TimeTrain
release 1.0 rev 1
october 30 2002
THANKS:
First of all I have to thanks:
Daniele Cazzaro (aka DD) for VB objects DDBoard and DDinterface.
Luca Dormio for implementing the analyze function in TimeTrain.
Ivo Fasiori for the help and the the tips.
ABOUT TIMETRAIN:
Timetrain is a small VB program based on DDBoard and DDinterface that
may be usefull to improve your chess level.In "Test Mode" it show you
a sequence of chess position and you must find the best move within the
assigned time. Incredible but true this is one of the faster and
more easy way to improve the chess strenght unless you are a master.
MOVES:
Cick on piece to move first and then on the destination square.
If you want to change the "from" sqare you must click again
the old one to deselect it and then click on the new one
COMMANDS:
Test Start a Test Session. there is no way to stop it until
it ends (you are in test mode intil that) and there is
no way to change position util you try your best move.
Solution Show the current position best move.
Next Change current position random.
Scores Show the Score of the tests done sorted starting from the best.
Set Eng Show a form to set the engine for the analyze command.
It must be a winboard engine that implements the
"analyze" function. There are several such engine,
I personaly tested Crafty and Ruffian and they seems to
work quite good here.
Analyze Start Analysis on current position.
Exit The program exit.
note: all the command are disabled in Test Mode.
SCORES:
Scores are added just to make the process more entertaining.
I suggest to set time for fosition to 50 or more ...
to improve in chess you have the time to think the right moves.
Calculate it do not GUESS it.
Anyway the maximum score is about 1000 (or something more).
Basically the score is the percent of the solved positions
multiplied by 10. Some point are subtractet to the score
depending on the time you used to solve them (but not too much).
So, e.g. if you solve 60% like a flash you may have a score
around 600, but if you use a rasonable time is more likely you'll
have something like 570 or 550.
When you start getting scores like 900 or 1000 maybe it's time
to change EPD file, 'cause probably you rememeber by heart a lot
of position TimeTrain shows you.
EPD FILES:
yuo can change the Epd file with the combo on the right side.
KNOWN BUGS
-- do not recognize the solution with ppromotion.
-- do not handle EPD with "AM" (avoid mmove).
-- do not recognize incorrect moves (itt will accept any "From" and "To" square)
ToDo List:
-- Possibility to open any given EPD Fiile (not just the 3 that come with timetrain)
-- Setup of positions to analyze
-- Analyze mode similar winboard (Enginne follow you as you change position on the board)
-- Something like a "level of difficultty"
-- Possibility to change Board Layout, Pieces bitmaps and squares colors
for any comment email: gmasciulli@libero.it (
geocities.com/timessquare/chaos) (
geocities.com/timessquare)