IBM Presents OS/2 Software Hits 1995/OS-2_SW_HITS_2ND_EDITION_1995.ISO/i07/os2games.exe/OS2CHESS.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1994-12-21 | 32KB | 944 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Help for Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Game to start a new game, load or delete a previously saved game, or save
the game in progress.

Related Information:

   o  New
   o  Load
   o  Save
   o  Delete
   o  Print


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Help for New ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use New to start a new game.  The current game is replaced by the new game and
new player information must be specified.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Help for Load ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Load to display a list of previously played games that you saved.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Help for Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Save to save a game you want to finish playing another time.  The game is
saved with a unique file name.  You can identify the game by the players' names
and the date the game was played.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Help for Delete ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Delete to display a list of previously played games that you can
individually select and remove from the list.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Help for Print ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Print to print the currently displayed game board and the current records
for the game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Help for Exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Exit to end the OS/2 Chess program.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Help for Options ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Options to set players, position and colors, as well as, turn the sound and
warning messages on or off.

Related Information:

   o  Set players
   o  Set position
   o  Set colors
   o  Sound
   o  Warning messages
   o  Label board
   o  Keyboard entry
   o  Time
   o  Take back move


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Help for Set Players ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Set players to specify the players for the game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Help for Set Position ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Set position to display all the game pieces in the background.  You can
then drag them to the board in the positions you want to start playing the
game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Help for Set Colors ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Set colors to change the colors of the background, board squares, and
pieces of the currently displayed game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. Help for Sound ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Sound to set the sound cues on or off.  The sound is on when a check mark
appears to the left of the choice.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. Help for Warning Messages ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Warning messages to set warning messages on or off.  The messages are on
when a check mark appears to the left of the choice.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. Help for Label Board ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Label board to annotate the playing board to help you understand algebraic
chess notation.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15. Help for Keyboard Entry ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Keyboard entry to type in the moves you want to make for playing the game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 16. Help for Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Time to display the elapsed playing time for both players.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17. Help for Take Back Move ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Take back move to undo the last move you made.  If playing across the
network, you must ask permission from your opponent before taking back a move.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 18. Help for View ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use View to show the game record, valid moves, and captured pieces, and to
rotate the board and flip the board.

Related Information:

   o  Move status
   o  Game record
   o  Valid moves
   o  Analysis
   o  Captured pieces
   o  Rotate board
   o  Flip board


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 19. Help for Move Status ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Show move status to display which player moves next, how many moves are
completed, and the time elapsed for the current move.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 20. Help for Game Record ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Show game record to display the moves that led to the current board
position.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 21. Help for Valid Moves ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Show valid moves to display the moves that are valid for the current
player.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 22. Help for Show Analysis ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Show analysis to display the principal continuation line of play, which is
what the computer determines as the best sequence of moves.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 23. Help for Captured Pieces ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Show captured pieces to display the pieces captured by your opponent.  Use
the Hide push button to remove the captured pieces from view.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 24. Help for Rotate Board ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Rotate board to turn the game board clockwise or counterclockwise.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 25. Help for Flip Board ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Flip board to turn the game board 180 degrees from the current position.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 26. Help for Network ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Network to send messages, to disconnect from the network, and list the
current users on the network.

Related Information:

   o  Send message
   o  Disconnect
   o  List users


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 27. Help for Settings Notebook ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Settings to invoke the Settings notebook, where you will be able to set
many of the game's global parameters.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 28. Help for Save Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Save Settings to save your current settings to a file. When you start the
game next time, it will restore your saved settings.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 29. Help for Options Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Settings Notebook can be used to customize your chess window. The buttons
on the options page let you select the view (2-Dimensional or 3-Dimensional),
and the checkboxes allow you to select other options such as the menu bar,
warning messages, and other options.  Animation of piece movements is enabled
by default and can be turned off.  The speed of animation can be adjusted by
the slider at the bottom of the page.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 30. Help for Sounds Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The sound page lets you associate your own WAV files with game events. To
customize your sounds, select the event from the list of game events, and then
enter the name of the WAV file to be played for that event in the entry field
at the bottom of the page.  You can select the down-arrow button to see a list
of available WAV files, then choose a file without having to type in the file
name.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 31. Help for Colors Page. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Colors Settings page can be used to change the colors of the background,
board squares, and pieces of the currently displayed game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 32. Help for Background Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Background Page can be used to change the bitmap image in the background of
the game window.  The bitmap can be either stretched or tiled to fill the
entire window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 33. Help for Piece Set Page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Piece Set Page can be used to replace your chess pieces with a custom set.
Custom piece sets are available from outside sources, and instructions for
building your own piece set can be obtained from IBM.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 34. Help for 3D Button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The View 3D button can be used to make the system display a 3-dimensional view
of the board.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 35. Help for 2D Button ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The View 2D button can be used to make the system display a 2-dimensional, or
flat, view of the board.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 36. Help for Send Message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Send message to send a message to your opponent or another user on the
network.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 37. Help for Disconnect ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Disconnect to detach yourself from your opponent on the network.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 38. Help for List Users ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use List users to display a list of the current users on the network.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Load Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this window to play a previously started game as long as you saved it. You
can identify the game by the names of the players and the date it was saved.
Use the scroll bar to the right and bottom of the selection list to display all
the available games.  Select the game you want to play, and then select OK.
The game you select is displayed in the OS/2 Chess window.

