Anyone knows of any multiplayer chess programs for Linux that allows you to set up an end game position and play from there?

Peer2peer would be preferable, since it'll be for training and tutoring purposes (not a full game) so scores that are kept by FICS would not be applicable.

Back in my Windows days, most of the chess games that I recall were multiplayer games where you could connect to your friends IP and play. Battle chess comes to mind.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

-- L. James

--
L. D. James
ljames@apollo3.com
www.apollo3.com/~ljames

if there is no such thing for linux, than you can try to search browser based multiplayer chess games, there are plenty of em.

Believe you me, I've been searching for months before posting my message. I don't think you can come up with a search string that I haven't used in Google, including the one you just gave.

You're right. There are many multiplayer chess games for Linux. I have been a member of FICS for many years. I use Pychess to play online.

I have about 6 multiplayer chess programs on my machine. None of them have the ability to play an end game with a peer. You can setup the pieces arbitrarily and play against a chess engine, but you can't setup an arbitrary position and play against another player online. When you make a connection to a peer you and your opponent will have a full board and an option of which color, time limits, etc. If you use the option to position your pieces different than a beginning setup, you will only have the option to interact on that board with the chess engine. Your online opponent can not see the position or interact with it. They can only interact with a full game.

By the way, the purpose of my object in this case is to teach my 6 and 7 year old niece and nephew to play chess. They live a thousand miles away.

It's kind of a waist of time to start a new game and just move the pieces when I know they don't have a full grasp of the object (or end game). So what I would like to do is have just the kings and a rook (or other minor peace) and allow them to practice trapping me, or me trapping them.

I would like to also give other handicaps when string a new game, such as a Queen handicap.

I have often taught children to play chess, but never online. The method I use works very well to inspire them to play and appreciate the game.

Playing full games where it's hopeless to wind is very frustrating, and would would never have the success that I have when I'm in the same room.

Thanks for your input. But again, while you say there are many, I'd be glad if you could actually point out one that has this capability. Pychess certainly don't.

Eboard has the ability to connect peer-2-peer and comes close. It has the ability to setup arbitrary positions. But it will not allow you to play that arbitrary position with a human online. You can only play that arbitrary position against a chess engine.

The problem with Pychess is that it doesn't have a peer to peer option. You can only play using an official server that keeps scores of wins and loses. It wouldn't be fair for me to play my niece and nephew and have them with tons of loses and my stats falsely appear incorrectly high.

By the way, I also spent a lot of time trying to find chess server software so that I can have the programs connect to my server rather than the regular FICS or other official places. I can't find any chess server software that works either.

I'm really surprised and the lack of peer to peer chess software for Linux to just connect to a friend and play/analyze middle game and end game positions.

-- L. James

--
L. D. James
ljames@apollo3.com
www.apollo3.com/~ljames

by browser game i meand something like http://www.caissa.com/features/live-online-chess.php

if that does not suit your needs try Windows chess programs in Wine(emulator-wrapper).

Thanks, Yooy, for the support and suggestions. I clicked on the link you gave, of which I had already visited many times.

It doesn't work for the objective, as it's and online project where people log in and participate with others (not peer to peer).

The interface and challenges coming from strangers (mostly advanced chess players) would be very confusing and intimating to my 6 year niece and nephew..

I had to sign up to see what it was about. I was trying not to signup for a lot of services that I probably wouldn't be using. I already have been a member of FICS for decades. So I have access to many communities. I was looking for a native Linux peer to peer solution, where I would be directly connected to my niece's computer without going through external servers.

After months of research it appears that there isn't anything like that available for Linux.

I finally found two Windows programs that works well with Wine of which I use.

Net Blitz (http://www.netblitzchess.com/):

(Pay registration to remove timer delay in start and exit... I bought two copies). It works well. Is a little complex to setup positions for handicaps and end game practice.

The money was well spent. The authors communicated directly with me and gave me a discount for the second copy.

Kasia (http://www.bulbous.freeserve.co.uk/kasia.html):

Fully free. Works very well. Easy to setup handicap positions and end game practice positions.

I hope someone else looking for a peer to peer chess solution can benefit from this. My family in Florida have lots of fun around the computer with me here in New York.

If I discover a native Linux resolution I'll come back and update this thread.

-- L. James

--
L. D. James
ljames@apollo3.com
www.apollo3.com/~ljames