xshogi - Xt/Athena user interface for gnushogi

Authors

       Original authors of XBoard:  Chris Sears and Dan Sears.

       Enhancements for XBoard (Version 2.0):  Tim Mann.

       Conversion to XShogi (Version 1.1):  Matthias Mutz.

       Current maintainer: Mike Vanier.

Command Buttons And Keys

Quit Quits xshogi. Q or q is a keyboard equivalent.

Reset Resets xshogi to the beginning of a shogi game. It also deselects any game or position files.

FlipView
inverts the view of the shogi board.

Hint displays a move hint from gnushogi.

LoadGame
plays a game from a record file. If no file is specified a popup dialog asks for a filename.
Game files are found in the directory named by the SHOGIDIR environment variable. If this
variable is not declared then the current directory is used unless the file name starts with a /.
G or g is a keyboard equivalent. The game file parser will accept almost any file that contains
moves in algebraic notation. If the first line begins with `#', it is assumed to be a title and
is displayed. Text enclosed in parentheses or square brackets is assumed to be commentary and is
displayed in a pop-up window. Any other text in the file is ignored.

LoadPosition
sets up a position from a position file. If no file is specified a popup dialog asks for a
filename. Position files are found in the directory named by the SHOGIDIR environment variable.
If this variable is not declared then the current directory is used unless the file name starts
with a /. Position files must be in the format that the Save Position command writes.

SaveGame
saves a game to a record file. If no file is specified a popup dialog asks for a filename. If
the filename exists, the user is asked whether the current game record is be appended to this
file or if the file should be replaced. Game files are saved in the directory named by the
SHOGIDIR environment variable. If this variable is not declared then the current directory is
used unless the file name starts with a /. Game files are human-readable, and can also be read
back by the Load Game command. Furthermore, they are accepted as gnushogi text bookfiles.

SavePosition
saves a position to a position file. If no file is specified a popup dialog asks for a filename.
Position files are saved in the directory named by the SHOGIDIR environment variable. If this
variable is not declared then the current directory is used unless the file name starts with a /.
Position files are human-readable, and can also be read back by the Load Position command.

MachineWhite
forces gnushogi to play white.

MachineBlack
forces gnushogi to play black.

ForceMoves
forces a series of moves. That is, gnushogi stops playing and xshogi allows you to make moves
for both white and black.

TwoMachines
plays a game between two computer programs.

Forward moves forward through a series of remembered moves. F or f is a keyboard equivalent.

Backward
moves backward through a series of remembered moves. As a side effect, puts xshogi into Force
Moves mode. B or b is a keyboard equivalent.

Pause pauses the clocks or (in Load Game mode) pauses the game being loaded. Press Pause again to
continue. P or p is a keyboard equivalent.

EditPosition
lets you set up an arbitrary board position. Use mouse button 1 to drag pieces to new squares,
or to delete a piece by dragging it off the board or dragging an empty square on top of it. To
drop a new piece on a square, press mouse button 2 or 3 over the square. This brings up a menu
of black pieces (button 2) or white pieces (button 3). Additional menu choices let you empty the
square or clear the board. You can set the side to play next by clicking on the Black or White
indicator at the top of the screen.

Challenge
allows you to make a two display game between two human players. Enter the display you want to
connect to. If you are allowed to connect, a new board is displayed at the remote display.
Challenge mode can only be stopped by pressing "quit".

SelectLevel
allows you to reset the clocks for both players. Enter the number of moves and the number of
minutes in which the moves should be done.

MoveNOW
force computer to stop thinking and to make the current best move.

Iconify I, i, C or c iconifies xshogi.

Copyright

       XShogi borrows some of its piece bitmaps from CRANES Shogi.

       Copyright 1991 by Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard,  Massachusetts.   Enhancements  Copyright  1992
       Free Software Foundation, Inc.  Enhancements Copyright 1993 Matthias Mutz

       The following terms apply to Digital Equipment Corporation's copyright interest in XBoard:

              All Rights Reserved

              Permission  to  use,  copy,  modify,  and  distribute  this software and its documentation for any
              purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appear in  all
              copies  and  that  both  that  copyright  notice  and  this permission notice appear in supporting
              documentation, and that the name of Digital not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining  to
              distribution of the software without specific, written prior permission.