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

   o  Select game
   o  Ok
   o  Cancel


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Delete Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this window to erase a previously saved game from the selection list.  You
can identify the game by the names of the players and the date it was saved.
Use the scroll bar to the right and bottom of the selection list to display all
the games you can erase.

Select the game you want to delete; then select Delete to remove the game from
the selection list.

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

   o  Select game
   o  Delete
   o  Cancel


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Select Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Select game to choose a previously saved game from the selection list.  The
scroll bar at the right and bottom of the selection list enables you to scroll
through the available games.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Set Players ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can play against the computer, another person on the same computer, or
someone over the network.  The player using the white pieces takes the first
turn.

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

   o  White pieces
   o  Black pieces
   o  OK
   o  Cancel


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for White Pieces ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select one radio button to determine the type of player for the white pieces.
Select Human to determine the player as a person. Select Computer to determine
the player as the computer. Select Network to determine the player based on the
network ID you choose.  Type the name you specify for the player in the field
next to Name. Select the More push button next to Computer to display a list of
computer playing levels. Select the More push button next to Network to display
a list of network server and user ID's.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Black Pieces ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select one radio button to specify the type of player for the black pieces.
Select Human to specify the player as a person. Select Computer to specify the
player as the computer. Select Network to specify the player based on the
network ID you choose.  Type the name you specify for the player in the field
next to Name. Select the More push button next to Computer to display a list of
computer playing levels. Select the More push button next to Network to display
a list of network server and user IDs.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Set Computer Playing Level ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select one of the radio buttons to specify the playing level for the computer.

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

   o  Beginner
   o  Novice
   o  Intermediate
   o  Experienced
   o  Advanced
   o  Select book opening
   o  Ok
   o  Cancel


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Beginner ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Beginner if you are new to the game of chess.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Novice ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Novice if you have a basic understanding of the game of chess.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Intermediate ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Intermediate if you have a good understanding of the game and strategies
of chess.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Experienced ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Experienced if you know the game and strategies of chess.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Advanced ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Advanced if you know the game and strategies of chess very well.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Select Book Opening ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Select book opening to choose the opening line of play for the computer.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Select Opening Book ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this field to select an opening line of play from the selection list.  Use
the scroll bar to the right to scroll through the list, then make your
selection.  This list displays all the popular starting moves documented in
many books about chess.  You can use these moves to learn strategic opening
lines which result in an advantage later in the game.  If the opening book is
selected, the computer warns you whenever you deviate from the opening line of
play.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Set Colors ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can change the colors for specific items in the currently displayed game.

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

   o  Item
   o  Sample
   o  Color
   o  RGB Sliders
   o  OK
   o  Cancel
   o  Default


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Item ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use the scroll bars in the Item  field to scroll through the list of items that
you can change.  To change the color, select an item from the list.  Drag the
scroll box in the scroll bar to display all the choices in the Item selection
list.  Then select the choice for which you want to change the color.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Sample ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Sample field shows you the color changes you make to specific game items.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Color ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Color field shows you the available colors by adjusting the RGB sliders.
Drag the slider arm in each slider to display all the available colors.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for RGB Sliders ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use RGB Sliders to adjust the color for a specific game item. Drag the slider
arm in the R, G, and B sliders to adjust the red, green and blue color
components of a specific game item.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Elapsed Time ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Elapsed Time window shows the time that has elapsed for each player.  Each
player has a separate clock.  Once a player makes a move, the opponent's clock
automatically starts.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Game Record ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Game Record window displays the game record of both players.  Drag the
scroll box in the scroll bar to view the moves each player has made.  Select
Hide to remove the game record from view.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Valid Moves ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This window displays the moves that are currently valid for the next player.
The moves are are described in algebraic chess notation.  Drag the scroll box
in the scroll bar to display the available moves to make, then select Move.
Select Cancel if you do not want to use this method to move your pieces.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Captured Pieces ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This window displays all the pieces captured up to this point in the game.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Rotate Board ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this window to turn the game board either clockwise or counterclockwise by
using the slider to rotate the game board.

