zKnights
Introduction
Menu Bar
File
Match
Settings
Special Windows
Start a New Match
General Options
Display Options
Introduction
zKnights is a graphical chess interface for Qtopia/Qt,
based on the KDE Knights.
It supports
- chess matches against computer engines like GnuChess,
- watching two computer engines play against each other,
- solitaire chess,
- reviewing matches saved in Portable Game Notation (PGN).
The following must be installed:
- the zKnights program,
- at least one theme for the chessboard and one for the chessmen,
located in the Themes Directory
- if you want to play against the computer: at least one chess engine,
located in the Engines Directory
To move a chessman, simply tap the chessman you wish to move,
then tap the position you want the chessman to move to.
You can also move your chessman using "Drag and Drop".
Menu Bar
- New Match
- The "Start a New Match" window will pop up.
- Load Match
- This will allow you to select a previously saved match and
play it again.
- Save Match
- This will allow you to store a copy of your current match.
If this match doesn't yet have a file name, you will be prompted for one.
- Save Match As
- This will allow you to store a copy of your current match.
You will be prompted for a file name.
- Close Match
- This command removes the current match.
- Close All
- This command will remove all matches that are currently loaded.
- Quit
- The Quit command will stop all matches and exit zKnights.
Match
Draw
- Offer Draw
This will inform your opponent that you are willing draw the match.
- Accept Draw
This will accept a draw offered by your opponent.
- Reject Draw
This will reject a draw offered by your opponent.
- Ignore Draw
This will ignore future draw offers from your opponent.
- Retract Move
- Select this to retract your last move.
- Resign
- Use this to concede the match to your opponent.
- Call Flag
- Use this to declare the match over, due to your opponent being out of time.
- Hint
- This will ask your opponent for a hint.
- Move Now
- This option will force your opponent to move immediately.
- Flip View
- This will reverse the chessboard's orientation by 180 degrees.
- Ponder
- This toggles your opponent's ability to think while it's your turn.
- Pause / Resume
- The clock for the current match will pause / resume.
Settings
- General
- The "General Options" window will pop up.
- Display
- The "Display Options" window will pop up.
- Themes
- Select a theme for the board or the chessmen.
- Engines Directory
- This lets you set the directory where zKnights looks for chess engines, e.g.
/opt/share/chess/engines/ (but NOT: /opt/share/chess/engines/GnuChess/).
- Themes Directory
- This lets you set the directory where the themes for the board and the chessmen reside.
Special Windows
There are two tabs: one for the White color and one for the Black color.
For each color you can set the following parameters:
- Player
- the Human or the Computer.
- Base Time:
- is the number of minutes that the player has at the beginning of the match.
- Moves Per Base Time:
- controls the number of moves needed to receive an extra time.
- Increment Per Move:
- is yet another time bonus that you receive after every move.
- Computer Player:
- If the player is a computer, you can select the Chess Engine from
the list of engines that are found in the
Engines Directory.
- Strength
- This slider sets the computer's skill level. The strength of the level
depends on the selected engine, some engines may ignore this preference,
others are not usable in a high level.
General Options
- Player's Name:
- Your name.
- When zKnights Begins It Should:
- "Do Nothing" or "Start a Match vs. PC".
- Save Match on Close?
- When you close a chess match, zKnights can automatically save it.
Choose one of three options: No, Yes, Ask.
- Pause on Minimize
- This will cause zKnights to pause all your matches when you minimize
the zKnights window.
- Always Promote to Queen
- When checked, any of your pawns that get promoted will automatically
become a queen. Otherwise Knights will prompt you each time a pawn
is promoted.
- Call Flag Automatically
- This option will automatically declare you the winner of the match
if your opponent's clock runs out of time.
Display Options
- Reverse Board Orientation
- Normally, the board is displayed with your army on the bottom
and your opponent's army on top. Checking this option puts your
army on the top and your opponent's army on the bottom.
- Automatic Preview
- If this feature is checked, any position which a selected chessman
can move to will be highlighted.
- Show Last Move
- will highlight the chessman that moved on the previous turn.
- Show Coordinates
- will draw the Rank and File coordinates on the board.
- InfoBox in Landscape Mode
- The InfoBox consists of the Notation bar, the Clocks and the Message box.
If the width of your chess window is greater than its height, you can
choose the position of the InfoBox.
In Portrait Mode this setting is ignored.