WinBoard232c Autoplayer
last changes March 15th, 2001

German

 

This program was written to allow Chess-Base GUI-compatible engines, with assistance of WinBoard, play chess automatically on the three most well-known chess servers ( Internet Chess Club, Chess.Net, Free Internet Chess Server). This program has been tested with the Chess-Base GUI, so other engines can be loaded through this GUI and used as well. You must have two computers or one computer with two free com ports. One computer with the Chess-Base GUI-compatible engine (Fritz6a, Junior6a, Anmon 5.07, etc.)  The second computer must have WinBoard 4.x.x, and of course an Internet connection. You must have a null modem cable, connecting the two computers together. It as well is possible that any WinBoard engine can play arbitrarily many games against a Chess-Base engine without the Internet (possibly interesting for the SSDF).

 

Installation:

 

Step 1:
Make sure both computers are connected via a null modem cable using the appropriate communications (COM) ports.  You will need to remember which COM port the null modem cable is connected to when configuring both thisWinBoard Autoplayer and the Chess-Base GUI.

Step 2:
Start the Chess-Base GUI on the appropriate computer (you will not need an Internet connection available on this computer.)  Under the Tools  menu, select Connect Hardware.  When the sub-menu appears, select Auto-232 0.9 and the appropriate COM port (that has the null modem cable attached.)  You will need to do this only once using the Fritz 6a or Junior 6a GUI. With the Fritz 5.32 or Hiarcs 7.32 GUI, you must click the Setup button at the bottom of the screen, and then choose Load Device.  When the sub-menu appears, select Auto-232 0.9 and the appropriate COM port (that has the null modem cable attached.) You will need to go through this process every time you start the Fritz 5.32 or Hiarcs 7.32 GUI.

Step 3:
Now select the engine you wish to use (F3) and the time control of the game (CTRL-Z).  See the comments and suggestions section at the bottom of this document for more information on time control and Internet Chess Server (ICS) settings.

Step 4:
Now we will configure the computer that has Internet access available.  You will need to have WinBoard 4.x.x installed, as well as this Autoplayer, WinBoard232c.exe, available in the "C:\Program Files\WinBoard\" directory.

Step 5:
The Autoplayer is quite similar to other WinBoard engines, as far as the command-line is concerned.  The following is an example of how you would configure the Autoplayer to connect to the Internet Internet Chess Club 2 as the null modem cable connection to the Chess-Base GUI:

C:\Programme\winboard\winboard.exe -zp -ics -fcp "winboard232c -com 2" -icshost chessclub.com -icshelper timestamp

The appropriate "-ichost" and "-icshelper" modification can be made to accomodate both CHESS.NET and FICS.  The "-com 2" behind winboard232c lets the Autoplayer know you wish to use COM port 2.  COM 1 is the default setting, so it is not necessary to include anything after "winboard232c" if you are using COM 1.

 

 

Step 6:

You may now start WinBoard using the command line you created in Step 5.  The Autoplayer and the Chess-Base GUI will begin communicating automatically.  You will see an Information Window pop up within the Chess-Base GUI.  You must now make the following adjustments to WinBoard under the Options menu and then the General sub-menu, you must activate the following options.  This will add a Check Mark next to them.  It is suggested that these be the only options activated (i.e., all other options should NOT have a CHECK MARK next to them.):

Comments and suggestions:

- The Auto232 protocol does not allow for time controls.  What this means is, you will have to set the time MANUALLY within the Chess-Base GUI before each match.  Another option is to use the Set Formula command on the ICS and require that all match requests fit a certain time control (one that you have already specified within the Chess-Base GUI.)  For example, you would issue the following command to the ICS:

set formula rated & blitz & time=5 & inc=3

Considering your connection is of decent speed, you can safely set the Chess-Base GUI for the same time control as what you are playing on the ICS.  This varies from one computer & connection to another, so you will need to test it on your equipment (On average, by the end of a time=5 & inc=3 game on the ICS, you will find that the Chess-Base GUI may have an extra 10 - 15 seconds on the clock.)

However, it will always work to set the Chess-Base GUI's increments to one second less than that of the ICS.  For example, you are playing time=3 & inc=2 on the ICS and you have the Chess-Base GUI set to 3 min and 1 sec increments.  Again, the best suggestion is for you to test both methods of setting the time controls, and see which one works best for you.

- There are no takebacks with moves.  I don't know of one (C)omputer on any ICS that allows takebacks as it is, so I doubt this will cause anyone any grief.

- At times, the Chess-Base GUI and the ICS do not agree regarding repeat position draws and the 50 move rule.  In these situations, the Chess-Base GUI resets for the next game and the ICS remains waiting for your next move.  If you are watching, you can disconnect and then resume the match.  Often times this works fine.  Another choice is to finish the game with another WinBoard engine, to avoid the loss by being flagged.

- It is important to remember that when resuming games, the Chess-Base GUI does not follow the time controls of the previously adjourned game.  This means that after you resume the game, you must look and see what amount of time you have on your clock within WinBoard.  Then you must use CTRL-Z within the Chess-Base GUI and set the time accordingly.  Please note that this is a bit tricky for games with larger increments.  Again, this is another area where you must "play" with the settings and try to get it close.

-  While this Autoplayer has been polished to work with the Chess-Base GUI, it will also work with many other auto232 compatible chess programs (Shredder4, Genius6.5, for example).

- This Autoplayer has been tested on all the ICSs mentioned in paragraph one. Remember, things will not run as smoothly as with engines specifically made to play online, however, it should still afford you hours of fun.  =)

- Here is an example of my commandline for playing 20 games Crafty(under WinBoard 4.0.7) vs. Fritz6:
"C:\Program Files\WinBoard\winboard.exe" -fcp "Winboard232c" -sd crafty -scp wcrafty -mg 20

Winboard232c.exe was written in C with the C/C++ Watcom Compiler.

 

Changes in this version:

- For Shredder4, Genius6.5, Chess System Tal and Chessmaster 8000 (doesn't work with a server) over is a new -noextend command, for example:
"winboard232c.exe -com 2 -noextend"
- some minor fixes
- the program is now Wndows 2000 compatible

Happy Chess Playing!
Eberhard Börger