https://nofile.io/f/TFhDv9HazSa/CPMCHESS.7z
Usage is dead easy. Download. Unpack. You get a folder with a bunch of files; Some *.COM files, which are the CP/M chess programs, and one file called cpm.exe which is the emulator. To play one of the games, drag the COM file of your choice on top of cpm.exe. Alternatively, open a command line manually, cd into the directory with the files and run "cpm SARGON.COM" or whatever you like. There are also some doc and source files for some of the games.
This 7z contains the following files:
- cpm.exe, cpm.txt: The emulator used to play the CP/M COM-files. Found on http://takeda-toshiya.my.coocan.jp/cpm/index.html
- SARGON.COM. Needs little introduction. SARGON.COM is the original Sargon. There are multiple slightly different versions of the first Sargon around, mostly compiled for different brands of computers, some with different character or graphics support.
Code: Select all
Welcome to chess! care for a game?
Y
Do you want to play white (W) or black (B)?
W
Select look ahead (1-6)
2
Board display every move?
Y
Player Sargon
-------------
a b c d e f g h
8 BR BN BB BQ BK BB BN BR 8
7 BP BP BP BP BP BP BP BP 7
6 -- ** -- ** -- ** -- ** 6
5 ** -- ** -- ** -- ** -- 5
4 -- ** -- ** -- ** -- ** 4
3 ** -- ** -- ** -- ** -- 3
2 WP WP WP WP WP WP WP WP 2
1 WR WN WB WQ WK WB WN WR 1
a b c d e f g h
01 E2-E4
Code: Select all
SARGON 2.1
BY
DAN AND KATHY SPRACKLEN
MODIFIED TO OPERATE UNDER
DIGITAL RESEARCH CP/M
BY
KEVIN LEAVELLE AND JIM HENDERSON
COPYRIGHT (C)1981 BY
HAYDEN BOOK COMPANY, INC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
****** SARGON 2.1 ******
SELECT OPTIONS
NEW GAME, CHANGE BOARD OR EXIT? (G,C,X):g
PRINTER?(Y,N)N
YOUR COLOR? (B,W):w
LEVEL OF PLAY? (1-6):3
DISPLAY BOARD EVERY MOVE?(Y OR N)y
A B C D E F G H
8 BR BN BB BQ BK BB BN BR 8
7 BP BP BP BP BP BP BP BP 7
6 :: :: :: :: 6
5 :: :: :: :: 5
4 :: :: :: :: 4
3 :: :: :: :: 3
2 WP WP WP WP WP WP WP WP 2
1 WR WN WB WQ WK WB WN WR 1
A B C D E F G H
3 PLAYER SARGON
------ ------
1 E2-E4
A B C D E F G H
8 BR BN BB BQ BK BB BN BR 8
7 BP BP BP BP BP BP BP BP 7
6 :: :: :: :: 6
5 :: :: :: :: 5
4 :: :: WP :: 4
3 :: :: :: :: 3
2 WP WP WP WP :: WP WP WP 2
1 WR WN WB WQ WK WB WN WR 1
A B C D E F G H
Code: Select all
MICROCHESS (C) 1977.
WRITTEN BY: P. JENNINGS & T. O'BRIEN.
-------------------------------------
DO YOU WANT WHITE ? (Y,N) Y
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
+------ MICROCHESS -------+
0 ! BR BN BB BQ BK BB BN BR !
1 ! BP BP BP BP BP BP BP BP !
2 ! :: :: :: :: !
3 ! :: :: :: :: !
4 ! :: :: :: :: !
5 ! :: :: :: :: !
6 ! WP WP WP WP WP WP WP WP !
7 ! WR WN WB WQ WK WB WN WR !
+------ CHALLENGER -------+
: 64-44
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
+------ MICROCHESS -------+
0 ! BR BN BB BQ BK BB BN BR !
1 ! BP BP BP BP BP BP BP BP !
2 ! :: :: :: :: !
3 ! :: :: :: :: !
4 ! :: :: WP :: :: !
5 ! :: :: :: :: !
6 ! WP WP WP WP WP WP WP !
7 ! WR WN WB WQ WK WB WN WR !