              DIGITAL DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
              MERCHANTABILITY  AND  FITNESS,  IN  NO  EVENT SHALL DIGITAL BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR
              CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM  LOSS  OF  USE,  DATA  OR  PROFITS,
              WHETHER  IN  AN  ACTION  OF  CONTRACT,  NEGLIGENCE  OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
              CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

       The following terms apply to the enhanced version of XShogi distributed by the Free Software Foundation:

              This file is part of XSHOGI.

              XSHOGI is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY.  No author  or
              distributor  accepts  responsibility  to anyone for the consequences of using it or for whether it
              serves any particular purpose or works at all, unless he says so in writing.  Refer to the  XSHOGI
              General Public License for full details.

              Everyone  is  granted  permission  to  copy,  modify  and  redistribute XSHOGI, but only under the
              conditions described in the XSHOGI General Public License. A copy of this license is  supposed  to
              have  been  given  to  you along with XSHOGI so you can know your rights and responsibilities.  It
              should be in a file named COPYING.  Among other things, the copyright notice and this notice  must
              be preserved on all copies.

X Version 11                                      Jan 29, 1993                                         xshogi(6)

Description

xshogi provides an X11/Xt/Athena Widgets user interface for gnushogi.  With xshogi you can play gnushogi,
       set  up  arbitrary positions, force variations, or watch xshogi manage a game between two shogi programs.
       Furthermore, it can be used as an interface between two players on different displays.

       xshogi can also be used as a shogi board to play out games.  It will read through a game file or allow  a
       player  to  play  through  a  variation manually (force mode).  This is useful for keeping track of email
       postal games or browsing games off the net.

       After starting xshogi, you can make moves by pressing mouse button 1 while the cursor is  over  a  square
       with  your  piece  on it and dragging the mouse to another square.  If the move is illegal, gnushogi will
       not allow it.  xshogi will then retract the move.

Limitations

       If you press the Pause button during gnushogi's turn, xshogi will stop  the  clocks,  but  gnushogi  will
       still make a move.

       After  a  mate or draw when playing against gnushogi, if you back up with the Backward button, the clocks
       are reset (because gnushogi has exited and must be restarted).

       Some xshogi functions may not work with versions of gnushogi earlier than 1.1, patchlevel 02.

       The game parser recognizes only algebraic notation.

Name

       xshogi - Xt/Athena user interface for gnushogi

Options

The following command line options also correspond to X resources that you can set in your .Xdefaults or
.Xresources file.

standardXtoptionsxshogi accepts standard Xt options like -display, -geometry, -iconic, -bg etc.

-tcor-timeControlminutes[:seconds]
Amount of time for a set of moves determined by movesPerSession. If this number of moves is
played within the time control period, xshogi resets the time clocks. Default: 5 minutes.

-mpsor-movesPerSessionmoves
Number of moves in a time control period. Default: 40 moves.

-stor-searchTimeminutes[:seconds]
Tell gnushogi to spend at most the given amount of time searching for each of its moves. Without
this option, gnushogi chooses its search time based on the number of moves and amount of time
remaining until the next time control. Setting this option also sets -clockMode to False.

-sdor-searchDepthnumber
Tell gnushogi to look ahead at most the given number of moves when searching for a move to make.
Without this option, gnushogi chooses its search depth based on the number of moves and amount of
time remaining until the next time control. Setting this option also sets -clockMode to False.

-clockor-clockMode(True|False)
Determines whether or not to use the clock. If clockMode is False, the clock does not run, but
the side that is to play next is still highlighted.

-tdor-timeDelayseconds
Time delay between moves during "Load Game". This doesn't have to be round numbers. Try -td
0.4. Default: 1 second.

-nspor-noShogiProgram(True|False)
If this option is True, xshogi acts as a passive shogiboard; it does not try to start a shogi
program, not even to check whether moves made in Force mode are legal. It also sets -clockMode
to False. Default: False.

-fspor-firstShogiProgramprogram
Name of first shogi program. In matches between two machines, this program plays white.
Default: "gnushogi".

-sspor-secondShogiProgramprogram
Name of second shogi program, if needed. In matches between two machines, this program plays
black; otherwise it is not started. Default: "gnushogi".

