Tristram README file
Last updated: Jan. 3, 1998
James F. Long
wzrdking@fda.net
http://home.fda.net/~wzrdking


System requirements:
	Windows 95
	250kb free hard drive space
	16 MB RAM*
Recommended:
	CPU speed of 150 MHz or faster
	2 MB free hard drive space (for opening book file)
	24 MB+ RAM

Opening Book
-------------------

Tristram's opening book database is stored in the file "openbook.003".
(The "003" indicates this is the third format used.) Most positions 
contain many possible moves.  The move made is chosen at (semi) random.
Moves with less than 10% popularity or played less that 5 times
are not considered, as they are probably unpopular for good reason.  
The following operations are available to modify the opening book:

	pgntobook	.....	adds PGN file to opening book.
				limit is 300 games per file.

For an example of a "good" PGN file, see "Example.PGN" (included 
with this file).

Commands
---------------

Typing "help" will display Tristram's command list.  

It is important to note the difference between the "loadpgn" command 
and the "loadpos" command.  "LoadPGN" will load a GAME from file, 
which includes move history and allows for backups.  "Loadpos" loads 
a POSITION from file, which doesn't include move history and therefore 
backups are not allowed.

"Savepos" saves a position to file.
Currently there is no option to save a PGN game to file.


Winboard
------------------

Tim Mann's Winboard may be used as a graphical interface, or
to set up a computer account on an internet chess server.
Download Winboard from 
http://www.research.digital.com/SRC/personal/Tim_Mann/chess.html.

Once Winboard has been downloaded and installed:

(1) Start a DOS box.

(2) Copy Tristram to the same directory as Winboard, OR
    go the to directory containing Tristram and create a path
    to the directory containing Winboard.  For example:

    cd \tristram
    path c:\winboard

(3) Start Winboard with the following command line:

    Winboard -fcp "tris328 wb" 
    (substitute "tris328" with your latest version of Tristram).

(4) To play on ICC (after an internet connection is established) :
    Winboard -zp -ics -icshost chessclub.com -autoflag 
	-fcp "tris328 ics hash=4m" -icshelper timestamp

Note that not all Winboard menu options are supported by Tristram.
The "analyze" options, "hint", "show thinking", and "move now"
come to mind.

You may, of course, play on other chess servers, but please do
not use the handle "Tristram".

Hashing
--------

Beginning with v3.29, default hashing size is ZERO.  This
is to allow Tristram to run on a "bare bones" system.  To
run Tristram with hash tables, simply include the "hash"
command line option upon execution.  The following examples
will all start Tristram with hashing:

Tristram hash=4m        (4 mb hashing)
Tristram ics hash=512k  (512 kb hashing)
Tristram wb hash=16384  (16364 byte hashing)

Note the "m" and "k" annotations.

You may want to experiment with this setting.  You want
to set the hash tables as large as possible without
exhausting your system resources.  If you hear the constant
sound of your system reading/writing to your hard drive,
you've probably set the hash tables too big.  Then the
tables backfire by becoming too slow to read and
write to.  I think a good rule of thumb would be 
"HASH SIZE = TOTAL RAM - 18 MEGABYTES."

-----------------

Tristram v4.0 will have a built in 2D GUI for 32 bit Windows
operating systems.  Time is tight, but I hope to be able to
release it sometime in the summer of '98.

If you have any comments or suggestion, feel free to email me, 
or catch me online ICC as "Wizard-King" or "Tristram", OR FICS 
as "JLong" or "Tristram."

Have fun!!!

- James
