Chess for Android v5.6

[abik]

Hi Alexei,
Okay, I will add those times to the time controls as well.

I badly messed up my links in the prior posting and can't edit anymore past the 15 minute mark. So, here goes again: more information on the new e-board feature on the webpage "connecting to the Millennium electronic chess board".

[Nordlandia]

Hourglass TC would be wonderful inclusion for CFA

[hagtorp]

Hi Alexei,
Okay, I will add those times to the time controls as well.

I badly messed up my links in the prior posting and can't edit anymore past the 15 minute mark. So, here goes again: more information on the new e-board feature on the webpage "connecting to the Millennium electronic chess board".

Thank you Mr. Bik,we will wait.

[hagtorp]

Hourglass TC would be wonderful inclusion for CFA

And what is their practical effect?
Only aesthetic...

[Nordlandia]

Hourglass TC would be wonderful inclusion for CFA

And what is their practical effect?
Only aesthetic...

Hourglass TC put strain on engines, they can't use too much time simply because opponent get more thinking time. However hourglass + ponder is a interesting concept.

Hourglass mode can't go on forever because of adjudication rules in CFA.

[abik]

Hourglass TC would be wonderful inclusion for CFA

Just for my education, I am guessing that an hourglass chess clock works exactly like an hourglass (zandloper in dutch). You start with some fixed time for both sides, and then while thinking, your time flows into your opponent's time, like sand. When you make your move you flip the hourglass the other way. Effectively, assuming you don't let your side of the hourglass run empty, the game never runs out of time and adjudication indeed becomes more important.

Although it sounds like fun (this is not a commitment to implement it! ), are there any serious engine tournaments conducted this way?

[hagtorp]

Hourglass TC would be wonderful inclusion for CFA

Just for my education, I am guessing that an hourglass chess clock works exactly like an hourglass (zandloper in dutch). You start with some fixed time for both sides, and then while thinking, your time flows into your opponent's time, like sand. When you make your move you flip the hourglass the other way. Effectively, assuming you don't let your side of the hourglass run empty, the game never runs out of time and adjudication indeed becomes more important.

Although it sounds like fun (this is not a commitment to implement it! ), are there any serious engine tournaments conducted this way?

I in my practice have not seen these engines tournaments(with the hourglass).Although there is such an application "Chess for all" there implemented a time control when playing between engines(if I remember correctly).

[Nordlandia]

Aart Bik: yes, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_control#Hourglass

To my knowledge Chessmaster franchise support hourglass tc for engine matches. Example video found on youtube:

1 minute hourglass is available for free & without registration at Shredder Online website, simply click "Play as Quest" -> Create New Challenge -> 1m Hg.

https://www.shredderchess.net/

[supersharp77]

Chess friends,
I released version 5.6 of Chess for Android.
New features include:

• New piece set (thanks Bryan Whitby!)
• Menu touch feedback
• E-Board connection support over bluetooth
• New permission model (SMS + network + bluetooth; starting api 23)

The latter feature allows me to have just one release with all features (rather than providing a separate version that asks for more permissions). I also made my debut as youtube instructor on Chess for Android. Please have a look at https://youtu.be/VFBiXXw84Q8 (and please be kind ).

Chess Engine Testing....Swiss system option...also need a box/slot for rating of chess engines RR or Swiss or other tourney settings...due to the sheer number of android engines released testing has backed up considerably..Thx AR

[abik]

Mr. Bik,please make at least an informal version of the CFA.Need a time control of 30 seconds per game with the addition of 0.5 seconds on the course.Minimally, the CFA can put a time control of 60+1,which is a lot(long games are).

I have added 10 seconds and 30 seconds per game, but I am bit reluctant on the 0.5 seconds increment.

The UCI protocol supports msec. in wincr/bincr, so no problem there, but the XBoard protocol does not seem to have such a provision in level, where all arguments are integers. For example, level 40 5 0 means "play forty moves in five minutes", level 0 0:30 1 means "play the whole game in 30 seconds with 1 second increment", but I am not sure how to go lower for the increment time. Options would be level 0 0:30 0.5 or level 0 0:30 1/2 or perhaps even level 0 0:30 0:50, but all these seem non-standard.

The PGN standard for time control has a similar issue, since only a positive integer may follow the +, as in, for example 40/30+1 (which I use for just one time period, it may be non-standard already strictly speaking). Of course less important for game play, but still important for proper reporting.

Any insights on this from the experts? How should fractional seconds in time increments be dealt with?