What is JoeChess?
JoeChess is a way for friends to play chess via email. A centralized server maintains
player and game information. Players use a web form with a graphical representation of
the board to make their moves. Once a move has been made, an email is sent to the
opponent alerting them of the move and that it is their turn.
How to Play JoeChess
JoeChess provides a graphical representation of the chess board. To move a piece, click it.
Only pieces that you can legally move will be clickable. The click will send a message
to the server and the screen will refresh with your piece selected shown with a red background.
Select the destination square by clicking with your mouse. Only legal moves will be
selectable. Once you have selected a move, the server will update with the piece in it's
new location. You will then have the chance to confirm or cancel your move. If you cancel,
the board is redrawn as it was. If you confirm the move is made and an email (including the
optional message) is sent to your opponent.
In addition to moving pieces, there are buttons to offer a draw, to accept a draw (if one
has been offered), or to resign. Each of these options requires a confirmation as well.
You can see all your games by clicking the "My Games" link at the top of the screen. From
there you can open each active game to make a move or view the board. The "New Game" link
allows you to invite a friend to play a game of chess with you. All you need is their
email address. Or you can challenge an existing member by selecting the radio button
next to their name. Data about that player will appear on the right side of the screen.
When you are ready, click the "Create New Game" button.
Managing Your Account
Click on the "My Account" heading to change your password, your name or anything else about
your account. How your account will read to others will show up at the bottom of the page.
Name:
Your User Name that you log in with.
Required
Email:
The email address to which moves will be sent.
Required
Show Email:
If checked, your email address will appear in your description to other players and
will appear in the email sent to opponents.
Description:
A little about yourself for other people to see when looking for a game.
Max Games:
Set this to the maximum number of (active) games you want to be in at once. If the
number of games you are in exceeds this amount, your name will not appear on the "New Game"
list. You may initiate as many games as you wish however.
To change your PIN, enter your old PIN and the new one (twice) in the boxes provided.
Rules of Chess
I was a bit ambitious when I made this heading. I'll have to get back to it later...
JoeChess Ratings
Ratings are computed using a simplified ELO scheme. Generally you earn more points defeating a
higher rated player than a lower. Each player's ratings are adjusted based on a value from
the table below, depending on their relative ratings and the outcome of the game.
| 0 - 12 |
16 |
16 |
0 |
| 13 - 37 |
15 |
17 |
1 |
| 38 - 62 |
14 |
18 |
2 |
| 63 - 87 |
13 |
19 |
3 |
| 88 - 112 |
12 |
20 |
4 |
| 113 - 137 |
11 |
21 |
5 |
| 138 - 162 |
10 |
22 |
6 |
| 163 - 187 |
9 |
23 |
7 |
| 188 - 212 |
8 |
24 |
8 |
| 213 - 237 |
7 |
25 |
9 |
| 238 - 262 |
6 |
26 |
10 |
| 263 - 287 |
5 |
27 |
11 |
| 288 - 312 |
4 |
28 |
12 |
| 313 - 337 |
3 |
29 |
13 |
| 338 - 362 |
2 |
30 |
14 |
| 363 - 387 |
1 |
31 |
15 |
| 388 and up |
0 |
32 |
16 |
In the case of a draw, the higher rated player loses the specified number of points and
the lower gains the same amount. New players start out with a rating of 1200. Determination
of player ratings and the point value of a game is done at the end of the game.
This rating system is the same used by the World Correspondence Chess Federation.
Privacy and Security
The data elements collected are shown on the My Account page. NO INFORMATION COLLECTED
BY THIS SITE WILL EVER BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE THAN TO PLAY JOECHESS.
Of particular interest is your email address and your password. Your email address is required
to play, JoeChess is an email chess server after all. You have the option to show or
not show your email address to your opponents. (Note that your email address will be revealed
to anyone you invite to play via the first email that is sent to them.)
Your password is stored on the server in an encoded format. It is not encrypted, nor is
there an SSL link from JoeChess to your machine- the passwords and other data you submit
will be sent as clear text over the Internet.
Please do not use a password for JoeChess that you also use
for sites that contain financial or personal information about yourself.
I believe that while these measures are not the highest level of security possible, they
adequately allow you to protect your privacy. If you feel they are not adequate, nobody is
forcing you to use JoeChess. Send me an email and I will permanently remove all information
about you from the server and databases.
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