Chinese Chequers --------------------------------------- This game is played on a board in the shape of a six-pointed star, with 2 to 6 players (the computer may play some or all of the sides). The object of the game is to be the first to move your 6 pieces to the opposite point of the star. A move is either a single step in one of 6 directions to an empty square, or a sequence of one or more jumps over an occupied square to an empty square. The sequence may continue as long as there are legal jumps, but may not repeat a previous jump in the same move. When the program is started, it asks:- Number of players? (0, 2..6) Press a digit key. (0 exits). For 2 or 3 players, it then asks:- Sides ? (default is 14) (or for 3 players, the default is 135). To accept the default positions, press , else 2 (or 3) different digits. It then asks:- Humans? (default is all computer) Press digit keys corresponding to the sides you want to play, finishing with . The screen then changes from a text screen to a graphics screen. When it is your turn to play one of the sides, the pieces that can move will be highlighted by one or more of the letters A..F. When one of these pieces is chosen, its possible moves will be highlighted by the digits 1..6. To terminate a sequence of jumps early, press . To reverse a jump, press . When one player wins, the program waits for a keypress before reverting to the text screen. pressed as the first key of a move will end the game, else restart the move. Computer moves have a built in delay, though on a crowded board they are still a little difficult to follow. Apologies to serious Chequers players if these rules are incorrect. Hugh Satow --------------------------------------- hugh@bilpin.co.uk