Provided by: xskat_4.0-8_amd64 bug

NAME

       xskat - a card game for 1 to 3 players.

SYNOPSIS

       xskat   [-display|-d   display]  [-geometry|-g  geometry]  [-font|-fn  font]  [-iconic|-i]
       [-title|-T string] [-name prog] [-fg color] [-bg color] [-bt color]  [-mark  color]  [-3d]
       [-2d]  [-3dtop  color]  [-3dbot  color] [-mb button#] [-keyboard number] [-tdelay seconds]
       [-fastdeal]   [-slowdeal]   [-help|-h]   [-frenchcards]   [-french4cards]   [-germancards]
       [-german4cards]  [-color]  [-mono]  [-color1  color]  .. [-color4 color] [-large] [-small]
       [-up] [-down] [-alt]  [-seq]  [-list|-l  file]  [-alist]  [-nlist]  [-tlist]  [-log  file]
       [-dolog]  [-nolog]  [-fmt]  [-unfmt]  [-game  file]  [-briefmsg] [-verbosemsg] [-trickl2r]
       [-notrickl2r] [-lang language] [-start player#] [-s1 number]  [-s2  number]  [-s3  number]
       [-ramsch]  [-noramsch]  [-ramschonly] [-sramsch] [-nosramsch] [-skattolast] [-skattoloser]
       [-kontra] [-nokontra] [-kontra18] [-bock]  [-nobock]  [-bockramsch]  [-bockevents  number]
       [-resumebock]    [-noresumebock]    [-spitze]    [-spitze2]    [-nospitze]   [-revolution]
       [-norevolution]  [-klopfen]  [-noklopfen]  [-schenken]  [-noschenken]  [-hint]   [-nohint]
       [-newrules]   [-oldrules]   [-shortcut]   [-noshortcut]   [-askshortcut]  [-irc]  [-noirc]
       [-irctelnet program] [-ircserver hostname] [-ircport number] [-ircchannel name]  [-ircnick
       name]  [-ircuser name] [-ircrealname name] [-ircpos number] [-irclog file] [-irclogappend]
       [-irclogoverwrite] [-auto #ofgames] [-opt file] [-pk] [player@display...]

DESCRIPTION

       XSkat lets you play the card game Skat as defined by the official Skat Order.

       Up to 3 players may be simulated by the computer.

       After starting the game a mouse click or ESC/F1 will bring up a menu.  Other  useful  keys
       are:  Space, Return, Tab, Cursor left/right/up/down.  The rest of the game controls should
       be fairly obvious.

       An introduction to Skat can be found at
       http://www.xskat.de/xskat.html

OPTIONS

       In the following descriptions, the player starting XSkat is called player1.

       -display display name
       -geometry geometry specification
       -font font name (default: 9x15 or 10x20)
       -iconic
       -title window title
       -name application resource name
       -fg foreground color
       -bg background color
              The usual X toolkit options.

       -bt color
              The color of dialog buttons.

       -mark color
              The color of the marks that indicate
              who is forehand (during bidding),
              who is the Soloist,
              which card the computer would play,
              or the keyboard focus
              (default: red or black).

       -3d    Use a 3D look for dialogs (default).

       -2d    Use the old, flat style (default on monochrome screens).

       -3dtop color
              The color used for the lines around the top and left sides of 3D buttons  (default:
              white).

       -3dbot color
              The  color  used  for  the  lines  around  the bottom and right sides of 3D buttons
              (default: black).

       -mb menu button
              The number of the mouse button that brings up the menu (default: 0 = any button).

       -keyboard number
              Define how much of the user interface may  be  controlled  by  the  keyboard.   The
              number has the following meaning:
               0 : Nothing.
               1 : More (default).
               2 : Everything.

       -tdelay seconds
              Specifies how long the last trick will be visible.  A delay of more than 10 seconds
              means that the trick will be removed after pressing a mouse button.  In multiplayer
              mode the largest specified value is used (default: 0.7).

       -fastdeal
              Deal the cards without any time consuming animation.

