Of course you won. Anyone without a lobotomy should!
The file playback is a bit hostile in having to type in the filename, eh? I should pull up a list of
all current .alg files to choose from, and eventually will. Such a list should be in reverse date
order, I suppose. Why I haven't done so yet is mainly because I don't know what Windows library
function to call to accomplish it. I could do it on my own, but people are more familiar with the
Windows file select mechanism.
I use the .alg extension to distinguish them from all other files, because I like to do a purge of them
sometimes (del ch*.alg). Great games, or ones that display a problem, I rename to keep. The logging can
be turned off in the menu to reduce directory clutter. The game is written to disk on exit, so it's ok
to turn on the logging in mid game.
I suppose there should be a key, probably F1, to show the "help" file. Er. But how?
1) your way, call an external editor
2) to the console
3) to a seperate window, keeping the board on screen
4) page flip (crude!)
Then there's the issue of show ALL keys, or only useful ones? Like, who'd want to graph moves per second besides me, or show all pictures?
The Deep option isn't upping plies for all moves, only the top two or three, yet it's STILL too slow to actually use.
Another major fault is that it does not hold back moves that cause stalemate when the power balance ensures checkmate.
I've pretty much hit a dead end in making it smarter, so I'm studying how other programs function to get ideas. I detest the idea of using an opening book because it'd involve an insane amount of dull work and hundreds of support files.
Two chess programs have been under 1K. Not full implementations, of course, but still shocking. There must be easier (and presumably faster) ways to do things than I am.
