Main
Date: 24 Dec 2008 17:58:19
From: Michael Diosi
Subject: Arena 2.0 released
Hello,


Just before Christmas, Arena 2.0 has been released. As you know Arena is a
FREE chess GUI which supports the UCI 1/2 and Winboard 1/2 engines protocol,
so all engine following these protocols will run under the free Arena GUI.

Arena offers you:

* the ability to play games longer than 270 moves
* play on serious chess servers like FICS/ICC
* following the SAN standard

For a famous other GUI which doesn't offer you such features you would pay a
fortune...

Not such for Arena. Arena is free, did I mention this ?

Also we will not kick you for telling us about bugs but will try to fix
them. Again this is the difference between Arena and the other chess GUI and
their chess server and sysops.

Also did I mention Arena is free ?

Merry Christmas from the Arena people !

Michael Diosi
Mind the Base. Join the Arena
Web.: http://www.playwitharena.com







 
Date: 06 Jan 2009 04:38:50
From: Simon Krahnke
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released
* Simon Krahnke <[email protected] > (03:15) schrieb:

> http://home.arcor.de/xts/2009/arena/arena1.1-san-bug.png
> http://home.arcor.de/xts/2009/arena/arena2.0-san-bug.png

It's �r4k2/8/8/r7/8/8/8/R4K2 b - - 0 1� + Rxa1+ (a5a1)

> Arena 1.1 is overwritten by Arena 2.0 now. The second test was made
> immediately after the installation of 2.0.
>
> The bug is exactly the other way round now. Engine output is wrong, list
> is okay.

I now reconfigures Arena 2 to use short notation and the bug seems to be
fixed. All three displays of the move now show �Rxa1+�.

mfg, simon .... l


  
Date: 11 Jan 2009 19:34:27
From: Michael Diosi
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released
Hi,


Thanks. You can send any bug reports to us. The bug form on the Arena page
doesn't seem to work properly. So send bug reports directly to my mail
please. No ban from any server to be feared, and did I tell a bugfix version
will be available soon for FREE ?

All others still beeing handicaped by the "290 moves draw rule" in ChessBase
? Is thier server allowing cheating with engines in the main hall ? I
thought they could detect it... it seems they can't...

FICS/ICC are the better alternative


Regrads,
Michael Diosi
Mind the Base. Join the Arena
Web: http://www.playwitharena.com

"Simon Krahnke" <[email protected] > schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:[email protected]...
>* Simon Krahnke <[email protected]> (03:15) schrieb:
>
>> http://home.arcor.de/xts/2009/arena/arena1.1-san-bug.png
>> http://home.arcor.de/xts/2009/arena/arena2.0-san-bug.png
>
> It's �r4k2/8/8/r7/8/8/8/R4K2 b - - 0 1� + Rxa1+ (a5a1)
>
>> Arena 1.1 is overwritten by Arena 2.0 now. The second test was made
>> immediately after the installation of 2.0.
>>
>> The bug is exactly the other way round now. Engine output is wrong, list
>> is okay.
>
> I now reconfigures Arena 2 to use short notation and the bug seems to be
> fixed. All three displays of the move now show �Rxa1+�.
>
> mfg, simon .... l




 
Date: 06 Jan 2009 03:15:49
From: Simon Krahnke
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released
* Simon Krahnke <[email protected] > (2008-12-26) schrieb:

> * Michael Diosi <[email protected]> (09:13) schrieb:
>
>>> What I described is a bug in Arena not some misconfiguration, �R5a1� is
>>> no long notation.
>>
>> It must be a configuration problem as it doesn't happen as you can see:
>> http://www.playwitharena.com/common/pic/arena20.
>> Nobody ever reported this, maybe because it doesn't happen all the time ? We
>> need to find out when it happens. So we need a detailed bug report to fix
>> it, for free and also over Christmas.
>
> Okay, I'll try to reproduce it when my computer problems are fixed.

The power unit was broken. Computer works fine with the replacement.

http://home.arcor.de/xts/2009/arena/arena1.1-san-bug.png
http://home.arcor.de/xts/2009/arena/arena2.0-san-bug.png

Arena 1.1 is overwritten by Arena 2.0 now. The second test was made
immediately after the installation of 2.0.

The bug is exactly the other way round now. Engine output is wrong, list
is okay.

>> What the engine does is another thing...
>
> It posts �a5a1�. It's UCI.

mfg, simon .... l


 
Date: 26 Dec 2008 16:12:00
From: Simon Krahnke
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released
* Michael Diosi <[email protected] > (09:13) schrieb:

>> What I described is a bug in Arena not some misconfiguration, �R5a1� is
>> no long notation.
>
> It must be a configuration problem as it doesn't happen as you can see:
> http://www.playwitharena.com/common/pic/arena20.
> Nobody ever reported this, maybe because it doesn't happen all the time ? We
> need to find out when it happens. So we need a detailed bug report to fix
> it, for free and also over Christmas.

