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Java Chess

A network-ready chess game in Java, playable entirely in the terminal—either versus another human (locally or over the network) or against a simple computer AI.

Screenshot

Features

  • Terminal-based chess for two players or vs. computer
  • Play in standalone, server, or client mode across a network
  • Handles move validation for regulation chess (including special moves, depending on implementation)
  • Simple computer AI (decision tree for move selection)
  • Easy-to-follow text interface

Getting Started

Prerequisites

  • Java 8+ (tested with OpenJDK and Oracle JDK)
  • Command-line access

Compilation

Clone the repo and compile all Java files:

git clone https://github.com/matthewJamesAbbott/Java-Chess.git
cd Java-Chess
javac *.java

Running

Standalone vs Human/Computer (no arguments):

java xyz.squig.Main

Server mode (wait for remote player):

java xyz.squig.Main -s

Client mode (connect to server's IP):

java xyz.squig.Main -c [SERVER_IP_ADDRESS]

Help:

java xyz.squig.Main --help

Controls

  • Enter board coordinates as prompted (e.g., number for row, letter for column—1 a 2 a to move a piece from 1A to 2A; see CLI prompts).
  • Type 9 where prompted to exit immediately.

Project Structure

Core classes and their purposes:

  • Main.java - Main entry point; handles user prompts and network game setup (client/server/standalone).
  • Board.java - Board state and cell update/access methods.
  • Engine.java - Contains AI logic for generating a move using a move tree.
  • MoveCalculator.java - Evaluates board positions and determines legal moves for all pieces (including AI).
  • Tree.java & TreeNode.java - Used by AI: builds a decision tree for move selection.
  • LinkedList.java & Node.java - Stores and serializes lists of possible moves.

Limitations & Notes

  • Text-based UI only (no graphical/X support).
  • Requires both client and server to have network connectivity (port 9008).
  • AI is a basic material-capture search, not a strong chess engine.
  • Games are not persisted—once stopped, progress is lost.

License & Authorship

This code is not licensed for redistribution or commercial use;
it is published here for learning and personal exploration.

Created by Matthew James Abbott.
Do not reuse or redistribute without explicit permission.
Contact through GitHub for any permission requests.

Enjoy Java Chess!