Start of a transcript of Zero Chance of Recovery A story of hustle and redemption (sort of) by Andrew Schultz Release 1 / Serial number 220928 / Inform 7 build 6G60 (I6/v6.36 lib 6/12N) Identification number: //8B844B7D-1064-42D5-9F70-C54F63AA3497// Standard interpreter 1.1 (1C) / Library serial number 080126 Standard Rules version 2/090402 by Graham Nelson Old School Verb Total Carnage version 1/181008 by Andrew Schultz Trivial Niceties version 1/140928 by Andrew Schultz Conditional Undo version 3/080626 by Jesse McGrew Undo Output Control version 3/110717 by Erik Temple Bold Final Question Rows version 1/220701 by Andrew Schultz Intro Restore Skip version 1/190730 by Andrew Schultz Chessboard Rendering Utilities version 1/220705 by Andrew Schultz Zero Chance of Recovery Tests version 1/220904 by Andrew Schultz Bitwise Operators by Bart Massey >* OK, seems fun. mercenaries teleporting pieces around would make chess more dynamic! No, you can't hire the mercenaries to double-cross the black king. But maybe you could make them upset with him. >about Zero Chance of Recovery was conceived July 2022, after submitting You Won't Get Her Back for ParserComp 2022. My basic question was: could I make anything simpler than You Won't Get Her Back, yet still effective as a puzzle and story? I could. You Won't Get Her Back had to deal with rooks, kings and pawns. This only deals with kings and pawns. It's a tricky puzzle but one that's used to teach basic endgame principles, and I hope the story thrown in makes it fun. It's over a hundred years old, and since the name of the creator may be a potential spoiler, I'm going to wait on revealing it until the end. Also, other people helped me with getting Zero Chance of Recovery out the door. You can see about their efforts with CREDITS. I welcome bug reports, big or small, as well as transcripts. Zero Chance of Recovery's repository is at https://github.com/andrewschultz/zero-chance-of-recovery/issues. My email blurglecruncheon@gmail.com are also appreciated. >credits Thanks to ClubFloyd the weekend before IFComp(!), wisprabbit and an anonymous tester for helping me to sand out bugs big and small. Those left are due to my own inattention and procrastination or lack of imagination. A blanket thanks to everyone who helped me with You Won't Get Her Back, since this game sprang from that, including those who provided feedback. Thanks to iconspng.com for the pawn vector images in the cover art and openclipart.com for the king, reused from Fivebyfivia Delenda Est. Also, thanks to anyone and everyone involved in administering IFComp over the years. It's helped me feel okay with thinking up and sending in games like this. Also, thanks to the original creator of this now 100-year-old puzzle, and to whoever showed it to me in the first place. It's been a while. >goals You don't have to know all the rules of chess to "win." You just need to know how kings and pawns can move. Kings can move up to eight squares. A pawn moves one square up or down the board. Also your pieces (white) are in upper case, and the black pieces are in lower case. In this case, your pawn starts with two squares before it reaches its destination, where it can become a queen--you are going up the board. The opposing pawn starts at h5 and needs to move four squares. A king can touch any adjacent square, vertically or horizontally or diagonally. So in the corner at h8, you can go to three squares, but in the center of the board, you can go to eight. Your goal in Zero Chance of Recovery is to either capture the enemy pawn or move your own pawn to the eighth rank. It should be noted that capital letters are your pieces, and lower-case letters are your opponents'. There is no penalty for getting thins wrong, so keep trying. Zero Chance of Recovery is solvable by trial-and-error, though such trial-and-error is not trivial. >* couple typos -- repeated thing about capital vs. lower-case letters, "thins" in last paragraph You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >rules You don't have to know all the rules of chess to "win." You just need to know how kings and pawns can move. Kings can move up to eight squares. A pawn moves one square up or down the board. Also your pieces (white) are in upper case, and the black pieces are in lower case. In this case, your pawn starts with two squares before it reaches its destination, where it can become a queen--you are going up the board. The opposing pawn starts at h5 and needs to move four squares. A king can touch any adjacent square, vertically or horizontally or diagonally. So in the corner at h8, you can go to three squares, but in the center of the board, you can go to eight. Your goal in Zero Chance of Recovery is to either capture the enemy pawn or move your own pawn to the eighth rank. It should be noted that capital letters are your pieces, and lower-case letters are your opponents'. There is no penalty for getting thins wrong, so keep trying. Zero Chance of Recovery is solvable by trial-and-error, though such trial-and-error is not trivial. >* Don't need to get to mate, huh You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >verbs Zero Chance of Recovery accepts commands in standard chess algebraic notation, which seems intimidating, but don't worry, you don't have to know the details. Also, you can use upper or lower case for your commands. You are a king, which means you can move to any squares vertically, horizontally, or diagonally adjacent. That means if you are on c6, the commands SE, D5 and KD5 would all move you to d5, assuming the square wasn't guarded or occupied. You can also move your pawn with P or type, say, C7. If both you and your pawn can move to a square, the pawn takes precedence. R resets the current scenario. X examines or gives your memories of a certain piece. After typing meta-commands (META lists these) or toggling options (you can list them with OPT,) typing L or LOOK lets you see the board again. You can see options for board display with OPT. The commands above are in all caps to give them focus. The parser is case-insensitive. >l h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >P7 Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. A final one-time note: the parser does not recognize descriptive notation. If you don't know what this means, don't worry. You're probably better off not knowing. But for chess players who wish to do so, sorry. I couldn't find any way to distinguish King to Bishop Seven from King to B7. Which was a convenient excuse to avoid an interesting coding puzzle. >* oops Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >Pc7 NOTE: when moving pieces, it's assumed you're moving your pawn, though I should be able to pick up when you move your king as well. Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >P The black king slides to b7, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c7. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >undo You have a vision of some young children screaming "No takebacks!" and "You touched it, you moved it!" It ends in tears. Wow! What was that about? [NOTE: undoing is disabled, but since one whole scenario shouldn't take more than 7 moves, you should be able to recreate what you did. I hope this balances forcing you to a bit of challenging calculation with not getting too frustrated.] >* makes sense -- was just confirming I'm moving up the board Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c8) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C8 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >l h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >x pawn Who do you mean, the white pawn or the black pawn? >white You gaze across the battlefield to the white pawn... They are too far away to see their face. . >* errant period here Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c8) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C8 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >x black pawn You gaze across the battlefield to the black pawn... You can't see them very well from the back. They're focused on the goal and know it's pointless to try and swivel their head to look at you. >x king (the black king) You gaze across the battlefield to the black king... At the moment, you can't see the black king's expression, which is probably for the best. >* this is pretty cool! Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c8) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C8 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >x me Very sweaty and such. You wonder how or if you still have the will and ability to chase after that last black pawn. And you were so close! >i You are carrying nothing. >l h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >Kg7 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | |k| | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >* that's a nope Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kf6, Kf7, Kf8, Kg6, Kg8, Kh6, Kh7 and Kh8 (the K can be eliminated) or type N, NE, NW, S, SE, SW, E and W to go north, northeast, northwest, south, southeast, southwest, east and west A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >resign Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kf6, Kf7, Kf8, Kg6, Kg8, Kh6, Kh7 and Kh8 (the K can be eliminated) or type N, NE, NW, S, SE, SW, E and W to go north, northeast, northwest, south, southeast, southwest, east and west A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >verbs Zero Chance of Recovery accepts commands in standard chess algebraic notation, which seems intimidating, but don't worry, you don't have to know the details. Also, you can use upper or lower case for your commands. You are a king, which means you can move to any squares vertically, horizontally, or diagonally adjacent. That means if you are on c6, the commands SE, D5 and KD5 would all move you to d5, assuming the square wasn't guarded or occupied. You can also move your pawn with P or type, say, C7. If both you and your pawn can move to a square, the pawn takes precedence. R resets the current scenario. X examines or gives your memories of a certain piece. After typing meta-commands (META lists these) or toggling options (you can list them with OPT,) typing L or LOOK lets you see the board again. You can see options for board display with OPT. The commands above are in all caps to give them focus. The parser is case-insensitive. >r Things blur. You wake up briefly and fall back asleep, but you can't help dreaming of what you need to do. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >* oh there are three scenarios Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >l h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f7 The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. f7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >e6 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? e6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| |K| | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f5 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. f5 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >* OK I think I get it Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Ke4, Ke5, Ke6, Kf4, Kf6, Kg4, Kg5 and Kg6 (the K can be eliminated) or type N, NE, NW, S, SE, SW, E and W to go north, northeast, northwest, south, southeast, southwest, east and west A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >l f5 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g4 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. g4 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g3 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. And the pawn, reaching the end of the board, becomes a queen. There's nothing you can do but watch as the queen swoops past you and boxes you in where you can only shuffle between h1 and g1. The black king approaches to assist the queen in checkmating you. Fortunately, that was just a brief bad dream. You have a lot of them right after being knocked unconscious--they'll wear off eventually. Thankfully, here, it was just for a split-second or two, because that's how dreams work--hours of mind-time, almost no real time. Your exploits may have shown another way to do stuff wrong., though, and that might help with process of elimination. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >g7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f6 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >P The black king slides to b7, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c7. f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Ke5, Ke6, Ke7, Kf5, Kf7, Kg5, Kg6 and Kg7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c8) or type N, NE, NW, S, SE, SW, E and W to go north, northeast, northwest, south, southeast, southwest, east and west. You can also type P or C8 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >f5 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? f5 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g4 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. g4 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g3 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. And the pawn, reaching the end of the board, becomes a queen. There's nothing you can do but watch as the queen swoops past you and boxes you in where you can only shuffle between h1 and g1. The black king approaches to assist the queen in checkmating you. Ugh, another bad dream. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >P The black king slides to b7, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c7. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g7 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | |k| | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g6 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. g6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >h5 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. h5 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >h4 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. h4 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >h3 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. And the pawn, reaching the end of the board, becomes a queen. There's nothing you can do but watch as the queen swoops past you and eventually boxes you in where you can only shuffle between h1 and g1. The black king approaches to assist the queen in checkmating you. Ugh, another bad dream. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >* oops! Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >l h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f6 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >e5 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. e5 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | |K| | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f4 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. And the pawn, reaching the end of the board, becomes a queen. There's nothing you can do but watch as the queen swoops past you and eventually boxes you in where you can only shuffle between h1 and g1. The black king approaches to assist the queen in checkmating you. Ugh, another bad dream. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >P The black king slides to b7, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c7. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g7 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | |k| | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >r Things blur. You wake up briefly and fall back asleep, but you can't help dreaming of what you need to do. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >h7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. h7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g7 The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f6 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g5 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. g5 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g4 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. g4 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g3 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. And the pawn, reaching the end of the board, becomes a queen. There's nothing you can do but watch as the queen swoops past you and boxes you in where you can only shuffle between h1 and g1. The black king approaches to assist the queen in checkmating you. Ugh, another bad dream. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >* need one more turn Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >l h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g8 The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. g8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >P The enemy king laughs as he jumps your poor pawn just as it gets to c7. You have no hope of catching the enemy pawn. Ugh, another bad dream. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >g7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f7 The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. f7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >e7 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? e7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | |K| | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >r Things blur. You wake up briefly and fall back asleep, but you can't help dreaming of what you need to do. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >g7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f6 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >e6 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. e6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| |K| | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >d7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. And the pawn, reaching the end of the board, becomes a queen. There's nothing you can do but watch as the queen swoops past you and eventually boxes you in where you can only shuffle between h1 and g1. The black king approaches to assist the queen in checkmating you. Ugh, another bad dream. