Chess

CONTROLS: - Desktop: - Mouse Click: Select piece and click destination square to move - Mouse Drag (3D View): Click and drag to rotate and view the board from different angles - Plus (+) Key: Zoom in on the board (keyCode 107) - Minus (-) Key: Zoom out from the board (keyCode 109) - Keyboard Mode: Enable keyboard checkbox for keyboard-based piece selection and movement - View Controls: - 3D View Button: Switch to three-dimensional board view - 2D View Button: Switch to traditional top-down board view - Both Button: Display both 3D and 2D views simultaneously BASIC MECHANICS: 1. Game Mode Selection: - VS Computer: Play against AI opponent - Choose your color (white or black) when playing against computer - VS Human Player: Two players alternate turns on the same device - Game starts immediately after mode selection 2. Piece Movement: - Click a piece to select it (highlighted piece) - Click a valid destination square to move - Standard chess rules apply for all piece movements - Invalid moves are automatically prevented 3. Turn System: - White always moves first - Players alternate turns - Clear visual indicators show whose turn it is - In human vs human mode, only the active player can move 4. Chess Rules: - All standard chess rules enforced automatically - Pawns move forward, capture diagonally - Rooks move horizontally or vertically - Knights move in L-shapes - Bishops move diagonally - Queens combine rook and bishop movement - Kings move one square in any direction - Castling, en passant, and promotion supported 5. View Modes: - 3D View: Immersive three-dimensional board with 3D piece models - 2D View: Traditional top-down chess board view - Both View: Display 3D and 2D views side by side - Switch views at any time during gameplay 6. Board Interaction: - Rotate the board in 3D view by clicking and dragging with mouse - Zoom in/out using + and - keys - Change viewing perspective (white side, black side, or human side) - Board automatically centers and adjusts 7. Move History: - Navigate backward through moves using backward/reverse buttons - Navigate forward through moves using forward/play buttons - Jump to game start or end instantly - Review previous moves to analyze game positions 8. Computer AI: - Adjustable difficulty level (meditation level/ply depth) - Default setting provides balanced gameplay - Higher difficulty levels increase AI thinking time - AI analyzes positions and makes strategic moves 9. Game Notifications: - Visual notifications for check, checkmate, stalemate - Move confirmations and turn indicators - Game event alerts appear on screen - Clear feedback for all game actions 10. Promotion: - When pawn reaches opposite end, automatically promotes - Choose promotion piece: Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight - Promotion selection available in game settings - Default promotion is to Queen 11. Check and Checkmate: - King in check is automatically detected - Check notification appears on screen - Checkmate ends the game immediately - Stalemate is detected and game ends in draw 12. Move Validation: - Only legal moves are allowed - Cannot move into check (king safety enforced) - Blocked moves are prevented automatically - Visual feedback shows valid move destinations 13. PGN Support: - Load games from PGN (Portable Game Notation) files - Paste PGN notation directly into text area - Export and save games in standard chess notation - Replay loaded games move by move 14. Keyboard Controls (Optional): - Enable keyboard mode checkbox from settings - Use keyboard for piece selection and movement when enabled - Accessible alternative to mouse controls 15. Game Controls Toolbar: - Navigation buttons: Start, Backward, Forward, End - Step through moves one at a time - View history and replay game - Access help system for rules and controls STRATEGIC TIPS: - Opening Principles: Control the center of the board early. Develop your pieces (knights and bishops) before moving the same piece twice. Castle your king to safety early. - Piece Development: Move knights and bishops out from the back rank. Avoid moving the same piece multiple times in the opening. Don't bring out the queen too early. - King Safety: Castle to protect your king. Keep pawns in front of your castled king. Avoid creating weaknesses around your king. - Piece Coordination: Make your pieces work together. Attack with multiple pieces. Defend important squares with several pieces. - Pawn Structure: Avoid doubled or isolated pawns when possible. Use pawns to control key squares. Consider pawn breaks to open lines. - Tactics Awareness: Look for forks (one piece attacking two). Watch for pins (piece can't move without exposing more valuable piece). Spot skewers (line attack through two pieces). - Material Evaluation: Generally, Queen (9 points) > Rook (5) > Bishop/Knight (3) > Pawn (1). But position matters more than material in many cases. - Endgame Strategy: In king and pawn endgames, push your passed pawns. King activity is crucial in endgames. Opposition (king positioning) can be decisive. - Time Management: In timed games, don't spend too much time on opening moves. Reserve time for critical middle game positions. Analyze endgames carefully. - Pattern Recognition: Learn common checkmate patterns (back rank mate, smothered mate). Recognize tactical motifs. Study opening principles and typical plans. ADVANCED TECHNIQUES: - Castling Strategy: Castle on the side where you have fewer pawn moves needed. Kingside castling is generally faster. Queenside castling gives the rook more activity. - Pawn Breaks: Create pawn breaks to open files for rooks. Break through when you have piece activity advantage. Break on the side where you're stronger. - Weak Square Control: Identify and control weak squares (squares that can't be defended by pawns). Occupy outposts with knights. Use bishops on long diagonals. - Piece Exchanges: Trade when you're ahead in material. Avoid trades when you're behind. Exchange to simplify to a winning endgame. - Zugzwang Recognition: Force opponent into positions where any move weakens their position. Create zugzwang in endgames. Force opponent to move pieces to worse squares. - Deflection Tactics: Use tactics to pull opponent pieces away from defense. Create multiple threats simultaneously. Force opponent to choose which threat to address. - Back Rank Weaknesses: Create threats against opponent's back rank. Use rooks and queens to exploit weak back rank. Castle to avoid back rank problems. - Pin and Skewer: Pin pieces that can't move without exposing more valuable pieces. Create skewers (line attacks through valuable piece to less valuable one). Use absolute pins (king is pinned piece). - King Activity: In endgames, activate your king. Centralize the king for maximum mobility. Use king to support pawn advances. - Opening Repertoire: Develop a few openings you know well. Understand the typical plans in your openings. Learn common tactical patterns in your chosen openings. WINNING AND PROGRESSION: - Checkmate Objective: Your main goal is to checkmate your opponent's king. Checkmate occurs when the king is in check and cannot escape. - Draw Conditions: Games can end in draws through stalemate (no legal moves, not in check), three-fold repetition, insufficient material, or fifty-move rule. - Skill Development: As you play, you'll improve at recognizing patterns, calculating variations, and planning ahead. Practice against different difficulty levels. - Game Analysis: Use move history to review your games. Identify mistakes and missed opportunities. Learn from computer suggestions and tactics. - Opening Knowledge: Study chess openings to improve early game play. Understand typical middlegame plans from your openings. Recognize transpositions. - Tactical Training: Solve chess puzzles to improve tactical vision. Recognize common tactical patterns. Calculate forcing variations. - Positional Understanding: Learn to evaluate positions accurately. Understand piece activity, pawn structure, and king safety. Make plans based on position. - Endgame Mastery: Study fundamental endgames (king and pawn, rook endings). Learn theoretical endgames (know which positions are winning/drawing). Practice endgame technique. - Regular Practice: Play regularly to maintain and improve skills. Review your games to identify patterns. Challenge yourself with stronger opponents or higher AI difficulty. - Chess Notation: Learn to read and write chess notation. Use PGN files to save and review games. Analyze games using standard notation. Enjoy the strategic depth of chess and test your tactical skills in this beautiful 3D chess experience!