match
 

contents

commands

Usage: match'opponentname' 'color' 'board size' 'time' 'byoyomi minutes'

The match command is for starting a game with another player. You can offer or decline a match. To request a game with another player, use match, followed by:

  1. opponent's name
  2. color:   the color you want, W (White) or B (Black)
  3. board size:   1 through 19
  4. time:   time for each player (measured in minutes)
  5. byoyomi:   minutes per player for 25 moves.

match example:
match ivy W 19 15 10

This example means that you want to match ivy and hold White on a 19 x 19 board, with 15 minutes playing time per player. After a player's 15 minute game time expires, each additional 25 moves must be played within 10 minutes.

If only the match command and the opponent's name are used, the default settings are:

board size = 19  (19 x 19)
color = B  (Black)
time = 90  (minutes per player)
byoyomi = 10  (minutes per player for 25 moves)

Example:  match ivy
(This is the same as:  match ivy B 19 90 10)

Note:  match ivy B 19 0 0
Zero minutes game time and zero minutes byoyomi means there is no time limit.

If you do not wish to accept a match request, simple decline. You can also change the color and timing and send a new match request.

If you are using a client, the process of sending and receiving a match request is simplified. Most clients simplify the match process by displaying a match request box. Here are a few examples:
 

The TgWin client match request

The Panda Egg match request


The Xgospel client match request
 

ENTERING YOUR MOVE

The coordinate system used by IGS is A - T (left to right, and the letter 'I' is not used), and 1 - 19 (bottom to top), depending on the board size. The maximum board size is 19 x 19. Spaces are not allowed in the move coordinates.

To place a move on the board, enter it's coordinates.
Examples:

A1 (the lower left point)
T19 (the upper right point)

Most client programs will allow you to use a mouse to click on the desired coordinate, instead of using the keyboard to enter moves.

The first move by Black can be a handicap number, for the number of handicap stones.

Example:  handicap 5


ADJOURNED GAMES

A game can be adjourned if both players enter:  adjourn
To resume an adjourned game, use the load command.


SCORING A GAME

To properly score a game, please read the score documentation. Some people make assumptions about how to score a game without first reading the score documentation, and the result is often an incorrectly scored game. Once a game is completed and scored, the results cannot be changed, so please do not ask the system administrators to correct or change games results.


MORE ABOUT MATCH

There are other options and refinements that are directly related to the match command. Please be sure to also read Basics For Playing Games, and More About Playing Games.


MULTIPLE GAMES

IGS Panda Net supports multiple games. However, not all clients support the multiple games feature. You can play more than one game, but if you want to play only one game and not accept additional match requests, here are 2 options:

  1. While playing a game, type:  toggle singlegame
    (toggles off or on)
  2. While playing a game, type:  toggle open
    (toggles match requests for games open or closed)

Please be sure to read the toggle documentation.

Here is an example of the games list showing Kanno, a professional 5th dan, playing six multiple teaching games.