Okay, I'll try to reproduce it when my computer problems are fixed.

> What the engine does is another thing...

It posts �a5a1�. It's UCI.

mfg, simon .... l


 
Date: 26 Dec 2008 01:21:56
From: Simon Krahnke
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released
* Michael Diosi <[email protected] > (14:34) schrieb:

> Switch on short notation. In long notation all will be dispalyed. This
> always worked right in Arena ! For FREE !

What I described is a bug in Arena not some misconfiguration, �R5a1� is
no long notation.

> Yes Arena runs in Wine. I am not sure if you can combine Arena (Windows
> program) with Linux engines, I doubt it. So also the engines shouild be
> Windows engines, but this is unconfirmed, just my knwoledge.

Thanks, I'll try it once I got my Linux computer back to work.

>> That move is simply illegal and shouldn't be shown. But if you mean
>> there is another knight move to same square that doesn't leave the king
>> in check, how is that supposed to happen?
>>
>> So did you want to say that if there is another knight that is pinned to
>> your king, there is no reason to disambiguate?

I assume a yes. So I think what you wanted to say was right.

>> Well, sometimes there is a rook on A8 and another one on A5, and the
>> latter one moves to A1: Arena used to show �Ra1� in one place (correct,
>> IIRC in the engine output) and �R5a1� in another (wrong, IIRC in the
>> move list). R8a1 is simply no legal move, is this fixed now?

That's no the best English but I think you should be able do understand
it.

mfg, simon .... l


  
Date: 26 Dec 2008 09:13:50
From: Michael Diosi
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released
Hi,


"Simon Krahnke" <[email protected] > schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:[email protected]...
>* Michael Diosi <[email protected]> (14:34) schrieb:
>
>> Switch on short notation. In long notation all will be dispalyed. This
>> always worked right in Arena ! For FREE !
>
> What I described is a bug in Arena not some misconfiguration, �R5a1� is
> no long notation.

It must be a configuration problem as it doesn't happen as you can see:
http://www.playwitharena.com/common/pic/arena20.
Nobody ever reported this, maybe because it doesn't happen all the time ? We
need to find out when it happens. So we need a detailed bug report to fix
it, for free and also over Christmas.

What the engine does is another thing...

>
>> Yes Arena runs in Wine. I am not sure if you can combine Arena (Windows
>> program) with Linux engines, I doubt it. So also the engines shouild be
>> Windows engines, but this is unconfirmed, just my knwoledge.
>
> Thanks, I'll try it once I got my Linux computer back to work.
>
>>> That move is simply illegal and shouldn't be shown. But if you mean
>>> there is another knight move to same square that doesn't leave the king
>>> in check, how is that supposed to happen?
>>>
>>> So did you want to say that if there is another knight that is pinned to
>>> your king, there is no reason to disambiguate?
>
> I assume a yes. So I think what you wanted to say was right.
>
>>> Well, sometimes there is a rook on A8 and another one on A5, and the
>>> latter one moves to A1: Arena used to show �Ra1� in one place (correct,
>>> IIRC in the engine output) and �R5a1� in another (wrong, IIRC in the
>>> move list). R8a1 is simply no legal move, is this fixed now?
>
> That's no the best English but I think you should be able do understand
> it.

Yep, I understood. If it is fixed it is not because of a bug report on this
issue because we never got one describing this.
.

> mfg, simon .... l

Best,
Michael Diosi
Mind the Base. Join the Arena.
Web.: http://www.playwitharena.com




 
Date: 25 Dec 2008 13:26:32
From: Simon Krahnke
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released
* Michael Diosi <[email protected] > (08:31) schrieb:

> "Simon Krahnke" <[email protected]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> news:[email protected]...
>>* Michael Diosi <[email protected]> (17:58) schrieb:
>>
>>> * following the SAN standard
>>
>> Is that a new feature?
>
> It would be a new feature for ChessBase. It is in Arena from the very
> beginning. It is about disambiguation of knight moves. If one knight move
> woul leave the king in check then the starting square of a knight move
> shouldn't be shown.

That move is simply illegal and shouldn't be shown. But if you mean
there is another knight move to same square that doesn't leave the king
in check, how is that supposed to happen?

So did you want to say that if there is another knight that is pinned to
your king, there is no reason to disambiguate?

Well, sometimes there is a rook on A8 and another one on A5, and the
latter one moves to A1: Arena used to show �Ra1� in one place (correct,
IIRC in the engine output) and �R5a1� in another (wrong, IIRC in the
move list). R8a1 is simply no legal move, is this fixed now?

mfg, simon .... does arena run in wine?


