Skip to main content
Topic: Game: Forum Chess  (Read 5219 times)

Game: Forum Chess

Rules
Make a legal chess move. One move per post. Consecutive posts constitute a chess game. The move notation should strictly adhere to the notation format defined below.

All forum members can participate. The same forum member can make multiple moves, i.e. several posts in a row. The posts that do not start with a move notation will be treated as a comment post.

The main challenge is to keep track of the legality of the moves. Everybody is individually responsible of keeping track of the progress of the game.

One aim of the game is to detect an illegal move during the game and to call it out. The post where an earlier move is called out as illegal should start with "Foul!" Then identify the rule-breaking post and explain the breach.

The caller will be the winner and the breacher will be the loser. A new game will start after a legitimate callout. Calling out one's own earlier post is, well, checkmating oneself.

Without calling out, the game may end according to ordinary chess rules. The player who can checkmate a king will be the winner in a game without losers. A draw will be a game without winners. A new game can be suggested abruptly without any conclusion to an ongoing game. There should be at least one other forum member agreeing to the new game.

Move notation format
The post describing a chess move should keep to the following notation format. The format should be complete, no omissions, shorthand or additions. Having a bad notation format in the chess move post is a reason for callout.

Move #ColourPieceFrom fieldTo fieldCommentary
Example:3whiteNb2c3(optional)
Legend
Move number is a number. One complete move in the game consists of a move by the white side followed by a countermove by the black side. That is, white moves, then black - these are the same number, and next move by white gets the next number.

Colour is the word "white" or "black", all lowercase.

Piece is a single capital letter denoting a piece.
K for king
Q for queen
R for rook
B for bishop
N for knight

Pawns are not denoted, i.e. a missing letter for a piece means that a pawn is being moved, for example

1black f7f6


From field and To field consist of a lowercase letter for file and a number for rank. Both fields are mandatory in the notation.

Separation of the notation elements
The notation elements can be separated by spaces, but not by any other separators, such as colons or commas. However, spaces between the notation elements are purely optional. For example, each of the following is good

1 white e2 e3
1 whitee2 e3
1whitee2e3


Misspelling in the notation is treated the same as misformatting and is a reason for callout. A move post cannot be corrected, i.e. a move post that indicates an edit in the forum software is treated the same as an illegal move.

Castling
Castling has its own notation. First, include move number and colour. After that, "0-0" indicates kingside castling and "0-0-0" indicates queenside castling. For example,

11black 0-0-0


Commentary
Commentary is optional. Commentary is separated from the move notation by space or newline. Checks, captures, en passant, checkmate etc. do not need to be noted, but can be noted in commentary in full sentences along with other commentary.

Posts that do not start with a move notation are treated as commentary.

Nothing in the commentary can constitute a reason for callout. Even if the commentary includes an image of the game status, true or false, it does not matter.

Formatting of callout post
The first word should be "Foul!" Then identify the offending post and explain the wrong move. In explanation, include an image of the status of the game and illustration of the illegal move. There should be at least one other forum member agreeing to the explanation.

Note
I devised the rules out of the blue by myself. The rules can be improved by modifying this first post upon suggestion.

Scorecard
Date/Post idWinnerLoserComment

Re: Game: Forum Chess

Reply #1
1white e2e4 First move!

Re: Game: Forum Chess

Reply #2
Interesting thought, though I must admit I'm not quite up to snuff on blind chess, nor have I played chess since I was something like 12.

Re: Game: Forum Chess

Reply #3
The idea was not blind chess, even though the game can be used for blind practice. I would certainly have to keep track of the moves on some real board. Images are allowed. Perhaps it is also possible to devise variants to start a game somewhere in the middle or to introduce puzzles.

Some colleagues at the bank like to play chess. They consistently beat me and their game is far over my head. They participate in online tournaments and they have a rating on those online platforms. I have been content and complacent beating everyone in my own family.

Re: Game: Forum Chess

Reply #4
1blacke7e5

Re: Game: Forum Chess

Reply #5
2 white f2 f4

Re: Game: Forum Chess

Reply #6
My chess has become so good that I can play higher levels now in the chess game that comes with Pocketbook ereader. The game is mechanistic, i.e. if you play consistently the same moves, the game's response never changes.

I found that up to level 6 it is possible to beat the game in 12 moves as follows:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
4. d3 d5
5. exd5 Nxd5
6. Bg5 Be7
7. Bxe7 Ndxe7
8. Ng5 O-O
9. Qh5 Bf5
10. Bxf7+ Kh8
11. Be6 Bxe6
12. Qxh7#

The fastest sequence to beat level 7 of Pocketbook ereader chess game is probably the following:

1. e4 d5
2. Bb5+ c6
3. Ba4 dxe4
4. Nc3 Nf6
5. d3 exd3
6. cxd3 Bf5
7. Bc2 e5
8. Bg5 h6
9. Bxf6 gxf6
10. Qh5 Bxd3
11. O-O-O e4
12. Nxe4 Qd5
13. Nxf6+ Kd8
14. Rxd3 Qxd3
15. Bxd3 Nd7
16. Qf3 Nxf6
17. Qxf6+ Kc7
18. Qxh8 Re8
19. Nf3 b6
20. Qf6 Re7
21. Re1 Rd7
22. Bf5 Rd5
23. Qxf7+ Kd6
24. Qxf8+ Kc7
25. Qg7+ Rd7
26. Qxd7+ Kb8
27. Re8#

Looking forward to discovering how to beat level 8.