A

“Help->About IchessU” will redirect you to our web site and clarify the benefits of the International Chess University.

Adjourn

You can halt a game you play and postpone it for later, provided your opponent agrees.
To postpone a game you should press on the “Adjourn” button on your game controls. It will send your opponent a request to postpone the game. Pressing on adjourn will cause the adjourn button of your opponent screen to start blinking. The opponent may decide to accept or decline your request. By making a move the opponent will automatically decline your adjourn offer and by pressing the adjourn button he/she will accept it. You can offer to adjourn only 3 times during a single game, beyond it your behavior will be defined as abusing and the button will be disabled until the end of the game.

Adjudication

"Adjudication" means that the outcome of the game was decided by our server system or by a site administrator.
Our site administrators sometimes adjudicate saved games that are clearly drawn, or clearly winning for one side or the other.
Automatic adjudication may occur if we detect that you or your opponent is using computer assistance, while it wasn’t allowed by the game’s settings.
Our site administrators may adjudicate a tournament game that is proceeding slowly due to Internet lag if that game could interfere with a smooth progress of the tournament.

Ask for help online

“Help->Ask for help online” allows you to send a question to our online administrators, which will assist you in real time.

Back to index

C

Chat

You can talk to IchessU users and share your thoughts regarding any issues you want, as long as it does not offend anybody.
IchessU administration sees cursing, insulting, or any other form of verbal abuse as severe violation of our principles. Such a behavior is disrespectful to your opponents and hurts our community. Users who use “dirty” language will be warned at first time. If the behavior repeats, IchessU may cancel his/her membership in the Chess University and prevent him/her from rejoining the community in the future.
The chat is displayed in the main console window. On the left side of the white text-strip of your game board window is a popup menu. You have the following choices:

• Type the username of a person you want to talk to
• Choose the username of a person you want to talk to from the drop down list
• Audience – talk to everyone in the room during a lesson or a game. In a lesson – talk to all your group mates and the teacher, while playing/examining/observing a game – talk to all examiners and observers of that game.
• Whisper – talk to everyone in the room during a game, but not to the current players.
• Opponent – talk only to your opponent while you play a game.
• Friends – talk only to your friends from the “My friends” list.

Chatting during a game:

You can choose to stay or leave chat while playing a game. The control is done through “Game->Talk while playing” menu.
“Receive all messages” will enable others to talk to you in public and private chats during games and lectures, while “Chat disabled” will prevent them from sending messages to you.
Close connection
“Connection->Close connection” disconnects from the IchessU application.

Back to index

D

“Game->Decline incoming offers” declines all incoming offers to you.

Disconnection during a game

IchessU administration sees disconnection in purpose while playing a game as a severe violation. Such a behavior is disrespectful to your opponent and hurts our community. User suspected in intentional disconnection will be warned once. If the behavior repeats, IchessU may cancel your membership in the Chess University and prevent you from rejoining the community in the future.
Our current policy states that once a player disconnects his time will keep running until he forfeits on time. True, more often than not disconnections occur due to internet problems, but it works in both ways, and although you might lose precious time on one occasion, you will not have to wait for your opponent to reconnect on another.

During a game

Resign – lose the game.
Draw – send your opponent a draw request. Pressing on the "draw" button will cause the "draw" button of your opponent to start blinking. He/she may decide then whether to accept or decline your request. By making a move the opponent will automatically decline your draw offer and by pressing the draw button he/she will accept it. You can offer draw only 3 times during in a single game, beyond it your behavior will be defined as abusing and the button will be disabled till the end of the game.
Abort – send your opponent request to abort the game and not calculate ratings even though it’s rated game. Pressing on abort will cause the abort button of your opponent to start blinking. The opponent may decide to accept or decline your request. By making a move the opponent will automatically decline your abort offer and by pressing the abort button he/she will accept it. You can offer to abort only 3 times during in a single game, beyond it your behavior will be defined as abusing and the button will be disabled till the end of the game.
Adjourn – send your opponent request to postpone the game. Pressing on adjourn will cause the adjourn button of your opponent to start blinking. The opponent may decide to accept or decline your request. By making a move the opponent will automatically decline your adjourn offer and by pressing the adjourn button he/she will accept it. You can offer to adjourn only 3 times during in a single game, beyond it your behavior will be defined as abusing and the button will be disabled till the end of the game.
Take back – send your opponent request to take back your last move. Pressing on take back will cause the take back button of your opponent to start blinking. The opponent may decide to accept or decline your request. By making a move the opponent will automatically decline your take back offer and by pressing the take back button he/she will accept it. You can offer to take back only 3 times during in a single game, beyond it your behavior will be defined as abusing and the button will be disabled till the end of the game.
Take back 2 – send your opponent request to take back your last 2 moves. Pressing on take back 2 will cause the take back 2 button of your opponent to start blinking. The opponent may decide to accept or decline your request. By making a move the opponent will automatically decline your take back 2 offer and by pressing the take back button he/she will accept it. You can offer to take back 2 only 3 times during in a single game, beyond it your behavior will be defined as abusing and the button will be disabled till the end of the game.
Captured – see each side's captured pieces.
Flip – flip the board.