  
Date: 25 Dec 2008 14:34:36
From: Michael Diosi
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released
Hi,

Switch on short notation. In long notation all will be dispalyed. This
always worked right in Arena ! For FREE !

Yes Arena runs in Wine. I am not sure if you can combine Arena (Windows
program) with Linux engines, I doubt it. So also the engines shouild be
Windows engines, but this is unconfirmed, just my knwoledge.


Best,
Michael Diosi
Mind the Base. Join the Arena
Web.: http://www.playwitharena.com

"Simon Krahnke" <[email protected] > schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:[email protected]...
>* Michael Diosi <[email protected]> (08:31) schrieb:
>
>> "Simon Krahnke" <[email protected]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
>> news:[email protected]...
>>>* Michael Diosi <[email protected]> (17:58) schrieb:
>>>
>>>> * following the SAN standard
>>>
>>> Is that a new feature?
>>
>> It would be a new feature for ChessBase. It is in Arena from the very
>> beginning. It is about disambiguation of knight moves. If one knight move
>> woul leave the king in check then the starting square of a knight move
>> shouldn't be shown.
>
> That move is simply illegal and shouldn't be shown. But if you mean
> there is another knight move to same square that doesn't leave the king
> in check, how is that supposed to happen?
>
> So did you want to say that if there is another knight that is pinned to
> your king, there is no reason to disambiguate?
>
> Well, sometimes there is a rook on A8 and another one on A5, and the
> latter one moves to A1: Arena used to show �Ra1� in one place (correct,
> IIRC in the engine output) and �R5a1� in another (wrong, IIRC in the
> move list). R8a1 is simply no legal move, is this fixed now?
>
> mfg, simon .... does arena run in wine?




 
Date: 25 Dec 2008 03:24:00
From: Simon Krahnke
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released
* Michael Diosi <[email protected] > (17:58) schrieb:

> * following the SAN standard

Is that a new feature?

mfg, simon .... l


  
Date: 25 Dec 2008 08:31:18
From: Michael Diosi
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released

"Simon Krahnke" <[email protected] > schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:[email protected]...
>* Michael Diosi <[email protected]> (17:58) schrieb:
>
>> * following the SAN standard
>
> Is that a new feature?
>
> mfg, simon .... l

Hi,


It would be a new feature for ChessBase. It is in Arena from the very
beginning. It is about disambiguation of knight moves. If one knight move
woul leave the king in check then the starting square of a knight move
shouldn't be shown.

Some peole want to pay for a buggy software but expect a FREE software to be
absolutly bugfree.


There are a lot of new features, some are mentioned on the page some are
not, Arena is always an experience. In some chess fora some new features
have been already discovered, some were not.

Best,
Michael Diosi
Mind the Base. Join the Arena
Web.: http://www.playwitharena.com




   
Date: 05 Jan 2009 16:14:27
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: Arena 2.0 released
Michael Diosi <[email protected] > wrote:
> Simon Krahnke <[email protected]> schrieb:
>> Michael Diosi <[email protected]> (17:58) schrieb:
>>> following the SAN standard
>>
>> Is that a new feature?
>
> It would be a new feature for ChessBase. It is in Arena from the
> very beginning. It is about disambiguation of knight moves. If one
> knight move woul leave the king in check then the starting square of
> a knight move shouldn't be shown.

Leave which king in check?

Consider the following

Case 1.
White: Ke1, Na2, Ne2
Black: Kh8, Re8

In this case, the move Ne2-c3 is illegal. The PGN standard[1]
(S8.2.3.4) says that the move Na2-c3 should be written just Nc3,
since Na2-c3 is the only legal way to move a knight to c3.

Case 2.
White: Ka1, Re1, Na2, Ne2
Black: Ke8

In this case, the moves Na2-c3 and Ne2-c3+ are both legal. One
might be tempted to write Nc3 for the first and Nc3+ for the second
but the standard (S8.2.3.5) says explicitly that `neither the
appearance nor the absence of either a check or checkmating
indicator is used for disambiguation purposes'. That is, you must
write Nac3 and Nec3+, respectively, for the two moves.

Which case are you saying that Chessbase gets wrong? (Or both?)

(I interpret the notes on algebraic notation in Appendix E of the FIDE
laws of chess[2] as saying the same thing as the PGN standard. The
key phrase is `E10. If two identical pieces can move to the same
square, the piece that is moved is indicated as follows...' In Case 1
above, the Ne2 cannot move to c3 so no disambiguation is necessary; in
Case 2, both knights can move to c3, so disambiguation is required.)


Dave.

[1] e.g., http://www.tim-mann.org/Standard
[2] http://www.fide.com/info/handbook?id=125&view=article

--
David Richerby Mouldy Chicken (TM): it's like a
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ farm animal but it's starting to
grow mushrooms!