Author: admin

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analyzethis ios

‘Analyze This’ iOS with Auto Analysis!

After a long wait, iOS users of Analyze This app can now finally use the Auto Analysis feature!

With Auto Analysis, the Engine will run through the complete game and give you feedback on the mistakes and great moves played in the game! Not only that, if you want, you can even get verbose comments like ‘Good job‘, ‘Missed a shorter mate. Better is Qxh4‘ or some cheeky ones like ‘Perfect! Tal would have been impressed‘.

An actual classic game analyzed by the Auto Analysis feature!

HOW TO USE AUTO ANALYSIS?

  1. Load a game or simply enter moves.
  2. Tap Menu – Auto Analysis
  3. Choose the time per move for the Engine to think. Premium users can choose upto 30 seconds per move while others can only choose upto 5 seconds.

Please note, this is only the first version of this feature on iOS and we will be improving it further as we go along and receive more feedback from you.

Categories
analyzethis android

Android 10 security and installing new Engine files

Google and Android are increasing the security with Android 10.0 and there are implications for our Android users who install external Chess engines from downloaded files.

Background

Earlier, one could download binary/executable files of Android chess engines. Analyze This app allowed installing these binary files and you could use these Chess engines in the app.

But Google/Android has now made this impossible with new security restrictions on Android. Basically Apps can no longer allow user to locate a binary/executable file and then make it run.

For the tech savvy:

https://developer.android.com/about/versions/10/behavior-changes-10

And starting November 2020, all Apps will be forced to target the new API 29 (i.e. Android 10), which means our new upcoming App update on Analyze This will no longer support installation of external chess engine files.

From Nov 2020, all app updates need to target API 29+ (Android 10)

BUT, this does not affect Chess engines which are bundled into separate apps and support the OEX (Open Exchange Chess protocol)

What should you do next?

If your favorite Chess engine is already bundled in another app, then thats the only way forward. Analyze This comes with the Stockfish 12 binary. Other engines like Leela/Komodo etc can be installed via their respective apps.

Or you can search the Android Play Store for chess engine apps (there are few out there). Once installed, fire up the Analyze This app – Manage Engines and the new engines should get installed.

Categories
chessmoves yourmove

Correspondence Chess

What is correspondence chess?

Correspondence chess is a very-slow form of chess where a player can take anywhere from minutes to days to ponder over his move!! Yes, you read it right. So a game can go for months and years.

Back in the old days, the moves were sent via postal service. Not many do that anymore. Now instead, correspondence chess is played online on various servers, but the basic idea remains the same: its SLOW, and you can take a LOT of time to ponder and think over the current position and make the best move (provided you really used your time well!)

Dont the players cheat?

Given the slow nature of the game, that is a possibility. However, many servers officially allow using/consulting an Engine (AI) or books. After all, the main aim is to make your best move and improve your analytical skills!

Where can I play?

ChessMoves app allows you to login to various chess servers and make your moves. But before that you need to create an account with the online servers. We list down the ones that the App supports:

ICCF – International Correspondence Chess Federation

site: https://www.iccf.com/

“ICCF was founded in 1951 as a new appearance of the ICCA (International Correspondence Chess Association), which was founded in 1945, as successor of the IFSB (Internationaler Fernschachbund), founded in 1928.”

  • No yearly fee
  • Official Ratings? – Yes
  • You can get official ICCF Norms and Titles like Grandmaster & International Master etc
  • You can play some free games. But official events are paid

AICCF – All India Correspondence Chess Federation

site: http://www.aiccf-chess.com/

It is affiliated to the aforementioned ICCF. This is the official body for correspondence chess in India.

  • Annual membership fee
  • Official Ratings? – Yes
  • Unlimited tournaments with no additional fees

Other private servers

SchemingMind

mychess.de

ChessMoon

So create an account on one or more of these servers and then open the ChessMoves app, login and start making your moves!

Categories
analyzethis

LeelaChessZero in Analyze This

Thanks to the Leela team, it is now even more easier than before to integrate the LC0 engine in Analyze This app!

STEPS

1. Download the LeelaChessZero APK file from the official site and install the App on your Android device. At the time of writing, the official apk was lc0-v0.26.3-android.apk. Note this is NOT an app with built-in GUI. Instead, it just supports the Open Exchange Engine format. It needs a compatible App like Analyze This.

2. After installing the above apk, open up Analyze This PRO app -> Menu – Manage Engines. And as soon as you open, the App will detect and install the LeelaChessZero engine!

Now you are ready to analyze with Leela or even play some games using the ‘Play this Side’ option!

Categories
chessmoves

Chess Moves accessibility improvements!

In the last couple of weeks, we improved Chess Moves app on Android and iOS to make it even more blind-friendly. Its now even more faster for blind users to make their moves in the App!

