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194 | <h3>Special moves and promotions</h3> |
194 | <h3>Special moves and promotions</h3> |
195 | 195 | ||
196 | <h4>Castling</h4> |
196 | <h4>Castling</h4> |
197 | <img src="helpfiles/move-castlelong-top.png" width="150px" align="left" title="When the King feels he is threatened, he can secure himself behind the rook if neither him nor the rook moved yet." /> |
197 | <img src="helpfiles/move-castlelong-top.png" width="150px" align="left" title="When the King feels he is threatened, he can secure himself behind the rook if neither him nor the rook moved yet." /> |
198 | <p> |
198 | <p>If neither the king nor either of the two rooks have moved yet during the game, the king can put himself to safety behind the rook. This maneuver is called <b><i>castling</i></b>. At this time, exceptionally, the king moves <b>two squares</b> towards the rook behind which he wants to protect himself, and <b>in the same move</b> the rook comes and put itself in place behind him.</p> |
199 |
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199 | <p>All the space between the king and the rook must be unoccupied, neither of both pieces shall have moved and none of the squares that the king crosses shall be threatened by the opponent. Distinction is made between <i>kingside castling</i>, when the king moves towards his side of the chessboard, and <i>queenside castling</i>, when he moves towards the other side.</p> |
200 | 200 | ||
201 |
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201 | <h4><i>En passant</i> capture</h4> |
202 |
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202 | <img src="helpfiles/move-enpassant-top.png" width="150px" align="left" title="A pawn that rushes two squares may have its rush defeated by an en passant capture." /> |
203 |
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203 | <p>When a pawn rushes (that is to say, moves two squares from his starting line), if he lands just aside an opposite pawn, on the same line, the enemy pawn may incapacitate him <i>as if the first pawn had moved one square only</i>. The enemy pawn does his capture move diagonally, and the first pawn is removed from the chessboard <i>as if he had been captured on this square</i>. |
204 | <p> |
204 | <p>It is considered that this capture is possible because when moving two squares, the pawn crosses a square that is threatened by the opposing pawn, and this latter one may very well slay him with his pike as he passes. Hence the French name of this capture: <i>en passant</i>.</p> |
205 | 205 | ||
206 |
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206 | <h4>Promotion</h4> |
207 |
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207 | <img src="helpfiles/move-promotion.png" width="150px" align="left" title="A pawn that crossed all the chessboard can become a much mightier piece!" /> |
208 |
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208 | <p>A pawn that managed to cross all the battlefield and make it out alive is definitely a brave and immediately receives honors. He can thus choose to become a <b>rook</b>, a <b>knight</b> (horseman), a <b>bishop</b> (heavy cavalry) or even a <b>queen</b> (hero of the army). No matter what he chooses, his experience of the battlefield will definitely make him worthy of his new rank!</p> |
209 |
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209 | <p>Many are the pawns who choose to become a <i>queen</i>, because she's the migthiest of all. There may thus be several in the game. But there are cases where it'd be more useful for the army to get a new <i>knight</i>, for example. Everything depends on the player's strategy and how he foresees the end of the game: maybe a knight will be more useful than a queen?</p> |
210 | 210 | ||
211 | <p> </p> |
211 | <p> </p> |
212 | <p align="center">.·.</p> |
212 | <p align="center">.·.</p> |
213 | 213 | ||
214 | <p><i>« |
214 | <p><i>« You know, <a href="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alb%C3%A9ric_O'Kelly_de_Galway" target="_blank">O'Kelly</a>, when I get to the other side, I'll have a great advantage over <a href="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuel_Lasker" target="_blank">Lasker</a> and <a href="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Ra%C3%BAl_Capablanca" target="_blank">Capablanca</a>. For I'll arrive with the latest theoretical findings! » <a href="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ossip_Bernstein" target="_blank">Ossip Bernstein</a> (on his deathbed)</i></p> |
