GETTING STARTED:

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All players starts off with the same rating (1200), which gets adjusted based on your completed games and the ratings of your opponents. A special formula is used to quickly approximate your playing ability during the first 20 rated games, so even if you are much higher rated, it won't take long to establish your real rating on GameKnot.

1. Logging in: first of all, you need to log in from the front page by entering your user name and password and then clicking "log in". You can also access the front page by clicking on GameKnot logo in the left upper corner of the page. Your browser must support "cookies". If you are not sure what it is, don't worry, they is enabled by default in most modern web browsers.

2. Starting a game: to start a new game, simply select "start game" from the menu on the left side of the page. You have three different options -- you can start a new game that everybody will be able to join, or you can challenge another player to a game directly, or you can invite your friends to join GameKnot to play with you. Don't forget to make your first move after you've created a game! To learn how to make moves, click "help" link on the game page.

3. Joining a game: to join an existing game, select "join game" from the menu. You will be given a list of all available games. To join a game, click on "join!" next to the game you'd like to play. Please make sure you are comfortable with the "time per move" setting before joining. If there are no games available for you to join, simply start a new game yourself and someone will join it in a few moments!

4. Playing games: you can participate in several games at the same time. It is usually a good idea to limit it to some reasonable number though. You will be notified via e-mail if it is your turn to move in any of your games. Or you can simply click "my games" in the menu once in a while to find out if it's your turn.

5. Preferences/profile: you can go to your profile page to adjust different options to your liking. Select "profile" button in the menu on the left side of the page to change your password or e-mail address. Your user name is permanent and cannot be changed.

6. Logging out: if you select "remember my info" when logging in, you will be automatically logged in each time you visit GameKnot for the next 30 days. It is a good idea to log out before you leave if other people have access to the same computer though.

If you are using Internet Explorer for Windows, don't forget to download GameKnot Chess Toolbar -- it provides easy and convenient access to all GameKnot features from a single menu!

Make sure to read the F.A.Q. page if you have any questions about how this site works. Have fun!