diff --git a/src/suicideChess/Board.java b/src/suicideChess/Board.java
index 5e04bd1..0288421 100644
--- a/src/suicideChess/Board.java
+++ b/src/suicideChess/Board.java
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ import suicideChess.Square.NotAValidSquare;
  * <li>a2 is square 8</li>
  * <li>... and so on</li> 
  * 
+ * Note that the evaluation of the board balance is in this class since I considered that it is
+ * very closely related to the board position.
+ * 
  * @author Jean-Baptiste H&eacute;tier
  * @version $LastChangedRevision$, $LastChangedDate$
  * 
@@ -37,7 +40,17 @@ public class Board {
 		NoPieceOnSquare(String s) { super(s); };
 	}
 	
-		
+    /**
+     * Value returned by the evaluation function when White wins
+     */
+    public static final int WHITE_WINS = 99999;
+    
+    /**
+     * Value returned by the evaluation function when Black wins
+     */
+    public static final int BLACK_WINS = -99999;
+
+    
 	/*======*
 	 * DATA *
 	 *======*/
@@ -60,6 +73,9 @@ public class Board {
 	private boolean enPassant=false; //is there an 'en passant pawn' on the board
 	private Square enPassantSquare;
 	
+    private int numberOfBlackPieces = NB_OF_FILES*2;
+    private int numberOfWhitePieces = NB_OF_FILES*2;
+    private int boardValue = 0; //evaluation of the board value
 	
 	
 	/*=============*
@@ -111,12 +127,29 @@ public class Board {
 
 	}
 	
+    /**
+     * A constructor that simply copies a bitboard
+     * @param bitboard The bitboard to be copied
+     */
+    
+    public Board(Board bitboard) {
+        this.numberOfBlackPieces = bitboard.numberOfBlackPieces;
+        this.numberOfWhitePieces = bitboard.numberOfWhitePieces;
+        this.boardValue = bitboard.boardValue;
+        this.bitBoards = new long[NB_OF_BITBOARDS];
+        for (int i=0; i<NB_OF_BITBOARDS; i++) {
+            this.bitBoards[i] = bitboard.bitBoards[i];
+        }
+        this.enPassant = bitboard.enPassant;
+        this.enPassantSquare = bitboard.enPassantSquare;
+    }
 	
 	/*================*
 	 * PUBLIC METHODS *
 	 *================*/
-	
-	/**
+    
+    
+    /**
 	 * This methods takes a {@link Move} and applies it (updating the bitboard)
 	 * @param move The move that is to be done
 	 * @throws NoPieceOnSquare If a piece is trying to be moved from a square that does not exist.
@@ -130,6 +163,8 @@ public class Board {
             } else {
                 removePiece(move.toSquare(), move.getCapturedPiece());
             }
+            //capture moves change the value of the board
+            evaluateNewBoardValue(move);
 		}
         removePiece(move.fromSquare(), move.getMovingPiece());
         if (move.isPromotionMove()) {
@@ -238,6 +273,17 @@ public class Board {
 		return enPassantSquare;
 	}
 	
+    
+    /**
+     * This function returns an integer representing the result of the static evaluation function
+     * for the current board
+     * @return
+     */
+    public int getBoardValue() {
+        return boardValue;
+    }
+    
+    
 	/**
 	 * This function can be used to display the board
 	 * Black pieces are displayed in uppercase letters.
@@ -358,5 +404,23 @@ public class Board {
 			return true; 
 		}
 	}
+    
+    private void evaluateNewBoardValue (Move move) {
+        if (move.isCaptureMove()) {
+            if (move.getCapturedPiece().getColor()==Piece.BLACK) {
+                numberOfBlackPieces--;
+            } else {
+                numberOfWhitePieces--;
+            }
+            if (numberOfBlackPieces == 0) {
+                boardValue = BLACK_WINS; 
+            } else if (numberOfWhitePieces == 0){
+                boardValue = WHITE_WINS;
+            } else {
+                //this is a very very basic evaluation function that will be changed.
+                boardValue = numberOfBlackPieces - numberOfWhitePieces;
+            }    
+        }
+    }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/suicideChess/ComputerPlayer.java b/src/suicideChess/ComputerPlayer.java
index 3c23aa4..cf98530 100644
--- a/src/suicideChess/ComputerPlayer.java
+++ b/src/suicideChess/ComputerPlayer.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package suicideChess;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Random;
 
