An Internet chess server (ICS) is a server to facilitate playing chess over the Internet. Specifically, it is a server with a protocol based on that of the original Internet Chess Server (now the Internet Chess Club).
History
To be added…
Protocol
To be added…
Access
Due to its simple, text-based protocol, an ICS can be accessed from any telnet client. That said, almost all users choose to play using a graphical interface.
Some servers require users (particularly guests) to connect using a specific, "official" interface, while others allow most or all interfaces. Currently the most popular interface is XBoard (or its Windows counterpart, WinBoard). In recent years, however, it has lost ground to newer interfaces like BabasChess and Thief.
Many servers also offer Java interfaces that can be used directly from a Web browser. These are popular with new users and users of public computers.
Major servers
This is a list of the Internet chess servers that are usually considered to be the most important. It should be noted that this list is somewhat subjective in nature.
- The Internet Chess Club: the first Internet chess server
- The Free Internet Chess Server: a server started in response to the commercialization of the ICC
- Chess Live: a server run by the United States Chess Federation
- Chess.net: another chess server with somewhat less players than the others
See also
- Internet Chess Club: the first and largest Internet Chess Server
- Yahoo! Games: an online game server which includes another popular chess implementation