+------ CHALLENGER -------+
MC : 14-34
Code: Select all
*** MYCHESS PROGRAM ***
WRITTEN BY: DAVID KITTINGER
COPYRIGHT 1979
STANDARD ALGEBRAIC NOTATION IS USED-IE SQUARE FROM SQUARE TO.
EXAMPLE P-K4 IS ENTERED AS "E2-E4",THE QUOTES ARE NOT TYPED!!
SPECIAL MOVES:
CASTLES KING SIDE "O-O" (NOTE: LETTER O IS USED!!)
PROMOTE PAWN-EXAMPLE KING PAWN TO QUEEN-"E7-E8=Q"
(N
SEND MOVES TO PRINTER? N
WHO AM I PLAYING? >> BEN
TIME CONTROLS? Y=YES N
HOW MANY PLIES OF LOOK AHEAD? (1-9) 4
DISPLAY BEST VARIATION? Y
DO YOU WANT WHITE? >> Y
MYCHESS
AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH
+----------------------------------+
8 | BR BN BB BQ BK BB BN BR | 8
| |
7 | BP BP BP BP BP BP BP BP | 7
| |
6 | :: :: :: :: | 6
| |
5 | :: :: :: :: | 5
| |
4 | :: :: :: :: | 4
| |
3 | :: :: :: :: | 3
| |
2 | WP WP WP WP WP WP WP WP | 2
| |
1 | WR WN WB WQ WK WB WN WR | 1
+----------------------------------+
AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH
BEN
YOUR MOVE 01 E2-E4
Code: Select all
*** MYCHESS 2.3 (3/28/83) ***
WRITTEN BY: DAVID KITTINGER
COPYRIGHT 1979
Display (c) 1983 Walt Bilofsky
Code: Select all
MIKES CHESS PROGRAM
LEVEL 0 OR 1 ?0
COMPUTER TO PLAY WHITE (0) OR BLACK (1) ? 1
YOUR MOVE:- e2-e4
YOUR MOVE:- E2-E4
1. MY MOVE:-
E7-E5
YOUR MOVE:- G1-F3
2. MY MOVE:-
G8-F6
YOUR MOVE:- BOARD
A B C D E F G H
8 BR BN BB BQ BK BB -- BR 8
7 BP BP BP BP :: BP BP BP 7
6 -- :: -- :: -- BN -- :: 6
5 :: -- :: -- BP -- :: -- 5
4 -- :: -- :: WP :: -- :: 4
3 :: -- :: -- :: WN :: -- 3
2 WP WP WP WP -- WP WP WP 2
1 WR WN WB WQ WK WB :: WR 1
A B C D E F G H
YOUR MOVE:-
For those unfamiliar with CP/M, it is basically the grandfather of MS-DOS. It was the operating system of choice for a number of 8-bit computers on the 70s and early 80s. When x86 PCs came around, Bill Gates bought an x86 CP/M clone called QDOS, relabeled it MS-DOS, and went on to conquer the world.
This journey originally started with me trying to find more info about some chess program that supposedly ran on Altair back in the day. Specifically, Ron Nelson supposedly made one around 1976. So I tried setting up some Altair action using SIMH, which has served me great for emulating other ancient platforms. I found plenty of sites around with documentation and disk images that allowed me to get CP/M running on it. And I also found a disk image that supposedly had some chess programs on it. But for some reason I was unable to get the darn thing mounted in SIMH. So I started looking around for alternatives, and found something called Z80pack, basically a pre-packaged distribution with CP/M for Z80. Using CPMtools I could also manipulate disk images, including the one I had already found, and could supplement it with executable COM chess programs I found digging around in various archives around the net. Z80pack basically gives me a full running CP/M environment, which is basically just like using DOS. Then I found RunCPM, and later the aforementioned cpm.exe, which simplifies the process of just running the COM files even further.
There's still a bit more digging to do. I have a couple of source code files and BASIC programs (yes, BASIC the programming language, not "basic" as in "simple") I might look into getting running. And I am also still on the lookout for the Ron Nelson program (I have found the manual http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/altair/d/chess.pdf). And as usual, suggestions and input from you guys is always appreciated