+import suicideChess.Board.NoPieceOnSquare;
 import suicideChess.Square.NotAValidSquare;
 
 /**
@@ -12,7 +13,9 @@ import suicideChess.Square.NotAValidSquare;
  */
 
 public class ComputerPlayer {
-    
+
+
+
     /**
      * This constructor creates a computer.
      */
@@ -23,12 +26,13 @@ public class ComputerPlayer {
     /**
      * This asks the computer to compute a move
      * @param bitboard The current status of the {@link Board}
+     * @param color The color to play
      * @return move A {@link Move}
      * @throws NotAValidSquare 
      * @see Board
      * @see Move
      */
-    public Move doMove(Board bitboard, int color) throws NotAValidSquare {
+    public Move doRandomMove(Board bitboard, int color) throws NotAValidSquare {
         Random generator = new Random();
         Rules.legalMovesForPlayer(bitboard,color);
         ArrayList<Move> allLegalMoves = Rules.getLegalMovesCapture();
@@ -39,8 +43,73 @@ public class ComputerPlayer {
             return allLegalMoves.get(generator.nextInt(allLegalMoves.size()));
         }
         
-        throw new RuntimeException();
+        throw new RuntimeException("**Error** in doRandomMove");
 
     }
     
+    /**
+     * Basic MinMax
+     * @param bitboard The bitboard
+     * @param color The color to play
+     * @return The best Move found 
+     * @throws NotAValidSquare 
+     * @throws NoPieceOnSquare 
+     * @see Board
+     * @see Move
+     */
+    public Move doMinMaxMove(Board bitboard, int color) throws NotAValidSquare, NoPieceOnSquare {
+        bestMove = null;
+        MinMax(bitboard, color, 0);
+        return bestMove;
+    }
+    
+    
+    private int MinMax(Board bitboard, int color, int currentDepth) throws NotAValidSquare, NoPieceOnSquare {
+        if (currentDepth >= SuicideChess.PLY_DEPTH) {
+            return bitboard.getBoardValue();
+        }
+        Rules.legalMovesForPlayer(bitboard,color);
+        ArrayList<Move> allLegalMoves = Rules.getLegalMovesCapture();
+        if (allLegalMoves.size()==0) {
+            allLegalMoves = Rules.getLegalMovesNonCapture();
+        }
+        if (allLegalMoves.size()==0) {
+            if (color==Piece.BLACK) {
+                return Board.BLACK_WINS;
+            } else {
+                return Board.WHITE_WINS;
+            }
+        } else {
+            int bestMoveIndex=0;
+            int currentScore;
+            int bestScoreSoFar;
+            if (color==Piece.BLACK) {            
+                bestScoreSoFar=Board.WHITE_WINS+1; //any move even a WHITE_WINS will be better than that
+                for (int i=0; i<allLegalMoves.size(); i++) {
+                    Board boardCopy = new Board(bitboard);
+                    boardCopy.doMove(allLegalMoves.get(i));
+                    currentScore=MinMax(boardCopy,Piece.WHITE,currentDepth+1);
+                    if (currentScore < bestScoreSoFar) { //black tries to minimise his score
+                        bestScoreSoFar = currentScore;
+                        bestMoveIndex = i;
+                    }
+                }
+            } else { //white piece
+                bestScoreSoFar=Board.BLACK_WINS-1; //any move even a BLACK_WINS will be better than that
+                for (int i=0; i<allLegalMoves.size(); i++) {
+                    Board boardCopy = new Board(bitboard);
+                    boardCopy.doMove(allLegalMoves.get(i));
+                    currentScore=MinMax(boardCopy,Piece.BLACK,currentDepth+1);
+                    if (currentScore > bestScoreSoFar) { //white tries to maximise his score
+                        bestScoreSoFar = currentScore;
+                        bestMoveIndex = i;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            bestMove = allLegalMoves.get(bestMoveIndex);
+            return bestScoreSoFar;
+        }  
+    }
+    
+    private static Move bestMove = null;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/suicideChess/Rules.java b/src/suicideChess/Rules.java
index 2238a38..3152acb 100644
--- a/src/suicideChess/Rules.java
+++ b/src/suicideChess/Rules.java
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ public class Rules {
 	
