOLD             SILVER

The Knights move forward one and then one to either forward diagonal.  These
knights cannot go backwards or sideways, only forward. Knights can jump other
pieces (only pieces in game allowed to jump).

The Lances can move any number of spaces but only straight forward.

The Pawns can move only one space and only straight ahead.

   +----+----+----+  +----+----+----+  +----+----+----+
   |    |    |    |  |    |  ^ |    |  |    |    |    |
   +----+----+----+  +----+- ^-+----+  +----+----+----+
   |  \ |    | /  |  |    |  ^ |    |  |    |  ^ |    |
   +----\----/----+  +----+- ^-+----+  +----+- |-+----+
   |    | \/ |    |  |    |  ^ |    |  |    |  p |    |
   +----+--|-+----+  +----+- ^-+----+  +----+----+----+
   |    |  n |    |  |    |  l |    |  |    |    |    |
   +----+----+----+  +----+----+----+  +----+----+----+
        KNIGHT             LANCE              PAWN

The Bishop can move any number of spaces on any diagonal.

The Rook can move any number of spaces sideways forward of backwards.

   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   | ^ | \ |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+-|-+---\---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   | | |   | \ |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+-|-+---+---\---+---+---+---+
   | <------ r ----------\---------->  |
   +---+---+-|-+---+---+---\---+---+---+
   |   |   | | |   |   |   | \ |   | / |
   +---+---+-|-+---+---+---+---\---/---+
   |   |   | | |   |   |   |   | b |   |
   +---+---+-|-+---+---+---+---/---\---+
   |   |   | v |   |   |   | / |   | \ |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
              ROOK AND BISHOP

Promotion:

If any piece other than the King and the Golds finish a move into the last
three rows on the other side of the board, the piece may be promoted.  The
promotion alters the movement of the piece.  Silvers, Knights, Lances and Pawns
are promoted to Golds with the same movement as a Gold.  The rook when promoted
gains one space of movement on the diagonals and the bishop when promoted gains
one space of movement in the non-diagonals.  The promotion is not required, but
is permanent. Sometimes it may be useful to keep the movement of the piece
(usually only Silvers are not promoted). Promoted pieces are designated by a
circle around the symbol (on underside of pieces so flip them over to promote)
or by capital letters instead of lower case (on IGS).

   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
   |   |   | ^ | \ |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+-|-+---\---+---+---+---+---+
   |   | \ | | | / | \ |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---\-|-/---+---\---+---+---+---+
   | <------ R ----------\---------->  |
   +---+---/-|-\---+---+---\---+---+---+
   |   | / | | | \ |   |   | \ |   | / |
   +---+---+-|-+---+---+---+---\-|-/---+
   |   |   | | |   |   |   |  -- B --  |
   +---+---+-|-+---+---+---+---/-|-\---+
   |   |   | v |   |   |   | / |   | \ |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
        PROMOTED ROOK AND BISHOP

Capturing Pieces:

Whenever the movement of a piece causes it to finish on the same space as an
opponent's piece, that opponent's piece is captured and is removed from the
board.  It is kept in reserve by the capturer to be used later in the game by
the Drop rule (see below).

   ---x----x----x----x----

Drops:

This is the move that makes Shogi different from all other games in its class.
Any piece captured from the opponent can be used by placing it on any space on
the board not occupied by another piece (yours or opposition's).  The only
retrictions on dropping pieces involve the pawn.  Rule 1. No two nonpromoted
pawns on the same side can be in the same column. Rule 2. A pawn cannot be
dropped to cause mate. The only other restriction is no piece can be dropped so
that it doesn't have a move.  This means no pawn or lance can be dropped on the
last row or no knight can be dropped on the last two rows. All dropped pieces
are unpromoted.

These are all the basic rules. "help shogi" on IGS will show you how to type
the moves in.

You can also mail shogirules with:  mail me shogirules

See also: choice coords in Shogi stats