Free Internet Chess Server
The Free Internet Chess Server, FICS short, is a chess server for online play live games. Everyone is allowed to participate in free games.
Established in 1995 and since 1998, a non-profit organization, FICS is now the largest free chess server of its kind, the user get through the Glicko a rating system so that it is easy to find players of similar strength. The server also offers regular tournaments and international chess events can be followed live.
History
The first Internet chess server (English: ICS ) was started in 1980. He was programmed by volunteers and could be used free of charge. In 1995, he was renamed Internet Chess Club (ICC ) and was no longer free of charge.
Angered that her idea has been exploited commercially, some programmers found under the direction of Chris Petroff ( Sparky ) and founded FICS. The server took on 5 March 1995 to his work. On 18 July 2013, the server was cracked and was not for eight days at the net. On August 25, again brought malicious cracker the server into their power.
Criticism
FICS also leaves players with lag. Although the transmission delay is compensated by time seal, but is currently housed in a blitz game, the sense of time so messed up. Other servers, such as ICC, let players with high lag start any games, or pair them against other players with bad connections.
Software for connecting
In general, the chess server is available via a simple telnet connection. However, it is more convenient to use a graphical user interface. For this purpose available to the user on the website, Jin applet or Java board is available.
It is recommended, however, to use one of the many check programs, because they have more functions. A not -date list can be found on the FICS website. Popular programs are:
- BabasChess (Windows) is the most popular interface because it has a lot of features and is actively being developed ( proprietary)
- EBoard (GNU / Linux) with XBoard is one of the most popular chess programs for GNU / Linux with many features (GPL )
- Thief (Windows) is especially under the tandem chess players popular ( proprietary)
- Jin ( platform independent ) is a Java- based interface (GPL )
- Fixation ( Mac OS) is one of the few programs for the Mac ( proprietary)
- Winboard is a variant of XBoard for Windows ( GPL)
- The free and very extensive suite chess Scid ( platform independent ) offers from version 3.6.21 the possibility to connect to FICS. Scid also offers numerous possibilities for analyzing observed games.
- And much more free chess program available with interchangeable Chess engines, support for Chess960, FICS interface: Arena Chess GUI ( Windows)
- Chess Walk ( Android ) ( GPL)
Chess variants
In addition to the normal chess on FICS, it is also possible to play some chess variants. These are:
- Chess960 (also called Fischer Random Chess ) and other variants of the initial position under the name Wild.
- Bughouse chess tandem under the name
- Crazy house (a variant of the tandem chess for two players only )
- Raiders chess under the English name suicide
- Losers, a variant of the robbers chess, in which the game even after the usual chess rules must be legitimate. The winner is whoever loses either all tiles ( except the king ) or are set by the opponent Matt.
- Atomic Chess