     private static ArrayList<Move> legalMovesNonCapture;
     private static ArrayList<Move> legalMovesCapture;
-	
+	    
 //    public class UnexpectedError extends Exception {
 //        /*
 //         * Generated by Eclipse
diff --git a/src/suicideChess/SuicideChess.java b/src/suicideChess/SuicideChess.java
index bafb6a9..709596d 100644
--- a/src/suicideChess/SuicideChess.java
+++ b/src/suicideChess/SuicideChess.java
@@ -33,13 +33,18 @@ public class SuicideChess {
     /**
      * The name to be displayed
      */
-    public static final String NAME = "djib's SuicideChess v0.3 beta 2";
+    public static final String NAME = "djib's SuicideChess v0.4.1";
     
     /**
      * Displays informations in the console.
      */
     public static final boolean ASCII_GAME = false;
-
+    
+    /**
+     * Number of Plies the computes searches to
+     */
+    public static final int PLY_DEPTH = 5;
+    
     /**
      * The color of the current player
      */
@@ -60,167 +65,200 @@ public class SuicideChess {
         }
     }
     
+    /**
+     * If feature usermove has not been accepted by XBoard then consider all unknown commands
+     * as moves
+     */
+    private static boolean acceptedUsermove = false;
+    
     
     /**
      * The main function
      * @param args No parameters should be transmitted to this function.
+     * @throws NotAValidSquare 
      */
-    public static void main(String[] args) {
+    public static void main(String[] args) throws NotAValidSquare {
+        
+        
+        System.out.println("Welcome to SuicideChess "+SuicideChess.NAME+"!");
+        if (!SuicideChess.ASCII_GAME) {
+            System.out.println("This game was not designed to be played in console. Please use it with XBoard, WinBoard or any compatible program.");
+        }
+        System.out.println();
+        
+        
+        BufferedReader moveInput = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
+        Board bitboard = new Board();
+        
+        if (ASCII_GAME) {
+            bitboard.display();
+            System.out.println("White: ");
+        }
+        
+        ComputerPlayer computer = new ComputerPlayer();
+        boolean computerPlaying = true; //the computer does not play in foce mode.
+        
+        boolean playing = true;
+        
+        while (playing) {
+            try {
+                String whatMove= moveInput.readLine();
+                boolean playedALegalMove = false;
                 
