Chess for Android v5.0: Time Control

[abik]

Pending in the next update:

• Clock starts on first move during tournaments
• Cleanup logs works (really Aart? yes!)
• Minor improvements in starting/resuming tournaments

[Ferdy]

Just reacting to some of the reported issues so far. Thanks for all the feedback.

• Signature issue has been resolved. Thanks for double checking!
• By design, the clock only starts when the user or engine makes the first move, either from a new game, or from a game just loaded. During a tournament, that makes no sense though, but the fix for this is extremely easy. Upcoming
• Navigation typically stops a tournament by design. Indeed the clock continues, but the game is not saved in the result. Using the "resume" option will continue the tournament starting at the interrupted game.
• Right after publishing I remembered I had to look at the cleaning up logs issue. Not functional yet, sorry about that.

[*] Chessbase compatible engines are directly recognized by Chess for Android but obviously cannot be *un*installed since they belong to other applications. I don't have Deep Fritz 14 so without further logging, cannot really comment why it does not work.

I have other engines that are shown in import engine list, namely 2 stockfish3, and 1 Critter1.6a, all would not work also. Could you make a way where these non-working engines will not be displayed in the import engine list?

[*] It would be possible to continue tournaments when navigating away from the application. However, this is not quite what all users would want, so I am very reluctant on this. Perhaps an option
[*] Please remember that Chess for Android works just as well with UCI as with XBoard engines. For XBoard engines I send the time control only once at the start of the engine (no further syncing). I am curious how well that works in practice.
[/list]

[Ferdy]

After some delay, I finally released version 5.0 of Chess for Android, available on Google Play or as direct download. New features include:

• * Time control to define a chess clock for both sides with a choice between the number of moves between time control (possibly the full game), thinking time per time control, and an optional time increment per move.
  * Double engine analysis lines during tournaments, especially useful with pondering on.
  * Re-factored a lot of the engine handling code, with improved cleanup of hanging engines.

This is a relatively major release, so please let me know if you encounter any issues. Also, as usual, suggestions for improvements are welcome.

Additional feature request.
1. Add options 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 minutes in "Thinking time per time control" I believe most matches are done in this range, not too short and not too long. You already have 10 and 20 perhaps you may add 15 minutes. Also important add the 90 minutes (you only have 60 and 120) which is used by fide major events 90minutes/40moves first TC + 30minutes rest + 30 sec inc starting from move 1, just to satisfy the first TC.
2. In the "number of moves between time control", full game, 40, 60, 80, 120 perhaps should be enough.

[abik]

Additional feature request.
1. Add options 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 minutes in "Thinking time per time control" I believe most matches are done in this range, not too short and not too long. You already have 10 and 20 perhaps you may add 15 minutes. Also important add the 90 minutes (you only have 60 and 120) which is used by fide major events 90minutes/40moves first TC + 30minutes rest + 30 sec inc starting from move 1, just to satisfy the first TC.
2. In the "number of moves between time control", full game, 40, 60, 80, 120 perhaps should be enough.

Happy to add more choices in these options! Upcoming!

[Ferdy]

Just reacting to some of the reported issues so far. Thanks for all the feedback.

• Signature issue has been resolved. Thanks for double checking!
• By design, the clock only starts when the user or engine makes the first move, either from a new game, or from a game just loaded. During a tournament, that makes no sense though, but the fix for this is extremely easy. Upcoming
• Navigation typically stops a tournament by design. Indeed the clock continues, but the game is not saved in the result. Using the "resume" option will continue the tournament starting at the interrupted game.
• Right after publishing I remembered I had to look at the cleaning up logs issue. Not functional yet, sorry about that.

[*] Chessbase compatible engines are directly recognized by Chess for Android but obviously cannot be *un*installed since they belong to other applications. I don't have Deep Fritz 14 so without further logging, cannot really comment why it does not work.

I have other engines that are shown in import engine list, namely 2 stockfish3, and 1 Critter1.6a, all would not work also. Could you make a way where these non-working engines will not be displayed in the import engine list?

