# BlockChess BlockChess is a Minecraft plugin that brings competitive chess to your server. Play against other players, challenge the AI, or join the matchmaking queue for ELO-rated matches—all within an intuitive inventory-based GUI. > **It is highly recommended to use the custom resource pack that comes up with the plugin** _I'm not a graphic, i've tried my best to create a simple GUI texture to make chess matches more enjoyable, if you don't like the current GUI's you are free to make your own!_ - [Link to the resource pack](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1woYYAhL2ws9SnB-Ipl1aMJlnkuy-jesW/view?usp=sharing), drag and drop ready for Nexo. ## Features ### Game Modes - **Player vs. Player:** Challenge players directly via invitations. - **Matchmaking System:** Join the queue for automatic ELO-based pairing with balanced opponents - **Player vs. Bot:** Face off against Fairy-Stockfish AI with 12 adjustable difficulty levels (200-3000+ ELO) ### ELO Rating System - **Dynamic Rating:** Earn or lose rating based on match results and opponent strength - **Player Titles:** Unlock prestigious titles as you improve: - **SGM** (Super Grandmaster) - 2600+ ELO - **GM** (Grandmaster) - 2500+ ELO - **IM** (International Master) - 2400+ ELO - **NM** (National Master) - 2200+ ELO - **EXPERT** - 2000+ ELO - **Statistics Tracking:** View detailed stats including games played, wins, losses, draws, and current rating ### Gameplay Features - **Intuitive GUI:** Click-based interface with visual chessboard in inventory - **Real-Time Updates:** Instant move synchronization between players - **Full Chess Rules:** Complete implementation including castling, en passant, and pawn promotion - **Draw Offers:** Request and accept/decline draws during matches - **Surrender Option:** Resign from matches when needed - **Auto-Save Inventory:** Player inventories are saved and restored after matches ### Matchmaking - **Smart Pairing:** Automatically matches players with similar ELO ratings - **Dynamic Range:** Search range expands over time to ensure matches are found ## Installation 1. **Download:** Get the latest version of BlockChess from the project's releases page. 2. **Install:** Place the downloaded `.jar` file into your server's `plugins` directory. 3. **Stockfish:** Download the appropriate Fairy-Stockfish executable for your server's operating system from the [Fairy-Stockfish releases page](https://github.com/fairy-stockfish/Fairy-Stockfish/releases). 4. **Configure:** Place the Stockfish executable in the `plugins/BlockChess` directory and ensure the `engine.path` in the `config.yml` file is set correctly. 5. **Restart:** Restart your server to enable the plugin. ## Usage ### Commands **General Commands:** - `/chess` - Open the main chess menu GUI - `/chess info ` - View a player's chess statistics and rating **Player vs Player:** - `/chess invite ` - Invite a player to a chess match - `/chess accept ` - Accept a chess match invitation - `/chess decline ` - Decline a chess match invitation **Matchmaking:** - `/chess leavequeue` - Leave the matchmaking queue **Player vs Bot:** - `/chess bot <1-12>` - Start a match against the AI (difficulty 1-12) **Admin Commands:** - `/chess admin elo set ` - Set a player's ELO rating - `/chess admin elo add ` - Add ELO to a player's rating - `/chess admin elo remove ` - Remove ELO from a player's rating ## API Reference BlockChess does not currently expose a public API for other plugins to use. ## Configuration The `config.yml` file allows you to configure the following options: - `resourcepack.enabled` - (Default: `true`) Enable or disable the custom resource pack for chess pieces - `engine.path` - (Default: `plugins/BlockChess/stockfish.exe`) Path to the Fairy-Stockfish executable - `bot_gamemode.enabled` - (Default: `true`) Enable or disable the bot gamemode feature ## Permissions BlockChess includes a comprehensive permission system: **Player Permissions (default: true):** - `blockchess.use` - Open the main chess GUI - `blockchess.info` - View player statistics - `blockchess.invite` - Invite players to matches - `blockchess.accept` - Accept match invitations - `blockchess.decline` - Decline match invitations - `blockchess.bot` - Play against the AI - `blockchess.leavequeue` - Leave matchmaking queue **Admin Permissions (default: op):** - `blockchess.admin` - Access to all admin commands - `blockchess.admin.elo.set` - Set player ELO ratings - `blockchess.admin.elo.add` - Add ELO to players - `blockchess.admin.elo.remove` - Remove ELO from players - `blockchess.*` - All BlockChess permissions ## Engine Communication BlockChess communicates with the chess engine using the Universal Chess Interface (UCI) protocol. This allows the plugin to be compatible with any UCI-compliant chess engine, including the recommended Fairy-Stockfish. ### Engine Strength The bot's strength can be set from level 1 to 12. The simulation of strength is achieved through a combination of UCI parameters, including ELO rating and move time limits. For levels 1 through 4, the engine's thinking time is artificially limited to simulate a weaker opponent: - **Level 1:** 50ms per move - **Level 2:** 100ms per move - **Level 3:** 150ms per move - **Level 4:** 200ms per move For levels 5 and above, the engine uses the standard game timers (`wtime` and `btime`) to manage its thinking time, resulting in stronger play. Additionally, for levels 1 through 11, the engine's strength is limited by setting the `UCI_LimitStrength` option to `true` and providing a specific ELO value. For level 12, `UCI_LimitStrength` is set to `false`, allowing the engine to play at its maximum potential. Here is a breakdown of the ELO rating for each level: | Level | ELO Rating | |-------|------------| | 1 | 200 | | 2 | 500 | | 3 | 820 | | 4 | 1060 | | 5 | 1350 | | 6 | 1600 | | 7 | 1900 | | 8 | 2200 | | 9 | 2500 | | 10 | 2800 | | 11 | 3050 | | 12 | Max |

BlockChess

Compatibility

Minecraft: Java Edition

Platforms

Links

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Details

Chess Match GUI