       -slowdeal
              Deal the cards slowly (default).

       -help  Show a short help text.

       -frenchcards
              Play with French suited cards.

       -french4cards
              Change  the  colors  of  diamond and spade to orange and green, so that the 4 suits
              have easily distinguishable colors (default).

       -germancards
              Use German cards.

       -german4cards
              Change  the  color  of  acorns  to  brown,  so  that  the  4  suits   have   easily
              distinguishable colors.

       -color Use  colored cards.  If there are not enough colors left, the number of colors used
              to draw the cards will be reduced appropriately (default).

       -mono  Use b&w cards.

       -color1 .. -color4
              Redefine the colors of  the  suits  diamond,  heart,  spade  and  club.   Selecting
              -french4cards overrides the colors for diamond and spade.

       -large and -small
              Select the size of the main window (default: as large as possible).

       -down  Sort cards downwards (default).

       -up    Sort cards upwards.

       -alt   Sort cards in alternating order.

       -seq   Sort cards in sequential order (default).

       -list filename
              The   file  for  saving/restoring  the  game  list  (default:  $HOME/.xskat.lst  or
              ./xskat.lst if HOME isn't set.  For IRC games: .irc instead of .lst).

       -alist Alternative form of listing.

       -nlist Normal form of listing (default).

       -tlist Listing with tournament scoring.

       -log filename
              Turn on automatic logging, i.e. append logs of  all  games  to  filename  (-  means
              stdout).

       -dolog Turn on automatic logging (default file: $HOME/.xskat.log or ./xskat.log).

       -nolog Turn  off automatic logging (default).  Logs of individual games may still be saved
              during the game.

       -fmt   Write formatted log files, i.e. use backspaces for underlining and boldface.

       -unfmt Write unformatted log files (default).

       -game filename
              Read predefined games from filename (- means stdin).  Not available for  IRC  play.
              See also section FILES below.

       -briefmsg
              Indicate  who  is  forehand (during bidding) and who is the Soloist by displaying a
              small mark on the back of the cards.

       -verbosemsg
              Additionally print out everyones position and what is being played (default).

       -trickl2r
              Put down the cards of a trick from left to right (default).

       -notrickl2r
              Place the cards corresponding to the players positions.

       -lang language
              Currently available: English and German (default: $LANG/$LANGUAGE is  tried  first.
              Then: see Imakefile/Makefile).

       -start number
              The player who starts dealing cards (default: 2).

       -s1 number
       -s2 number
       -s3 number
              Change the playing strenght of the computer players.
              s1  corresponds  to  the left computer in single player mode or to the one and only
              computer in two player mode.
              s2 corresponds to the right computer in single player mode.
              s3 is only useful with -auto.
              The number must be between -4 (weak) and 0 (default).

       -ramsch
              Play a game of Ramsch when all players pass.
              The following rules are currently implemented:
              The Skat remains face down until it goes to the winner of the last trick (or to the
              loser  of the game, s.b.).  The amount lost is the number of card points taken.  If
              two players tie for most card points, they both lose.  If all tie, the score is  0.
              If  one  player takes no tricks (a virgin) the amount lost by the loser is doubled.
              Someone taking all the tricks (forced march) wins 120 points.

       -noramsch
              Don't play Ramsch (default).

       -ramschonly
              Play Ramsch each game.

       -sramsch
              Play Schieberamsch instead of simple Ramsch.
              The rules are:
              Each player in turn, starting with Forehand, may pick up the Skat and  discard  two
              cards  face  down.   It's  not allowed to pass on jacks.  The score is doubled each
              time a player doesn't pick up the Skat.

       -nosramsch
              Don't play Schieberamsch (default).

       -skattoloser
              At the end of a Ramsch game the  Skat  is  awarded  to  the  loser(s).   This  will
              increase the loss.

       -skattolast
              The Skat goes to the winner of the last trick (default).

       -kontra
              Allow  opponents  to say 'Kontra' which doubles the score of the game.  The Soloist
              may reply 'Re' to double the score again.

