First Implementation of an Online JavaScript/AJAX Chess Engine

Chess was first played by the ancient Persians some 5,000 years ago. Now a 21st century technology brings the game to our browsers via an innovative AJAX approach.

WebKnowHow
Wednesday, April 19, 2006; 09:03 AM

Morfik Chess, currently in alpha v0.4.1, is a JavaScript/AJAX Chess program with an in-built chess engine running in a browser.  According to its author, "the alpha-version chess application demonstrates the concept of 'browser as computing platform'." It can be played as a single player or a multi-player networked game.

The single player mode is where lovers of the ancient game can test their skills against the AJAX chess engine.  At the current stage of development the engine calculates only a couple moves ahead, and will not present a real challenge to chess masters.  Kasparov's nemesis, it is not.  Still, the engine is "intelligent" enough to make a game interesting.

Multiplayer mode works well, too, because the game's interface looks good, moves are done by simply dragging and dropping the figures, and a chat window allows you to shout out "w00t!" at your challenger.  Additionally, clicking the "Print" button on the page generates a PDF document with a short summary and a listing of all the moves.  The multiplayer mode game takes place without utilizing a central server.

The game is created and hosted as a free technology demonstration by Astralian firm Morfik, whose stated mission is "allowing small businesses to take full advantage of the power of the web."

Is this an "AJAX Inside" logo?