This release has two important changes:
* AICFB users can login to the App with their AICFB usernames and play official tournaments!
* An edit/command box has been added under the Chess board (for accessible users only).
This way, one does not need to scan the board to make the move. Instead can simply type the next move or any command, and it will just work! Faster way to make moves, especially when in time trouble!

Commands supported:

  • To make moves, enter: e4 or d4 or nf3 etc (lowercase). For castling both 00 or kg1 works. For long castling 000 or kc1. Likewise kg8/kc8 for black. For piece capture, both nxg5 or ng5 work. For pawn promotion g8q
  • Resign: r
  • Offer draw: d
  • Abort AI game: a
  • Announce Last move: l
  • All white pieces: w
  • All black pieces: b
  • Undo/Takeback move: u

Download on the Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pereira.moves&hl=en_IN
Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/chess-moves/id1230863103

Categories
analyzethis ios

Engine vs Engine & Threats on Analyze This iOS!

Analyze This v3.2 with improved ‘Engine vs Engine’ is now available on the Apple App store! Most of these features were already in our Android version since a while. So it was about time the iOS version also got them!

Whats New

  • Improved Engine vs Engine – The earlier update could only play one side at a time. Now its easier to ask the Engine to play both sides. Just select ‘Play this Side’ once. Then after the Engine makes its move, choose the option again. The Engine will then continue to play both sides till the game finishes!
  • Share game link – With the kind of changes iOS and Android platform makes, sometimes it becomes difficult to share a pgn or text with friends. Or a pgn on WhatsApp may look fine on Android but show some weird format on WhatsApp in iOS. We cannot control that, but we can surely try and improve the experience for our users. Not if you want to share a single game, just tap the Menu – Share – Game link. This will create a link to this game. And your friends can tap on the link and it will open right in their Analyze This app! A great way for Students to exchange their game with their coach. Ofcourse, we will improve this feature to make it easier to import and share a collection of games.
  • Show threat – Say you want to understand the threats in the current position or basically understand what would happen if you are not careful, the ‘Show threat’ feature comes in handy. Just tap the engine name and Show threat.
  • iPad layout issues – In this release we also fixed layout issues on the iPad, especially in the Position Setup and Share screen.
Categories
android followchess ios

Follow Chess v2.0 for iOS now available!!

Follow Chess v2.0 for iOS is right in time for the final 2 rounds of the Candidates 2016 games!
This is a major update and has lots of features (which the Android version received few weeks back)

What’s new in v2.0?

  • New Tourney Notifications – Now you will receive notifications when new tournaments are added to the App! By default, the App will only try to notify you of tournaments which may be of interest to you (Setting – Tourney Notification – Smart). However, if you wish to receive notifications for ALL tourney, please change the aforementioned setting to ALL
  • Watch List – You can choose to watch any live game from different tournaments, all in a single screen!

  • Thinking time per move – App now shows clock time per move, which provides a better insight into the game and the player’s thinking/strategy.

  • Engine Analysis – Just like on Android, you can now analyze the current game/position with help of a Chess engine. Its a separate App (a basic version of Analyze This App), which can be installed for free from the App Store. More features will be added to Analyze This App in due course of time.
  • Live Video – You can also watch live video commentary for tournaments which are broadcast via YouTube.
  • Search Games – You can now search for games of a Player or opening or result in the All Games screen

  • Tap player name in Standings screen to directly load all his/her games
  • And bug fixes and improvements!
Categories
followchess

Follow Chess – Help, FAQs & Terms of Use

  • How to Turn/Flip the Board?

          Just swipe the board!

    • Swipe back and forth through the moves in a game
    Or you can use the good old arrow buttons underneath the board!
    • How to quickly launch Analyze This app?

              Tap the board twice (so you dont have to reach out for the icon on the top right)!


    • Quick search games in All Games screen

              Type “Anand” to search all games of Anand. Similarly to view only White wins, type 1-0 or 0-1 (for Black wins). You can even search based on opening ECO codes.

    • View all games of a player from Standings screen

              Tap the player name in the Standings screen and it should show all the games of that player!


    • How to remove some games from Watch List screen

              Touch and hold any board. This should allow multiple selections. Then you can proceed to select other boards and then tap the “Delete” icon on the top right of your screen.




    iOS TERMS OF USE (SUBSCRIPTIONS)
    – Follow Chess Go Pro Subscription
    – The subscription can be either for a month or year or lifetime
    – Price:- Monthly ($0.99), Yearly ($5.99), Lifetime ($19.99)
    – Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase
    – Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period
    – Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal
    – Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase
    – Links to Your Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

    – Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable

    Privacy Policy

    Categories
    android

    New ‘Chess Fan’ App for Android!

    We at NexM Software (the Company I co-founded earlier this year), are happy to announce the release of our latest Chess App: “Chess Fan“. We have been very busy in developing Chess Apps that you will love! (psst, recently Follow Chess App was released on iOS!). Hope you would like Chess Fan app too!

