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==Usage==
FICS is accessible via [[telnet]] and was text-only by default. 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=":0" /> Though built with pre-web technology which typically requires a dedicated client, there are also web-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]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=vek/glickman |title=Vek-splanation of the Glicko Ratings System |url=http://www.freechess.org/Help/HelpFiles/glicko.html |access-date=2010-05-10}}</ref>[[File:babaschesssmallcrop.jpg|thumb|250px|FICS using BabasChess interface]]
[[File:Mobila Chess Layout.png|thumb|300x300px|Mobile Interface]] ▼===Channels===
FICS has a number of very conservatively censored chat channels numbered 0 through 255. Many of the channels are reserved for administrators and bots.<ref name=":0" />
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.<ref name=":0" />
Some of the more popular channels include:
Players can choose any time control and increment. 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]].[[File:babaschesssmallcrop.jpg|thumb|250px|FICS using BabasChess interface]]
*channel 1 – general help; questions asked in channel 1 are usually answered by FICS admins or Service Representatives (SRs)
▲[[File:Mobila Chess Layout.png|thumb|300x300px|Mobile Interface]]
*channel 4 – helping guests
*channel 50 – general chat
*channel 53 – guest chat
Registration is required for all channels except channels 1,4 and 53.
Some channels are used for FICS staff and cannot be seen by regular users:
*channel 0 – the admin channel
*channel 5 – the service representatives channel
*channel 48 – the mamer manager channel
*channel 63 – the chess advisor channel
A user can listen and send tells to up to thirty channels simultaneously. Another form of mass communication available to registered users is "shouts" which can be seen by all connected users who haven't turned shouts off.<ref name=":0" />
===Variants===
Currently, the following [[chess variants]] are available on FICS, besides regular chess:
*[[Losing chess|Suicide]] – capturing is compulsory, a player wins by losing all his pieces; the king has no special significance
*Loser's chess – like suicide, but with additional rules pertaining to the king and check
*[[Atomic chess|Atomic]] – pieces "explode" when captured, removing all adjacent pieces except pawns
*Wild – Nine different variants similar to regular chess but with different types of starting positions, including [[Chess960]]
*[[Bughouse chess|Bughouse]] – fast-paced, four player game, in which two teams of two players face each other on two boards
*[[Crazyhouse]] – two player version (like in regular chess) of bughouse, where captured pieces reenter the game
===Tournaments on FICS===
Tournaments are regularly organised or relayed on FICS. The popular [[Lichess]] platform obtains its tournament relays via FICS.
====Mamer tournaments====
Most tournaments are organised by "Mamer," an automated tournament director. Mamer is run by tourney managers who organize and supervise tournaments. Mamer announces tournaments through channel 49 and through tells and "tshouts." Tournaments organised by Mamer range in time controls and include variants.<ref name=":0" />
====Other tournaments====
Other regular conducted tournaments on FICS include tournaments featuring slow time controls (STC) of typically more than 45 minutes. Two of the most popular of these are FICS Teamleague, which uses 45 45 controls, and the Online Chess League (OCL), which uses 60 15 time controls. Both are team events with teams of 4 competing against each other, and each player typically plays one game per week. In addition, the STC Bunch, or the Slow Time Control Bunch, organised several tournaments with slow time controls.<ref name=":0" />
=== Relay= ==
FICS relays major live chess events. A bot takes the moves in ongoing games and relays them to special demo accounts on FICS. These demo accounts bear the names of the [[Grandmaster (chess)|grandmasters]] playingplayers in the event. Users and guests on FICS can watch the games in progress and chat about the games with each other. The relay has covered every single World Chess Championship since its inception. Other major relays include the yearly relay of [[Tata Steel Chess Tournament|Wijk aan Zee]], Morelia-Linares and Amber Melody.<ref name=":0" /> The popular [[Lichess]] platform obtains its tournament relays via FICS.
== Archive ==
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