-        try {            
-            
-            BufferedReader moveInput = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
-            Board bitboard = new Board();
-            
-            if (ASCII_GAME) {
-                bitboard.display();
-                System.out.println("White: ");
-            }
-            
-            ComputerPlayer computer = new ComputerPlayer();
-            
-            boolean playing = true;
-            
-            while (playing) {
-                try {
-                    String whatMove= moveInput.readLine();
-                    boolean playedALegalMove = false;
-                    
-                    int xBoardCommand = XBoardProtocol.getCommand(whatMove);
-                    
-                    switch (xBoardCommand) {
-                    case XBoardProtocol.XBOARD:
-                        break;
-                    case XBoardProtocol.PROTOVER:
-                        XBoardProtocol.initialise();
-                        break;
-                    case XBoardProtocol.NOT_ACCEPTED_SUICIDE:
-                        System.out.println("tellusererror \"This game only plays suicide chess.\"");
-                        playing=false;
-                        break;
-                    case XBoardProtocol.NOT_ACCEPTED_USERMOVE:
-                        System.out.println("tellusererror \"XBoard must send moves starting with 'usermove'\"");
-                        playing=false;
-                        break;
-                    case XBoardProtocol.NOPROTOVER:
-                        System.out.println("tellusererror \"You must use an engine with XBoard protocol 2 or higher.\"");
-                        playing=false;
-                        break;
-                    case XBoardProtocol.QUIT:
-                        System.out.println("Goodbye!");
-                        playing=false;
-                        break;
-                    case XBoardProtocol.NEW:
-                        System.out.println("variant suicide");
-                        break;
-                    case XBoardProtocol.UNKNOWN:
+                int xBoardCommand = XBoardProtocol.getCommand(whatMove);
+                
+                switch (xBoardCommand) {
+                case XBoardProtocol.XBOARD:
+                    break;
+                case XBoardProtocol.PROTOVER:
+                    XBoardProtocol.initialise();
+                    break;
+                case XBoardProtocol.NOT_ACCEPTED_SUICIDE:
+                    System.out.println("tellusererror \"This game only plays suicide chess.\"");
+                    playing=false;
+                    break;
+                case XBoardProtocol.ACCEPTED_USERMOVE:
+                    acceptedUsermove=true;
+                    break;
+                case XBoardProtocol.NOPROTOVER:
+                    System.out.println("tellusererror \"You must use an engine with XBoard protocol 2 or higher.\"");
+                    playing=false;
+                    break;
+                case XBoardProtocol.QUIT:
+                    System.out.println("Goodbye!");
+                    playing=false;
+                    break;
+                case XBoardProtocol.NEW:
+                    System.out.println("variant suicide");
+                    break;
+                case XBoardProtocol.HINT:
+                    System.out.println("Hint: "+computer.doRandomMove(bitboard,currentPlayerColor));
+                    break;
+                case XBoardProtocol.FORCE:
+                    computerPlaying = false;
+                    break;
+                case XBoardProtocol.UNKNOWN:
+                    if (acceptedUsermove) {
                         System.out.println("Error (unknown command): "+whatMove);
                         break;
-                    case XBoardProtocol.MOVE:
-                        Move theMove = new Move(whatMove.substring(9), bitboard);
-
-                        boolean needToCapture = false;
-                        int foundMoveIndex = -1;
-                        if(theMove.getMovingPiece().getColor() == currentPlayerColor) {
-                            Rules.legalMovesForPlayer(bitboard,currentPlayerColor);
-                            ArrayList<Move> allLegalMoves = Rules.getLegalMovesCapture();
-                            if (allLegalMoves.size()==0) {
-                                allLegalMoves = Rules.getLegalMovesNonCapture();
-                            } else {
-                                needToCapture = true;
-                            }
-                            for (int moveIndex = 0; moveIndex < allLegalMoves.size(); moveIndex++) {
-                                if (allLegalMoves.get(moveIndex).isSimpleEqual(theMove)) {
-                                    if(theMove.isPromotionMove()&&
-                                            theMove.getPromotionPiece().getPieceNumber()!=allLegalMoves.get(moveIndex).getPromotionPiece().getPieceNumber()) {
-                                        continue;
-                                    }
-                                    foundMoveIndex=moveIndex;
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                            }
-                            if (foundMoveIndex == -1) {
-                                if (needToCapture) {
-                                    if (ASCII_GAME)
-                                        System.out.println("Capturing is mandatory.");
-                                }
-                                System.out.println("Illegal move: "+theMove.toString());
-                            } else {
-                                bitboard.doMove(allLegalMoves.get(foundMoveIndex));
-                                if (ASCII_GAME) {
-                                    allLegalMoves.get(foundMoveIndex).display();
-                                    bitboard.display();
-                                }
-                                playedALegalMove=true;
-                            }
+                    }
+                    //if XBoard did not accept usermove command we try and interpret every unknown command
+                    //as a move.
+                case XBoardProtocol.MOVE:
+                    Move theMove;
+                    if (acceptedUsermove) {
+                        theMove = new Move(whatMove.substring(9), bitboard);
+                    } else {
+                        theMove = new Move(whatMove, bitboard);
+                    }
+                    
+                    boolean needToCapture = false;
+                    int foundMoveIndex = -1;
+                    if(theMove.getMovingPiece().getColor() == currentPlayerColor) {
+                        Rules.legalMovesForPlayer(bitboard,currentPlayerColor);
+                        ArrayList<Move> allLegalMoves = Rules.getLegalMovesCapture();
+                        if (allLegalMoves.size()==0) {
+                            allLegalMoves = Rules.getLegalMovesNonCapture();
                         } else {
-                            if (ASCII_GAME)
-                                System.out.println("Please play a piece of the right color.");
+                            needToCapture = true;
+                        }
+                        for (int moveIndex = 0; moveIndex < allLegalMoves.size(); moveIndex++) {
