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After I registered, all I can see is big empty box. What is wrong?

Please be patient, the application may take a few minutes to load on a slow connection. If after a short wait, nothing changes, then please check you have the most recent version of Macromedia Flash installed.

Even though I am connected to the internet, I am unable to connect?

This is probably due to a firewall blocking the required port for uChess to work correctly. Port 1935 must be open.

My opponent disconnected, what happens now?

If your opponent disconnects from a game you will win the game and your rating will be adjusted to reflect this. Your opponent will also be awarded a 'disconnection' - and their reliability rating will be adversely affected.

What do all the icons mean next to a user name?

The icons are as follows:

Provisional user - played less than 20 games.

Standard user - played at least 20 games.

Subscriber - a supporter of this site.

User at board - already playing an opponent.

Why is my rating stuck at 1200, I have won a game already?

Ratings are fixed at 1200 until 5 games have been completed.

Why do I have 'p' next to my rating?

Until 20 games have been played, your rating is considered provisional. This is indicated by the 'p' character when browsing rankings.

Why is my rating going down when I win?

Whilst you are a provisional player your rating can be quite erratic. Your true rating will be established after 20 games.

Wow, this is site is cool, is it really free?

Yes - but this site requires funds to grow and expand. Please consider becoming a subscriber if you use this service frequently.

How do I get rid of those annoying ads?

Ads bring in a trickle of money to help fund the site - only by subscribing can they be removed.

What is the worst chess joke of all time?

Garry Kasparov's Russian joke : In a park people come across a man playing chess against a dog. They are astonished and say: "What a clever dog!" But the man protests: "No, no, he isn't that clever. I'm leading by three games to one!"