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

   o  Slider
   o  OK
   o  Cancel
   o  Default


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Slider ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Drag the slider arm in the slider box to vary the rotation of the board.
Sliding the bar to the left causes the board in the sample window to rotate
clockwise; sliding the bar to the right causes the board to rotate
counterclockwise.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Send Message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this window to communicate with another network chess player.

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

   o  Destination
   o  Message
   o  Change
   o  Send
   o  OK
   o  Cancel


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Destination ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use the Destination field to type the user ID of the network player you want to
communicate with.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Message ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use the Message field to type the message you want to send to another network
user.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Change ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Change to display a window with a list of network servers and users that
are currently logged onto the network.

For additional help, select the Help push button after the window is displayed.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Send ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Send to transmit a message to another user on the network.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Network Users ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use this window to select the server and network user with whom you want to
play and to whom you want to send messages.

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

   o  Servers
   o  User ID
   o  OK
   o  Cancel


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Servers ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use Servers to display a list of currently available network servers.  Use
scroll box in the scroll bar to the right to scroll through the list; then
select the server you want.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for User ID ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use User ID to display a list of users currently logged onto the network.  Drag
the scroll box in the scroll bar to the right to scroll through the list; then
make a selection.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Player to Move ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select W if you want the White player to move first.  Select B if you want the
Black player to move first.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 39. Help for OS/2 Chess ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use OS/2 Chess to play a game of chess.  You can play another person on the
same computer, or someone over the network.

Related Information:

   o  Object of the Game
   o  Rules
   o  Pieces
   o  Strategy
   o  Chess notation
   o  Brief history


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 40. Brief history of Chess ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Chess is one of the most popular board games in the world. It originated in
India about 500 A.D. Legend has it that the Indian philosopher, Sassa, invented
chess for his king, Shahram.  The purpose of the game was to simulate two
Indian armies in battle.  Chess was originally played with dice. The Hindus
developed a four-handed version of the game which is still played in India
today.  Eventually the Persians developed their own version of chess, making
standard rules of play which spread to the rest of the world.  Changes were
made to the original rules, then each change was incorporated throughout the
western world.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 41. Rules of Chess ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The following is a summary of the rules of chess:

   o  Two opponents play each other; one is referred to as White, the other as
      Black.

   o  Each player starts with 16 pieces; one King, one Queen, two Rooks, two
      Bishops, two Knights, and eight Pawns.

   o  The object of the game is to put your opponent's King in checkmate.

   o  The White player always makes the first move, and then the two players
      alternate moves.

   o  Only one piece may be moved per turn, with the exception of castling.

   o  Only the Knight can jump over other pieces when it moves.

   o  You may only capture pieces of the opposite color.

   o  It is illegal to move a piece if, as a result of the move, your King is
      left in check.

   o  If your king is in check, you must move out of check on your next move.
      If you cannot move out of check, then you are in checkmate and the game
      is over.

   o  When a game has no winner, it is considered a draw.

   o  A game can also end if one of the players does not make the required
      number of moves in the time allowed.  This rule is generally followed in
      chess tournaments.

 Related Information:

   o  Object of the Game
   o  Pieces
   o  Strategy
   o  Chess notation
   o  Brief history


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 42. Help for Pieces ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The game of chess is a board game that consists of 16 black pieces and 16 white
pieces.  Each player starts the game with 8 Pawns, 2 Knights, 2 Bishops, 2
Rooks, 1 Queen and 1 King.  The pieces are strategically moved around the board
to attack and capture the opponents pieces.

Related Information:

   o  Pawn
   o  Knight
   o  Bishop
   o  Rook
   o  Queen
   o  King


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Pawn ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Pawn is the weakest of all pieces.  At the start of the game, each player
has eight Pawns.  Unlike the other pieces, the Pawn is restricted to moving
forward one square at a time, with the exception of the Pawn's first move, when
it can advance two squares.