+                            if (allLegalMoves.get(moveIndex).isSimpleEqual(theMove)) {
+                                if(theMove.isPromotionMove()&&
+                                        theMove.getPromotionPiece().getPieceNumber()!=allLegalMoves.get(moveIndex).getPromotionPiece().getPieceNumber()) {
+                                    continue;
+                                }
+                                foundMoveIndex=moveIndex;
+                                break;
+                            }
+                        }
+                        if (foundMoveIndex == -1) {
+                            if (needToCapture) {
+                                if (ASCII_GAME)
+                                    System.out.println("Capturing is mandatory.");
+                            }
                             System.out.println("Illegal move: "+theMove.toString());
+                        } else {
+                            bitboard.doMove(allLegalMoves.get(foundMoveIndex));
+                            if (ASCII_GAME) {
+                                allLegalMoves.get(foundMoveIndex).display();
+                                System.out.println("Board value: "+bitboard.getBoardValue());
+                                bitboard.display();
+                            }
+                            playedALegalMove=true;
                         }
-                        
-                        if (!playedALegalMove) {
-                            break;
-                        }
-                        changeCurrentPlayerColor();
-                        //No break statement here on purpose.
-                    case XBoardProtocol.GO:
-                        Move computerMove = computer.doMove(bitboard,currentPlayerColor);
+                    } else {
+                        if (ASCII_GAME)
+                            System.out.println("Please play a piece of the right color.");
+                        System.out.println("Illegal move: "+theMove.toString());
+                    }
+                    
+                    if (!playedALegalMove) {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    changeCurrentPlayerColor();
+                    //No break statement here on purpose.
+                case XBoardProtocol.GO:
+                    //this is not really nice but it avoids having to write twice the code
+                    //I check if I did really receive a XBoardProtocol.GO or it I just got there
+                    //because there is no break statement.
+                    if (xBoardCommand==XBoardProtocol.GO) 
+                        computerPlaying = true;
+                    if (computerPlaying) {
+                        Move computerMove = computer.doMinMaxMove(bitboard,currentPlayerColor);                            
                         bitboard.doMove(computerMove);
                         XBoardProtocol.doMove(computerMove);
                         if (ASCII_GAME) {
                             computerMove.display();
+                            System.out.println("Board value: "+bitboard.getBoardValue());
                             bitboard.display();
                         }
                         changeCurrentPlayerColor();
-   
-                        break;
-
-                    }
-                                        
-//                    if (whatMove.startsWith("hint")) {
-//                        Rules rules = new Rules();
-//                        rules.legalMovesForPlayer(bitboard,currentPlayerColor);
-//                        ArrayList<Move> allLegalMoves = rules.getLegalMovesCapture();
-//                        if (allLegalMoves.size()==0) {
-//                            allLegalMoves = rules.getLegalMovesNonCapture();
-//                        }
-//                        for(int i = 0; i<allLegalMoves.size(); i++) {
-//                            if(allLegalMoves.get(i).isPromotionMove()) {
-//                                System.out.println(allLegalMoves.get(i).fromSquare().toString() +
-//                                        allLegalMoves.get(i).toSquare().toString() +
-//                                        allLegalMoves.get(i).getPromotionPiece().toString());
-//                            } else {
-//                                System.out.println(allLegalMoves.get(i).fromSquare().toString() +
-//                                        allLegalMoves.get(i).toSquare().toString());                                
-//                            }
-//                            
-//                        }
-//                        continue;
-//                    }
-                    
-//                    if (whatMove.startsWith("force")) {
-//                        Move theMove = new Move(whatMove.substring(6,10), bitboard);
-//                        theMove.display();
-//                        bitboard.doMove(theMove);
-//                        bitboard.display();
-//                        continue;
-//                    }
-                    
-                    
-                } catch (NotAValidMoveException err) {
-                    System.out.println(err);
-                    continue;
-                } catch (NotAValidSquare err) {
-                    System.out.println(err);
-                    continue;
-                } catch (Exception err) {
-                    System.out.println(err);
+                    }   
                     break;
+                    
                 }
+                
+//              if (whatMove.startsWith("hint")) {
+//              Rules rules = new Rules();
+//              rules.legalMovesForPlayer(bitboard,currentPlayerColor);
+//              ArrayList<Move> allLegalMoves = rules.getLegalMovesCapture();
+//              if (allLegalMoves.size()==0) {
+//              allLegalMoves = rules.getLegalMovesNonCapture();
+//              }
+//              for(int i = 0; i<allLegalMoves.size(); i++) {
+//              if(allLegalMoves.get(i).isPromotionMove()) {
+//              System.out.println(allLegalMoves.get(i).fromSquare().toString() +
+//              allLegalMoves.get(i).toSquare().toString() +
+//              allLegalMoves.get(i).getPromotionPiece().toString());
+//              } else {
+//              System.out.println(allLegalMoves.get(i).fromSquare().toString() +
+//              allLegalMoves.get(i).toSquare().toString());                                
+//              }
+//              
+//              }
+//              continue;
+//              }
+                
+//              if (whatMove.startsWith("force")) {
+//              Move theMove = new Move(whatMove.substring(6,10), bitboard);
+//              theMove.display();
+//              bitboard.doMove(theMove);
+//              bitboard.display();
+//              continue;
+//              }
+                
+                
+            } catch (NotAValidMoveException err) {
+                System.out.println(err);
+                continue;
+            } catch (NotAValidSquare err) {
+                System.out.println(err);
+                continue;
+            } catch (Exception err) {
+                System.out.println(err);
+                break;
             }
-        } catch (NotAValidSquare e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
         }
     }
     
