Free Internet Chess Server: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Volunteer-run Internet chess server}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=DecemberJanuary 20242025}}

{{Infobox website

|name=Free Internet Chess Server (FICS)

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|current_status=online

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[[File:Partida no FreeChess.png|thumb|A chess game on '''FICS''' using the Jin interface]]

The '''Free Internet Chess Server''' ('''FICS''') is a volunteer-run [[online chess]] platform. When the original [[Internet Chess Server]] (ICS) was commercialized and rebranded as the [[Internet Chess Club]] (ICC) in 1995, a group of users and developers came together to fork the code and host an alternative committed to [[Free-culture movement|free access]],. and aA rivalry between theICC twoand serversFICS persisted for years. FICS users download one of several graphical client programs, connect to the server via [[telnet]], and can play chess or [[Chess variant|variants]] at a range of time controls. Games played on FICS are stored in a database, which has been used to train chess engines and to support academic studies. Though based in the US, the user base is international. In addition to the games themselves, there are [[Chat room|chat rooms]], pairing systems, analysis tools, and [[Chess rating system|ratings]]. A relay system displays high-profile tournament games for users to see. As of 2024, FICS is still operational, though has declined in popularity with the rise of web-based chess sites.

Users download one of several graphical client programs, connect to the server via [[telnet]], and can play chess or [[Chess variant|variants]] at a range of time controls. Games played on FICS are stored in a database, which has been used to train chess engines and to support academic studies.

== History ==

FICS is based in the US, but the user base is international.

In addition to the games themselves, FICS offers [[Chat room|chat rooms]], pairing systems, analysis tools, and [[Chess rating system|ratings]]. A relay system displays high-profile tournament games for users to see.

As of 2024, FICS is still operational, but it has declined in popularity with the rise of web-based chess sites.{{clarifyme|date=July 2025}}

== History ==

=== Internet Chess Server ===

{{main|Internet Chess Server}}

In January 1992, Michael Moore of the [[University of Utah]] and Richard Nash started the first online service facilitating live chess games, the [[Internet Chess Server|American Internet Chess Server]] (commonly known as the Internet Chess Server or ICS). The initial release, accessible via [[telnet]], was hosted at the [[University of Utah]], but over its first two years it moved repeatedly across American universities, with additional servers opening and connecting to each other through Nash's Internet Ratings Server.<ref name="Petroff-2009">{{Cite web |last=Petroff |first=Chris |date=5 March 2009-03-05 |title=History of the Internet Chess Server – Part I |url=http://members.cox.net/cpetroff/FICS/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313150500/http://members.cox.net/cpetroff/FICS/ |archive-date=2010-03-13 March 2010 |access-date=2010-05-10 May 2010}}</ref><ref name="fics10year"/><ref name="Doggers-2024">{{Cite book |last=Doggers |first=Peter |title=The Chess Revolution: From the Ancient World to the Digital Age |publisher=Puzzlewright |year=2024 |isbn=9781454959243}}</ref> The software was coded, supported, and operated by volunteers. [[Daniel Sleator]], professor of computer science at [[Carnegie Mellon University]], took over operation in July 1992 and improved the code. One of his primary contributions was a mechanism to adjust clock times for the effects of internet lag. He announced plans to commercialize the service, copyrighted the code in 1994, and rebranded it as the [[Internet Chess Club]] (ICC) in 1995, charging membership fees.<ref name="Stone-2006">{{Cite web|url=http://www.edcollins.com/chess/fics-icc.htm |title=Pawns Call King a Rook |first=Brad |last=Stone |access-date=10 May 2010 |date=11 May 2006 }}</ref><ref name="The Chicago Chess Player-1995">{{Cite web |date=November 1995 |title=Trapped in the (Inter) Net |url=https://www.chicagochessleague.org/cicl/bulls/history/Yr1995_96/Nov1995.pdf |website=The Chicago Chess Player}}</ref>

