PhpChess and Moodle

Mikhail Tal (November 9, 1936 – June 28, 1992)

Can Moodle be used to teach chess principles online? I believe it can. If you have or are thinking about setting up a Moodle page on chess, I recommend you take a look at PhpChess. This software allows you to create a Chess Management System, complete with an A.I. chess player for games. 
I recently took the challenge to install phpchess version 4.1 on my web server. 

Installation is quite straightforward. You can see it in action here:

http://www.moodurian.com/chess/chess_members.php

Username: frankiePassword: chessENJOY! You can even play against the resident AI Opponent.
And why stop at chess? Why not have other games like checkers or go or chinese chess or backgammon where students can play online?

Just wishing that I could integrate phpchess with Moodle ala LTI-style. That way students who are online could also play chess with each other...after all, chess is educational, right?

Installation Steps

Step 1: Got to http://www.phpchess.com/

Step 2: Click on the Download section

Step 3: Download phpChess 4.1 alpha test

Step 4: Extract the downloaded file named phpchess41.rar into a local folder

Step 5: Change the folder name to 'chess'.

Step 6: FTP the chess folder to your webserver

Step 7: Extract the zipped file phpChess 411 Update and FTP the contents to overwrite the folders and files of phpChess 4.1 alpha test core files in your webserver.

Step 8: Use MySQL Database Wizard (in CPanel) to create a MySQL database and an admin user (all provileges)

Step 9: Install phpChess by going to:
            http://www.yoursite.com/chess/install

Step 10: Enter the necessary data (see example below)

Step 11: Click the 'Install Command Center".

The installer will create this account automatically
User: ANYONE
Password: 20091111

Step 12: Surf to http://www.yoursite.com/chess/
which will redirect to
http://www.yoursite.com/chess/chess_members.php

Step 13a: Login using
User: ANYONE
Password: 20091111
or
Step 13b: Login as Admin by surfing to Admin Dashboard at
http://www.yoursite.com/chess/admin

You can use this Video Tutorial as a guide:http://www.phpchess.com/tutorials/phpc_tut1.html

Hope this helps,
Frankie Kam

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