NAME

chesstool − window-based front-end to chess program

SYNOPSIS

chesstool [ chess_program ]

DESCRIPTION

Chesstool is a window-based front-end to the chess(6) program.  Used without options, chesstool uses /usr/games/chess; you can designate any alternate program which uses the same command syntax as chess(6) with the chess_program argument. 

When chesstool starts up, it displays a large window with three subwindows.  The first subwindow displays messages — “Illegal move”, for example.  The second subwindow is an options subwindow; options are described below.  The final subwindow is a chessboard display with white and black pieces and two (advisory only) timekeeping clocks. 

Make your moves with the mouse:  select a piece by positioning the arrow cursor over the piece and pressing the left mouse button down, then drag the piece to the destination square, and release the button.  The cursor will then turn to an hourglass icon while the system plays. 

Options in the options subwindow may be selected with either the left or middle mouse buttons.  These options are:

(Last Play)Show the last play made. 

(Undo)Undo your last move and the machine’s response. 
Once the game is over, it is not possible to restart it, so undo will update the board, but the game cannot be continued from that position.

[Flash]Flash when the machine has completed its move. 
In flash mode, if the chesstool is open, the piece moved by the system on its play will flash until you make your move.  If the chesstool is iconic, the entire icon will flash when the machine has made its move.  Thus you can ‘Close’ the chesstool and be alerted when it’s your turn to move.  To turn flash mode off, select flash again. 

(Machine White)Start a new game with the machine playing white. 

(Human White)Start a new game with the machine playing black. 

There are two moves which are special:  castling and capturing a pawn en passant.  To castle, move the king only.  The position of the rook will automatically be updated.  Since the king moves two squares when castling, the move is unambiguous.  To capture en passant, move the pawn to the square occupied by the opposing pawn which will be captured. 

SEE ALSO

chess(6)

Sun Release 2.0  —  Last change: 20 August 1984