usage.htm

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                <h3><a name="GameExit">Game/Exit</a></h3>
                <p>Instantaneously exits the program.</p>
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                <h2><a name="ActionsMenu">Actions Menu</a></h2>
                (a few commands mainly for your enjoyment.) 
                <h3><a name="ActionsHint">Actions/Hint</a></h3>
                <p>Displays a hint (if available) about your best move, though 
the hint is resulted from a previous search it is quite improbable that you 
can win a game if all your moves are hinted in this way.</p>
                <h3><a name="ActionsSwitchSides">Actions/Switch Sides</a></h3>
                <p>If you feel that the situation is hopeless or lacks the 
challenge then you might try the game from the opponent's side. For example, 
you might switch sides in a lost endgame thus wining the match, however you 
will get no satisfaction from such victory.</p>
                <h3><a name="ActionsUndo">Actions/Undo</a></h3>
                <p>If you feel that your last move wasn't what you wanted to 
be, then you can undo this move.</p>
                <h3><a name="ActionsForceMove">Actions/Force Move</a></h3>
                <p>Got tired by Shylock's lengthy thought process? Then you may
force him to make his move, although a forced move is of a lesser quality.</p>   
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                <h2><a name="OptionsMenu">Options Menu</a></h2>
                <h3><a name="OptionsSearchSettings">Options/Search Settings</a></h3>
                <p>Customize some search parameters, to make Shylock 
smarter/dumber. For example, by reducing the search time Shylock might lose due 
to time troubles, it is possible since the Shylock was designed to use search 
times of a normal length, like 15 or more minutes.</p>
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                <h2><a name="HelpMenu">Help Menu</a></h2>
                <p>You can get a description of the game rules and usage 
descriptions. You may also admire my nifty about box.</p>
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                <h2><a name="FAQ">FAQ</a></h2>
                <h3><a name="HowtoUseTheMouse">How to place discs?</a></h3>
                <p>You are joking, right? Use the left click to place discs, 
all moves are highlighted.</p>
<h3><a name="#DoubleMoves">What about that strange board changes?</a></h3>
                <p>Shylock doesn't cheat, double moves are allowed by the rules. 
When the opponent hasn't got any move options then he must pass, therefor 
Shylock can make multiple moves. You can track these by looking at the Info 
Panel's move list. Though the actual rules state that when one hasn't got any 
move options then (s)he must inform the other that (s)he passes, in order to 
reduce the communication overhead between the user, Shylock acts impolitely and 
simply informs you, with a flash of the application window and by an update on 
the Info Panel, that you had no options and he had made a double move. 
Depending on your machine and windows settings you may also hear short beep.</p>
                <h3><a name="#TimeUpdates">How is the remaining time measured?</a></h3>
                <p>Although the Info Panel updates are quite hectic, rest assured 
that the time is measured accurately, since the Info Panel only plays the role of 
an observer and not of a timekeeper.</p>
                <h3><a name="#TimeTrouble">What does it mean "Timed out"?</a></h3>
                <p>It means that Shylock had ran out of its time, thus following 
the spirit of time control you have won. I like challenges, and for this reason 
your time is not accounted for, so Shylock is in a more difficult situation since 
he has to play against an opponent who has unlimited time resources. Of course I 
am not being fair, for taking your chance of a clear victory by not allowing a 
game with equal terms.  As soon as some of the other more urgent problems will 
be solved, an equal time match style will be implemented. Until then try to play 
with more search time like 15 or more minutes, there should be no problems this 
way.</p>
                <h3><a name="OtherPrograms">Other Othello programs</a></h3>
                <p>There are many of them avaible on the net, some are strong 
some are not, some have nice graphics some dont (like Shylock). Perhaps the strongest
Othello program out there is Logistello, who defeated the human world champion by a 
large margin. Programs like Hannibal, Zebra, Keyano, Kitty, TooThought!, Brutus (...) also have an amazing 
strength, some of these programs have versions avaible for download, most dont but you can
play against them and strong humans too, on the GGS (Generic Game Server). It is a generally 
accepted fact that machines are better at Othello than humans players.
</p>
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                <h2><a name="FairWarning">A fair warning</a></h2>
                <p>Shylock wasn't built to put up with your personal ego, so 
if you have a low tolerance ratio for the bitter taste of defeat, you should 
avoid using it. Failure to do so might result in a severe psychological shock, 
requiring expensive treatment without any guaranty for a recovery. Shylock 
shall prevail resistance is futile! <strong>You have been warned!</strong></p>
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                <h2><a name="AboutMe">A little about the author.</a></h2>
                <p>My name is De&eacute; Zsombor, ex Computer Science student at the 
Babes-Bolyai University, graduated in July 2002. Currently I'm continuing my studies 
expecting to take masters degree in component oriented development, by July 2003. My 
computer science related interests are Standard C++, STL, OOP, OOAD and everything 
exciting and challenging. Also I enjoy cycling, reading, music and good science fiction 
works. You can contact me at <a href="mailto:[e-mail]">[e-mail]</a>.</p>
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