The first step in getting started is to register. Click on the Register link in the block to the left, under the ChessOnTheWeb logo. Fill in the details requested on the registration page and click Register. An email will be sent to you with a verification code. Before you can use ChessOnTheWeb you must verify your email. The email will help you to do this. You are then ready to start playing.

If you have not received the verification email, you can request the email be sent again. Log in, click on the Verify Email link in the navigation block on the left, and click the resend link. Please check that you have entered your email address correctly. If it is incorrect, click on the Update Profile link to change your email.

If you or your email provider run anti-span software, add admin@chessontheweb.com to your allowed list.

If you still do not receive the email, send an email to admin@chessontheweb.com, preferrably from the email address you have registered with.

ChessOnTheWeb is a correspondence chess server. The primary means of corresponding between players is via email. When a player challenges you to a game or makes a move, an email is sent to you with a link to the game. If you wish you can prevent the move notification emails being sent to you by updating your player profile. ChessOnTheWeb will not disclose your email address, or any other personal information, to any third party.

Chess On The Web uses two cookies: player identification and player password.
These cookies are used to identify the player that is currently logged in.
These cookies do not record player activity and no information is passed to any 3rd party.

In the top left corner of the page, under the ChessOnTheWeb logo you will see two input boxes, one for your player name, the other for your password. Input your details and click the Login button.

If you enter incorrect details when logging in, you will be re-directed to the Login Help page. Alternatively you can click on the Login Help? link. The Login Help? page allows you to enter either your player name or your email address, and your login details will be emailed to you.

Once you have had your email verified and you are logged in you can start playing chess. Click on the New Game link in the menu on the left. This will take you to the New Game page. This page is split into two sections: 1) Games Awaiting Opponents, 2) Create New Game.

1) Games Awaiting Opponents: Click on the Play link in the Play Game colmun to select one of these games. Choose a game which suites you, based on your opponents choice of colour, move and game time. If you don't find a game to play, create your own game.

2) Create New Game: This section allows you to create a game based on your own preferences. Select which colour you want to play as, the move and game times, and click the create game button. If you entered a player name and this player is excepting challenges, then the game is created and your opponent notified. If you leave the player name blank the game will be added to the list in the Awaiting Opponent section. When a player clicks to play this game you will receive a notification email.

The two time controls, move time and game time, have different functions. The game time is the amount of time that each player gets to complete the game. Move time is the grace period you have before the game time starts counting down after each move. After each move your opponent is allocated the full move time. Any game time used up is not re-allocated. Once your opponent has used up all their game time you may claim a timeout win. Timeouts are claimed by clicking the hour-glass symbol that will appear in the actions column on the My Games page.

On the menu on the left, click the My Games link. The My Games page is split into three sections: 1) Your Move, 2) Opponent's Move and 3) Completed Games

1) Your Move: This section shows all the game awaiting your move. Click on the game number in the game column to access the game.

2) Opponent's Move: This section shows all the games awaiting your opponenet's move. Click on the game number in the game column to view the game.

3) Completed games: Games that have been completed. Click on the game number in the game column to view the game. Tick the box in the archive column and then click the Archive button to remove games from this view. Archived games are not deleted.

If any actions are applicable to a game, a clickable icon will appear in the action column. You may delete a game that is less than four moves old (a trash can icon), send your opponent a move reminder email (envelope icon), or claim a timout if your opponent fails to move in the allocated time (an hour-glass icon)

Click on the piece you wish to move, then click on the square to which you would like to move the piece. Do not drag and drop the pieces.When viewing a game and it is your move, passing your mouse over the squares on the board will identify pieces that can move. The colour of the square the piece is on will turn from white/grey to yellow if the piece can move. Clicking on the piece will turn the square green. Moving your mouse over a square to which the piece can move will turn that square green.Squares in red identify the previous move.

To perform the castling move, simply move your king. The rook will move automatically.

Yes. Move your pawn and the opponent's pawn that is being taken 'in passing' will be removed.

When you have moved a pawn all the way across the board, you will be allowed to promote the pawn to any other piece. In the Actions section of the Board page, you will be presented with a selection of piece. Click on the piece you choose and it will be placed on the board.

Player ratings give you a guide of the ability of your opponents. New players are given a rating of 1200. Upon completion of a game your rating will be adjusted according to your opponents rating and the
result of the game. Winning against an opponent ranked higher than yourself will result in a bigger improvement of your rating than if you beat a player ranked below you. The calculation used is based on the ELO rating system. Full details of the calculation used will be published in this help in due course.

All games played on ChessOnTheWeb count towards your overall rating.

Click on the Tournaments link to access the Tournaments home page. Tournaments not yet started will be displayed in the Open Tournaments section. Click on the Tournament Id or Name. If you are allowed to enter the tournament you will be presented with a "Join Tournament" button. Click the button to add your player into the tournament.

While the tournament is still open you can remove yourself. Return the the Tournament Page and click the "Leave Tournament" button.

ChessOnTheWeb currently runs two types of tournaments:-

1) Knock-out tournaments - Players are assigned to a group and play two games against each player in the group. The winner of the group progresses to the next round. If more that one player ends the group with the highest points, then all the players tied at the top of the group will progress. The winner is the player that ends the final group with the highest number of points.

2) League tournaments - Each player plays two games against all other players in the tournament. The winner is the player with the highest points.

There are plans to add more types of tournaments at a future date. The next type to be added will be Swiss Tournaments.

Points are allocated as follows:-

3 points for a win
1 for a draw
0 for a loss

The system will automatically timeout tournament games once the game time has expired. This is to prevent tournaments from stagnating when players fail to complete games.

If you know you will be away and unable to access the website, please check the time controls on the tournament before you enter the tournament.

The forums are provided as a means for the players of the site to communicate with each other and with the site admin. The site admin will use the forums to make site announcements.

The forums are moderated by the site admin. Any offensive messages/threads will be removed. The use of foul lanuguage will not be allowed.

The ChessOnTheWeb forums are not the place for in-depth discussions about potentially problematic subjects like politics and religion. There are many other website that offer these kinds of forums.

The website's email address is admin@chessontheweb.com

Registered players can use the website's messaging system to send messages to "Stoney X" or post messages on the forums.

ChessOnTheWeb is undergoing constant development. Some of these changes are to improve the stablity of the site and to provide for future growth. Other changes are adding new features. And some changes are simply cosmetic. If you have any suggestion on how the site could be improved please send your comments to admin@chessontheweb.com or post them on the forums.