215 | <p> </p> |
215 | <p> </p> |
216 | < |
216 | <p>Chess strategy is a complex topic that fascinates players from thousands of years, to the point that this game was called the <i>king of games</i>.</p> |
217 | < |
217 | <p>Many books have been written on the subject. It is not the scope of this documentation to enumerate them, but know that almost all the international greatmasters have written at least one.</p> |
218 |
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218 | <p>There are also (in your country and in the world) many chess clubs, by which every beginner will be able to find opponents of his skill who will help him progress. In order to know the clubs in your country, inquire at your local <a href="http://www.uschess.org/" target="_blank">Chess Federation</a> which will in turn give you the address of the club next to you.</p> |
219 | <p> |
219 | <p>There are also on the Internet many websites and forums dedicated to chess. Your favorite search engine will surely find some for you.</p> |
220 | </div> |
220 | </div> |
221 | 221 | ||
222 | <p align="right"><a href="#toc"><img src="helpfiles/button-home.png" title=" |
222 | <p align="right"><a href="#toc"><img src="helpfiles/button-home.png" title="Click here to return to the table of contents" /></a></p> |
223 | 223 | ||
224 | <a name="thesoftware"></a> |
224 | <a name="thesoftware"></a> |
225 | <div class="paragraph"> |
225 | <div class="paragraph"> |
226 | <div class="title"> |
226 | <div class="title">Introduction to the Chess Giants software</div> |
227 | 227 | ||
228 | <p align="center"><img src="helpfiles/chess-giants-400-300.jpg" title=" |
228 | <p align="center"><img src="helpfiles/chess-giants-400-300.jpg" title="The Chess Giants software" /></p> |
229 | <p><b>Chess Giants</b> |
229 | <p><b>Chess Giants</b> is a chess software for Windows that enables two people to play chess on the same screen, or one person against the computer, or else against other opponents over the Internet in a <a href="#humanvsonline1">virtual chess club</a>.</p> |
230 | <p> |
230 | <p>Contrarily to other chess software who generally target a somewhat experienced audience, <b>Chess Giants</b>'s goal is to be the most intuitive, the finest and the most enjoyable chess software to use, and this no matter the level at chess of the person who uses it.</p> |
231 | < |
231 | <p>Some may find that <b>Chess Giants</b> largely mimics Windows<sup>®</sup> Vista's <i>Chess Titans</i>, at least for the aesthetics part. This software indeed has the same appearance and the same behaviour. But in addition to the standard features, it offers you many other things:</p> |
232 | <p><ul> |
232 | <p><ul> |
233 | < |
233 | <li>It doesn't need a powerful computer to run.</li> |
234 |
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234 | <li>It reads and saves games in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Game_Notation" target="_blank">PGN</a> and <a href="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notation_Forsyth-Edwards" target="_blank">FEN</a> formats.</li> |
235 | < |
235 | <li>It has many additional options, such as a display of the game history and a game clock.</li> |
236 | <li> |
236 | <li>It can change appearance thanks to visual themes that the user can create himself.</li> |
237 | <li> |
237 | <li>The computer can play at an International Great Master level thanks to the <a href="http://www.craftychess.com/" target="_blank">Crafty</a> chess engine.</li> |
238 |
|
238 | <li>It can interface with many other chess engines.</li> |
239 | <li> |
239 | <li>It enables online play on the main Internet chess clubs such as <a href="http://www.freechess.org/" target="_blank">FICS</a>.</li> |
240 | <li> |
240 | <li>The user can easily add new translations to the software so that it displays in his language.</li> |
241 | < |
241 | <li>The specifications of this project are open, which means you may contact the author and ask him to add such or such new feature.</li> |
242 | </ul></p> |
242 | </ul></p> |
243 | < |
243 | <p>The software may be downloaded from the Internet at this address, on its author's website: <a href="http://www.pmbaty.com/chess/" target="_blank">http://www.pmbaty.com/chess/</a></p> |
