| TI-Chess FAQ v 1.00 | (c) TiCT 17/08/2000 |
| related to TI-Chess 3.00 and above | |
1.1. Where can I find new versions of TI-Chess?
1.2. How can I contact the TI-Chess Team?
1.3. How do I report a bug?
1.4. How do I suggest a new feature for upcoming releases?
1.5. Can I help? Can I contribute something?
1.6. I want to participate in the beta tests. What should I do?
1.7. How can I thank the authors?
2.1. Why does the calculator always plays the same combinations?
2.2. The program states "Invalid move" on a valid move. What's going on?
2.3. The program captures a pawn after a double step in a really strange way ...
2.4. What are the chess clocks for?
2.5. What are Nodes (displayed on the infoboard)?
2.6. What is the best/last display on the infoboard good for?
2.7. How can I force the program to start a game with the white pieces?
2.8. What is a ply/what are plies?
3.1. I'm an absolute beginner. Where can I find tutorials?
3.2. Where can I find informations about advanced chess rules?
3.3. I want more puzzles. Where can I find new ones?
1.1. Where can I find new versions of TI-Chess?
The preferred way to download new versions is from the file archives from TICALC.ORG. At this site we can see the file download counter raising and this makes us happy ;-)
The easiest way is to check Thomas Nussbaumer's author info page to see if there already exists a new version. The author's info page can be found at: http://www.ticalc.org/archives/files/fileinfo/116/11606.html
There you can find also other "brain breakers" like TI-Con45.
To find news and/or rumors about TI-Chess Team Software visit the TI-Chess Team HQ page at: http://tict.ticalc.org.
1.2. How can I contact the TI-Chess Team?
The preferred way is our Messageboard at http://pub26.ezboard.com/btichessteamhq or you can contact me by mail at: thomas.nussbaumer@gmx.net
1.3. How do I report a bug?
First of all, please read carefully this FAQ and the readme.txt file! Maybe your problem is already mentioned there. If not, please check if there is already a new version of TI-Chess available. See section 1.1. for details where to get new versions. If none of these suggestions helps post a bug report on our Messageboard at http://pub26.ezboard.com/btichessteamhq, which should contain the following informations (just copy and paste this block !!):
Calculator Type (TI89/TI92): Hardware Version (HW1/HW2): Installed AMS Version (1.xx/2.03/2.04/2.05): Installed Kernel (if any): Version of TI-Chess: State of Ti-Chess (normal/archived/locked): [--- Optional infos (must not be filled) ---] Is the Problem re-producable: Can it be re-produced with VTI:If the problem is related to the chess engine itself (how the program plays chess), please save a position where the problem shows up and attach this ticsave file to the mail. Additionally attach the ticcfg file. Thanx.
By providing all this information the "problem solving process" will be much faster.
1.4. How do I suggest a new feature for upcoming releases?
First check section "future extensions" in the readme.txt file of the newest TI-Chess version, maybe your feature is already on our list. If it is, please don't mail. It will not be ranked better this way!
If its not on our list, feel free to write a mail to: thomas.nussbaumer@gmx.net
We always looking for useful extensions and/or improvements. They are very welcome.
1.5. Can I help? Can I contribute something?
Of course. We can need any helping hand. We are looking for a second (or more!) programmer, who knows C well. It doesn't matter if he/she isn't comfortable with the TIGCC programming environment or with programming for the TIs in general.
We are also looking for a good assembler coder who can port some parts from C into 68k Assembler. This is not only restricted to TI-Chess, but for all of our projects.
Additionally we are looking for a puzzle file composer. TI-Chess 3.00 comes with the puzzle files of 2.01, because it seems that there is no one out, who may generate some. And we are too busy to generate new ones.
We are also looking for a lector who may check and correct the documentation coming with TI-Chess.
And last but not least we are looking for someone who may write a handbook for TI-Chess which should explain the details of using the program in a better english than we are capable of.
So if you think that you can help out on one or more of the above topics, just send us a mail explaining what you want to contribute.
1.6. I want to participate in the beta tests. What should I do?
Its not completely clear how beta tests will be handled for the next release of TI-Chess. Check the TI-Chess Team HQ Site frequently for news on this topic.
Until now the next beta tests are NOT planned before October 2000.
1.7. How can I thank the authors?
If the download counter at ticalc.org raises due to your download, we are pleased enough. But as Xavier Vassor (DOORS) I like it to receive postcards from all over the world.
If you want to send me one here is my address:Thomas Nussbaumer Heinrichstrasse 112a A-8010 Graz AUSTRIA
2.1. Why does the calculator always plays the same combinations?
TI-Chess like other chess programs calculates the best answers on your moves. Under normal conditions it will just find one best move. So it plays always the same style. Until now TI-Chess uses no opening books, so even in the opening it will play always the same way (if you will not change your moves). The usage of opening books will be a major feature of one of the next releases of TI-Chess.
