Chess Analysis Tree Tips and Guidelines by jepflast =================================================== The View Tree Page (linedump.php) --------------------------------- - Don't forget about View Tree links at the top of the node page! - Moves are sorted vertically by rating. In theory, this means that the current best line runs across the top of the table. In case of a tie, the move that was added first is displayed first. - The text color of each move indicates its rating. - The background color of each move has to do with the comment box at that position. See the instructions for the comment box. - You can click on any move in the Tree to go to the node page for that position. - The View Tree page by default always starts after the last move that has been played. The only way to have it start somewhere else is to modify the URL by changing the i_Node parameter. The Node Page (node.php) ------------------------ - At the top, the Game Text section shows all moves that have been marked as "Played". These will be the same moves no matter which node you're viewing. - The Variation section shows the unplayed moves that lead up to the current position. - The diagram is not interactive, sorry. But you can navigate through the Tree without going back to the View Tree page. Just click on underlined moves anywhere on the page. The Comment Box (upper right of node page) ------------------------------------------ - Place new comments at the top of the Comment box, shifting older comments downwards. That way it's easy to see the most recent opinion. Sign your comment. Don't erase other people's comments. - When posting computer analysis, always record the numeric score from white's point of view: positive numbers are good for white, and negative numbers are good for black, no matter who is on move at the position, and no matter which side you're playing. - Some suggested uses for the comment box: - computer analysis starting from that position - your assessment of the position - requests for more analysis - The first character in the comment box can affect the color of the node in the View Tree page, to serve as a special note to yourself or your teammates. See the instructions below the comment box. - Don't put any HTML tags in the comments. - Click the Update Comment button to save your changes. - The Reset button undoes your changes, but only on your screen. It will not affect the database or permanently change the comment. The Candidate Moves (below the comment box) ------------------------------------------- - To add a move, use the drop-down list box to select a move (only legal moves will be in the list), then select a rating from the list box to the right, then click Add Move. Usually, you should leave the rating as "Candidate" until analysis has been performed (see below about the move ratings). - The move list is sorted first by starting square of the piece being moved, then by destination square, in reading order from a8 to h1. - Once a move has been added, use the Update button to change the rating for that move. - When you add a move, the Tree also creates the position that results from the move. Click on the move link to go to that position. - Each position can hold up to 10 moves. Try to only add moves that are relevant. - If you add a move to a position, generally you should try to add all of the reasonable or relevant moves at that position. When you can't or don't want to do that, you should mark the position by starting the comment with a caret (^), so that other players will know that more options may need to be considered. Of course, if there is only one good move at the position, you may not need to add any others. - Please do not add long lines with no branches into the Tree. Long lines (typically from computer analysis) belong in the comment box until there is a branch to consider. - If you make a mistake, it is possible to delete a node/move. To do this, first navigate to the node you want to delete. (I.e., if you just added the wrong move, click on it.) Then, change the URL so that "node.php" is "delete_node.php". Direct the browser to go to that page by pressing Enter. You cannot delete a node that has had any moves added to it. How to use the move ratings --------------------------- - The move ratings (Played, Best, Probably Best, Prime Candidate, Candidate, Lesser Candidate, Probably Inferior, and Inferior), affect how the View Tree page sorts and displays the moves. - "Played" is most important and should be kept accurate and up to date. It indicates moves that have been officially chosen upon the close of the vote. - "Best" is reserved for moves that are obviously best, such as recaptures, forced variations, the only legal move, all others have been shown to lose material, the quickest mate, and so forth. There is no possibility of disagreement. - "Probably Best" is a move that appears to be best but cannot be proven so outright. There is still a chance that deep analysis would reveal something. However, time would generally be better spent elsewhere. - "Prime Candidate" is a move that has been analyzed to some degree and looks favorable relative to the other candidates. Typically this is used in a position where it is difficult or impossible to determine the objectively best move. After analysis, there should be at least one Prime Candidate (it's okay if there's more than one at the position). - "Candidate" ***VERY IMPORTANT*** means the move has not been explored yet or has only a rudimentary line. Normally, when adding moves, you should leave its rating as Candidate. Once you explore and analyze a move, at least by enumerating its reasonable replies, change its rating to something other than Candidate. - "Lesser Candidate" is a move that has been analyzed to some degree and looks unfavorable relative to the other candidates; however, it's still a playable move and may be analyzed further. - "Probably Inferior" is a move that appears to be bad but cannot be proven so outright. There is still a chance that deep analysis would reveal something. - "Inferior" is a move that has been revealed through analysis to be a bad move. Obviously bad moves should not be entered into the Tree, so this rating may not be used often. The Add Line Feature (below the candidate move list) ---------------------------------------------------- - The Add Line button will add an entire line of moves, that you type or paste into the box, at once. - Generally, you should not use the Add Line feature unless you really know what you're doing. I will probably never use it myself. Instructions for the Add Line feature are on the node page. Suggestions for how to use the Tree to help the team ---------------------------------------------------- - Extend the main line(s). Add the next move from posted computer analysis that's not in the Tree yet and perform a multi-PV analysis there, adding all of the good candidate moves. - On the View Tree page, look for nodes that have a cyan background and perform a multi-PV analysis or offer more move alternatives. Remove the caret marker (^) from the comment box when you feel all reasonable options are listed. - On the View Tree page, look for nodes that have a red background, examine the lines from there, and add your two cents to the comments. - Analyze "Candidate" moves. They're written in green in the View Tree page. Go to that node and perform some analysis, putting your best line in the comment box. Then go back and give the move a new rating. - Add branches that you're interested in exploring, even if no one else seems to be. Give an analysis and rate the move. - Compare positions of different lines on the Tree, decide what you think the current best line is, and post your opinion in the forum. - Everyone shares the same Tree and everyone can modify it. But don't be afraid to use the Tree because you might mess something up. Use the Tree with confidence. Modify move ratings that others have entered if you think you have the best understanding of the position or if your analysis has revealed something new. Other Notes ----------- - The Tree does not automatically handle transpositions. Avoid duplicating parts of the Tree when multiple paths lead to the same position. Instead, use the comment box to indicate that a certain move will transpose to another line. - Use my forum (jepflast) to discuss the Tree and report bugs. Suggestions are welcome!