User Guide:
Interface Basics

Interface Screen: Desktop/Wide

If you are using a desktop or other device with a large screen, you will see an interface as pictured here. Please consult the following sections for descriptions of specific parts of the interface.

Note that the colors and styling shown here may differ from what you see, depending on which Color Theme you have chosen.

Real-Time Notifications

These three tabs notify you of real-time events such as incoming live challenges, incoming messages, and friends logging on or off. Depending on configuration options, notifications may consist of a counter icon on the tab, an automatic drop-down, and/or a sound alert.

Quick Pair Buttons

These button indicate whether a player is waiting for a game within a particular range of game speeds, and allow you to quickly start a game if so.

If a button is "red" it indicates that you are currently waiting for a game in that speed range and thus a game could start at any time. Note that "red" is used loosely since, depending on the color theme in use, it could actually be more yellow, orange, or pink as shown here.

If a button is "green" (again with some variation based on the color scheme in use) it indicates that one or more other players are currently waiting for a game in that speed range. Clicking on the button will immediately start a game with one of them at whichever specific time control they have selected.

"Blue" or "neutral" colored buttons indicate that no one is currently waiting for a game in that speed range. Clicking on the button will simply open the appropriate section of the waiting list.

Control Bar

The control bar consists of several icons, described from left to right:

Datalist Window and Menu

The Datalist is the large fixed window near the left side of the screen (shown here in white). It provides a display area for certain data requests such as player lists, game lists or chat text. The width of the window can be adusted by clicking and dragging the blank area just to the right of the window border.

The Datalist Menu controls what information is presented in the Datalist. It runs vertically down the left edge of the screen.

Live Games Screen

This screen provides the primary access point for starting a live game. This is the default screen when you log on, or can be reached by clicking the "Live Games" button on the Datalist Menu or by the "chessboard" icon at the right side of the control bar.

The bulk of the screen is occupied by the Waiting List, separated into sections for Blitz, Fast and Slow game speeds (see Game Speeds for details). Each section can be expanded or contracted by clicking on the arrow icon just before the speed category label.

The list may be sorted by Game, Time Control, Speed, Player, Rating or Color by clicking on the corresponding header label. Clicking the same label a second time will reverse the direction of the sort.

Each entry in the list represents a player waiting for a game, at the specified options of game type, time control, and color. Clicking on an entry will immediate start a game with those options (unless you click on your own entry, in which case it will be removed from the list).

If you would like to place yourself on the waiting list, click on the "Join Waiting List" button at the top. Fill in the desired options on the pop-up dialog and then click "Join List" to begin waiting for a game. Or click on one of the pre-set time control buttons as described below.

If you would rather start a game against a particular player, click the "Challenge Players" button at the top right. A pop-up dialog will appear with various options and a list of available players to choose from. You can challenge multiple players at once, and the first one to accept your challenge will begin a new game. All challenges will time-out in 60 seconds.

Corr Games Screen

This screen provides the primary access point for starting a corr game. It can be reached by clicking the "Corr Games" button on the Main Menu.

The bulk of the screen is occupied by the Waiting List, which shows all players currently seeking to start a new corr game.

The list may be sorted by Game, Time Control, Player, Rating or Color by clicking on the corresponding header label. Clicking the same label a second time will reverse the direction of the sort.

Each entry in the list represents a player waiting for a game at the specified options of game type, time control, and color. Clicking on an entry will immediate start a game with those options (unless you click on your own entry, in which case it will be removed from the list).

If you would like to place yourself on the waiting list, click on the "Join Waiting List" button at the top. Fill in the desired options on the pop-up dialog and then click "Join List" to begin waiting for a game. Unlike live games you can have many corr games going simultaneously, so you also have the option to keep your name on the waiting list after someone has started a new game with you.

If you would rather start a game against a particular player, click the "Challenge Players" button at the top right. A pop-up dialog will appear with various options to choose from. Start typing the desired opponent's handle into the specified box, and a list of possible matched will appear. Once the proper handle is displayed, click on it to select it and then click "Challenge" to send the challenge. The opponent can accept or decline at any time, and all challenges will time-out after 10 days.

Also along the top of the screen you will see a "Vacation" link. Clicking this will take you to the Vacation screen, where you can see and control your corr game vacation status.

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