Chess in the Playground

[ZombieRockStar]

So I had this idea to set up a system where people could sign up to play chess via PM with a partner. Then I ran into the problem of how to create a chess board using the table. After a few hours of fiddling, I came up with the idea to use the OOTS as pieces, and this is what I've got:

Note: To play, you have to be familiar with the table function in vBcode, which can be rather tricky. Here is the thread describing how to use it.

Code spoilered for page stretchiness:

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Yes, that first line does have to be that long. No, there's no helping it.

{table][size=7][b]*[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]*[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]C[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]H[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]E[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]S[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]S[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]*[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]*[/b][/size]
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]| :thog:| :nale:| :redcloak:|:sabine:| :xykon:| :redcloak:| :nale:| :thog:
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]| :vaarsuvius:| :belkar:| :durkon:| :haley:| :roy:| :durkon:| :belkar:| :vaarsuvius:[/table]

(Make sure you have those extra spaces in each cell, since the boards only allow a string of characters to go on for so long before randomly breaking it up...example:

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiii)

Which comes out to look like this:
{table]*|*|C|H|E|S|S|*|*
*| | | || | | |
*| | | | | | | |
*||||||||
*||||||||
*||||||||
*||||||||
*| | | | | | | |
*| | | | | | | | [/table]Good guys vs. Bad Guys
Kings: Roy, Xykon
Queens: Haley, Sabine
Bishops: Durkon, Redcloak
Knights: Belkar, Nale
Rooks: Vaarsuvius, Thog
Pawns: Elan, Roaches


Now, how to make a move: all you have to do is move the appropriate smilie into the appropriate table cell. Let's say I want to start by moving one of the Belkars out:

The code would look like this:

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{table][size=7][b]*[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]*[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]C[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]H[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]E[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]S[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]S[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]*[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]*[/b][/size]
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]| :thog:| :nale:| :redcloak:|:sabine:| :xykon:| :redcloak:| :nale:| :thog:
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]||||||:belkar:||
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:
[size=6][b]*[/b][/size]| :vaarsuvius:| :belkar:| :durkon:| :haley:| :roy:| :durkon:|| :vaarsuvius:[/table]

{table]*|*|C|H|E|S|S|*|*
*| | | || | | |
*| | | | | | | |
*||||||||
*||||||||
*||||||||
*|||||| ||
*| | | | | | | |
*| | | | | | || [/table]Obviously some issues, such as the fact that the squares aren't checkered and to keep each cell the same size you have to have those extra columns with the asterisks in place. But otherwise I think it's as good as can reasonably be expected. If anyone figures out something better, feel free to show me how and I can edit this guide.


Sign Up Rules:

Post your desire for an opponent to this thread and, if possible, indicate your level of play: beginner, intermediate or expert. Or you can PM someone who's posted and ask them if they'd like to play a game. If you're no longer looking for an opponent, please edit your post to say so, so you don't get any unwanted PMs. Obviously, you can play games with specific people you want without posting here.

I'm not sure how much traction this game might get, but if it gets a lot of attention, you might want to re-post every once in a while so your request for an opponent doesn't go unnoticed.

Beyond that, I'm not "running" this game. Disputes about rules (it's chess...who doesn't know the rules?), cheating, how fast you want each player to move, who goes first or other problems are left up to the players' cooperation to solve. Obviously, get the mods involved if someone's breaking forum rules.

Please let me know how well the table code works out, though.

Editty: Playing inside the thread is okay, but please be courteous and do not shout out suggested moves to players. If you've ever played solitaire with someone watching over your shoulders, you know how annoying this is, so don't. M'kay?

[Shadow]

I'll play anyone that wants to play me.
I'd consider myself intermediate.

Since we're dealing with code here, I think that the board would be easier to manipulate if the astericks were numbered/lettered, like this (let's see if I've got this code figured out....)

For anyone that wants to play a similar game, but doesn't want to deal with the code, click here. All you need is a friend's e-mail address. I used to use this site quite a bit.

ZombieRockStar (oots) vs. Shadow (lg)

{table]*|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H
1| | | || | | |
2| | | | | | | |
3||| |||||
4| || || || |
5||| || |||
6|||| ||||
7| | | || | | |
8| | | | || | |[/table]Good guys vs. Bad Guys
Kings: Roy, Xykon
Queens: Haley, Sabine
Bishops: Durkon, Redcloak
Knights: Belkar, Nale
Rooks: Vaarsuvius, Thog
Pawns: Elan, Roaches

Board as of the previous move:

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{table]*|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H
1| | | || | | |
2| | | | | | | |
3||| |||||
4| || || || |
5||| || |||
6|||| || ||
7| | | || | | |
8| | | ||| | |[/table]Good guys vs. Bad Guys
Kings: Roy, Xykon
Queens: Haley, Sabine
Bishops: Durkon, Redcloak
Knights: Belkar, Nale
Rooks: Vaarsuvius, Thog
Pawns: Elan, Roaches

Captured pieces:

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ZombieRockStar:
None yet.

Shadow:

Moves to date:

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1. Elan e5; Roach e4
2. Belkar f6; Nale c3
3. Durkon c5; Nale a3
4. O-O; Redcloak c4
5. Elan d6; Nale a4
6. Belkar g4; O-O
7. Haley f6; Nale d5
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
14.
15.
16.