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >* hmm, that felt closer You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >f7 You can't move to f7, and neither can your pawn. >g7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f6 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >e6 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. e6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| |K| | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >P The black king slides to b7, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c7. e6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | |K| | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >e7 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? e7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | |k| |K| | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >* ah, typo! You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >r Things blur. You wake up briefly and fall back asleep, but you can't help dreaming of what you need to do. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Really! All I have to do is get my pawn to run forward, and you can't do anything. Right? Still, it'll be fun to see you try," booms the black king. >f6 You can't move to f6, and neither can your pawn. >g7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f6 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >e7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. e7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | |K| | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >P The black king slides to b7, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c7. e7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | |k|P| |K| | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >d7 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. And the pawn, reaching the end of the board, becomes a queen. But you are able to shepherd your own pawn on the next turn, and it becomes a queen, too! The whole war is a draw. Wait. No. You just dozed off a second. When you wake up, everything is as it was. But hey, you figured something out. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h The black king yells "You were almost clever there. So I can't run my pawn down the board right away. But I can keep a closer eye on it. You still won't be able to keep track of both our pawns." >* oh, that's good enough, now things play out differently I guess? You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >g7 The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. "Ha-ha. Just guarding the pawn a bit. I can always take it later." g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f6 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g5 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, or you will catch it. g5 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g4 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? g4 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >h3 The black pawn is nowhere near strong enough for you! Down it goes! Revenge for your own pawn! Dang it. Another reverie. But you've figured out a bit more. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Okay, this time, your pawn's a goner!" grumbles the black king. "I'll just round it up, then my pawn's too far ahead of you. It'll run away from you if you get close. Easy-peasy." >* OK last one! Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >g7 The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. "Ha-ha. Just guarding the pawn a bit. I can always take it later." g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f6 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >x pawn (the black pawn) You gaze across the battlefield to the black pawn... You can't see them very well from the side and back. They're focused on the goal and know it's pointless to try and swivel their head to look at you. >x king (the black king) You gaze across the battlefield to the black king... The black king seems to be smirking at how you are running around. >g5 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, as it could still outrun you, maybe. g5 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >h4 The black pawn is nowhere near strong enough for you! Down it goes! Revenge for your own pawn! You feel like you've considered all the possible ways your enemy could react. And you can hold the line. But maybe there's something beyond that--into maybe a bit of deviousness--that could ruin the black king! h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Your pawn's a goner!" grumbles the black king. "I'll just round it up, then my pawn's too far ahead of you. It'll run away from you if you get close. Easy-peasy." >* Oh geez there's an actual mate possible? Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >goal Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >goals You don't have to know all the rules of chess to "win." You just need to know how kings and pawns can move. Kings can move up to eight squares. A pawn moves one square up or down the board. Also your pieces (white) are in upper case, and the black pieces are in lower case. In this case, your pawn starts with two squares before it reaches its destination, where it can become a queen--you are going up the board. The opposing pawn starts at h5 and needs to move four squares. A king can touch any adjacent square, vertically or horizontally or diagonally. So in the corner at h8, you can go to three squares, but in the center of the board, you can go to eight. Your goal in Zero Chance of Recovery is to either capture the enemy pawn or move your own pawn to the eighth rank. It should be noted that capital letters are your pieces, and lower-case letters are your opponents'. There is no penalty for getting thins wrong, so keep trying. Zero Chance of Recovery is solvable by trial-and-error, though