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From	Message
clippery 25-Jan-13, 02:59	Probably a dumb question While TA is in the mood for letting us open new threads, I thought I would ask a question. It is probably best if I try to explain the problem and you can then let me know if there is an answer. I have a number of old score sheets which are currently laying on the floor in my office taking up valuable space. I am reluctant to just shred or otherwise destroy them but the way they are stored is clearly not very efficient. Does any software exist which would enable me to keep the data in a logical manner, by opening for example? I have almost unlimited time to do the manual inputting required. I guess what I'm looking for is some kind of personal database where I can easily find out if I have ever been involved in a game which features 1.e4 g5 for example. For some of these old score sheets I even have my notes on the games which I would also like to include if at all possible. Please give me a shout if you an offer any advice on this. Thanks Al.
tactical_abyss 25-Jan-13, 05:40	Al, There are personal databases out there you can purchase,but here is a simple way.Do you have a chess program like Shredder,Rybka or others?You can simply bring up the programs chess board and plug in the moves on the board.Then click on file and "save game as" and label the game how ever you want,and it will be permanently stored in the chess program.Then you can later at any time click on file,open and database to pop your game up.On shredder,for example,there are game style options that will tell you below the scoresheet what type of opening your have chosen automatically after several moves have been inputed. TA
tactical_abyss 25-Jan-13, 05:46	Deleted by tactical_abyss on 25-Jan-13, 05:50.
tactical_abyss 25-Jan-13, 05:49	So let me add that you would then be transferring from the scoresheet to the chess program manually.Its a good way to do it,because then,at anytime,you can go back to any spot in the game and do a computer analysis where you may have made a bad move,for example.I have thousands of games that I keep for post game analysis in my super programs.Some time i'll talk about the 8 core terabyte system I have with intercoolers and how to "tweek" out the clock speed higher than the factory has given me.But for now,hope that helps? TA
clippery 25-Jan-13, 06:05	Thanks TA. I don't have a chess programme so I would probably be looking at purchasing a personal database. Any recommendations?
rmannstaedt 25-Jan-13, 10:03	SCID You don't have to purchase a personal database. If you can live with its occasional ideosyncracies (and a kinda weird interface...   ) then there is a perfectly good open source (free!) alternative: SCID Link: scid.sourceforge.net The thing about SCID: it looks a bit dated in its interface, but it is fast and it is very stable. I have used it extensively for about a year now without a hitch. Like you, I guess, I started out doing my chess analysis and game notations with pen and paper... but the last half year or so I haven't touched them at all, doing all my analysis either on the chess board or directly in SCID. Highlights: Apart from offering everything you would ever expect of a chess database, it also enables import (and export) of games in PGN format, and you can even setup chess engines to let you play against them - or to analyse positions in games you have played (kinda like GameKnot can do for you, but with more details). There are quite good, free chess engines you can get, which integrate very well with SCID. I can recommend Toga II and Stockfish. They are not quite as powerful as, say, Rybka - but they are free, and they are easily strong enough to beat me - soundly - every time I play against them.   Additionally, there are many places on the Internet where you can get free chess databases in PGN format, excellently suited for import into SCID. Google "pgn database" and you will find them. Or start here: en.wikipedia.org
tactical_abyss 25-Jan-13, 14:50	TA also thanks you rmann... Thats a great way to go with SCID.I was not personally aware of that.I have always used my chess programs and made notes in my personal files in the computer and just used 2 windows to link up the game with any notes.
clippery 28-Jan-13, 03:43	Thanks I was away for the weekend and tried, with no real success to operate via the mobile (cell phone). Anyway, I am now back and must start by belatedly saying thanks to TA and to Ruben rmannstaedt for the various bits of advice on my database problem. I will download SCID today and I may well be back with more questions later.
clippery 05-Feb-13, 01:24	Time controls I like to play games with a 5 day time limit because I don't usually play chess at weekends. I had thought that a 3 day limit would mean that I could possibly put myself under pressure if I didn't log on to Gameknot early on Monday. However, I have recently heard that Sunday is a free day, that is, it doesn't count against the outstanding time. Have I understood this correctly?
rmannstaedt 05-Feb-13, 01:31	Time controls Correct, somewhere in the weekend (I am not exactly sure when, but I think it is the night between saturday-sunday, US time...) an extra day is added to the outstanding time (up to the game max.). If you have a 3-day game, and your opponent moves friday (so it's your turn to move friday afternoon, you have four days - until tuesday afternoon - to move).
tactical_abyss 05-Feb-13, 01:32	Q4: It seems extra time was added to a game and my opponent hasn't moved yet. Why? A: 24 hours are automatically added to all non-postponed games (but not to exceed the original time control) every Saturday between 5-6pm local GK time (PST) to prevent timeouts over the weekend for people who play from work/school and don't have computers at home. It is designed to ensure that if you make your move on Friday, you should have until the same time on Monday to make your next move. Also, extra time will be added to all games in case of an unplanned website/network outage lasting more than an hour or due to any other extraordinary events (such as natural disasters, etc.) affecting the majority of players on GameKnot. A special announcement will be sent out to everyone in such cases. Please don't rely on the extra time being added for you and always postpone your games manually using the link located directly below your active games list, if you need more time to make your next moves
rmannstaedt 05-Feb-13, 01:35	I should add: do NOT rely on GK actually emailing you when it's your turn to move. I have spoken with several people who used that feature and then suddenly experienced massive timeouts when GK failed to email them in time (not necessary GKs fault; could be a problem with the mail routing on the Internet - but the point is valid anyhow: do not rely on it).
clippery 05-Feb-13, 01:38	Thanks Thanks guys, that is brilliant as , for the future, I can return to 3 day games which give me more choice of opponents.
tactical_abyss 05-Feb-13, 02:01	I also believe that time is added on some major holidays that do not fall on the weekend like Christmas,but i'm not 100% sure.kingdawar is probably the one to ask that question or GK.
clippery 05-Feb-13, 02:29	Next question That would have been my next question, as I had already started to think about Easter. I have to remember that I am on an American site here, so I guess I will have to worry about Independence Day too. Are there any others? As far as Easter is concerned, I will probably postpone my games anyway, this seems to be the safest course when in doubt.

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