DOSBOX will work, and is the easy/safe way to run old DOS software, but remember it is slow emulation, around 100 times slower than running on the same machine with DOS!

To get the best performance you need to run under real DOS - either install virtual PC software, or a boot loader like GRUB4DOS that can boot the computer from a real DOS disk image. (MS-DOS 7, FREEDOS etc.).

If you don't want to alter your main computer, a spare computer you can experiment with is a good idea.
That's a good idea for downloads of unknown executable programs anyway. (protection against viruses and malware.)

There is also a text-only simple version in the zip file.
That will run at full speed. At some stage I hope to make it work the SAGE front end..

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@orac81 In Linux environment, DOSBox-X allows to adjust different CPU settings, so this is not a huge problem.

Some suggestions for improvement of Dynamo draughts.

(1) Pool draughts: nowadays, Pool draughts is more popular among African players, and in international tournaments it is played under UNIFIED POOL rules. The main difference is that white starts a game and alphanumeric (chess-like) notation is applied for recording games. Colouring for 1st player can be offered as an option.

(2) Spanish draughts: I tried to play them on 10x10 board, but I noticed notation problems. Even if single corner is at right, same Manouri principle of numeric notation should be observed, and in this case square 46 should be treated as single corner square for white, like it is in International draughts.

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Thanks for the feedback.

First, There was a bug in the previous console version of Dynamo, it didn't accept standard 10x10 moves! This version corrects this. (DOS version not changed)

github.com/orac81/Orac-Draughts/raw/main/dyna920a.zip

As for DOSBOX, it does have a "dynamic core" option that is faster, I haven't benchmarked it yet but it will still be a lot slower than native DOS or virtual PC.

In the DOS version of DYNAMO:

CTRL-N toggles chess notation.
CTRL-K inverts notation.
"." Displays numbering.

When you start a new game you can set corner mode for inverted square, so single corner on opposite side.

On a different subject, Derek Oldbury once described to me a version of pool draughts called "spot behind the man" so that the last square of a jump MUST be immediately next to the last captured piece. Does anyone know or play this? I think it allows 2 kings to beat 1 king, so you get fewer draws.

Also, is damforum dead? I get no reply.

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@orac81
Thank you for indicating key combinations.

As for Pool draughts, that definition of jump is not correct with regards to king.
A correct and trustworthy set of Pool draughts rules is presented at admamalawi.weebly.com/game-rules.html . Just keep into mind that these are local rules, where black side starts the game, but not Unified Pool draughts rules which are applied to international tournaments.

"Spot behind the man" or, in other words, "mandatory stop behind the last piece to be captured" is a rule which is applied in some variants from Spanish draughts family; see full list at http://www.mlwi.magix.net/bg/spanishcheckersvariants.htm and compare definitions. Of course, you are correct to conclude that this specific rule (and, by the way, similar one which demands to stop behind every piece to be captured) allows to convert material advantage into a win much easier than in majority of draughts variants.

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@orac81

A suggestion for GUI:

Instead of using ASCII art or applying pictures you might consider application of fonts.

While there are 4 standardized symbols for draughts under unicode (⛀ white draughtsman / U+26c0; ⛁ white draughts king / U+26c1; ⛂ black draughtsman / U+26c2; ⛃ black draughts king / U+26c3), only a small number of fonts ensure their availability, so this is not to be considered as a solution for gaming software.

A better alternative is to use small size fonts, despite that they violate the standard of unicode.

As for today, I know only 3 fonts which can be used efficiently:

(1) "Checkers" by Jim Loy : downloadable at www.usacheckers.com/images/Ch______.ttf ; manual www.usacheckers.com/Word%20Files/Checkers%20Regular.doc ;

(2) "Draughts Utrecht" : downloadable at www.ffonts.net/Draughts-Utrecht.font and in numerous other sites ;

(3) "Shashki" : downloadable at otlab.ru/downloads/shashki-dt.zip ; design samples available at otlab.ru/fonts/shashki.html .

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Thanks for the ideas and suggestions. There are so many variations of the rules! Dynamo was written in "pre internet" times, it was much harder to access this sort of information.

As for fonts, I didn't realize there was a unicode option. But I use ASCII art in the text version of the program because that version is a "C99" compiler compatible version, it should be possible to build the source code on any computer with a C99 compiler. The idea is in the end to make it work with a separate front end, possibly my SAGE program, or other front ends, which provides the nice graphics, menus, etc.

To be honest I am tempted to rewrite Dynamo, the code is old and untidy..

I will check through the links u provide. I have always thought that in 10x10, the fact that 2 kings against 1 king draws is a weakness of the game.

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