Author: Mike S.
Date: 18:14:41 05/08/02
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On May 08, 2002 at 16:19:48, John Merlino wrote: >(...) >Sorry, I'm not familiar with the "flow text notation" term. >Could you explain it further? Flow text notation is probably not the correct english translation (actually I'm not even sure if the german word which I use for that, Fließnotation, is correct :o). But what I mean are these two types to *display* a move list (of a game which has variantions in it): Most chess programs show it like that (method A): 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Nf3 Nbc6 8.h4 0-0 9.Bd3 c4 10.Bxh7+ Kxh7 11.Ng5+ Kg8 12.Qh5 Re8 13.Qxf7+ [13.Qh7+ Kf8 14.Qh8+ Ng8 15.Nh7+ Ke7 16.Bg5+ Nf6 17.Qxg7] 13...Kh8 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Rh3 [15.a4!] 15...Nf5 16.Rf3 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Qd7 18.Qh7+ [18.a4!] 18...Kf8 19.g4 Qc7 20.a4 Qxe5+ 21.Kf1 Rd8 22.Ba3+ Ke8 23.gxf5 Kd7 24.Re1 Qh2 25.Qxg7+ Kc6 26.Qe7 Rd6 27.Qe8+ Kc7 28.Nxe6+ Kb8 29.Rg3 Rxe6 30.Rxe6 Qxg3 31.fxg3 a5 32.Bd6+ Ka7 33.Qb5 b6 34.Re7+ Bb7 35.Bc7 Rh8 36.Qxb6+ Ka8 37.Qxa5+ Ba6 38.Qxa6# 1-0 All moves visible, clickable, easy maneuvring to every position of the game *and* it's variations (and sub-variations if there are any). Chessmaster has that display in the Database part, but not in the Game Room. There, it is limited to the old-style 2 columns display. Variations are not directly visible, but must be chosen from sort of drop down lists from all the move which have variations (method B): 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Nf3 Nbc6 8.h4 0-0 9.Bd3 c4 10.Bxh7+ Kxh7 11.Ng5+ Kg8 12.Qh5 Re8 13.Qxf7+ (*) Kh8 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Rh3 (*)Nf5 16.Rf3 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Qd7 18.Qh7+ (*)Kf8 19.g4 Qc7 20.a4 Qxe5+ 21.Kf1 Rd8 22.Ba3+ Ke8 23.gxf5 Kd7 24.Re1 Qh2 25.Qxg7+ Kc6 26.Qe7 Rd6 27.Qe8+ Kc7 28.Nxe6+ Kb8 29.Rg3 Rxe6 30.Rxe6 Qxg3 31.fxg3 a5 32.Bd6+ Ka7 33.Qb5 b6 34.Re7+ Bb7 35.Bc7 Rh8 36.Qxb6+ Ka8 37.Qxa5+ Ba6 38.Qxa6# 1-0 (*) Variations (currently invisible :o) The second way may be useful for beginners, but the other method provides much better usability IMO, i.e. in analysis mode. Switching from and to the Database Room doesn't provide that, because a user wants to browse through the game quickly, jump around in the notation, and have engine calculation output at the same time, for whatever position he navigates to. (I hope that "a user" is not only me, IOW. one person :o) I'm sure all the other manufacturers have a reason while they chose method A to display a game. Recommended for Chessmaster too. It's just better. For beginners, method B could be kept as an option probably. Another point was mentioned in the CSS forum: The Tasc Board support. Is there a chance that this could be re-issued, including WinXP? With these 2 points, Chessmaster maybe perfect. Nearly. Of course, Auto232 support should be considered... I'm sure I find one or two other things to complain about :o). Like UCI support, for example. But I wouldn't care if Chessmaster was just a mediocre program. It's more about being 95% perfect and demanding that it should be 98% perfect... Regards, M.Scheidl
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