Back to index

E

Examination means game analysis with your friends. If you received an examine offer, it means that somebody wants to watch and examine a game with you. Accept the offer and you will join the game analysis.

Explore a game
 
“Game->Explore game” will open a board for game examination. You will be able to find your friends in “View->Player search” and invite them to the game analysis by “Force Mexamine”. It will send your friends an offer to join you. If your friend accept your invitation, he/she will join you in the game analysis.

Back to index

F

Future features

“Help->Future features” will redirect you to our website page containing explanations about International Chess University current programs and future plans.

Back to index

G

Game search

In the International Chess University we encourage people to learn. One of the best ways to learn is to analyze strong players’ games.
Being a registered member you will be able to see all games played recently by all registered members. Analyze grandmasters' games and you will figure out that they make mistakes too!
You may search games according to the following search parameters:
Game type – Game, Lecture or Examine
Game status – Active, Top, Finished or Adjourned
Time type – All, Blitz, Standard, Long or Unlimited
Game result (only for finished games) – Any, Black won, White won or Draw
In addition, you may search games according to player’s name, color, different game types’ ratings or only your games.

Game status

“Game->Game status” controls your challenges status.
Setting “Game->Game status” to “Open for games” will enable you to receive challenges which match your incoming offers filtering.
Changing the games status to “No games” will make sending a game offer to you impossible.
While you are open for games offers, you may set the following filters for incoming offers:
Game type – Blitz, Standard, Long, Unlimited
Rated game – V means that the game will be rated, empty – not rated. This field is disabled for guests, since they allowed playing only unrated games.
Color – you can choose your pieces color or set it automatic and let the IchessU software suit it for you.
Limit opponent rating – by marking the checkbox you will only be challenged by players who fit into the defined rating range.

Game type

Blitz – less than 3 minutes initial time control per player.
Standard – between 3 and 20 minutes initial time control per player
Long – more than 20 minutes initial time control per player
Unlimited – no time control at all
Guest
You can access IchessU services as a “guest”, if you want to look around a bit first. You will still be able to play, view games, chat, but you will have fewer rights on the server. For instance you will be deprived of having a rating, participate or view examined games, adjourn and resume games, save your games, observe others' games, use “My university” options and many other great IchessU features.
After a while you should definitely set up an account which you can regularly use.

Back to index

H

Help

You can find answers to many of your questions in these instructions or by clicking the “FAQ” link on www.ichessu.com main page (on the left side menu).
International Chess University administrators, technicians and professionals will always be happy to assist you. Don’t hesitate to turn to us, we promise to treat you kindly and supply a quick response.

Back to index

I

Internet lag

Internet lag is the time it takes for your opponent's move to reach you through the Internet. On your screen, your opponent's clock continues to run but when a move arrives, the clock jumps back to what it was when he/she actually made the move. Usually it takes just a fraction of a second for each move to go through the Internet, but occasionally it takes several seconds or more. This is sometimes caused by a slow connection, and at other times it is caused by a "traffic jam" on the Internet.
IchessU system uses "time stamps" to keep the clocks accurate. Therefore, Internet lag affects both players equally. Internet lag never gives a player extra time on his own move, but always gives each player the same extra time while it is the other player's turn to move. This is the reason that sometimes you may see that your opponent gets some extra clock time after each move. If your opponent’s time is run up because of a too big lag, you can demand a win on flag or to abort the game.

Back to index

L

Lecture in progress

“View->Lecture in progress” will show you a list of currently ongoing lectures. In case there are any ongoing lectures of your group, you will be able to join them by marking the lecture in the search results and by pressing “View game”.

Load game from file

Registered IchessU members can load games of their own in the *.pgn format through “Game->Load game from file”.

Login
Login is needed to access the IchessU server. Click “IchessU” icon on your Desktop and fill the login screen.
You can login as a guest, register, or fill your login name and password if you are a registered member. Members may also save their password and browse accounts (if you have more then one user on the same computer, for example a family). All other advanced options should remain default, unless you were guided by IchessU administrator to set one or more of those fields to different values. After you submit the login details, press “Connect” and enter the IchessU software.

Back to index

M

Your Avoids List is a list of members you don’t like to challenge/be challenged by or talk to.
You can add or remove users from your Avoids List in “View->Player search->Mark a user you want to add/remove->Press add to avoid/remove avoid”.
You can use your avoids list, for example, to disable talking to them or to search opponents except those among your avoids.

