Chess Puzzles Solving, Service

The "Playing Room" provides next opportunities:

1. The chess problems solving.

2. The chess studies solving.

3. The solving of positions from chess games (combinations & other tactical puzzles).

(1.-3. is a chess tactics training - our main service.)

4. The game with the program.

Solving of tasks: user makes a move, the program (java applet) makes a move as opponent. Sometimes move(s) of program denies move(s) of user (often in problems). Levels: from not qualified amateur to strong master. The task may contain several variants, after finding one of them user ought to solve the next etc. The program calculates points for correct solutions and may to give 2-3 hints on the user's request. User receives an interesting quote or commentary (often connected with task) after he found the full solution of a task. The service is an opportunity to improve chess tactics and to get aesthetic pleasure. User has no the necessity to download a program. He uses a java applet ("program" below).

The mode “Play vs program” provides usual chess game of the program with user.

Permanent Opportunities

The Changing the Playing Mode

At any moment user can change the mode in the "Playing Room". For example, he can live the mode "Problems solving" and come to "Studies solving". On the bottom & left part of the window need to select interesting playing mode in the special list, situated beside the sign "Change the playing mode:".

The Moving on Made Moves (back & ahead)

It occurs by pressing buttons “<<”,“<”,“>”,“>>”,“< your”,“your >” (situated in the top left-hand part of the window, under the moves list) or by pressing on a move in the moves list, or by pressing on the keyboard buttons: "Home", "<-", "->", "End","Arrow Down","Arrow Up".

The assignment of these buttons:

"<<" - to return to the first position. Also it's possible to use keyboard button "Home" or "Page Up".

"< your" - to get previous position with turn of user. Or keyboard cursor button "Arrow Down".

"your >" - to get next position with turn of user. Or keyboard cursor button "Arrow Up".

"<" - one move back. Or keyboard cursor button "<-".

">" - one move forward. Or keyboard cursor button "->".

">>" - to return to the last position. Or keyboard button "End" or "Page Down".

How to Make a Move

The mouse is used only. Need to submit on the piece's image and dragging it to square where user wants to place the selected piece. Then its time to release the mouse. If the move is a correct one, it will be accepted, at the other case the piece will be returned to the initial square. To make a castle need to move the king only.

Flip Board

Occurs by pressing the button "Flip board" (situated in the bottom right-hand part of the window). Example: if the board was situated by the party of White, it will be turned by the party of Black.

Getting the Help

Need to submit the button "Help" (situated in the bottom left-hand part of the window). This page will be shown.

Changing the board's brightness

Need to submit the button "Brightness" (situated in the bottom right-hand part of the window). Keyboard: "c" or "1".

Exit the "Playing Room"

Need to submit the button "Exit the "Playing Room"" (situated in the bottom left-hand part of the window).

Opportunities on Solving of Chess Puzzles

Getting a Task

1. At desire it is possible to change parameters of searching tasks (see following section "Parameters Choice for Tasks Loading").

2. Submit the button "GET a TASK" (in the bottom right part of the window).

After loading of satisfied task there is no reason to have connection with Net. The program will inform when connection is necessary.

Parametrs Choice for Tasks Loading

Use the buttons and the lists that situated under the board's image.

The choice of "Moves number" (for mode "Problems solving" only). Need to change value in the list beside the sign "Moves number".

The choice of "Pieces number" (how many pieces must be in the task, for mode "Problems solving" only). Need to change a value in the list beside the sign "Pieces number". If choose the sign ("-") the program will ignore number of pieces when will search the problems.

The choice of “Difficulty”
There are 6 levels of the difficulty: from the "min" (minimal, first difficulty) to the "max" (maximal, 6th difficulty). Need to change a value in the list beside the sign "Difficulty". "Min" is approximately equals to maximal difficulty in the "Playing Room for Beginners".