A Pawn can capture an opponent's piece only when that piece is located along
adjacent diagonal squares from the location of your Pawn. A Pawn cannot move to
an occupied square directly in front of him. There is one exception to this
rule, and that is the en passant rule.

When a Pawn moves across the board to the last row, you can promote it to any
other piece except a King or another Pawn.  The Pawn takes on this new identity
and thus becomes more powerful.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Knight ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Knight is the most unusual and deceptive piece.  Each player starts the
game with two Knights.  The Knight moves in an L-shaped pattern and is the only
piece that can jump over other pieces.  The Knight captures a piece by landing
on it; it does not capture pieces that it jumps over.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Bishop ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Bishop moves along a diagonal path only.  Each player starts the game with
two Bishops.  One Bishop moves on white diagonals; the other on black
diagonals.  The Bishop is very powerful towards the end of the game when there
are fewer pieces on the board.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Rook ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Rook  moves along straight rows and columns only.  Each player starts the
game with two Rooks.  Because of its mobility, the Rook is most powerful
towards the end of the game, when there are fewer pieces on the board.

The Rook is also used in the special move of castling.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Queen ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Queen is the most powerful piece on the board. Each player starts the game
with one Queen.  The Queen can move along rows, columns, and diagonals.  This
combines the Rook and Bishop movements into one piece. The queen can move
almost anywhere on the board as long as another piece does not obstruct the
move.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for King ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The King is the most important piece.  Each player starts the game with one
King.  The King can move only one square at a time, in any direction, provided
that it does not move into check.  There is one exception to the
one-square-at-a-time rule, and that is castling.

Once a king is placed in checkmate, the game is over.  Thus it is very
important to protect your King early and attack your opponent's King as soon as
possible.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 43. Object of the Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The object of the game is to place your opponent's king in check.  The King is
not really captured and removed from the board, but it is attacked (placed in
check) or threatened with capture.  Once the King is placed in check, you must
move it out of check.  If you cannot move the King out of check, then it is in
checkmate and the game is lost.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Algebraic Chess Notation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

There are several different ways to annotate a chess game. The notation used in
OS/2 Chess is commonly referred to as algebraic chess notation.  Each move is
denoted by the starting and ending squares involved in the move.  A square is
described in terms of its row and column location on the board.  The white side
is considered the bottom of the board.  The columns are labeled using the
letters of the alphabet (the left column being a), and the rows are labeled
using numbers (the bottom row being 1). The white King is originally on square
e1 and the black Queen is originally on square d8.

A letter represents the piece that is moved and is added to the beginning of
the move notation. A pawn move is not represented by a letter. The following is
a list of the letters and the pieces they represent:

 N         Knight
 B         Bishop
 R         Rook
 Q         Queen
 K         King

 When a move involves the capture of a piece, an X is used between the starting
 and ending squares to symbolize a capture.  If no capture is involved, a
 hyphen (-) is used.

 If the move results in a check, a plus sign (+) is appended to the move. If
 the move results in a checkmate, two plus signs (++) are added.

 If the move is a castling move on the King's side (the short side), the
 notation used is O-O.  A castling move on the Queen's side is depicted as
 O-O-O.

 Following are some notation examples:

 e2-e4     Pawn moves from e2 to e4.
 Rh5-c5+   Rook moves from h5 to c5 with check.
 Nb6Xd8    Knight from b6 captures piece at d8.
 O-O-O     Castle on Queen's side.
 Qd3Xf1++  Queen from d3 captures piece at f1, checkmate!


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Pawn Promotion ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You successfully advanced a Pawn to the last row of the board.  The Pawn can
now be promoted to either a Knight, Bishop, Rook, or another Queen

To promote the Pawn, select the push button of the piece you want to use to
replace the pawn.

There is no restriction on the number of pieces of one type that a player may
have.  Theoretically, a player can promote all eight Pawns to Queens and end up
with nine Queens.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Strategy ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The object of the game of chess is to protect your King while you attempt to
place your opponent's King in checkmate. Checkmating your opponent is not a
trivial task and usually requires a well-planned strategy.  The strategy
outlined below is very broad and should provide a good start for any novice
player.

