Category: ichess

Categories
ichess

iChess v3.5 released – New dimension to solving chess puzzles

I am absolutely thrilled to release a new version of iChess with lots of interesting features and changes. This is iChess’ 21st release in 2 years!


NEW IN v3.5

  • iChess automatically tracks the puzzles you find difficult. Then you can go to the Bird view of that puzzle set and choose “SOLVE FAILED PUZZZLES” option to start solving them. This will start loading all the amber and red colored puzzles in sequential order so you can keep your bird view clean. Go green!
  • Now you can choose to rotate the board so that you can practice solving puzzles for the other side. By default, iChess always places the board so that the winning side is at the bottom. But solving puzzles with the winning side on top can give a new dimension to your Chess and improve your defensive ability as well as ability to spot tactics for your opponents! See Settings
  • Lots of UI improvements
    • Added Sound
    • New Open PGN screen to quickly load your pgn file without having to wait to auto-scan
    • Hint button changes color per the side to move so its easy for you to know which side wins in that puzzle
    • Dark Theme to cool your eyes if you don’t like staring at a completely white screen
    • Cool blue color
    • Prices in the puzzle store are in local currency plus other minor changes.
  • Remove Ads right from within the Free version. Now you don’t have to worry about losing your PGN files or score. See Settings to remove all Ads from the Free version and make it identical to the Paid.
  • Lots of bug fixes and battery improvements.
  • Support different languages. Some of the language translations may be incomplete. More coming soon.

Special thanks to Dejan, Dorian, Felipe, Fermin, Gergely, Michael, Raymond, Rudy and others who helped with the app.




Categories
ichess

iChess – Chess puzzles Tips & Tricks

  • Swipe to move back and forth through the puzzles

          Review previous puzzle – Swipe left to right
          Load next puzzle – Swipe right to left

  • Jump to a puzzle number

          Load Bird view and tap on any number to load that puzzle

Categories
ichess

iChess FAQs

How does the Scoring work?


For each puzzle solved = 10 points
Failed =  minus 5 points
Hint = minus 5 points
Total score = Total Solved – Total Failed – Total Hints taken

What do the Bird view colors mean?

Green = Solved
Red = Failed
Amber = Puzzles that you find difficult.

I do not want the app to automatically load the next puzzle. I want to review the current puzzle after I solve it. How do I do that?

Its in the Settings! Open iChess Settings > deselect “Solve and Load Next“. Now iChess will stay on the same puzzle once you solve it so that you can analyze it further.

Why does the Hint button change color?

The Hint button changes color according to the side to move. This should make it is easier to recognize the side-to-move than reading the “White/Black to move” text on top of the board.

If I choose to “Remove Ads”, do I have to pay again for other devices or if I re-install or reset?

No! Once Paid, your purchase remains with you forever, just like the Paid app! So even if you buy a new device or reset the existing device or uninstall-reinstall iChess Free again, you should no longer see Ads.
(IMPORTANT: You should be using the same primary email account on your device with which you made the purchase, else it wont work.)

Categories
analyzethis ichess

Minor updates to iChess and Analyze This, simultaneously!

Probably my first release where I pressed the ‘Submit’ button and published 4 (both iChess and Analyze This versions) apps at the same time!

iChess v3.1.6
* Illegal moves are not allowed
* Review mode has been enhanced. Now you can easily add moves, jump to any position and move back and forth.
* Bug fixes in alternate moves.
* Minor enhancements

Analyze This v2.0.3
* Improved stability when loading PGN
* Stockfish engine crash
* Minor engine output changes
* Other enhancements

Special thanks to Tadek, Che, Gilberto for their kind feedback (without adding a bad review)! 😉

Categories
ichess

How to practice Chess Openings with iChess

iChess v3.1.3 was released today with several bug fixes and stability improvements.

As you know, iChess is great for solving the pre-shipped puzzles as well as any PGN-puzzle file that you may have.
One minor unplanned feature, which was released in v3.1.3 is the support for studying Chess openings.
You make moves for the winning side while iChess plays the other side.

Here is how you can do it:
1. Prepare a PGN file with your favorite opening lines. This will be your opening repertoire.
It is better to have each variation as a separate game in the PGN. For your preferred side, mark the game as won, in the PGN. Say you like to play the Kings Indian with Black. Then save the full or partial game and mark it as 0-1 (in the game header). 
(This is the most important step for any serious Chess player and once you have your repertoire PGN ready, it can be used for many other functions within Chessbase PC software.)