244 | <p align="center">Pierre-Marie Baty<br /><a href="mailto:pm@pmbaty.com">pm@pmbaty.com</a></p> |
244 | <p align="center">Pierre-Marie Baty<br /><a href="mailto:pm@pmbaty.com">pm@pmbaty.com</a></p> |
245 |
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245 | <p>The author deliberately chose to provide the utmost care to the finishing of the software and hopes that you will enjoy it with much pleasure. If however you encountered the slightest defect, don't hesitate to contact him so that the problem be corrected in a new version as quickly as possible.</p> |
246 | </div> |
246 | </div> |
247 | 247 | ||
248 | < |
248 | <p align="right"><a href="#toc"><img src="helpfiles/button-home.png" title="Click here to return to the table of contents" /></a></p> |
249 | 249 | ||
250 | <a name="humanvshuman"></a> |
250 | <a name="humanvshuman"></a> |
251 | <div class="paragraph"> |
251 | <div class="paragraph"> |
252 | < |
252 | <div class="title">Play 1 vs. 1 on the same screen</div> |
253 | 253 | ||
254 | < |
254 | <p align="center"><img src="helpfiles/newgame-vshuman.png" title="Begin a 1 vs. 1 game" /></p> |
255 | < |
255 | <p>When you start <b>Chess Giants</b>, at the center of the screen displays a menu similar to the image above.</p> |
256 | <p> |
256 | <p>Click on the bottom button (the one framed in red on the picture) to begin a chess game against a person that is physically present next to you.</p> |
257 | <p> |
257 | <p>It is up to you to decide which of you will take the <i>white</i> side and who will side with the <i>blacks</i>. When your choice is made, the player who plays <i>white</i> takes control and begins the game by moving a piece (refer to <i>Answers to common questions How to move a piece?</i> in the present document if you wish to learn how to move a piece).</p> |
258 | <p> |
258 | <p>Once your move is made, the chessboard automatically rotates around itself* and ends up presenting the opposing side, which is your opponent's. He takes then control of the software and plays his turn. You and him now alternate moves in front of the chessboard until either of you wins the game, or until the other resigns.</p> |
259 | 259 | ||
260 | <p><br /><i>* |
260 | <p><br /><i>* This option can be turned off in the Game Options menu (also accessible via the F4 key)</i></p> |
261 | </div> |
261 | </div> |
262 | 262 | ||
263 | <p align="right"><a href="#toc"><img src="helpfiles/button-home.png" title=" |
263 | <p align="right"><a href="#toc"><img src="helpfiles/button-home.png" title="Click here to return to the table of contents" /></a></p> |
264 | 264 | ||
265 | <a name="humanvscomputer"></a> |
265 | <a name="humanvscomputer"></a> |
266 | <div class="paragraph"> |
266 | <div class="paragraph"> |
267 | <div class="title"> |
267 | <div class="title">Play against the computer</div> |
268 | 268 | ||
269 | < |
269 | <p align="center"><img src="helpfiles/newgame-vscomputer.png" title="Begin a new game versus the computer" /></p> |
270 | < |
270 | <p>When you start <b>Chess Giants</b>, at the center of the screen displays a menu similar to the image above.</p> |
271 | <p> |
271 | <p>Click on the middle button (the one framed in red on the picture) to begin a chess game against the computer.</p> |
272 | < |
272 | <p>For convenience, the side that is attributed to you is the <i>white</i> side and the computer sides with the <i>blacks</i>. The game thus begins as soon as you move a piece (refer to <i>Answers to common questions How to move a piece?</i> in the present document if you wish to learn how to move a piece).</p> |
273 | <p> |
273 | <p>Once your move is made, the computer ponders his own (this may take some while according to the difficulty level that you chose in the Game Options menu) and plays his turn. You and him now alternate moves in front of the chessboard until either of you wins the game, or until the other one resigns.</p> |
274 | 274 | ||
275 | <a name="humanvscomputer1"></a> |
275 | <a name="humanvscomputer1"></a> |
276 | < |
276 | <h3>How to switch sides?</h3> |
277 | < |
277 | <p>If you wish to play black, just switch sides at the beginning of the game using the Chessboard Switch sides menu command. The chessboard automatically rotates around itself; you then take on the role previously assigned to the computer, and it takes on yours.</p> |
278 | < |