       -nokontra
              Disallow Kontra (default).

       -kontra18
              Only an opponent who said at least 18 may say 'Kontra'.

       -bock  Play a Bockround after some special event.  The score is  doubled  in  the  next  3
              games.  If an event causing a new Bockround happens before the current Bockround is
              over or several Bockround events happen at the same time, the number of  Bockrounds
              still to play is increased appropriately.

       -nobock
              Don't play Bockrounds (default).

       -bockramsch
              Play  a  round  of compulsory Ramsch after each Bockround.  Before a game of Ramsch
              begins, each player in turn, starting with Forehand, may declare to play Grand Hand
              instead.  After a Grand Hand the same player deals again because this game does not
              count towards completing the Ramschround.

       -bockevents number
              Specify the events that cause a Bockround.
              (1) A game is lost with 60 points.
              (2) A successful Grand Hand.
              (4) A successful Kontra (opponents win).
              (8) A game with Kontra & Re.
              (16) A player's score ends in 3 equal digits.
              (32) A player's score is a multiple of 100.
              (64) A game value of +72 or more.
              (128) A game value of +96 or more.
              Add up the numbers in parentheses to specify the desired events (default: 0).
              Notes:
              A Kontra where the Soloist said Re but lost counts as one event not two  (events  4
              and 8).
              To  check a player's score, the current listing options of player1 are used (events
              16 and 32).  A score that is a multiple of 1000 counts as one event.
              The game value (events 64 and 128) is the  normal  value  without  considering  any
              doubling caused by Ramsch, Kontra or Bock.

       -resumebock
              Resume  unfinished  Bockrounds  after quitting and restarting XSkat.  The number of
              games to play is read from the game list file.

       -noresumebock
              Don't resume Bockrounds (default).

       -spitze
              Allow the Soloist to declare Spitze.  This means that the last trick must  be  made
              with the lowest trump to win the game.  This will be indicated to the other players
              by displaying the lowest trump.  The game multiplier is increased by 1.   It's  not
              allowed to say Spitze in a Grand with 4 jacks.

       -spitze2
              Declaring Spitze increases the multiplier by 2.

       -nospitze
              Don't allow Spitze (default).

       -revolution
              Enable  a  special variation of Null ouvert.  After the Soloist's cards are exposed
              the opponents can look at each other's cards and rearrange the cards between  their
              two  hands  in any way they wish before the start of the play.  Revolution is worth
              92 points.

       -norevolution
              Don't allow Revolution (default).

       -klopfen
              During a Ramschround you may knock (klopfen) at the beginning of a game to indicate
              that you think you won't lose.  This will double the score of the game.  Klopfen is
              not possible if you don't pick up the Skat in Schieberamsch.

       -noklopfen
              Don't allow Klopfen (default).

       -schenken
              If the opponents decide at the start of  the  play  that  they  cannot  defeat  the
              Soloist,  they  can give up.  This is done by selecting Schenken from the main menu
              during the first trick when it's your turn.  If the Soloist accepts, the  score  is
              as  though  the  game was won simply.  The Soloist can insist on playing on, but in
              that case has to make the opponents Schneider to win.  The score in this case is as
              for an announced Schneider (the multiplier is increased by 2).  If the Soloist goes
              on the opponents can schenken again, giving the Soloist the Schneider.  The Soloist
              can accept Schneider or insist on playing on for Schwarz.

       -noschenken
              Don't allow Schenken (default).

       -hint  Put a mark over the card the computer would play.

       -nohint
              Don't show computer hints (default).

       -newrules
              Use the official rules of 01/01/1999:
              Lost Hand games count double.
              The Grand Ouvert multiplier is 24.
              (default)

       -oldrules
              Lost Hand games count simple.
              The Grand Ouvert multiplier is 36.

       -shortcut
              Always finish the game when the remaining tricks will all go to one side.

       -noshortcut
              Play each trick.

       -askshortcut
              Ask whether a shortcut should be taken (default).

