Problem Search and Custom Sets

[newlook]

Are there any plans to increase the capability of the problem search?

My custom sets are based on problem ratings. However, newer problems' ratings are not reliable until they have been tried a few times. It would be great if I could specify a minimum number of rated attempts as a criterion. Thanks.

[richard]

Newlook,

Yes, I do plan to add further criteria to the problem search.  I've added your suggestion to the list, let me know if there are other criteria you'd also like to see.  I'm juggling a few non-chesstempo things at the moment so the next feature update will likely be a few weeks away.

Regards,
Richard.

[drahacikfm]

Percent success could also be a search parameter, selecting minimum and maximum values.

"Time I took" could be another parameter.  Of course it would only apply to problems the user has attempted already.  For example, then you could review problems you got correct, but which took you more than 5 minutes to solve.

Endgames:

A very useful one would be "Total amount of material on the board".  You could choose, for example, problems with 32 points or less of total material on the board.  That would be endgame problems.  A rook, 2 minor pieces, and 5 pawns for each side is 32 points.  I guess some positions with more than 32 points could be considered endgames, but 32 seems to be a good compromise.  Either have an "endgame" button, or let the user specify the amount of material he wants.

[richard]

Thanks Drahacik,

I've added the time took and percent success to the todo list (although % success usually is pretty well represented by the rating after 5+ attempts).

I already have the "material on board" feature on the list, but it's good to have a nudge reminding me how useful it is.  I've had trouble getting time to do this one, but it's not really that hard to implement compared to other features, and would be quite handy to have so I'll try and bump up the priority on this one. 

Regards,
Richard.

[dlester]

I don't know how popular it would be for anyone other than beginners, but an option for finding 'knight to move' or 'bishop to move' can help those still learning the game by removing the number of possible moves they must evaluate.

I know I would use it with kids, but I don't know how useful others would find it.

[newlook]

I don't know how popular it would be for anyone other than beginners, but an option for finding 'knight to move' or 'bishop to move' can help those still learning the game by removing the number of possible moves they must evaluate.

I know I would use it with kids, but I don't know how useful others would find it.

Maybe there could be a multiple choice mode. CT already stores the top four moves. It could present these as the choices. Maybe a fifth choice might be good too, especially since some problems have one or two alternative solutions. This would be a different project than extending search capability, but I think it would have a lot of appeal.

[richard]

dlester: This is a good idea but requires a bit more chess knowledge in the database which is something that is currently being looked at.

newlook: I really like the multiple choice idea, I've added this one to the todo list and hopefully I can get to it sooner rather than later.

Richard.

[sourire]

Newlook,

Yes, I do plan to add further criteria to the problem search.  I've added your suggestion to the list, let me know if there are other criteria you'd also like to see.  I'm juggling a few non-chesstempo things at the moment so the next feature update will likely be a few weeks away.

Regards,
Richard.

Hi Richard,

I enjoy very much using this site. I was wondering if, when I buy a silver account for a year, the problem sets have a search function for "pawn endgames" or something similar?

The problem sets on the whole are great, but I don't think I've ever come across a purely pawn endgame with just pawns and kings. As ridiculous as that may sound, it's not always easy and is something I need work on. 

Maybe this is not what the site is designed for- more mid game tactics and mates but I thought I'd ask. Anyway, thank you again.

[richard]

Hi Sourire,

Unfortunately silver membership doesn't offer such an option.  I'm hoping to add explicit support for endgame problems at some point in the near future (it is a short/medium term task at the moment). 

Regards,
Richard.