278 | <p>Note that you can switch sides at any time during the game.</p> |
279 | 279 | ||
280 | <a name="humanvscomputer2"></a> |
280 | <a name="humanvscomputer2"></a> |
281 |
|
281 | <h3>How to adjust the computer play level?</h3> |
282 | <p> |
282 | <p>To adjust the computer play level, go to the Game Options menu (also accessible via the F4 key) and choose the settings that suit you best in the tab indicated in red on the image.</p> |
283 | < |
283 | <p align="center"><img src="helpfiles/options-computer.png" width="400px" title="Options that apply to games against the computer" /></p> |
284 | < |
284 | <p>By adjusting the <i>Computer play level</i> slider left (Easy), the computer will have a more limited intelligence of the game and will become a more easily defeatable opponent. By adjusting this slider right (Difficult), the computer will be allowed to think more. It will foresee the course of the game further and will become a stronger opponent.</p> |
285 | <p><b> |
285 | <p><b>WARNING:</b> if you move the slider too far right, be prepared to wait some time for the computer to decide about its moves. This can last as long as during an untimed game in an international competition!</p> |
286 | <p> |
286 | <p>To increase realism, especially for beginning players, you can also set the frequency at which the computer does « blunders », that is to say, moves that are moderately or even very poorly played. If the <i>Allow the computer to commit blunders</i> checkbox is checked, the computer will have a percentage of chances that each played move be a blunder determined by the position of the slider under it (N.B. this slider can only be adjusted when the checkbox is checked).</p> |
287 | <p> |
287 | <p>When this slider is positioned to the left (1% chance), the computer will have one chance out of 100 to commit a blunder each move. When this slider is pushed to the right (100% chance), the computer will play literally stupidly, since 100% of his moves will be blunders. You may so adjust the thoughtlessness or concentration of your computer opponent so as to make the game more sustainable for a beginner.</p> |
288 |
|
288 | <p>Finally, you can adjust the computer's obstinacy to carry out the game to its end, or to resign when its situation becomes hopeless. When the <i>Allow the computer to resign</i> checkbox is checked, the position of the slider below it determines its obstinacy level. When this slider is positioned to the left (Yielding), the computer will resign the game as soon as it'll find itself in serious inferiority. When this slider is pushed to the right (Obstinate), the computer will persist in playing as long as possible, until its defeat becomes truly unrecoverable.</p> |
289 | < |
289 | <p><i>Don't hesitate to try out different settings to adjust the computer's play style to your needs. If you've lost the thread of your settings, refer to the image above to restore the original settings.</i></p> |
290 | 290 | ||
291 | <a name="humanvscomputer3"></a> |
291 | <a name="humanvscomputer3"></a> |
292 | <h3> |
292 | <h3>How to obtain an advice from the computer?</h3> |
293 | < |
293 | <p>If you want the computer to analyze your position and suggest you the move it would do if it was itself in your situation, use the Chessboard Suggest me a move menu command. The computer will then select for you the piece to play and let blink, for a couple seconds, the position on the chessboard where it suggest you to move that piece.</p> |
294 | <p> |
294 | <p>Note however that <i>the advice that will be given to you will reflect the play level that you chose for the computer</i>. It will not give you a smarter advice than one that corresponds to the level that it's been allowed to play (blunders excluded), which is why decision to follow such advices blindly won't necessarily lead you to the quickest victory.</p> |
295 | </div> |
295 | </div> |
296 | 296 | ||
297 | < |
297 | <p align="right"><a href="#toc"><img src="helpfiles/button-home.png" title="Click here to return to the table of contents" /></a></p> |
298 | 298 | ||
299 | <a name="humanvsonline"></a> |
299 | <a name="humanvsonline"></a> |
300 | <div class="paragraph"> |
300 | <div class="paragraph"> |
301 | <div class="title">Jouer contre un adversaire sur Internet</div> |
301 | <div class="title">Jouer contre un adversaire sur Internet</div> |
302 | 302 |