AOL 2.5 users please click here.

Duif Answers Your Chess Questions:
A Guide for Fans and New Tournament Players

Telnet Chess Servers

If you've gotten to this page, we'll assume that you've already read our Overview of Playing Chess on the Internet, and you're ready to actually install telnet and chess interface software and start playing.

Literally thousands of people play real-time chess this way on the Internet and, until the Java systems become more stable, I think it's definitely the best way to go. There are telnet interfaces for Macs, UNIX, Amiga, Windows, and Windows 95, and while you need an Internet connection, you do not need a Web connection. You'll need to go through two or three steps:

a) download and install chess software that works with your system

b) add a telnet utility to your system if necessary so you can use telnet with your Internet connection.
Many of the chess display software programs have a telnet utility built-in. After you download the chess display software, check its read-me file--it should tell you if you need a separate telnet utility.

c) register as a member at one or more of the online chess clubs.

You can also get help by talking to people online or reading help files.

Step 1: Get a graphical chess interface for your system.

There are lots of them. chess.net has "chess.net for Windows 95," which combines a database and the Internet software. You can get a free trial version from their Website at http://www.chess.net/netsoft.html. cnfw will work at both chess.net and the Internet Chess Club.

The Internet Chess Club has its own "blitzen" interface. It's available for Windows 95, Windows, and the Mac, but it won't work at chess.net.

There are a number of shareware interfaces available for the Mac, Amiga, even OS/2--try the Internet Chess Library for these. Or, telnet to the chess club that you're interested in and ask for help there. Most will be able to suggest interfaces that you can use.

After you download the graphical chess interface you've selected, follow its instructions to install it and set it up to connect to the club you want to get to.

Step 2: Get a telnet utility for your system if necessary

While many of the chess display programs come with a telnet utility built-in, some don't. Check the instructions for the chess software you installed. If it tells you you must have a telnet utility, or if it gives you separate telnet instructions, you'll need to make sure you have a telnet "helper application" installed and ready to use.

Telnet is one of the basic Internet functions. It lets you use your computer to log in to an account that you have on another computer.

The first place to check for telnet software is with your Internet Service Provider. Most do provide some kind of telnet utility, and if you get the one that they recommend, it will probably work the smoothest.

You need a telnet utility that can handle "specific port addresses" since that's what most of the online chess clubs use. In fact, they almost all use "port 5000." So the telnet address to the chess server will consist of three parts:

telnet chess.net 5000

or

telnet chessclub.com 5000

or

telnet fics.onenet.net 5000

The "telnet" is just the command that says you're using telnet. The next part is the chess server's address. And the last number is the port number that you'll use to connect.

Different telnet software has you put the port number in in different ways, but you should know what it is.

If your ISP doesn't have a telnet utility for your system, try http://www.shareware.com/

Once you have your telnet software in and working, you may also want to set it up as a "helper application" in your Web browser. That will let you click on telnet links from a Webpage.

Step 3: Register at one of the online chess clubs

chess.net, FICS, and the Internet Chess Club all work the same way. You telnet to their club, and register by giving them your e-mail address and real name. ICC has an annual fee to register. FICS is free. chess.net has a free membership that lets you play rated games, or a Gold Membership that has additional benefits and discounts in their online store. You can visit all three clubs for free, and try them out.

To get help at one of these clubs:

You will now see other members and administrators' responses, and can get help with getting registered and playing.

Each interface is a little different, and the servers can be quite different, but just remember to ask for help in channel 1.

To read the help files at these clubs

You will see a list of help files available on that server. Follow the instructions to look at individual files.

Have fun! It's a little work to get set-up, but once you do, you'll be amazed at how convenient and fun it is to play with people from around the world online.

return to List of Questions

Resources Available at This Site:

Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Jade River Designs, Atlanta, Georgia.
All rights reserved.

Last update on 02/22/99