🚀 go-pugleaf

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none wrote:
>
>  XBoard does not appear to support any "setboard"
functionality, so I
> always have to start with a full chess set in the standard
position.  Is
> this the case?  Or is there some way to set up and play from
any random
> (and legal) setting of the board?

Xboard has "Edit Position" under "Mode" menu, you then click on
the board, using left and right mouse buttons, one of which has
a "clear board" for end games.

Problems may relate to the engine used if you are playing the
computer. I'd recommend GNU Chess 5.05, which you may have to
update the system to get.

GNU Chess 5 can give weird results if you miss the "-xboard"
argument to the command when used with Xboard.

There is no shortage of gratis, and free software chess engines,
and most support "setboard" which is the command Xboard usually
uses to set up positions.

> I'm working through "The Idiot's Guide to Chess" and it's
annoying to
> have to boot up Windows and run Chessmaster to do exercises
like "Rook
> and King versus Lone King".

No need, also use "save position", "load position" so you can
come back and try them again later.

In my experience most engines proprietary and free have terrible
trouble with certain endgames, even if they have tablebases that
allegedly allow "perfect" play.
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