Multiple solutions

[drahacikfm]

New to the site, and it looks great.  One complaint though:

I think too many problems here have many first moves which are completely winning, and it's not correct to mark it wrong if you play a completely winning move.  For example, Problem 27956, 1.Rxe5 is obviously completely winning (checked with Rybka afterwards, it's +7.5, good enough for me .  In a practical game OTB with the clock ticking, if you see a completely winning move, you play it.  You don't search for some obscure mate-in-5.

Similarly, in many problems here, the side to move is up lots of material, and just about any legal move wins the game.  Those problems should be deleted.  In a practical game it's not important to find the mathematically best move according to an engine when you are already up a piece or a rook.  It's only important not to blunder. Maybe filter the problems to delete those where the side to move is up lots of material, say one piece or more.

FIDE Master Drahacik

[richard]

Hi,

I agree that the current set has a large number of mates with alternative material winning opportunities. I think you mean 22193 rather than 27956 (I think you transcribed the problem number prior to the one you've described). I agree Rxe5 is a valid alternative.

I already have a new set ready to go which tries to eliminate most of the mates with material winning alternatives.  This set also removes mate problems which start with a large material advantage (this is already done for non-mates in the current set). I've defined large as slightly more than a piece but less than a rook. These changes have led to a dramatic reduction in longer mate positions which is unfortunate, but probably a price that had to be paid.

I'm finishing off some UI improvements and will release them at the same time as the new problem set, hopefully within the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for the feedback.  Hopefully the new problem set will address your concerns.

Regards,
Richard.

[drahacikfm]

Sorry, yes, I meant 22193.  Your plans sound great.  My 9-year-old son already did 80 problems today!  Great tool.  I think it will improve his game a lot.  He's Slovak champion for 10-years and under.

Any chance of an optional larger chess board?  When I use zoom in Internet Explorer, it messes up the board.  I like to solve tactics on a board that takes up most of the screen.

FM Drahacik

[richard]

Hi Drahacik,

I'm glad your son is finding the site useful.  In regard to the larger board, I do plan to allow larger boards at some stage, however I probably will not have time to get this into the next round of UI improvements.

Regards,
Richard.