       -irc   Play  via  Internet  Relay Chat.  This option will establish a connection to an IRC
              server where you can join other people for a game of Skat.
              How it works:
              Start XSkat from an xterm. Wait until the server has printed the  welcome  message.
              You  are  now  on channel #xskat where new games should be planned.  Everything you
              type into the xterm will be sent to everyone else on this channel. After  you  have
              found  one  or  two  other  players  and agreed upon the name of a new channel (say
              #xskat123), you should type /join #xskat123.  When  all  players  are  on  the  new
              channel,  exactly  one player has to type /go (or /go2 if there are only 2 players)
              to start the game. Now you can play and talk.

       -noirc Don't use IRC (default).

       -irctelnet program
              Specify the program that will be used to connect to the IRC  server.   If  you  are
              sitting  behind a firewall, a program like rtelnet must be used and you may have to
              set $SOCKS_SERVER to the name of your firewall host (default: telnet).

       -ircserver host-name
              Select an IRC server near you! (default: $IRCSERVER  or  irc.fu-berlin.de,  if  not
              changed in the Imakefile/Makefile)

       -ircport number
              The port of the IRC server to connect to (default: $IRCPORT or 6667).

       -ircchannel name
              The channel to join initially (default: #xskat).

       -ircnick name
              Your  IRC  nickname. If your nick is already used by someone else, a different nick
              will be generated automatically.  Some servers allow a nick length  of  30,  others
              limit  it  to  9  characters.   (default:  $IRCNICK  or  $IRCUSER  or  $LOGNAME  or
              xskatNNNN).

       -ircuser name
              Your user/login name. Note: most servers don't  like  faked  user  names  (default:
              $IRCUSER or $LOGNAME).

       -ircrealname name
              Your  real  name  (default:  $IRCNAME  or  the entry from the passwd file or 'XSkat
              player').

       -ircpos number
              Select your  position  relative  to  the  other  players.  Positions  are  numbered
              clockwise  1,  2 and 3. Player 2 will start dealing if not specified otherwise with
              -start or /start.  If you don't specify your position or there is a  conflict  with
              someone  else's  choice  or you give an invalid number (3 in a 2 player game), this
              will be fixed automatically. Choosing the right positions is important if you  want
              to continue with a saved game list (default: 0 = I don't care).

       -irclog file
              Everything  sent  to or received from the IRC server is saved to this file (- means
              stdout).   It  may  be  useful  for   debugging   (default:   $HOME/.xskat.ilg   or
              ./xskat.ilg).

       -irclogappend
              Append output to the log file.

       -irclogoverwrite
              Overwrite existing log file (default).

       IRC commands:
              /nick name, /nick - change or display your nickname.
              /who - is on the current channel ?
              /list,  /list string - show all channels that match the word xskat or the specified
              string.  This will take some time on networks with  a  large  number  of  channels.
              Trying to stop the listing will terminate the program.
              /pos number - see -ircpos.
              /bell  - toggle the alarm bell. When on, the bell will ring each time someone joins
              your channel or sends a message to you.  The bell is off initially.
              /quit - terminate XSkat.
              /sync - if messages get lost due to  a  net-split  (or  because  someone  left  the
              channel  during  play),  XSkat will detect this and in most cases should be able to
              synchronize  automatically  (within   30   seconds)   after   the   connection   is
              reestablished.  Typing /sync will try this immediately.
              /quote command args - for those who know what they are doing.
              The  following  commands  are only useful for the player who will start the game by
              typing /go because that player will determine the rules of the game.
              /default - set the official rules.
              /ramsch, /sramsch, /skattoloser, /kontra, /bock, /resumebock, /spitze, /revolution,
              /klopfen,  /schenken,  /oldrules, /bockevents, /alist, /tlist, /start, /s1 - change
              the rules of the game.  All of these require an argument (a number  or  True/False)
              just like the resources with the same name.
              /rules - show the current rules to everyone on your channel.

