1) How can I play with Matilde?
The fastest way to begin to play is to download the executable "Matilde.exe" and place it in your hard drive.
If you wish, you can also download the two opening books (one for white player and one for black player) to place in the same folder of the executable.
In order to be able to play with Matilde, the engine must be linked to a any program that support the winboard interface.

2) What is Winboard?
Is one of the most popular protocol for chess engines.
It serves as front-end for many different chess service such Internet Chess Servers and chess programs.

3) Where can I download Winboard software?
There are many programs that support Winboard protocol.
Go to the "Links" section to download them.

4) Well, I downloaded "Winboard X". Now, how I can set-up it with my engine?
You can create for example a file batch where to write the starting code.
The following examples will use for Winboard interface path "C:\My programs\Winboard" and for own engine path "C:\Engine". Our engine will be "Matilde", the opponent engine will be "GNU Chess 5.07".

Own engine      - White
Opponent engine  - Black

C:\My programs\Winboard\Winboard /cp /fcp="Matilde" /fd="C:\Engine" /scp="GnuChes5" /sd="C:\My programs\Winboard"

Own engine      - Black
Opponent engine  - White

C:\My programs\Winboard\Winboard /cp /fcp="GnuChes5" /fd="C:\My programs\Winboard" /scp="Matilde" /sd="C:\Engine"

Own engine - White
Own engine - Black

C:\My programs\Winboard\Winboard /cp /fcp="Matilde" /fd="C:\Engine" /scp="Matilde" /sd="C:\Engine"

Once started the "Winboard X" program, from the "Mode" menù select "Two Machines" and the two engines will begin to play.

5) Why I can't play with the new version of Matilde (2.7.0)?
The Microsoft .NET Framework is required.
Also you must place the file "Matildex86.dll" in the same folder of the executable.

6) Why the new version of Matilde (2.7.0) refuses to make a move?
Guenther (RWBC) discovered a serious bug in this version, it always claim repetition draws after 2 repetitions instead of 3 with Black.
In case it is White and Black makes 2 repetitions, it even plays an illegal move a8a8 (I guess it thinks the game was already over, because of the above mentioned bug).
This bug will be fixed with the new version of Matilde and I hope to release it around June - July 2007.