communication protocols/servers for other games

[Robert Pope]

What other games out there have defined communication protocols and/or servers that facilitate computer vs. computer matches. I was playing Spades on my phone, and was thinking that it might be interesting to try my hand writing a program that played, but in my quick searching, I don't see anything online comparable to Winboard/UCI or ICC for Spades.

I assume Go has a vibrant programmer community, but what other games out there are supported in a way to be able to do engine vs engine matches like we do for chess? (and links, if you know them )

[tmokonen]

There's the CheckerBoard protocol for checkers, created by Martin Fierz, who also wrote the Winboard engine Muse. It handles several variants of checkers.

http://www.fierz.ch/checkers.htm

[hgm]

There are two different issues here: protocols for GUI-engine communication on the same machine, and protocols for communication over the internet with a server. And if a server is lacking, there also is the possibility of a peer-to-peer connection.

Shogi and Xiangqi have several well-defined GUI-engine protocols similar to other Chess variants, based on pipes. But to communicate with servers like FICS and ICC you need an entirely different protocol. Shogi has the network-based CSA protocol, which can be used to connect Shogi engines or GUIs to servers like Floodgate. The protocol of 81dojo.com is an extension of that (adding opponent selection and chatting to it), but is kept secret because they don't want computers on 81Dojo.

I know there exists a protocol for International Draughts, based on sockets (so that it can also be used for peer-to-peer).

Go must also have a network-based protocol, as the Go tournaments in the ICGA Computer Olympiad are fully automated.

[adams161]

I have been familiar with this Go server over the years as some go players i've known tell me they play there: https://www.gokgs.com/ I played there a little against their computers but its been awhile. It has a techie free sort of feel like FICS the free internet chess server. I found they have some information on making go bots to play on there here: https://www.gokgs.com/help/faq/bots.html It looks like it will let you get resources to connect a go program but i've not explored in depth but i thought they might based on what i've seen there and their community.

edit- i see you mentioned other than go. there is also https://chessprogramming.wikispaces.com/Arimaa or Arimaa. It is sort of chess like and has an active programing community and a world champ even i think.