-fhor-firstHosthost
Name of host the first shogi program plays on. Default: "localhost".

-shor-secondHosthost
Name of host the second shogi program plays on. Default: "localhost".

-rshor-remoteShellshell_name
Some systems do not use rsh as the remote shell. This option allows a user to name the remote
shell command. This should be done in the resource file.

-mmor-matchMode(False|Init|Position|Opening)
Automatically run a game between firstShogiProgram and secondShogiProgram. If matchMode is set
to Init, xshogi will start the game with the initial shogi position. If matchMode is set to
Position, xshogi will start the game with the position specified by the loadPositionFile
resource. If matchMode is set to Opening, xshogi will play out the opening moves specified by
the -loadGameFile resource. If the -saveGameFile resource is set, a move record for the match
will be saved in the specified file. Default: "False".

-lgfor-loadGameFilefile
Name of file to read a game record from. Game files are found in the directory named by the
SHOGIDIR environment variable. If this variable is not set, the current directory is used unless
the file name starts with a /.-lpfor-loadPositionFilefile
Name of file to read a game position from. Position files are found in the directory named by
the SHOGIDIR environment variable. If this variable is not set, the current directory is used
unless the file name starts with a /.-sgfor-saveGameFilefile
Name of file to save a game record to. Game files are saved in the directory named by the
SHOGIDIR environment variable. If this variable is not set, the current directory is used unless
the file name starts with a /.-spfor-savePositionFilefile
Name of file to save a game position to. Position files are saved in the directory named by the
SHOGIDIR environment variable. If this variable is not set, the current directory is used unless
the file name starts with a /.-coordsor-showCoords(True|False)
If this option is True, xshogi displays algebraic coordinates along the board's left and bottom
edges. The default is False. The coordFont resource specifies what font to use.

-monoor-monoMode(True|False)
Monochrome mode. You shouldn't have to specify monochrome. xshogi will determine if this is
necessary.

-pcor-pieceColorcolor
Color specification for pieces suitable for XParseColor(). Default: #FFFFD7.

-scor-squareColorcolor
Same for squares. Default: #EBDFB0.

-wpsor-westernPieceSet(True|False)
Choose the Western style piece set.

-npbor-normalPawnBitmapfile-nnbor-normalKnightBitmapfile-nbbor-normalBishopBitmapfile-nrbor-normalRookBitmapfile-nkbor-normalKingBitmapfile
Names of the bitmap files for the bitmap piece icons.

-rpbor-reversePawnBitmapfile-rnbor-reverseKnightBitmapfile-rbbor-reverseBishopBitmapfile-rrbor-reverseRookBitmapfile-rkbor-reverseKingBitmapfile
Names of the bitmap files for the outline piece icons.

-debugor-debugMode(True|False)
Turns on debugging printout.

Resources

initString
The actual string that is sent to initialize the shogi program can be set from .Xdefaults. It
can't be set from the command line because of syntax problems. The default value is
"new\nbeep\nrandom\neasy\n". The "new" and "beep" commands are required. You can remove the
"random" command if you like; including it causes gnushogi to randomize its move selection
slightly so that it doesn't play the same moves in every game. Even without "random", gnushogi
randomizes its choice of moves from its opening book. You can also remove "easy" if you like;
including it toggles easy mode off, causing gnushogi to think on your time. That is, if "easy"
is included in the initString, gnushogi thinks on your time; if not, it does not. (Yes, this
does seem backwards, doesn't it.) You can also try adding other commands to the initString; see
the gnushogi documentation for details.

blackStringandwhiteString
These resources control what is sent when the Machine Black and Machine White buttons are
selected. This is mostly for compatibility with obsolete versions of gnushogi.

