
       ͻ
         This information file gives you some extra information    
                      about the Rebel 8.0 program.                 
       ͼ

	Read also EMAIL.TXT for full info of the email support with Rebel 8.0
	and how to play chess by email on the Internet.

	UNLIKE THE REBEL 7.0 MANUAL SAYS YOU WILL NOT FIND A REGISTRATION
	   CARD ON REBEL 8.0 AND ALSO THERE WILL BE NO FREE DISKETTE
        AS WE USED TOO WITH REBEL6 AND REBEL7. WE HAVE MOVED THIS PART
                    TO OUR HOME PAGE ON THE INTERNET.

	If you want to be up to date you may contact us on the Internet at:
			http://wwww.xs4all.nl/~rebchess/
	Here you can read all about REBEL and get the latest additional
			DATA and UTILITIES for free.

	Last minute changes ... not in the manual (1)
	=============================================
	For maximum user comfort you can choose between a BIG or SMALL
        Pulldown menu system! (default is small)

	Last minute changes ... not in the manual (2)
	=============================================
	The function of the DATA INFO (see EXT) has changed.
        You now can see in one moment which databases or opening books
        are active. Shortcut is ALT_I

	Last minute changes ... not in the manual (3)
	=============================================
	Full BOOKUP support by "Process EPD file".
        - Export (in Bookup) books to EPD.
        - Analyse the EPD file with "Process EPD file" in Rebel 8.0
	- Import the analyzed EPD file back in Bookup!

	Last minute changes ... not in the manual (4)
	=============================================
	Saving games to the 4 clip boards has been made easier.
        Apart from saving them by the Pulldown menu you also can:
        1) Save the game by clicking with the RIGHT mouse button on the
           corresponding button 1,2,3 or 4.
	2) If "FOUR BOARDS" is active click RIGHT on the corresponding
           graphical board to save the game.
	3) Save the game by pressing SHIFT_1, SHIFT_2, SHIFT_3 or SHIFT_4
	In this way you also easily can start 4 new games:
        - Click on "G" (new game)
        - Click RIGHT on the 4 clip board buttons
	- Click RIGHT on the 4 graphical boards (when active)        

	Last minute changes ... not in the manual (5)
	=============================================
	The display of moves in UPPER CASE in the Super Warroom is
        is removed. It showed up that this feature was not practical and
        too confusing for people.

	Last minute changes ... not in the manual (6)
	=============================================
	The "W" feature is extended with W1 W2 W3 and W4
	- REBEL W   The hash table is limited to 256 Kb
	- REBEL W1  The hash table is limited to 512 Kb
	- REBEL W2  The hash table is limited to   1 Mb
	- REBEL W3  The hash table is limited to   2 Mb
	- REBEL W4  The hash table is limited to   4 Mb
        Especially made for Windows users who wants more than 256 Kb
        on Hash tables. If you experience problems with the Windows
        swap file simply lower the hash table level.

	Last minute changes ... not in the manual (7)
	=============================================
	The ENERGY FUN level is extended.
        Apart from "increasing" and "decreasing" you will also find
        an "RANDOM ENERGY" level too. Only play this feature if your
        nerves can handle this!
       
        Last minute changes ... not in the manual (8)
	=============================================
	Starting the program with the A parameter will disable the new
	AUTO232 options. In this case the (external) AUTO232 software will
	behave almost exactly like REBEL 6.0 (no double games check, not
	terminating WON/DRAW or LOST games, no display of the current match)
	Example: REBEL A

	Trouble shooting (1)
	====================
	If you suddenly have problems with loading or running Rebel 8.0, we 
	suggest (before you start with the hints in Chapter 11) to do the 
	following first:
	- Delete the file "REBEL.CFG" in your REBEL directory.
	- Delete the file "REBEL.BGN" in your REBEL directory.
	Start the program again.

	Trouble shooting (2)
	====================
	Some VGA cards are not fully VESA compatible due to different
	VESA interpretations of manufactories. If there are any screen
	problems you can bypass the VESA mode by starting the program
	with the "V" parameter.
	Example: REBEL V


	WINDOWS 3.1 and WINDOWS 95
        ==========================
	There are 3 PIF files provided in the installed Rebel8 directory
        for a proper use running Rebel 8.0 on Windows.
	- REBEL8.PIF	for Win 3.1 or Win 3.11 users
        - REBELWIN.PIF	for Win 95 users (in Win 95 mode)
        - REBELDOS.PIF	for Win 95 users (in full DOS mode)
	You simply run the PIF files from the installed Rebel8 directory,
        or even better install them to:
        - A program group (Win 3.1 or Win 95)
        - Your desktop on Win 95 (by making a shortcut)

                
	WINDOWS '95 ... running Rebel
	==============================
	Rebel 8.0 is fully tested on Windows '95.
	There are 3 good ways to run the program:

