\chapter command and skak package

Question

Is there a way to write a chapter title using chess figurines? I'm using the skak package and

\chapter{\mainline{1.e4 e6 2.d4 b6}}

doesn't work. Same error using the \variation command.

I'll post the exact error output when I'll be back home if needed.

Answer 1

Using a parsing command like \mainline in an moving argument is very problematic. I would suggest to do the parsing outside with \hidemoves and to print the moves with xskak:

\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{xskak}

\begin{document}
\newchessgame[id=title]
\hidemoves{1.e4 e6 2.d4 b6}

\tableofcontents

\chapter{\protect\printchessgame[id=title]}


\printchessgame[id=title]
\chessboard[id=title]


\end{document}

Answer 2

Since the contents of a \chapter (or any/most sectional headings) are moving/fragile (they end up in the ToC, for example), care should be taken. However, you can box the content and then insert the box as part of your chapter heading. This is also not fool-proof, but at least provides a means to obtain the desired output in the chapter heading:

\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{skak}% http://ctan.org/pkg/skak
\newsavebox{\mybox}
\begin{document}
\begin{lrbox}{\mybox}\huge\newgame\longmoves\longmoves\mainline{1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6}\end{lrbox}
\chapter{\usebox{\mybox}}
\end{document}

Since the contents of \mybox is fixed in terms of its typesetting, I've used \huge which is similar to that of the regular \chapter title (in book.cls).

---

Another (better) alternative would be to use the Chess Font Selection Scheme chessfss to construct your chapter/symbol headings:

\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{chessfss}% http://ctan.org/pkg/chessfss
\begin{document}
\chapter{Chess: \textsymking, \textsymqueen, \textsymrook, \textsymbishop, \textsymknight, \textsympawn}
\end{document}

This works well with inserting the content in the ToC without problem. See the chessfss documentation for more details on how to modify the symbol masks and colours.