       Notes: The version numbers of all participating programs must be equal.
              Most  options  cannot  be changed during the game.  Options that can be changed are
              not saved to a file.
              The game list can only be cleared during bidding or when it's your turn to  play  a
              card.  There is a different default game list for IRC games (see -list).
              It's possible to type into the xterm or the game window (which is recommended), but
              changing input sources in the middle of a line won't work.
              If you want better input line editing and a split screen try the program ssfe.   It
              is used like this: ssfe -raw xskat -irc
              You can omit -irc when you specify any of the other IRC options.

       -auto #ofgames
              Three  computers play the specified number of games without human interaction.  The
              resulting scores are printed.
              With this option, no resources are read, and the game list is saved only  if  -list
              is specified.

       -opt filename
              The  file  for saving/restoring all interactively changeable options of all players
              (default: $HOME/.xskat.opt or ./xskat.opt).  Command line options  take  precedence
              over options specified in this file which in turn override resource specifications.
              This may be changed with the useoptfile resource.

       -pk    If you want the computer to deal a Good Hand every time.  (as  requested  by  Petra
              K.)  Alternatively, pressing F6 three times will result in a Good Hand for the next
              game.  Does not work in multiplayer mode.

       player@display
              Specifies the display of the second and  third  player  (but  is  ignored  for  IRC
              games).  The player@ part may be omitted if the alias resource is set on display.

RESOURCES

       Command line options take precedence over resource specifications for player1.

       geometry, font, title, foreground, background
              The usual X11 resources.

       mark   (see -mark).

       button (used for 2D buttons, see -bt).

       3dbutton
              (used for 3D buttons, see -bt, default: a shade of gray).

       3dbackground
              (used for 3D dialogs, see -bg, default: a different shade of gray).

       3d     True or False (see -3d and -2d).

       3dtop  (see -3dtop).

       3dbot  (see -3dbot).

       menubutton
              (see -mb).

       keyboard
              (see -keyboard).

       tdelay (see -tdelay).

       fastdeal
              True or False (see -fastdeal and -slowdeal).(#)

       cards  0, 1, 2 or 3 (see -frenchcards, -french4cards, -germancards and -german4cards).

       color  True or False (see -color and -mono).

       color1 .. color4
              (see -color1 .. -color4).

       large  True or False (see -large and -small).

       down   True or False (see -down and -up).

       alt    True or False (see -alt and -seq).

       list   (see -list).(#)

       alist  True or False (see -alist and -nlist).

       tlist  True or False (see -tlist and -nlist).

       log    (see -log).(#)

       dolog  True or False (see -dolog and -nolog).(#)

       formatted
              True or False (see -fmt and -unfmt).(#)

       game   (see -game).(#)

       briefmsg
              True or False (see -briefmsg and -verbosemsg).

       trickl2r
              True or False (see -trickl2r and -notrickl2r).

       language
              (see -lang).

       start  (see -start).(#)

       s1, s2 (see -s1, -s2).(#)

       ramsch 0, 1 or 2 (see -noramsch, -ramsch and -ramschonly).(#)

       sramsch
              True or False (see -sramsch and -nosramsch).(#)

       skattoloser
              True or False (see -skattoloser and -skattolast).(#)

       kontra 0, 1 or 2 (see -nokontra, -kontra and -kontra18).(#)

       bock   0, 1 or 2 (see -nobock, -bock and -bockramsch).(#)

       bockevents
              (see -bockevents).(#)

       resumebock
              True or False (see -resumebock and -noresumebock).(#)

       spitze 0, 1 or 2 (see -nospitze, -spitze and -spitze2).(#)

       revolution
              True or False (see -revolution and -norevolution).(#)

       klopfen
              True or False (see -klopfen and -noklopfen).(#)

       schenken
              True or False (see -schenken and -noschenken).(#)

       hint   True or False (see -hint and -nohint).

       oldrules
              True or False (see -oldrules and -newrules).(#)

       shortcut
              0, 1 or 2 (see -noshortcut, -askshortcut and -shortcut).