2. Open the puzzle file in iChess.
3. Now just like regular puzzles, iChess will ask you to make the best move. One additional feature is that, if the game result it 0-1 (Black wins), then iChess will automatically make the first move for White. You make the best move for Black.

Ofcourse, you can use a Hint and all other iChess goodies!

This can be a good opening workout and imprint your favorite variations in memory. (Note: Even the top players need to “memorize” their opening lines”)

This nice little feature can also be used for Solitaire or Guess the Move kind of Chess. Load a PGN with master games and try to guess the moves for the winning side!

Note: Currently, iChess does not give points for every move you make, but only for the complete game.

Categories
ichess

iChess v3 released!

iChess v3 has been released!
This is a major release with lots of new features and design.

☆ Buy new Puzzles from within the app. Currently KID Saemisch & Tactics from July 2012 are on offer. More coming soon.
☆ Good alternate moves are no longer marked as failure. Uses Analyze This app in the background.
☆ Redesigned UI plus fritz style board theme.
☆ 3 move limitation removed. Now make all moves OR only the first.
☆ Some existing puzzles did not make sense and have met their end. They have been replaced.
☆ Reset scorecard option added. Now nobody can see how much you suck in Tactics.
☆ Other bug fixes and enhancements.

Note: The new permission READ_PHONE_STATE is required to secure the In-App purchases using the unique device id. NO phone data is accessed!

Categories
analyzethis android ichess

New ‘Analyze This’ app and updates to iChess & Chess Book Study

Today, I am happy to release my 3rd Chess app for Android devices, ‘Analyze This’.
Its a unique app which gives you the power of two Chess engines, simulataneously!

As soon as you fire the app, Stockfish and Critter, two well known strong open source engines, start chewing the position and provide instant analysis.
If you find an interesting position while reading a chess blog, just paste the FEN notation in ‘Analyze This’.

Note: It is NOT an app for playing against the mobile.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pereira.analysis

      ‘iChess for Android’ and ‘Chess Book Study’ apps have also been updated. These two apps now have engine support via Analyze This.

Just long press on the board and click Analyze This option. Stockfish and Critter will start providing you instant analysis.

iChess for Android finally has landscape mode support aaand a new app icon!

Categories
android ichess

iChess v1.7 released!!

Finally, I am happy to release v1.7 of iChess for Android.

Whats new in this release?
☆ Open puzzles file in PGN format from SDcard! (thanks to user Brandon)
Note that your PGN file should have a move for every puzzle so that iChess can provide you hints or assess your move.
Bird view is also supported!
☆ Added nearly 150 positions from recent GM tournaments played in the last 2 months featuring top GMs like Carlsen, Anand, Kramnik, Aronian, Ivanchuk, Morozevich, Polgar, Svidler, Nakamura etc
☆ Shows game information like White/Black/Event and Date.
☆ Corrected moves for some positions (thanks to user Ulrike)
☆ Added extra moves to positions which previously had only one move

Note: If you are upgrading from v1.6 to v1.7, your Master level (ONLY) Bird view will be reset. Sorry!
This is because of a bug in v1.6 which is now fixed.
Bird view from Normal and Advanced level will be maintained

Categories
android ichess Uncategorized

iChess v1.6 released!!

I received some good feedback and suggestion from users. This update is for them!

☆ New Bird View feature to view your Solved/Failed positions for each level. Tap on the number to load that puzzle (thx user Benson)
This is only for puzzles you see going forward
☆ Copy puzzle in FEN notation. Long press on board to see the option (You can import FEN in apps like ‘Chess for Android’ for analysis with the Engine in that app) (thx user Tiago)
☆ Remember last puzzle for each level (thx Tiago). This is handy when you frequently switch between levels.
☆ Touch related bug fix which did not allow selecting a piece if you have already selected one

Categories
ichess

Why the name iChess?

Some users think “iChess” is too Appleish.
True it is, and for that matter any English word that starts with an ‘i’!

I chose this name for several reasons:
1. ‘i’ is the reverse of ‘!’ which as a chess player knows stands for a good move.
2. Many app publishing websites do not allow special characters like ‘!’.
3. ‘i’  also sounds similar to ‘eye’; and training your tactical eye is the main focus of this app!