    What does the App do?

    If you are somebody who likes to closely follow your Chess idols, then this App is for you! No longer do you have to keep checking what your favorite Chess player has to say. Let the App do it for you! You will get notified when he/she Tweets (even if you DONT have a Twitter account. No Sign-in required!). Or you can even see what other people talk about your chess hero. If you want, you can retweet/favorite right back from the App!

    Not just that, the App will also notify you of any News articles/interview about your idol!

    Screenshots

    The main screen where you can see the list of available players. Tap on the heart icon to subscribe!

    Read Tweets of your favorite Chess player!
    And News too!
    No sweat! You just get notified when a Tweet/News is available!
    and there is more!!
    Go download the FREE App now!
    Categories
    android followchess ios

    Follow Chess App is now on iOS!!

    After a long wait (and some anxious moments with Apple [read at the bottom of this post!]), Follow Chess is finally on iOS!
    I am personally pleased and happy with the End product.

    The Story!

    On Android, the App received a very warm response and I have loved reading the kind feedback and suggestions from everybody. It was also personally very satisfying, since I could learn lots of new Technologies along the way and do some cool things. But what could be more gratifying than a Tweet from your Chess idol!!?

    @asimpereira will do.. use your app a lot almost the best way to follow chess

    — Viswanathan Anand (@vishy64theking) November 2, 2014

    Consequently I started receiving more and more responses for an iOS version! Then began the hunt for a iOS Developer who could help! In fact I even received some cheeky remarks from Android fans, that the App be kept exclusive to Android, since thats one thing which the iOS guys would not be able to enjoy!

    The iOS project which started with one developer in Q2 of this year, ended with another Developer completing it couple of weeks back (Developer #1 quit in between!)! It was a very interesting journey and I couldn’t have been more happy to see the App finally on iDevices!

    What’s in v1.0?

    Many Live tournaments – Follow Chess aims to cover as many top international (and National) tournaments as possible! So besides the mega European Team & Showdown in Saint Louis, it also covers the Indian Women’s Premiere, MaxEuwe Matches (ft veterans vs young guns) & TCEC Superfinal (Komodo vs Stockfish)

     And ofcourse, there are many other tournament games to follow; tourneys which got over in the recent past or as old as the 2014 World Rapid and Blitz!

    • Multi-boards in the same screen – With Follow Chess, you can keep a tap on all the LIVE games of a tournament, on a single screen! So you don’t need to keep changing the boards or screens!         

    • Make your own moves – When you choose any individual game to view, you can even play out your own moves in a sub-variation to understand what could have happened if the player had chosen a different path (in the same screen!) And not just that, the App is smart enough to know when an actual move is made in the Live game and gently inform you, so you can get back to following the action! Now what better way to learn from the Masters!!
    • Follow your country-men (women) – Follow Chess was really built with the intention of making it easy to follow and watch games that you may like. So if you choose your country (in the first popup or via Settings), Follow Chess will smartly show games of your country men on top! So you don’t have to scroll down looking for them.
    • Standings | All Games – Ofcourse there are lots of things you can do with Follow Chess. The App can show you the latest standings (and even highlight where your country-men is placed!). You can also play through games from the Previous rounds and all the old tourneys available in the App! (Sorry some features are PRO only)
    • You also get to see when the next round of each Tourney starts, in your local time!

    However, this is only the first version and many exciting features (some of which are already in the Android version), will be added soon (but definitely at a much faster rate than what I have been able to do with iChess for iOS & Chess Book Study for iOS). Yes, but all Apps will get their due share of Upgrades and features which the Android counter parts have been enjoying all these years!

    Go download now or tell your Chess buddy! Please do leave your feedback in the App Store, or drop me an email with your suggestions/feedback!




    PS. Why I dislike Apple!

    The App should have been available 7 days ago, but for Apple’s difficult-to-comprehend App Approval process. They wanted that the App Description in the App Store should have the below lines related to Subscriptions, which I think not many users would really bother to read anyways. But hey, please please read this, for Apple’s sake!!

    AUTO-RENEWING SUBSCRIPTIONS:

    You can purchase the Pro version of the App with a monthly or yearly Subscription. This entitles you to the current PRO features (View All games from previous rounds, Remove Ads, View All Standings) as well as any PRO features that may be added in the future.

    – Subscription can be for a Month or Year
    – Price (USD 0.99 for a Month, USD 5.99 for a Year). Local price may vary
    – Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period
    – Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period (USD 0.99 every month & USD 5.99 every year. Local prices may vary)
    – You can manage the Subscriptions and turn-off auto-renewal by going to the Account Settings after purchase
    – You will not be able to cancel the current subscription during the active subscription period

    Privacy policy : http://chess32.in/privacy_policy_followchess.html