Alternate bitmaps for piece icons can be specified either by choosing one of the built-in sets or with
the file name resources described above. There are three built-in sets of piece bitmaps available, large
(the default), medium, or small. It is easiest to select the set you prefer in the .Xdefaults file:

XShogi*boardSize: Medium

The font used for button labels and comments can be changed in the .Xdefaults file. You may want to
choose a smaller font if you are using the small pieces:

XShogi*font: helvetica_oblique12

The font used for coordinates (when the showCoords option is True) can be set similarly:

XShogi*coordFont: helvetica_10

If you are using a grayscale monitor, try setting the colors to:

XShogi*pieceColor: gray100
XShogi*squareColor: gray60

Rules

Shogi is a Japanese board game played by two players. The object of the game is to capture the
opponent's King. Shogi is played on a nine-by-nine board. The vertical rows are called files, the
horizontal ones ranks or just rows. Each player has twenty pieces: one King, two Gold Generals, two
Silver Generals, two kNights, two Lances, one Rook, one Bishop and nine Pawns. The player moving up the
board and making the first move is referred to as black and his opponent white, although in Shogi sets
all pieces have the same colour. They are differentiated only in direction: pieces pointing away from a
player are his. The pieces lie flat on the board and have their Japanese name written on them.

MovesKing one step in any direction per move

GoldGeneral
one step per move any way except diagonally backward (as a king but not diagonally backward)

SilverGeneral
one step per move forwards or diagonally (as a king but not sideways or vertically backward)

Knight one step to left or right, and two steps forward (the only piece which may jump over other
pieces)

Rook moves vertically or horizontally any distance

Bishop moves diagonally any distance

Lance moves forward any distance

Pawn one step forward

Promotion
The three rows furthest away from a player are called the promotion zone. Apart from the King and the
Gold, any piece can be promoted to a more powerful piece when it makes a move completely or partly in the
promotion zone. So, when a piece moves into, out of or fully inside the promotion zone it may be promoted
upon completion of its move. Promotion is optional, provided that the piece still can make a legal move
in case it is not promoted: if a Pawn or a Lance move to the last row, or a Knight moves to either of the
last two rows, it must be promoted. In Shogi sets promoting a piece is done by turning this piece upside
down. Its promoted name is written on its other side.

Apart from the King and the Gold General all pieces can promote. After promotion their moves are as
follows:

+ Promoted Silver, promoted kNight, promoted Lance and promoted Pawn all move as a Gold.

+ The promoted Rook in addition to the moves of the unpromoted Rook can move one step in the
diagonal directions. It either moves like a Rook or like a King.

+ The promoted Bishop in addition to the moves of the unpromoted Bishop can move one step
horizontally or vertically. It either moves like a Bishop or like a King.

Capturinganddroppingpieces
When one piece moves onto the same square as an opponent's piece, the opponent's piece is captured. All
pieces capture in the same way that they move. Captured pieces become part of the capturer's force. In a
later move, instead of moving a piece on the board, a player may put a piece that he has captured from
his opponent back onto the board, in an empty square. This is called dropping a piece. Pieces are always
dropped unpromoted: if a promoted piece is captured, it reverts to its unpromoted rank. Pieces may be
dropped on any empty square on the board with only three restrictions:

1) After dropping a piece it must be able to make a legal move. This applies to Pawns, Knights or
Lances. They may not be dropped onto a square from which they will never be able to move.

2) Attacking the King by dropping a Pawn on the square in front of him is not allowed if the King
cannot prevent being captured on the following move. To use the Chess expression: checkmating
the King with a Pawn drop is prohibited.

3) A pawn may only be dropped on a file (vertical row) if there is no other unpromoted pawn of the
same player on that file.

Draws
The game of Shogi has very few draws (roughly 1 percent), mainly because of the possibility to drop
pieces. Draws cannot be offered and can arise from two situations:

1) A position (including the pieces in hand) occurs 4 times with the same player to move
("Sennichite"). However, if this is caused by consecutive checks (direct attacks on the King,
threatening to capture it on the next move) by one side, the player giving these checks loses the
game.

2) Both players have moved their King into the the promotion zone (or they cannot be prevented to do
so) and the Kings cannot be checkmated. In that case the players may decide to count their pieces
where the King does not count, the Rook and Bishop count as 5 points, and all other pieces as one
point. Promotion is disregarded. If both players have at least 24 points the game is a draw
("Jishogi"). If a player has less, he loses the game.

Of course, a player can refuse to count pieces when he still has mating chances or chances to gain
material which would affect the outcome of the counting. There is no strict rule about what to do if this
is not the case, but nonetheless a player refuses to count up (e.g. because he does not have enough
points for a draw). It has been generally accepted that in such a case the game ends and the pieces are
counted after one player has managed to get all his pieces protected in the promotion zone.