My friends

Your Friends List is a list of members you like to challenge or talk to. You will be notified when they arrive online and when they leave.
You can add or remove friends from your Friends List in “View->Player search->Mark a user you want to add/remove->Press add to friend/remove friend”.
You can use your friends list, for example, to talk to your friends or to search opponents among your friends only.

My games history

In International Chess University we encourage people to learn. One of the best ways to learn is by analyzing your own games. If you are a register member, all your recent games are stored, including the timestamps! In order to see your games go to “View->My games history”.
You may search games according to the following search parameters:
Game type – Game, Lecture or Examine
Game status – Active, Top, Finished or Adjourned
Time type – All, Blitz, Standard, Long or Unlimited
Game result (only for finished games) – Any, Black won, White won or Draw
In addition, you may search games according to player’s name, color, different game types’ ratings or only your games.

My group

Your Group List is a list of your group mates in the chess courses you take in the International Chess University.
You can use your group list, for example, to discuss lectures or searching opponents among your group mates only.

My homework

“My University->My homework” will redirect you to your schedule page on the web http://www.ichessu.com/MySchedule.aspx.
On that page you will be able to find your homework, submit it and receive the solutions.

My info

“View->My info” opens a browser window and shows your profile on the web, as it appears in our database.

My lessons

“My University->My lessons” will redirect you to your schedule page on the web http://www.ichessu.com/MySchedule.aspx.
On that page you will be able to find your lessons schedule, announcements and learning materials.

Back to index

N

New connection

 “Connection->New connection” reconnects the IchessU application.

Back to index

O

Observe a game

One of the best ways to learn is to observe other strong players’ games. You can watch other players’ games, see and hear them and even give advice and share your insights during the game. There are two ways to become an observer: through “View->Game search: find a live game you want to observe and press View game” or by “View->Player search: find a player you want to observe who currently plays a game and press Observe”.

Offers

You can manage both incoming and outgoing offers in “Game->Offers” window.
All your pending offers, incoming and outgoing are displayed in this window. Any incoming offer may be accepted or declined by you and any outgoing offer may be withdrawn by you. You can choose whether this window will pop up on any new offer or not.

Back to index

P

Play a game

You can propose a game to all IchessU online users, who are open for challenges and are currently not playing. Go to “Game->Play a game” and fill the settings as following:
Initial time – game’s initial clock time in minutes.
Increment – the time in seconds to be added to you and your opponent after each move.
Rated game – V means that the game will be rated, empty – not rated. This field is disabled for guests, since they allowed playing only unrated games.
Color – you can choose your pieces color or set it automatic and let the IchessU software suit it for you.
Limit opponent rating – you can challenge all opponents if this box is not V or only opponents in defined rating range, if it’s marked.
Confirm game manually – if this box is unmarked and your game offer is accepted, the game will start automatically. If you mark V in this field, you will have to confirm the game beginning manually.
Challenge guests – if this box is marked your offer will be sent to guests as well, otherwise your game’s offer will be offered only to register users. This field is disabled for rating games, since guests allowed playing only unrated games.
Your game offer will be displayed on other users' seek graphs. Your offer will be sent to all users who are open for challenge and match the game criteria you set.

Players search

“View->Player search” allows you to find an opponent according to a variety of filters.
You can look for an opponent by country, city, age, gender, username, first name or last name. You can choose opponents among online users, your friends, users open for games, users from your group or only users you don’t avoid.
You have an option to use a combination of one or more different filters.
Results maybe displayed in ascending or descending order and sorted by name or by different ratings types.
You can challenge only users online who are open for accepting game offers and are currently not playing or in a lecture. You should mark an opponent within the results shown, and press Match. Match button will be disabled for players who: are not online or are not open for accepting games offers or currently playing or in a lecture.
Pressing Match will open game’s settings window, in which you will have to choose whether you want to play a rated game or not, set the time control – initial time (game’s initial clock time in minutes) and increment (the time in seconds to be added to you and your opponent after each move) and choose pieces color (White, Black or Automatic).
Password
Once you created an account you will have a password. You can save the password in the login window; in the next time you will login, it will be remembered, so you only need to click "OK" or hit Enter when you log in.
Please keep your password confidentially and disclose it to nobody. If you have forgotten your password, you can retrieve it in http://www.ichessu.com/ForgotPassword.aspx in the web or Connection->Forgot password in the IchessU software. You will be asked to fill your username and e-mail you gave when registered in the first place, and the new password will be emailed to that mail address.
You can also change your password from our website: http://www.ichessu.com/.You should login and then go to “Show User Profile->Edit”.