Later that same year, in July 1992, [[Daniel Sleator]], professor of computer science at [[Carnegie Mellon University]], took over operation and improved the code. One of his primary contributions was a mechanism to adjust clock times for the effects of Internet lag. He announced plans to commercialize the service, copyrighted the code in 1994, and rebranded it as the [[Internet Chess Club]] (ICC) in 1995, charging membership fees.<ref name="Stone-2006">{{Cite web |url=http://www.edcollins.com/chess/fics-icc.htm |title=Pawns Call King a Rook |first=Brad |last=Stone |access-date=2010-05-10 |date=2006-05-11 |archive-date=2010-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928230044/http://edcollins.com/chess/fics-icc.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The Chicago Chess Player-1995">{{Cite web |date=November 1995 |title=Trapped in the (Inter) Net |url=https://www.chicagochessleague.org/cicl/bulls/history/Yr1995_96/Nov1995.pdf |website=The Chicago Chess Player |access-date=2024-11-24 |archive-date=2005-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050510030854/http://www.chicagochessleague.org/cicl/bulls/history/Yr1995_96/Nov1995.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sleator's decision to commercialize the ICS was controversial, outraging members who felt the internet should be free and open, or who simply did not want to pay for a service which had been free.<ref name="Hurst-1999">{{Cite book |last=Hurst |first=Sarah |title=Chess on the Web |publisher=Batsford |year=1999 |isbn=9780713485776}}</ref><ref name="The Chicago Chess Player-1995" /> According to journalist Brad Stone, "players lost their tempers and were exiled from the server, opposition groups were formed, lawsuits were threatened, ICC administrators were harassed, and plans to erect alternative servers were formed".<ref name="Stone-2006" /><ref name="Doggers-2024" />

Sleator's decision to commercialize the ICS was controversial, outraging members who felt the internetInternet should be free and open, or who simply did not want to pay for a service whichthat had been free.<ref name="Hurst-1999">{{Cite book |last=Hurst |first=Sarah |title=Chess on the Web |publisher=Batsford |year=1999 |isbn=9780713485776}}</ref><ref name="The Chicago Chess Player-1995" /> According to journalist Brad Stone,: "playersPlayers lost their tempers and were exiled from the server, opposition groups were formed, lawsuits were threatened, ICC administrators were harassed, and plans to erect alternative servers were formed"."<ref name="Stone-2006" /><ref name="Doggers-2024" />

=== Development of a free alternative ===

[[File:FICS telnet login.png|thumb|FICS login screen.]]

Several former ICS programmers saw the move as exploiting their work and, on the day its rebranding was announced, they created a mailing list focused on developing an alternative. Work had been in progress, using Nash's original code, since Sleator initially revealed his commercialization plans.<ref name="Petroff-2009" /><ref name="The Chicago Chess Player-1995" /> Several developers contributed, led by Nash, Henrik Gram, David Flynn, and Chris Petroff. The effort led to servers in several places around the world and in the United States, with the latter consolidating to form the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS), launched on 5 March 1995.<ref name="Petroff-2009" /><ref name="The Chicago Chess Player-1995" /><ref name="fics10year">{{Cite web |url=http://www.freechess.org/Events/Anniversary/2005/index.html |title=FICS 10th Anniversary Celebrations |access-date=10 May 2010 |archive-date=26 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626015722/http://www.freechess.org/Events/Anniversary/2005/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Its tagline is "we do it for the game--not the money".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Slater |first=Derek |date=1 September 1999 |title=Knight Moves |work=CIO|pages=20}}</ref>

=== Growth and rivalry with ICC ===

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== Usage ==

{{stack|[[File:babaschesssmallcropPartida no FreeChess.jpgpng|thumb|A chess game on FICS using BabasChessthe Jin interface.]]}}

