General Hints and Tips
- Making moves
Moves can be made by dragging a piece or by tapping the 'from' square and then the 'to'
square.
Note that ChessGenius displays the pressed square in algebraic notation whilst a square is pressed.
- Take back, Step forward
Press to see a toolbar that
allows Take back, Step forward and "back to start" and "forward to end"
Note: Take back reverses a single move so has the effect of changing sides. To avoid changing sides take back
twice. Note: Step forward steps a single move so has the effect of changing sides. To avoid changing sides step
forward twice.
- Clocks
The chess clocks show time as minutes:seconds or hours;minutes. Note the ':' or ';' If the playing
level is set to 'Game in ..' the clocks count down to show the remaining time. When time has run out '--:--' is displayed.
If the playing level is changed mid game the clocks are set to appropriate times.
- Championship
The "Championship" symbol is displayed if you have not used Hint or Next best, Taken back
moves or viewed the analysis. Can you beat ChessGenius without help?
- Next best move
After ChessGenius has played a move "Next best move" will force ChessGenius to take back its
last move and compute the next best move. This is useful for forcing ChessGenius to play a particular opening and for
analysing positions.
- Landscape display
Rotate your device to play in landscape mode. You can play chess but cannot use any
commands whilst in Landscape.
Options and New Game
Tap then select Options or New Game
- Playing Level
Choose one of the 33 different playing levels.
- 13 easy levels. ChessGenius makes deliberate mistakes.
- Ten time based levels. Move instantly, Move in 1 sec... ChessGenius will take on average the specified amount of time to
think about each move. (The longer it thinks the better it plays)
- Ten Blitz levels. Game in 1 min, 2 min,... The Chess Clocks count down in these levels. ChessGenius will play the entire
game in the specified amount of time. (The longer it thinks the better it plays)
- Players
Analyze game. This is like Two player but ChessGenius thinks and shows its thinking on the screen. Useful for playing over
games.
- Permanent brain
If 'On' ChessGenius will calculate whilst waiting for your move. ChessGenius will play stronger but battery life will be
reduced.
- Tutor
If 'On' ChessGenius will warn if you make a weak move and give the option of taking it back. Useful for beginners..
- Show analysis
If 'On' the screen will show a line of text that shows the 'thinking process' of the computer. For example, the line may
show:
'1.03 05 cxd4 Nxd4 Nc6 Bb5' This means that: ChessGenius is winning by 1.03 pawns, Search depth = 5, and line of moves.
ChessGenius is planning cxd4 and expects Nxd4 in reply etc.
- Show legal moves
If 'On' ChessGenius will show legal moves. Tap on a piece to see where it can move to.
- Show last move
If 'On' ChessGenius will show the last move that it made.
- Auto rotate screen
If 'On' ChessGenius will rotate screen to a landscape view if device is rotated.
- Sounds
Switch off to prevent sounds when ChessGenius moves or select a volume. With iPod touch sounds can
only be heard with earphones.
- Piece set
Choose between 4 styles of chess pieces.
- Board color
Choose one of six board colors
Save / Load game
Tap Game button on main screen
- Game details
Shows the details of current game and allows them to be edited. These details are saved when a game is saved and restored
when a game is loaded..
- Save game
Saves the current game to the game database. Allows database to be selected or a new database created.
- Load game
This brings up a list of the games in the current database. Tap on a game to see the full
details. You can then select "Load game" or "Delete game". Delete game removes the game from the database
Tap on "Load from" to select a different database or to download a database from the internet.
- Email game
Send the current game by email
- Note about databases:
ChessGenius saves games in PGN database files. ChessGenius can handle multiple
databases and each database can contain multiple games. Games can be exported one at a time using the Email game
command.
- Download Database at URL
This command allows Databases to be imported from the internet. See Game->Load
game->Load from.
If you have your own web space you can save a PGN database to your web space using your desktop PC and then download it to
your iPhone
Setup position
Tap then select Setup position
- To add a piece first select the piece type from the additional piece box.
- To clear a square select the empty box from the additional piece box.
- To change the side to move tap + and then White/Black to move.
- Tap on + to bring up additional setup commands like Clear board and New board.
- The castling and en passant status and move number can be set after a legal position is setup.
- You cannot exit with "Done" unless the position is legal.
- Cancel returns to the position before Setup was selected.
|