	1.. Running Rebel 8.0 on Win'95
	-------------------------------
	- Goto your installed Rebel 8.0 directory
	- Run the REBELWIN icon
	- The program is limited with to a Hashtable of 256 Kb
	- But you can edit the shortcut if you want more hash tables.
	  Change the shortcut in this case from REBEL.EXE W into 
          REBEL.EXE W1 (see description above)

	2.. Running Rebel 8.0 in the Dos Box
	------------------------------------
	- Goto your installed Rebel 8.0 directory
	- Run the REBELDOS icon
	- The system will change to MSDOS mode and REBEL will run with
	  maximum Hashtables.
	- After leaving the program your system will automatically 
	  return to Win'95.

	3.. Running Rebel 8.0 on MSDOS
	------------------------------
	- Start / Reset your computer
	- After the message "STARTING WINDOWS '95" press F8
	- Select MSDOS mode
	- Goto your installed Rebel 8.0 directory
	- Start the program with REBEL.EXE
	- The program will play with maximum Hash tables.             
	- On some Win'95 systems you have to load the mouse driver
	  yourself using this option


	The new super warroom (limitations)
	===================================
	From the 4 main lines displayed in the super warroom only the first
	one is 100% reliable (from the point of view of the program of course)
	The second/third and fourth main line are not always correct but in
	most cases the moves will show you *WHY* the move is worse than the
	best move found sofar! The reason for this is the typical behavior
	of the used ALPHA-BETA algorithm in the chess program. Without this
	algorithm the 4 main lines will look better however the ELO
	rating of the program would drop 700-800 points without the
	ALPHA-BETA algorithm!
	
	An example
	----------
	e2e4 e7e5 g1f3 b8c6 f1b5  (the main line)
	d2d4 d7d5 g1f3 g8f6 a2a3  (the second choice of the program)
			    ^^^^
	Of course a2a3 is not a good move here.
	Such a variation may happen because of the ALPHA-BETA concept.
	However the SECOND move (d7d5) is ALWAYS reliable (from the point 
	of view of the program of course)

	BOOKS:
	======        
	The program has 3 book opening libraries:
	  - Rebel.mvs    (850.000 moves)
	  - Small.mvs    (100.000 moves)
	  - Kasparov.mvs (100.000 moves)
				      
	After installation, "Rebel.mvs" is active.
	The "Small.mvs" is made especially for users who have a slow
	machine or have no disk-caching program installed and find the
	response time too long when using the large "Rebel.mvs" book.
	
	We would advise users to use a small amount of memory for a 
	disk-caching program. For details concerning this subject, see 
	"Optimizing the Program".

	"KASPAROV.MVS" is a special book which is created out of more than
	1000 games played by Gary Kasparov. Should you select this book, the
	program will play the same openings as Kasparov himself.


	Extra information on the Rebel Database system:
	===============================================
	In the directory "GAMES" you will find many Databases:
	GAMEBASE :     which contains the most important games of 1991.
	TACTICS  :     50 tactical positions with full explanation.
		       Try your Rebel program!
	BT2450   :     30 positions from the famous BT test to calculate 
		       the computers' ELO rating.
	BT2630   :     The latest BT test for strong computer programs.
		       "BT-2450" and "BT-2630" are especially suited to 
		       testing with "Analyse Database". Just load the 
		       particular database, choose a level and then 
		       analyse it!
	PLAYER   :     A lot of player databases such as KASPAROV, NUNN,
		       KARPOV etc.
	BOOKTUTR :     A special database to practice your opening knowledge.
		       The database is in 3 languages (English, German and
		       Dutch). Simply load a game and move forward through
		       the game to study the opening.
	In total over 5000 games.

	The Rebel Database is alphabetically organized.
	The advantages are clear: you will get all players properly sorted by
	name on your screen or printer.

	The Rebel Database is based on the famous B-Tree algorithm. 
	This means in practice that if you have a Database of more than 
	for example 1.000.000 games and you then search for specific game(s),
	the function "Search Names" will find those game(s) within seconds!
	  
	The Rebel Database is also fully ELO based.
	All players in the standard Database on your system, are provided with
	their corresponding ELO rating of the latest FIDE ELO-list.
	In "Overviews", the calculation of a new ELO for any given player is
	based on his results in the Database.
	You therefore have the possibility of creating you chess club's own
	Database and thereby keeping a detailed track of the club players ELO-
	progress.

	In principal you can make a Database as big as you want.
	The only disadvantage is that it makes the "Overviews" slow, 
	because of all the sorting the program has to do.

	The Rebel Database is fully compatible with both "Chessbase" and
	"Nicbase". Just run the conversion program "TB.EXE"
	provided in your TOOLS directory. A description of "TB.EXE" is 
	given in the TOOLS chapter of your manual.