FICS is accessible via [[telnet]] and was text-only by default. Before graphical interfaces, users would see a board created by [[ASCII]] characters, with the lines of the board created by [[Hyphen|hyphens]] and [[Vertical bar|pipes]], and pieces represented by letters.<ref name="Doggers-2024" /> Whereas ICC has dedicated, proprietary graphical interfaces, several have been developed for FICS, with none having official status. The earliest were XICS and [[XBoard]], with subsequent programs including [[XBoard|WinBoard]], BabasChess, Jin, Thief, Raptor, eboard, [[PyChess]], and JavaBoard.<ref name="Fernández Slezak-2010">{{Cite journal |last1=Fernández Slezak |first1=Diego |last2=Etchemendy |first2=Pablo |last3=Sigman |first3=Mariano |date=2010 |title=Rapid chess: A massive-scale experiment |url=https://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/152631 |journal=High-Performance Computing Symposium (HPC 2010) |language=en}}</ref> Though built with pre|archive-web technology, which typically requires a dedicated client, there are also webdate=2024-based interfaces. Users can play using an anonymous guest account or register for an account with a username. Registered users can play games rated using the [[Glicko rating system]], with separate ratings based on time control and chess variant.<ref>{{Cite web09-10 |authoraccess-date=vek/glickman2024-11-24 |title=Vekarchive-splanation of the Glicko Ratings System |url=httphttps://wwwweb.freechessarchive.org/Helpweb/HelpFiles20240910175016/glickohttp://sedici.htmlunlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/152631 |accessurl-datestatus=10 Maylive 2010}}</ref>

The traditional FICS interface was a dedicated client built with pre-web technology, but web-based interfaces are also supported. Users can play using an anonymous guest account or register for an account with a username. Registered users can play games rated using the [[Glicko rating system]], with separate ratings based on time control and chess variant.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=vek |first2=Mark |last2=Glickman |author3=mhill |title=Vek-splanation of the Glicko Ratings System |url=http://www.freechess.org/Help/HelpFiles/glicko.html |access-date=2010-05-10 |archive-date=2010-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625235115/http://www.freechess.org/Help/HelpFiles/glicko.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Once connected, discussion takes place in a wide number of function-specific or subject-specific chat channels numbered 0 through 255. For example, channel 0 is for administrators only, 1 is for general help, 50 is general chat, and 49 is for tournaments. Though based in the US, FICS, like the ICS before it, was notable for its international diversity. Early descriptions of using the servers highlight playing against and talking with people from around the world, which was a rare experience in the 1990s.<ref name="Doggers-2024" />

Once connected, discussion takes place in a wide number of function-specific or subject-specific chat channels numbered 0 through 255. For example, channel 0 is for administrators only, 1 is for general help, 50 is general chat, and 49 is for tournaments. ThoughFICS, like ICS, is based in the US, FICS,but likeit the ICS before it,has wasbeen notable for its international diversity. Early descriptions of using the servers highlight playing against and talking with people from around the world, which was a rare experience in the 1990s.<ref name="Doggers-2024" />

=== Variants ===

In addition to standard chess, FICS hosts several [[Chess variant|chess variants]], including [[Losing chess|suicide]], [[Losing chess|loser's]], [[Atomic chess|atomic]], wild (including [[chess960]]), [[Bughouse chess|bughouse]], and [[crazyhouse]].<ref name="Hurst-1999" /> It became known for the popularity of its variants and the strength of its variant players. In particular, ''Chess Daily News'' said it is "well-known for featuring the best bughouse and crazyhouse play in the world".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stewart |first=William |date=23 June 2011 |title=ChessCube vs. Chess.com vs. FICS vs. ICC - An objective comparison. |url=https://chessdailynews.com/chesscube-vs-chess-com-vs-fics-vs-icc-an-objective-comparison/ |access-date=23 December 2024 |website=Chess Daily News by Susan Polgar |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Relay ===