such trial-and-error is not trivial. >l h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g7 The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. "Ha-ha. Just guarding the pawn a bit. I can always take it later." g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f6 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g5 The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, as it could still outrun you, maybe. g5 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >h4 The black pawn is nowhere near strong enough for you! Down it goes! Revenge for your own pawn! You feel like you've considered all the possible ways your enemy could react. And you can hold the line. But maybe there's something beyond that--into maybe a bit of deviousness--that could ruin the black king! h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Your pawn's a goner!" grumbles the black king. "I'll just round it up, then my pawn's too far ahead of you. It'll run away from you if you get close. Easy-peasy." >g7 The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. "Ha-ha. Just guarding the pawn a bit. I can always take it later." g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >P The enemy king laughs as he jumps your poor pawn just as it gets to c7. You have no hope of catching the enemy pawn. Ugh, another bad dream. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Your pawn's a goner!" grumbles the black king. "I'll just round it up, then my pawn's too far ahead of you. It'll run away from you if you get close. Easy-peasy." >P The black king slides to b7, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c7. "Ha-ha. Just guarding the pawn a bit. I can always take it later." h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >g7 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | |k| | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >r Things blur. You wake up briefly and fall back asleep, but you can't help dreaming of what you need to do. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Your pawn's a goner!" grumbles the black king. "I'll just round it up, then my pawn's too far ahead of you. It'll run away from you if you get close. Easy-peasy." >G7 The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. "Ha-ha. Just guarding the pawn a bit. I can always take it later." g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >f6 The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >hint Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Ke5, Ke6, Ke7, Kf5, Kf7, Kg5, Kg6 and Kg7 (the K can be eliminated) or type N, NE, NW, S, SE, SW, E and W to go north, northeast, northwest, south, southeast, southwest, east and west A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >* OK checked the walkthrough Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Ke5, Ke6, Ke7, Kf5, Kf7, Kg5, Kg6 and Kg7 (the K can be eliminated) or type N, NE, NW, S, SE, SW, E and W to go north, northeast, northwest, south, southeast, southwest, east and west A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >think Before you were knocked out, you remember the mercenaries and black king negotiating their deal: no payment unless the black pawn made it to h1 and promoted! You also remember some practical strategy, though. When the enemy king stayed back, you achieved a draw as follows: g7, f6, e7, push the pawn, d7, promote the pawn. You also remember how you tackled the black pawn when the enemy king moved in a bit. G7, then once the king moved, f6, e5, d6, push the pawn, d7, promote the pawn. >* Ah, I think I get it You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >* Also I can use directions, which are in the directions but I didn't parse! You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >l f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >r Things blur. You wake up briefly and fall back asleep, but you can't help dreaming of what you need to do. h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Your pawn's a goner!" grumbles the black king. "I'll just round it up, then my pawn's too far ahead of you. It'll run away from you if you get close. Easy-peasy." >* feels like I need to be in the scenario where I can promote Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >sw The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. "Ha-ha. Just guarding the pawn a bit. I can always take it later." g7 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | |k|P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >sw The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? f6 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | |K| | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >se The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, as it could still outrun you, maybe. g5 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 | | |k| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | |K| | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h >se The black pawn is nowhere near strong enough for you! Down it goes! Revenge for your own pawn! You feel like you've considered all the possible ways your enemy could react. And you can hold the line. But maybe there's something beyond that--into maybe a bit of deviousness--that could ruin the black king! h8 a b c d e f g h +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 8 | | | | | | | |K| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 7 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 6 |k| |P| | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 5 | | | | | | | |p| +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 4 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 3 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 2 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 1 | | | | | | | | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ a b c d e f g h "Your pawn's a goner!" grumbles the black king. "I'll just round it up, then my pawn's too far ahead of you. It'll run away from you if you get