	Extra Program information
	=========================
	- Take Back possibility 350 ply's (175 moves).
	- IO written in C, chess program in Assembly language.
	- Automatic analysis for best Hashtable size.
	- Maximum Hashtable size supported is 64 Mb.
	- Program operates both with and without mouse.
	- Pull-down menu based operation.
	- Opening book names in 5 languages.
	- maximum ply depth is 30.


	Credits
        =======
	Chess program   : Ed Schrder
	IO and graphics : Rob Kemper
	Database design : Ed Schrder
	Book opening    : Jeroen Noomen
	Program testing : Jeroen Noomen
	Manual          : Rob Kemper 
        		  Gerda Caneel
	Box design	: ADCOM


	Mouse control ... General Rules
	===============================
	A mouse driver such as GMOUSE.COM (SYS) or similar must be
	installed in order to play with a mouse.
	This is the user's own responsibility.



	Additional information and examples of some features
	====================================================

	ANALYSE GAME:
	=============
	Choose a level to analyse the game.
	Goto the move where you want to start the analysis.
	You can choose to analyse either: - The white moves, or
					  - The black moves, or
					  - Both the white and the black moves.
	Book moves will be automatically skipped.
	The results of the analysis are given in the corresponding 
	MOVE COMMENT and if Rebel finds any interesting differences these 
	moves will be marked by "!!".
	You can abort the analysis by ESC or clicking on EXIT.
	Following the analysis you can study the results by replaying the game.

     EXAMPLE : - Suggest the following (silly) game between "A" and "B" with
		 the moves: 1.f2-f3 e7-e5 2.g2-g4 Ng8-f6
	       - When this game is analysed you get the following output:

     A          7.00  -0.15  f2-f3 e7-e5 e2-e4 Bf8-c5 Ng1-e2 Nb8-c6 Nb1-c3  
     Rebel      7.00  +0.16  e2-e4 e7-e5 Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 d2-d4 e5xd4 Nf3xd4
     Remarks :  - "A" played 1. f2-f3 which scores -0.15
		- Rebel suggests playing 1. e2-e4 while it scores +0.16

     B          7.00  0.14  e7-e5 Nb1-c3 Ng8-f6 e2-e4 Nb8-c6 Bf1-c4 Bf8-c5  
     Rebel      7.00  0.14  e7-e5 Nb1-c3 Ng8-f6 e2-e4 Nb8-c6 Bf1-c4 Bf8-c5
     Remarks :  - "B" played 1.. e7-e5.
		- Rebel fully agrees ... moves and scores are equal.
	       
     A          2.00  Mate in -1 move  g2-g4 Qd8-h4+
     Rebel !!   6.01  -0.09  Nb1-c3 Nb8-c6 e2-e4 Ng8-f6 Bf1-c4 Bf8-c5
     Remarks :  - "A" played 2. g2-g4 which is a terrible move because black
		  now can give a checkmate by 2.. Qd8-h4 (!!)
		- Rebel would have played Nb1-c3 here.

     B          1.00  0.48  Ng8-f6                                          
     Rebel !!   1.09  Checkmate! Qd8-h4+
     Remarks :  - "B" played 2.. Ng8-f6 
		- Black has overlooked the checkmate!

     If Rebel finds a score difference of  pawn between the 2 moves,
     the line will be marked by "!!" showing "Rebel !!" instead of "Rebel".     

	ANALYSE DATABASE: 
	=================
	Analyse all games in a Database.
	Only the start position of a game will be analysed.
	This feature is very useful if you want to create a Database with,
	for instance, tactical positions. The program analyses all the games
	in the Database and writes the results to a new Database.
	When the analysis is finished, load the newly created Database and 
	study the results. 
	The newly created Database contains as output the last 3 best lines
	of the analysed position.
	The "BT2450" and "BT2630" databases are especially suitable 
	to testing with the "Analyse Database" option.
	Just load the particular Database, chose a level and then analyse it!


	MANIPULATING THE HASHTABLE: 
	===========================
	Of course you can not make the Hashtable size larger than the 
	program has already calculated when started up because the program 
	takes all the available memory immediately.
	With this option you can study the effects of a Hashtable on the
	chess program.


	EXAMPLES OF THE "SEARCH TEXT" OPTION IN THE DATABASE:
	=====================================================
	a).. You want to see all the games of the LINARES tournament;
	     Just type by TEXT "Linares".
	b).. You want to see all the games of Kasparov played in 1993.
	      - Type "Kasparov" in the "WHITE NAME".
	      - Type "1993" by DATE.
	c).. You want to see all the games between Kasparov and Karpov
	     which were won by Kasparov.
	      - Type "Kasparov" in the "WHITE NAME".
	      - Type "Karpov" in the "BLACK NAME".
	      - Type "+" in the SCORE.
	In all cases a "Load Next" loads the next game with these
	selections!