FICS relays major live chess events.<ref name="Hurst-1999" /> A bot takes the moves in ongoing games and relays them to special demo accounts on FICS. These demo accounts bearbearing the names of the players in the event. Users watch and guestscomment on FICS can watch the games in progress and chat about the games with each other. The relay has covered every singleseveral [[World Chess Championship|World Chess Championships]] sinceas itswell inception. Other major relays include the yearly relay ofas [[Tata Steel Chess Tournament|Wijk aan Zee]], [[Morelia-Linares]] and [[Amber Melody]].<ref name="Hurst-1999" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Free Internet Chess Server Relays |url=https://www.freechess.org/Events/Relay/index.html |access-date=16 January 2025 |website=Free Internet Chess Server |archive-date=12 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412221926/https://www.freechess.org/Events/Relay/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The web-based [[Lichess]] platform obtains its tournament relays via FICS.

=== Archive ===

All games played by registered users are recorded and made publicly available for free. The FICS game archive has been used in [[chess opening]] studies,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Rick |date=20 December 2015 |title=The Jerome Gambit: Lots of Practice, Some Theory |url=https://jeromegambit.blogspot.com/2015/12/lots-of-practice-some-theory.html |access-date=16 January 2025 |website=The Jerome Gambit |archive-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123032518/https://jeromegambit.blogspot.com/2015/12/lots-of-practice-some-theory.html |url-status=live }}</ref> academic studies on memory,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nagy |first1=David G. |last2=Török |first2=Balázs |last3=Orbán |first3=Gergő |date=15 October 2020 |title=Optimal forgetting: Semantic compression of episodic memories |journal=PLOS Computational Biology |language=en |volume=16 |issue=10 |pages=e1008367 |doi=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008367 |doi-access=free |issn=1553-7358 |pmc=7591090 |pmid=33057380|bibcode=2020PLSCB..16E8367N }}</ref> decision-making,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Slezak |first1=Diego Fernandez |last2=Sigman |first2=Mariano |last3=Cecchi |first3=Guillermo A. |date=2 March 2018 |title=An entropic barriers diffusion theory of decision-making in multiple alternative tasks |journal=PLOS Computational Biology |language=en |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=e1005961 |doi=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005961 |doi-access=free |issn=1553-7358 |pmc=5851639 |pmid=29499036|bibcode=2018PLSCB..14E5961F }}</ref><ref name="Fernández Slezak-2010" /> and user interface design.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Picussa |first1=Juliano |last2=Garcia |first2=Laura S. |last3=Bueno |first3=Juliana |last4=Ferreira |first4=Marica V. R. |last5=Direne |first5=Alexandre I. |last6=de Bona |first6=Luis C. E. |last7=Silva |first7=Fabiano |last8=Castilho |first8=Marcos A. |last9=Sunye |first9=Marcos S. |chapter=A user-interface environment solution for an online educational Chess server |date=June 2008 |title=2008 Second International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science |chapter-url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/rcis.2008.4632106 |publisher=IEEE |pages=179–186 |doi=10.1109/rcis.2008.4632106|isbn=978-1-4244-1677-6 }}</ref> The server and its archive have been used to train [[Chess engine|chess engines]] and chess-related [[machine learning]] projects,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cheng |first1=Isaac |last2=Chico Camargo |date=2023 |title=Machine Learning to Study Patterns in Chess Games [thesis] |url=https://rgdoidoi.netorg/10.13140/RG.2.2.30894.52807 |journal=[[University of Exeter]] |language=en |doi=10.13140/RG.2.2.30894.52807}}</ref> while the FICS code has been used to launch similar regional or thematic chess servers as well as influencing the design of other chess projects.<ref name="Bouman-2012">{{Cite web |last=Bouman |first=Egbert |date=2012 |title=Tribler-G: A Decentralized Social Network for Playing Chess [Master's Thesis] |url=https://egbertbouman.github.io/tribler-g/publications/Tribler-G%20A%20Decentralized%20Social%20Network%20for%20Playing%20Chess%20Online%20(MSc%20thesis).pdf |website=Delft University of Technology}}</ref>

== See also ==

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== References ==

{{Reflist|1}}

==Bibliography==

== External links ==