All chess pieces are not created equal.  Some pieces are more powerful than
others.  There are many opinions as to the relative importance of the pieces.
The following values are most commonly used:

 Pawn      1 point
 Knight    3 points
 Bishop    3 points
 Rook      5 points
 Queen     9 points
 King      1 point

 The above table does not imply that a Queen is, for example, worth less than
 two Rooks.  It is just a rule of thumb for which piece is more powerful than
 the others.  Positional strength and mobility also combine for the overall
 strength of the piece.  For example, a Knight that is trapped in a corner of
 the board is hardly equal to a Bishop that is controlling the center of the
 board.

 Notice also that the values in the above table are for attacking pieces. Since
 the King is not used on the offensive until the end of the game, his relative
 attacking value is minimal.

 Some of the techniques that you can use during a game of chess are listed
 below:

   o  In the beginning and middle phases of a chess game, the center squares
      are most important.  The easiest (and least expensive) way to control
      these squares is with the weakest piece, the Pawn.

   o  Try to castle early to protect your king.

   o  Do not attack with your most valuable pieces early in the game unless you
      have to.  Doing so will provoke attacks on your pieces by your opponent's
      less valuable pieces.

   o  Do not make repeated moves with the same pieces, especially in the
      beginning of the game, because you will lose momentum.

   o  Even though a Bishop and Knight are equally powerful, a "bad" Bishop (one
      whose diagonals are blocked by other pieces) is obviously less powerful
      than a Knight that is free to move.  The Bishop should be exchanged for
      the Knight, if possible.

   o  Toward the end of the game, when there are fewer pieces on the board,
      mobile pieces, such as Bishops or Rooks, are usually much more powerful
      than less mobile pieces such as the Knights.

   o  A Pawn advantage in the end game is usually a winning situation.

   o  Try to avoid having two Pawns on the same column.  Such Pawns require
      more powerful pieces to defend them and are very hard to advance.
      Likewise, stranded Pawns are also at a disadvantage.

   o  Look for "killer" moves, ones that are not obvious but have devastating
      consequences.  The Knight is a tricky piece that can lead to such
      results.

   o  If you get the chance, put your opponent's King in check while
      threatening another piece.  You can usually win the piece using this
      strategy.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for OK ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select OK to send any changed information to the program and close the window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Cancel ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Cancel if you decide not to change the current settings.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Default ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Default to change the settings to those that were active when you
installed the system.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Delete ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Select Delete if you want to erase a game from the selection list.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Product Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This window displays product information about OS/2 Chess. Select General
Information for information on the game of chess.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Checkmate ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The King is in checkmate when he has no way to escape a check. (that is, he
will be captured on the opponent's next move).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Check ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The King is in check if he is being directly attacked by an opposing piece.
There are three ways to escape a check:

   o  The King can move to a square that is not under attack.

   o  The path of attack may be blocked by another piece.

   o  The attacking piece may be captured.

 If the King cannot move out of check, he is in checkmate.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Castling ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Castling is a special move that each player can make only once in a game. The
purpose is to move your King to a more protected location on the board.

In OS/2 Chess, castling is performed by moving the King two squares to the
right or to the left, depending on which Rook is being used.  The Rook is then
moved automatically to the opposite side of the King.

There are several restrictions for a castling move:

   o  The King and Rook used in castling cannot be moved prior to castling.

   o  There must be a clear path between the King and Rook.

   o  The King cannot be in check and he cannot move through (or to) a square
      that is in check.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Capturing a piece ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A piece is captured by moving another piece on top of it.  The captured piece
is then removed from the board.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Draw ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A game is considered a draw (that is, no winner or loser) when one of the
following conditions is met:

   o  A King is not in check, but his only move is to a square which is under
      attack by an opposing piece.  This is called a draw by stalemate.

   o  One player repeatedly puts the other player's King in check and the
      player in check has no alternative other than to make the same moves over
      and over. This is called a draw by perpetual check.

   o  One player makes the same move for three consecutive turns.

   o  Over fifty moves have been made by each player without a capture or a
      pawn move.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> En Passant rule ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The en passant rule is one of the strangest and least-often encountered rules
in chess.  It only applies to a Pawn capturing another Pawn.  The en passant
rule is active when your Pawn is on your fifth row and an opposing Pawn (on an
adjacent column) is moved from its second row to its fourth row.  On your next
move only, you can capture the opponent's Pawn by moving diagonally on the
opponent's column, even though there is no pawn there.