The code for this board in it's unmoved state, if you want it, is:

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[B][I][COLOR="DarkRed"]{table][size=7][b]*[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]A[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]B[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]C[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]D[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]E[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]F[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]G[/b][/size]|[size=7][b]H[/b][/size]
[size=6][b]8[/b][/size]| :thog:| :nale:| :redcloak:|:sabine:| :xykon:| :redcloak:| :nale:| :thog:
[size=6][b]7[/b][/size]| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:| :roach:
[size=6][b]6[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]5[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]4[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]3[/b][/size]||||||||
[size=6][b]2[/b][/size]| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:| :elan:
[size=6][b]1[/b][/size]| :vaarsuvius:| :belkar:| :durkon:| :haley:| :roy:| :durkon:| :belkar:| :vaarsuvius:[/table]Good guys vs. Bad Guys
[B]Kings:[/B] Roy, Xykon
[B]Queens:[/B] Haley, Sabine
[B]Bishops:[/B] Durkon, Redcloak
[B]Knights:[/B] Belkar, Nale
[B]Rooks: [/B]Vaarsuvius, Thog
[B]Pawns:[/B] Elan, Roaches

[Lord Iames Osari]

I agree with the numbering, and would like to point out that, IIRC, the king should be opposite the opposing queen.

Edit: Also, sidescroll is a force from the Abyss, and it appears to have infested this thread like fleas on Gaspode.

[ZombieRockStar]

Perhaps. I guess it depends on how good you are at visualizing the board by looking at the code. Could you put the code for that in [noparse][/noparse] tags so everyone can easily highlight and copy?

EDIT: @^ No. King opposite king is traditional, because the rule is the queen begins on its own colour.

[Lord Iames Osari]

Ah, I see the sidescroll demon has been sent back to the Abyss. Excellent.

And I stand corrected.

[Shadow]

Done.
Want to get the first game going, ZRS?
I'll play you.

[ZombieRockStar]

Done.
Want to get the first game going, ZRS?
I'll play you.

Sure. I'll roll for who gets white/the good guys. 1 - me, 2 - you.

[roll0]

'kay, I'll PM you with my first move.

[Shadow]

OK, you want to do it that way, via PM's where I adjust the board?
That's cool.
I'll tell you what. I'll put the previous moves in a spoiler beneath the board, along with the board as it was in the previous move.
How's that sound?

[ZombieRockStar]

Yeah...that was the idea I had of how to play. Sounds good.

[Mr. Moon]

I'm intersted, but the coding looks complicated. :P

[Silkenfist]

I'm interested. Anyone feeling like challenging me (ELO 1900)

[Shadow]

I'm intersted, but the coding looks complicated. :P

I've never actually used this table coding before and I picked it up fairly quickly without even reading the thread link that ZRS left.
If you just take a close look at it you can probably figure it out.
Basically just remove the smilie and put it where it goes.
The rest is just copy and paste since the majority of the work is already done.

[Lord Iames Osari]

Uh, sure, I'll play you, Silk. What's ELO 1900 mean?

[Raistlin1040]

It's a ranking. 1900 is fairly good. 2200 are considered Candidate masters. I'm about ELO 1300

[ZombieRockStar]

Wikipedia knows everything.

[Raistlin1040]

Anyway I'm up for a game with anyone.

[Lord Iames Osari]

*wonders what his ELO rating is*

[Raistlin1040]

Have you ever played in a tournament?

[Uberblah]

This sounds fun. I'll play someone.

[Lord Iames Osari]

Nope, only informally.

[Raistlin1040]

Then you don't have an ELO rating. It's based on tournament play.

[unstattedCommoner]

*throws down gauntlet*

98 BCF (~ 1740 Elo)

[Archonic Energy]

ELO?...

Electric Light Orchestra?

[Silkenfist]

Picks up Commoner's gauntlet and slaps it in his face.

Bring it. Higher roll on a d100 gets to pick colour?

[roll0]

[unstattedCommoner]

let's see then:

[roll0]

I take White.

{table]*|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H
8| | | || | | |
7| | | | | | | |
6||||||||
5||||||||
4||||||||
3||||||||
2| | | | | | | |
1| | | | | | | | [/table]

Moves:

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1. d4

[Castaras]

Hmm...If someone wants a game with me, then I'll have a go. Haven't played Chess since Primary though...Mostly due to people not wanting to play against me because I *was* a pretty good chess player. Not so sure how good I am now, but I'm willing to try again.

[King_of_GRiffins]

Funny, I seem to have gone through the same situation. Everyone thought I was good, and as such I haven't had a chance to play since middle school. How about you and me, Castaras? You can choose sides.

[Castaras]

Okay then. I'll be black.

Your move to start.

[Silkenfist]

Bring it...


Match: Unstatted Commoner vs. Silkenfist


Board:

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{table]*|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H
8| | | || | | |
7| | | || | | |
6||||||||
5||||||||
4||||||||
3||||||||
2| | | | | | | |
1| | | | | | | | [/table]

Moves:

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1. Elan d4 ; Roach d5

[/quote]

[ZombieRockStar]

The idea was to play in PM and this would just be a sign-up thread, though I suppose it wouldn't be too much trouble if you played here. *shrugs* Meh.