       irc    True or False (see -irc and -noirc).(#)

       irctelnet
              (see -irctelnet).(#)

       ircserver
              (see -ircserver).(#)

       ircport
              (see -ircport).(#)

       ircchannel
              (see -ircchannel).(#)

       ircnick
              (see -ircnick).(#)

       ircuser
              (see -ircuser).(#)

       ircrealname
              (see -ircrealname).(#)

       ircpos (see -ircpos).(#)

       irclist
              (see -list).(#)

       irclog (see -irclog).(#)

       irclogappend
              True or False (see -irclogappend and -irclogoverwrite).(#)

       opt    (see -opt).(#)

       useoptfile
              True  or  False (default: False).  This is a resource for multiplayer mode (but not
              for IRC).  It is ignored for player1.  If set to True, the contents of  the  option
              file,  which  is  owned  by player1, are used.  This means that you may end up with
              someone else's preferred  settings  if  player1  used  this  file  in  a  different
              multiplayer game.

       alias  The player's real name (max. 2 words of 9 characters, default: $LOGNAME).

       Only player1 may specify the resources marked with (#).

       Filenames starting with ~/ are interpreted correctly if HOME is set.

FILES

       An example of a file specifying predefined games:

       # The following block specifies the distribution
       # of cards for player1, 2, 3 and Skat(0).
       # A 10  K  Q  J  9  8  7
         2  2  2  2  2  0  3  3  # Diamond
         2  2  2  2  2  3  3  3  # Heart
         1  1  1  1  1  3  3  3  # Spade
         1  1  1  1  1  0  3  3  # Club
       # The following is not the same game !
       # Player numbers rotate 3 -> 2 -> 1 -> 3
       # (and depend on the start option).
         2  2  2  2  2  0  3  3
         2  2  2  2  2  3  3  3
         1  1  1  1  1  3  3  3
         1  1  1  1  1  0  3  3
       repeat
       # Repeat the above games forever.
       # The following lines take effect only
       # when you delete the 'repeat'.
       random_seed 123456 0 2
       # Specifies the random number which determines
       # card distribution for all following games.
       # The second number lets you skip that many
       # games in the sequence.
       # The third (optional) number defines
       # who will start dealing cards (see -start).
       # An additional L or R following this number will
       # rotate the cards left or right.
       # The random_seed will be shown in game logs
       # to allow easy replay. Just type:
       # echo random_seed 123456 0 2 | xskat -game -

NOTES

       There  are  no official rules for the variations Ramsch, Kontra, Bock, Spitze, Revolution,
       Klopfen and Schenken.

       If executing xskat player@otherhost:0 on yourhost gives an error message you could try the
       command xhost yourhost on otherhost to grant yourhost access to otherhost's display.

       If  you replay a game with your own cards, it doesn't matter whether 'Forehand changes' is
       set to 'yes' or 'no'.

       Some versions of telnet have a bug, that prevents them from  reading  input  from  a  pipe
       correctly.  See README.IRC for a fix or put this into your ~/.telnetrc:

       irc.fu-berlin.de
        set echo off
        set escape off
        set rlogin off
        set flushoutput off
        set interrupt off
        set quit off
        set eof off
        set erase off
        set kill off
        set lnext off
        set susp off
        set reprint off
        set worderase off
        set start off
        set stop off
        set forw1 off
        set forw2 off
        set ayt off

       Leading blanks are important!  Change the irc server line appropriately.

AUTHOR

       Gunter Gerhardt

       The latest version is always available at
       http://www.xskat.de/xskat.html

       This program is free software; you can redistribute it freely.
       Use it at your own risk; there is NO WARRANTY.

       Redistribution of modified versions is permitted
       provided that the following conditions are met:
       1. All copyright & permission notices are preserved.
       2.a) Only changes required for packaging or porting are made.
         or
       2.b) It is clearly stated who last changed the program.
            The program is renamed or
            the version number is of the form x.y.z,
            where x.y is the version of the original program
            and z is an arbitrary suffix.

       Card images used with permission by
       Spielkartenfabrik Altenburg GmbH, Marke ASS Altenburger
       Leipziger Strasse 7, 04600 Altenburg, Germany

                                             May 2004                                    XSKAT(6)