Back to index

R

Rating

Your rating will generally change with every rated game you play. It will go up if you win, or down if you lose. It will also go up if you draw an opponent rated higher than yourself, or go down if you draw an opponent rated lower than yourself. It will not change if you draw an opponent whose rating is about the same as your own.
Your first 8 games are calculated differently, with bigger rating changes to adjust your provisional rating to your real strength.

Rematch

You can rematch your last opponent with the same game settings as your last game. “Game->Rematch” will send the rematch offer to him/her.

Request for help

“Help->Request for help” will redirect you to the web and allow you to submit us web help request.

Resume

You can resume a game through “Game->Resume” or by “Games->Game search, Game type: Game; Game status: Adjourned, mark “V” in “Only my games” field”. If the opponent with whom you want to resume a game is online, you will be able to send him/her the game restore offer. Mark the game you want to resume and press “Continue”. It will send your opponent restore game offer, which he/she can accept or decline. In case your opponent chooses to accept your offer, the game will be resumed from the point you adjourned it, including the time controls.

Back to index

S

Save a game

Registered IchessU members are allowed to save any game in the IchessU database. You can find a game you want to save by “View->Game search”, mark it and press on “Save to file”. All games are saved in the *.pgn format.

Seek graph
It is easy to seek an opponent using your "Seek Graph". If you don't see it right away, after you have connected choose “Seek Graph” in the “Window” menu. Each dot represents somebody who wants to play a game. Faster games are listed to the left, slower ones to the right. The vertical dotted lines divide between the different time controls: Blitz, Standard, Long and Unlimited. The highest rated players are listed on the top, lower rated ones near the bottom. Green dots are the game offers you may accept, gray ones are those you can’t (for example if your opponent wants to play a rated game and you are a guest or you don’t match his rating criteria).
Send a suggestion/feedback

It opens your browser and redirects you to “Help and Feedback” menu on the www.ichessu.com web site.
You will get a form in which you can submit feedback, suggestion, bug, crash, installation problems, login difficulties, problems during taking a lesson or playing a game or your thanks.

Server status
“Connection->Service status” pings your connection.
Server time

“View->Server time” shows exact time in main time zones and specific in your timezone.

Settings

You can change the IchessU software settings, in order to fit your requirements.
User Learning Platform allows you to change the way you look and feel IchessU software.
Background let you pick the color and even the images you like to be in the background of the program.
Audio and Video needed to determine your video and audio devices.
Chess board enables you to choose the board and pieces styles and colors, pieces movement rules and coordinates types.
Game logger allows you to save games according to predefined by you conditions.
“Don’t log games” – means that you don’t want to save any of your games to your PC.
“Log all games to File” – means that you want to save all of your games to the file you browse.
“Specify Logging Rules” – means that you want to save to the Filename you browse, only the games which fit the predefined rules. If you choose this option, you may build set of rules, according to which your games will be logged in. Rules are defined by “Rule Name” and “Condition”. The condition must be a valid Boolean expression. While it may sound a bit scary at first, it is really quite easy - all you have to do is write down a list of simple conditions, such as "rating > 2000" or "time > 15", surround them with brackets and then connect them with either "&&" or "||" strings, where "&&" stands for "and" and "||" stands for "or".

Here are some examples so you see how easy it is:

"(inc == 0) || (time > 15)" – means that the increment of the game must be 0 seconds or the time more than 15 minutes

"((result == "loss") || (moves > 20)) && rated" – means that the game must be rated and the result is a loss (for you, the user) or more than 20 moves must have been made in the game.

Important things to remember:

• "||", the "or" sign works even when *both* of the expressions to its right and its left are true.
• Remember to use "==" for an equal sign, and not "=".
• All string comparisons ("opponent == "Garry_Kasparov"" for example) are case sensitive. If you want to compare strings case insensitively, do it the following way: "opponent.equalsIgnoreCase("Garry_Kasparov ")" (pay attention that the string "equalsIgnoreCase" itself is case sensitive).
• All the examples in this help file are surrounded with double quotes – the actual     conditions should not be surrounded with them.

Below is the list of the most popular available variables and their meanings:

Back to index

T

Talk while playing

“Game->Talk while playing” allow you to choose whether to stay or to leave chat while playing a game.
“Receive all messages” will enable others to talk to you in public and private chats during games and lectures, while “Chat disabled” will prevent them from sending messages to you.

Top games search

You can observe live games of the best players, according to their average game time control ratings in IchessU. Go to “Games->Live Top Games on IchessU” or find a game you want to observe by “View->Game search: Game type: Game; Game status: Top”. Mark the game you want to observe and press “View”.

Back to index

U

“Help->Using IchessU Chess Playing Tool ” will redirect you to the web and guide you through the common problems related to the IchessU software.

Back to index

W

Windows

It shows all open windows and allows you to control and browse between them.

Withdraw outgoing offers

“Game->Withdraw outgoing offers” cancels all your outgoing offers.