	EXAMPLES OF THE "SEARCH MOVES" and "SEARCH POSITION" OPTION:
	============================================================
	Suppose you are either playing a game against the program, playing a 
	correspondence game, or that you want to do some book opening
	preparation on your opponent, just ask advice from the Database
	with "SEARCH MOVES" or "SEARCH POSITION".
	All games in the Database will be listed if the current board position
	is found. Using ALT_M or by clicking on MVS, you will see how 
	games were continued.

	EXAMPLE OF THE "TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW" OPTION IN THE DATABASE: 
	============================================================
	You will be prompted for the tournament you want to see. 
	All players who have played in that tournament are displayed and are
	sorted by their scores. In this way you can see the final results of 
	the selected tournament.
	Example: select "LINARES". 
	The Database will report that IVANCHUK has won this tournament with
	a score of 9 out of 13. His start ELO was 2710 and based on THIS 
	tournament his new ELO is 2719. 
	Click on TXT if you want a TXT file of the results.

	EXAMPLE OF THE BOOK OPENINGS OVERVIEW" OPTION IN THE DATABASE: 
	==============================================================
	This function is very useful if you wish to prepare yourself for
	your opponent. This function scans the current Database for all 
	known opening lines and makes an overview of it. 
	You can easily see which openings are played and their results.
	If you must play next week (for example) against Kasparov with white
	and you want to prepare yourself then select "Kasparov" in the 
	"Black Name". The program provides you with a complete list of all the
	black games played by Kasparov. You can see by the results which
	opening gives you the best chances. Also here you have the 
	possibility of fine-tuning your selections (text,date and score).

	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE REORGANIZATION FUNCTION OF THE DATABASE:
	======================================================================
	This function is only useful if you have deleted games in the 
	Database. The program reorganizes the Database by removing all 
	DELETED. The positive outcome is that your are gaining disk space.
	It also makes the Database faster depending of how many deleted 
	games were found in the Database. 
	Before the REORGANIZATION starts you can see how much disk space you
	will gain.

	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE "TEACHER" FEATURE:
	================================================
	When active the program shows the following information of the 
	CURRENT BOARD POSITION:
   1).. Hanging pieces  : - The two most important hanging pieces are
			    displayed. Be sure, don't lose a piece!
   2).. Passed pawns    : - Shows your passed pawns. Maybe you can promote?
   3).. Weak pawns      : - Shows the weak pawns you have. Be careful you
			    can easily lose such a pawn.
   4).. Pinned pieces   : - Shows your pinned pieces. Be careful moving
			    these pieces, you can easily lose material.

   Points 1 to 4 above have given information about the most important fields
   of your position. Points 5 to 8 will perform a quick judgement about your
   position.

   5).. Pawn Structure  : - All aspects of your pawn structure are taken
			    into account (structure / isolated pawns /backward
			    pawns) and a judgement is given.
   6).. Passed Pawn     : - A judgement of your passed pawns chances for
			    possible promotion is given.
   7).. Your Mobility   : - A judgement of your mobility is given. Always be 
			    careful not to have a bad mobility. You can lose 
			    very quickly.
   8).. Your King safety: - A judgement of your king safety is given, take
			    special care not to have a bad king safety. You
			    can be mated very quickly.

   Possible judgement descriptions for point 5 to 8 are:

    - VERY GOOD         ... You have a superior position.
    - FINE              ... You have great advantage.
    - GOOD              ... You have advantage.
    - SLIGHTLY BETTER   ... You have a small advantage.
    - BALANCED          ... The position is in balance.
    - SLIGHTLY WORSE    ... You have a small disadvantage.
    - MODERATE          ... You have a disadvantage. (be careful)
    - BAD               ... You are in the danger zone.
    - VERY BAD          ... Red alert !

    Remarks and limitations of the TEACHER function:
    ================================================
    Clicking in an empty place in the INFO MENU will swap the "TEACHER INFO"
    with the "POSITION INFO". Keyboard users use  "ALT_T" here.
    The TEACHER information is always given from the movers point of view.
    The judgement texts are always given as a SUM from black and white.
    This may have the following effects:
       a).. Your king is well protected and TEACHER says "Your King safety
	    is VERY GOOD" then this means you have an enormous pressure
	    on your opponents' king.
       b).. You have a normal pawn structure and TEACHER reports "Your pawn
	    structure is FINE" this means that your opponent has certainly
	    some (very) bad pawns.
    TEACHER is not allowed to conduct a very deep search about the current
    position because of time restrictions. It's calculation is very 
    superficial and therefore, it's judgements will not always be 100% correct.


	You can contact us on the Internet on our home page at:
	            
                    http://www.xs4all.nl/~rebchess/
	  

END