diff --git a/src/suicideChess/XBoardProtocol.java b/src/suicideChess/XBoardProtocol.java
index 5f8274d..4a87d18 100644
--- a/src/suicideChess/XBoardProtocol.java
+++ b/src/suicideChess/XBoardProtocol.java
@@ -46,14 +46,22 @@ public class XBoardProtocol {
      * XBoard tells the computer to play the current color
      */
     public static final int GO = 7;
+    /**
+     * XBoard user asks for a Hint
+     */
+    public static final int HINT = 8;
+    /**
+     * XBoard asks for computer to be put in force mode.
+     */
+    public static final int FORCE = 9;
     /**
      * XBoard did not accept sending moves with usermove
      */
-    public static final int NOT_ACCEPTED_USERMOVE = 9;
+    public static final int ACCEPTED_USERMOVE = 10;
     /**
      * XBoard did not accept variant suicide chess
      */
-    public static final int NOT_ACCEPTED_SUICIDE = 10;
+    public static final int NOT_ACCEPTED_SUICIDE = 11;
     /**
      * Unknown command
      */
@@ -66,12 +74,6 @@ public class XBoardProtocol {
      */
     public static void initialise() throws IOException {
         //done=1 is here to tell that the program has finish requesting features
-        if (SuicideChess.ASCII_GAME) {
-            System.out.println("Welcome to SuicideChess "+SuicideChess.NAME+"!");
-            System.out.println("This game was not designed to be played in console. Please use it with XBoard, WinBoard or any compatible program.");
-            System.out.println();
-        }
-        System.out.println("");
         System.out.println("feature myname=\"djib's Suicide Chess\"");
         System.out.println("feature sigint=0 sigterm=0");
         System.out.println("feature usermove=1"); //sends moves like 'usermove e2e4'
@@ -113,13 +115,17 @@ public class XBoardProtocol {
             return MOVE;
         } else if (command.equals("rejected variants")) {
             return NOT_ACCEPTED_SUICIDE;
-        } else if (command.equals("rejected usermove")) {
-            return NOT_ACCEPTED_USERMOVE;
+        } else if (command.equals("accepted usermove")) {
+            return ACCEPTED_USERMOVE;
         } else if (command.equals("go")) {
             return GO;
+        } else if (command.equals("hint")) {
+            return HINT;
+        } else if (command.equals("force")) {
+            return FORCE;
         }
 
         return UNKNOWN;
     }
-    
+        
 }