The searching by author
At desire it's possible to search the arts of the author: at that case need to put the famous author's surname in the field beside the sign "Author (optional)". If the different famous authors has the same surname it's possible to put start letter(s) of the name. Here is some examples: "euwe", "em.lasker" (register has no matter). On searching by author the values of others parameters will be ignored except the parameter "Moves number" at mode "Problems solving".

Note: in the mode "Solve positions from games" author has the turn of move in the starting position.

Getting a Hint

Need to submit the button "Get a HINT" (in the bottom right part of the window). There are 2 or 3 hints in task depending on the task's difficulty.

Turn of Move

At each starting position of task it's turn for user and the board is always turned to user with a correct side (side of his color, look to the board's coordinates). If not noted that user plays with Black (look to the informational panel at the left part of the window), he plays with White.

Note for Mode "Solve Positions from Games"

Usually the solution is a game for winning, but it's possible that solution is a game to win a little material or positional factor or is a game to saving. It is important also to find the shortest way, i.e. really strongest moves.

Opportunities on the Mode "Play vs Program"

Level Choice

Need to change a value in the list situated under the board's image, beside the sign "Level".

The "weak" level is a weakest one of the program (near 1200-1300 Elo). The "weak 2" level is about 1400 Elo. The "intermediate" level is about 1500-1600 Elo. The "strong" levels (up to 1900 Elo) allow to program to play with its full strength, but here is an opportunity to set time control: from 5 minutes on 60 moves (blitz) to 1,5 hours on 60 moves. For "strong" levels the program takes into account spent time for each side, after each move it adds to side 2 seconds (Fischer's Clock). Times termination for user doesn't mean the game termination, user may continue the game without time controls for his side.

Starting a New Game

To start new game with Black need to push the button "New game (Black)". If user wants to play with White and there is a starting chess position on the board, it's enough to make a move to start a game. To start a game with White at the other case need to push the button "New game (White)". The buttons are situated under the board's image.

How to Get Text of Game

Need to submit the button "Get text of game" (situated under the board's image). The dialog window will be open. Then need to set mouse cursor on the text area of the dialog window and submit right button of mouse and select the "Copy" command. Text of game (pgn-format ) will be in the clipboard of user's computer. User can save it in his pgn-file of games (example: "mygames.pgn") and view game(s) via his home chess program. If the game is not terminated formally, it recommends to set the real result of the game on the string "Result" - "1/2-1/2" (draw), or "1-0" (white won), or "0-1" (black won) instead of "??" symbols.

Force Program's Move While it's Turn of User

Need to submit the button "Force move" (situated under the board's image). User and program will change theirs sides.

Set up a Position

Need to submit the buttom "Set up a position" (situated under the board's image). Will be open the small window, the place to change side to move, castle rights, choice a piece to set up on board (buttons: 'K'(king), Q(queen) etc.). Submit the mouse's left button on square of board: a piece will be set up here. Submit the mouse's right button on the square of board: the piece on the square will be disappeared.
Meaning of the buttons:
"Clear board" - to get empty board.
"First chess position" - to set up the first chess position on board.
"Set up!" - to set up the position on board - the end of procedure.
"Cancel" - to decline the changings and to return to the position before setting - the end of procedure.

Troubles and Their Solutions

The "Playing Room" not loaded or has serious failure in its work at start

Probably, ought to renew the browser. But if your browser does not support JAVA download Java Virtual Machine from the site of Sun Microsystems: http://java.sun.com/getjava/download.html. It's free, easy to set-up and very useful. Many sites (and chess sites especially) use java.

Problems with images of pieces

If it has happened, ought to minimize the program window and then restore it. If it has not helped: ought to exit "Playing Room" and to get in again.

Recommended Complexity of Tasks

Level	Recommended complexity
Beginner	Playing Room for Beginners & [1]
Not qualified	[1-2]
< 1900 Elo	[1-3]
About 1900 Elo	[1-4]
Expert	[2-5]
Master or more	[3-6]

Introduction

Permanent Opportunities

Opportunities on Solving of Chess Puzzles