close. Easy-peasy." >scenario Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >v Zero Chance of Recovery accepts commands in standard chess algebraic notation, which seems intimidating, but don't worry, you don't have to know the details. Also, you can use upper or lower case for your commands. You are a king, which means you can move to any squares vertically, horizontally, or diagonally adjacent. That means if you are on c6, the commands SE, D5 and KD5 would all move you to d5, assuming the square wasn't guarded or occupied. You can also move your pawn with P or type, say, C7. If both you and your pawn can move to a square, the pawn takes precedence. R resets the current scenario. X examines or gives your memories of a certain piece. After typing meta-commands (META lists these) or toggling options (you can list them with OPT,) typing L or LOOK lets you see the board again. You can see options for board display with OPT. The commands above are in all caps to give them focus. The parser is case-insensitive. >m Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >meta ABOUT gives general information about Zero Chance of Recovery. CREDITS shows the credits. GOALS and RULES both show how the pieces move as well as your goals for Zero Chance of Recovery. META is, well, this, and OPTS shows possible options. VERBS shows verbs. R restarts a scenario if you think you've messed up. THINK reconstructs how this whole affair started. You should be able to use abbreviations for most or all of these meta-commands, but the full list is too numerous. >opts You can toggle screen reader mode with SCR. In screen reader mode, Zero Chance of Recovery describes which pieces are where. You can toggle coordinates with COO/COOR/COORD/COORDS or set them specifically with COO ON or COO OFF, etc. You can also change the board square width with, say, W 3 or WIDTH 4. Valid values are 1-5. You can also toggle the inverse "checkerboard" effect with WB or WB ON or WB OFF. The HDR command, along with a number, will put the board in the header. HDX uses xor on the number given. >hdr 2 Changing the header to no external boundaries and internal boundaries and no boundary whitespace and no dots on unoccupied squares. If you want something different, HDR will tell you what numbers toggle which features. Also, setting inline room descriptions to text, since text-graphics are now in the header. >hdr If you'd prefer to see the board in a header, you have options for how it displays. There are three binary options for a total of eight different views. 0 turns the board in the header off. You may need some binary arithmetic or trial-and-error to find which setting you prefer. 1 is the base view, with no inner or outer borders and dots in unoccupied squares. Add 1 to get outer borders. Add 2 to get inner borders. Add 4 to make all borders into whitespace. Add 8 to eliminate dots from unoccupied squares. Numbers that toggle just one feature from the current setting: To toggle only boundaries between squares, HDR 1 or HDX 1. To toggle only external boundaries, HDR 4 or HDX 2. To toggle only whitespace in boundaries instead of -+|, HDR 6 or HDX 4. To toggle only dots in unoccupied squares, HDR 10 or HDX 8. >* woah Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >* OK need another hint Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >* OK not sure I would have gotten that that's what I was supposed to do Sorry, I couldn't parse that. In-game commands never need to be more than letters words long, and there are only limited moves to make. Zero Chance of Recovery can read algebraic notation, but you can just specify a square or, for your king, a direction to move. Right now, you can move your king by typing Kg7, Kg8 and Kh7 (the K can be eliminated unless you're going to c7) or type S, SW and W to go south, southwest and west. You can also type P or C7 to push the white pawn forward. A more comprehensive list of commands is at V/VERB/VERBS. >sw The black king slides to b6, uncomfortably close to your pawn on c6. "Ha-ha. Just guarding the pawn a bit. I can always take it later." g7 You're currently at g7. Your final remaining ally, the plucky white pawn at c6, is being eyeballed closely by the enemy black king at b6. The final black footsoldier is looking to streak down the side of the board. They're at h5 right now. >sw The black king takes your pawn and laughs. You can't win now! But can you stop the black pawn? f6 You're currently at f6. The final black footsoldier is looking to streak down the side of the board. They're at h5 right now. >se The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, as it could still outrun you, maybe. g5 You're currently at g5. The final black footsoldier is looking to streak down the side of the board. They're at h4 right now. >s The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, as it could still outrun you, maybe. g4 You're currently at g4. The final black footsoldier is looking to streak down the side of the board. They're at h3 right now. >s The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, as it could still outrun you, maybe. g3 You're currently at g3. The final black footsoldier is looking to streak down the side of the board. They're at h2 right now. >s The black king orders his pawn to move down the board, just to keep way ahead. And the pawn, reaching the end of the board, becomes a queen. Your opponent groans. "Okay, so the war is a stalemate." But wait! Thundering hooves! The mercenaries he hired have ridden back to demand payment! After all, it was immediately due once the pawn queened. There was no fine print about whether the pawn had to survive. So while the war is a stalemate, the enemy king is in a lot of trouble with the mercenaries. *** A strategic victory! *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command? > * see I thought the mercs would get cranky if not paid Please give one of the answers above. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command? > quit