As a spin off topic from my 'Take Move Back' option posting (here: Take Move Back facility), I would like to see what people think about adding a new feature to the existing options for setting up a game.

We have all reached positions in certain games where, either through error or choice, we have closed off a whole set of interesting variations from a particular position. Often this comes out in after the game analysis, but I thought it might be a useful feature to be able to set up a new game from the existing position to play out a different variation.

An alternative would be to upload a png file for any given start position. We have a selection of opening positions to choose from already, this would be an extension of that idea. 

Total agreement 

Agreed.

Good idea(s).

yes, but would those games be RATED or UNRATED? :)

Is that not the choice of the challeger and challegee? Challenger may set any position he wants, but that doesn't not mean anyone is obliged to play them.

Ye, doesnt care unrated or rated, the one u challenge needs to agree.

Who wants to play me from the following position with me playing White? (in a rated game, naturally)

 

Nah, the rating system is based on the fact that games start even. The opening choices available now are all documented in chess theory as being sound for both sides. People can't just start rated games in forced mates or something, even if their naive enough for agree to it.

The question of whether or not to have such games be rated or unrated should not be up to the players.  These games should be unrated in all cases.  Ratings are not an award for playing well.  They're an accurate representation of ability.  Playing an already lop-sided setup is not an accurate measure and should not be considered in the rating system.  It may seem like it's not a big deal, but rating systems are like little economies.  It doesn't just impact the two players.

silentfilmstar13 wrote: The question of whether or not to have such games be rated or unrated should not be up to the players.  These games should be unrated in all cases.  Ratings are not an award for playing well.  They're an accurate representation of ability.  Playing an already lop-sided setup is not an accurate measure and should not be considered in the rating system.  It may seem like it's not a big deal, but rating systems are like little economies.  It doesn't just impact the two players.

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Agreed, and any take back move game should be unrated too.

erik wrote: yes, but would those games be RATED or UNRATED? :)

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 So why is he teasing us with these questions?  Is this feature to be released in the near future, perhaps?

KnightNotHorse wrote: erik wrote: yes, but would those games be RATED or UNRATED? :)

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 So why is he teasing us with these questions?  Is this feature to be released in the near future, perhaps?

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 nope, it's to show that it isn't easy to make these decisions. 

this type of feature is a ways off :) lots of other stuff to do first! 

you win you lose that;s  how you learn . touch move the old rule of chess , it ,s  not a easy game to play..?

 

erik wrote: KnightNotHorse wrote: erik wrote: yes, but would those games be RATED or UNRATED? :)

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 So why is he teasing us with these questions?  Is this feature to be released in the near future, perhaps?

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 nope, it's to show that it isn't easy to make these decisions. 

this type of feature is a ways off :) lots of other stuff to do first! 

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 Yes, I must admit, that games explorer sounds like a BEAST, especially after reading the cost of the server alone!

Well, naively, I assumed players would agree to extend their own games into new possibilities. When two players agree between one another to start a game from WHATEVER position, surely this should be respected - and facilitated by our incredibly competent and caring webmasters should we so wish. Yes?

 

As such, these games should be rated - along with other games we agree to play. 

Masakari wrote: Nah, the rating system is based on the fact that games start even. The opening choices available now are all documented in chess theory as being sound for both sides. People can't just start rated games in forced mates or something, even if their naive enough for agree to it.

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 Is everyone agreed that all the opening variations available to us on this site are 'even' ? How is that worked out?

saikotiq wrote:

Is everyone agreed that all the opening variations available to us on this site are 'even' ? How is that worked out?

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They're taken directly from the ECO. The A codes are irregular openings that you might not want to try anymore at an expert level but are still very playable. Everything else is as book as book can be.