[*] It would be possible to continue tournaments when navigating away from the application. However, this is not quite what all users would want, so I am very reluctant on this. Perhaps an option
[*] Please remember that Chess for Android works just as well with UCI as with XBoard engines. For XBoard engines I send the time control only once at the start of the engine (no further syncing). I am curious how well that works in practice.
[/list]

Regarding engines df14, stockfish3 and critter 1.6a, all works now, after uninstall / reinstall, 'ing the chessbase online app. But df14 will not run in chessbase online gui.

But still there are 2 df14 and 2 stockfish3 in the import engine list. I would love to see an option where you can have the ability to hide the engine - out from the import engine list.

[mclane]

After some delay, I finally released version 5.0 of Chess for Android, available on Google Play or as direct download. New features include:

• * Time control to define a chess clock for both sides with a choice between the number of moves between time control (possibly the full game), thinking time per time control, and an optional time increment per move.
  * Double engine analysis lines during tournaments, especially useful with pondering on.
  * Re-factored a lot of the engine handling code, with improved cleanup of hanging engines.

This is a relatively major release, so please let me know if you encounter any issues. Also, as usual, suggestions for improvements are welcome.

Additional feature request.
1. Add options 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 minutes in "Thinking time per time control" I believe most matches are done in this range, not too short and not too long. You already have 10 and 20 perhaps you may add 15 minutes. Also important add the 90 minutes (you only have 60 and 120) which is used by fide major events 90minutes/40moves first TC + 30minutes rest + 30 sec inc starting from move 1, just to satisfy the first TC.
2. In the "number of moves between time control", full game, 40, 60, 80, 120 perhaps should be enough.

?
And what is with 40/120 20/60 ?

[Ferdy]

After some delay, I finally released version 5.0 of Chess for Android, available on Google Play or as direct download. New features include:

• * Time control to define a chess clock for both sides with a choice between the number of moves between time control (possibly the full game), thinking time per time control, and an optional time increment per move.
  * Double engine analysis lines during tournaments, especially useful with pondering on.
  * Re-factored a lot of the engine handling code, with improved cleanup of hanging engines.

This is a relatively major release, so please let me know if you encounter any issues. Also, as usual, suggestions for improvements are welcome.

Additional feature request.
1. Add options 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 minutes in "Thinking time per time control" I believe most matches are done in this range, not too short and not too long. You already have 10 and 20 perhaps you may add 15 minutes. Also important add the 90 minutes (you only have 60 and 120) which is used by fide major events 90minutes/40moves first TC + 30minutes rest + 30 sec inc starting from move 1, just to satisfy the first TC.
2. In the "number of moves between time control", full game, 40, 60, 80, 120 perhaps should be enough.

?
And what is with 40/120 20/60 ?

CFA currently does not support that kind of TC, but it can handle 40/60 repeating with or without increment for example.

[supersharp77]

Great work as always Aart! The app is great .....flawless for the most part (except for the shadow engines that show up and won't disappear from the import screen Fruit reloaded and rodent right now) other than that only other thing is some engines will not work regardless of what you do....Firenzina will not play tournaments vs komodo 2.03....APIL plays but fails in tourneys.....same for Rocinante 2.0 Gaviota 1.0 and gaviota 0.86 not working but gaviota 0.85.1 and 0.84 and 0.83 are ok...Textel 1.04 and 1.05 not working for me....SF 3 not working for me but others have no issues but the other (Stockfishes) are......Ifrit crashes quickly and adachess crashes.....Myriddin plays but won't play in tournaments......buzz plays but crashes in tournaments.....I think these are engine and not gui problems?!?........unknown..... Thx Again AAR

[Ferdy]

After some delay, I finally released version 5.0 of Chess for Android, available on Google Play or as direct download. New features include:

• * Time control to define a chess clock for both sides with a choice between the number of moves between time control (possibly the full game), thinking time per time control, and an optional time increment per move.
  * Double engine analysis lines during tournaments, especially useful with pondering on.
  * Re-factored a lot of the engine handling code, with improved cleanup of hanging engines.

This is a relatively major release, so please let me know if you encounter any issues. Also, as usual, suggestions for improvements are welcome.

Feature request again.
Gauntlet type matches.
a vs b, a vs c, a vs d and so on.
Very convenient for testing new engine or new version of engine.

[Gurcan Uckardes]

Workaround for gauntlet:
Go to engine folder. Create a temp folder. Move all engines there. Move back new engine to test. In a second step move back all others. New engine will appear on top of engines list. You guess next steps.