2.2. The program states "Invalid move" on a valid move. What's going on?
There are many possible reasons for this:
- Check if your king is in a check condition first. If this is true you have to move your king first out of the check or protect him with another figure before you can make any other move
- Additionally check if your king will come into a check condition when you will move the desired figure. You cannot move a figure if this would make your king "capture-able" for the opponent.
- Next check if one side is already mate. The program doesn't always display a hint on a mate situation. For example: If you use the back" and "forward again" keys the infoboards get cleared. You won't see the hint about the mate situation anymore.
- At last check if the figure you want to draw is really marked with a black rectangle. This happens more than once to me (trying to move a figure which I haven't really selected) ;-)
2.3. The program captures a pawn after a double step in a really strange way ...
You have just experienced the occurrence of the "En Passant" rule. This rule is the least used move in Chess and a little bit obscure. It can only occur when a player exercises his option to move his pawn two squares on its initial movement. When this happens, the opposing player has the option to take the moved pawn "en passant" as if it had only moved one square. This option, though, only stays open for one move. The en passant move was developed after pawns were allowed to move more than one square on their initial move. This was done to make sure they retained some of the restrictions imposed by slow movement, while at the same time speeding up the game. Check the links on the tutorial section to learn more on this topic.
2.4. What are the chess clocks for?
The chess clocks are introduced in TI-Chess 3.00 to give you a hint how long you thought about your moves and how long the calculator took up. Until now there are no functions build-in to restrict the time for each side, but this is planned for future releases.
2.5. What are Nodes (displayed on the infoboard)?
Nodes is the chess programming term for evaluated positions. If on the infoboard "Nodes: 12344" is displayed, the program has evaluated 12344 possible positions.
2.6. What is the best/last display on the infoboard good for?
During a calculator move the program hints you its "best move till now" by displaying "best:XYZ". Otherwise the infoboard will show the last move of each side with "last:XYZ".
2.7. How can I force the program to start a game with the white pieces
- Start by selecting "New Game" from the menu
- Use the "Change Side" key before making any move. Now the calculator starts with the white pieces.
- If you prefer to see the board with "white on top" just use the "Rotate Board" key
A keylist for your calculator can be found in the readme.txt file.
2.8. What is a ply/what are plies?
Ply is the chess programming term for a complete move. A move consists of two "half-moves". Yours and the oppent's "half-move". So if a chess puzzle states a "Mate in 2 plies" this means that you make a move, then the opponent and afterwards you again. The opponent should now be mate if you made your moves well-planned ;-)
The Basics of Chess: Beginners
Step by step introduction to the game for absolute beginners.Beginner's Chess Page: Rules
Summary of the rules. Explains why experienced players don't holler out "check!".Chess Corner
Chatty tutorials start with how to set up the board, and move on from there.Chess For Kids: How to Play
Nicely done set of tutorials teaching the moves and board setup.Chess is Fun!
Explains the moves, and then as a nice touch shows a complete game on a board that makes the moves automatically.Chess Rules
Rules and movement of the pieces explained in a manner suitable for children. Also offers a freeware chess program called Chess Rules.Lets Play Chess
Simple, well-done tutorial from the folks that ought to know the rules, because they write them: the U.S. Chess Federation!
Arbiter's Notebook
By Geurt Gijssen, arbiter for world championship matches and other high-level events. All manner of rules questions addressed every month.The Official FIDE Handbook
The Standard! Nothing to say more ...USCF Clock Rules
Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask about the USCF's new clock rules.
Basics of Chess
Collection of 25 "intermediate" positions.Chess Puzzle Archive
Amazing! If you were to solve one puzzle a day from this fantastic site, you'd still be going strong 10 years from now.Chesscafe Endgame Studies
There's a new endgame for you to ponder every week at the Chesscafe. Roll up your sleeves; these can be tough.Chess Coaching Online: Puzzles
Weekly puzzle that asks you to assess if the position is better for white, better for black, or equal.Chess Tactics Tester
Positions to build your tactical muscle.Chess Test
Monthly competition where you are asked to solve tactical puzzles and questions on chess history.Chesty's Chess Puzzles
Modest collection (17 at last viewing) of sacrifice combinations.Endgame of the Day
Seems to have stopped a few months ago, but there is still plenty of material in the archives.Huntsville Chess Club Fools Problems
A handful of fun puzzles.InternetChess.com: Tactics
Good collection of puzzles organized by level of difficulty.Manolis Strataki's Chess Problems Page
Plenty of fun stuff here. Composed problems, mate in x positions, openings and endings. See if you can find mate in 127 moves!1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate
The first 24 positions from Reinfeld's classic book, but no answers. Also a file you can download with all 1001 problems in PGN format.1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices
Same as above: some positions from the Reinfeld book of the same name (no answers provided) and a PGN file to download.365 Chess Lessons
In theory a coaching page, but mostly a collection of problems organized by level of difficulty.