Edit Position...Then Play Against Computer?

2 years ago · Quote · #1
Solvoid

Hey

I am just beginning to learn chess and I was watching the fundemental checks 1 & 2 videos and now I want to test out what I learned about checkmating using a Queen/Rook + King vs. lone King.

I checked out the computer workout page under the learn menu, but I cannot find the set-up/position I want to play. The analysis board and editor lets me edit stuff, but I don't know if there is a way to get the computer to play me from a setup position. Also, when I click "Play Against Computer" in the play menu, I can't find what I am looking for.

Is there a way that I can create my own custom set-up(and then have a computer play against me from that position)?

(I want to be able to place any peices anywhere on a blank board and then start playing against a computer from that set-up. )

This way I could place white and black kings and a white queen to practice my mating with king+queen vs king.

Thanks

UPDATE: I got the chess.com app on my iPad and when you play against the computer on it there is an option to setup the position and then play from there. It has just the option I was looking for and it is perfect for doing exactly what I was asking about(except now I have to use the iPad evertime I wanna do this...which isn't that bad...)

But, Is there anyway to do this on my computer(mac) instead of my iPad?

Is this feature somewhere on the chess.com website? (I am a diamond member.)

Also, does anyone know if this feature is still avaliable on the iPad app for free or once a premium membership has run out?

Also, I downloaded sigma chess and exachess and they kinda do what I want but I can't find a way to change the difficulty settings on either on them and they can be slow or just wierd to work with.
2 years ago · Quote · #2
N2UHC

You can do that in Chessmaster. I think the Fritz programs do that as well.
2 years ago · Quote · #3
Solvoid

Thanks, but chessmaster is 30$ and I would rather use my iPad or freeware for this feature instead of buying a program for this single feature. I couldn't find anything about Fritz being avaliable for mac(unless your referring to "Fritz and Chester"), although I may be able to get a PC version to run with crossover, I would rather not.

It is pretty absurd to me that this feature is on the chess.com iPad app, but not actually on the website. I am going to post about it in the suggestion forum because if the site doesn't already have this feature, it needs it badly.

...Another update though: there is a "Play Position Against Computer" feature which is usuable from the tactics trainer and the chess mentor, but still they don't let you customize and set-up the board.
2 years ago · Quote · #4
bobbyDK

you can try computer workout but here you cannot set up your pieces but you can practice king vs queen and so on against the computer.

Mating with a Queen is playing K Q vs king.

you find computer workout here: learn --> computer workout --> and select the excercise you want.

there is something for all levels in here.
2 years ago · Quote · #5
Azukikuru

Usually iPhone/iPad apps are cheaper than the ones meant to be used on desktops. I purchased Shredder for iPhone, and it was something like 5.49 euros ($7, I guess), and I've been satisfied with it. Among other things, you can set up your desired position and then play against the computer with it or even analyze the best moves step by step. If you're even moderately interested in chess, then I recommed spending a few bucks on a program like this.

Then again, if the chess.com app already does that, you might not need it...
2 years ago · Quote · #6
nxavar

Search for CompoChess. Then open the program and setup the position. Turn on the computer analysis and hit spacebar after you made your move. Just don't hit it immediately because that makes the computer blunder :) There is a downside thought. The computer is showing his analysis, so you might need to move the program window all the way to the right in order to hide it :)
2 years ago · Quote · #7
nxavar

TheMouse wrote:

The position setup for play vs computer is not there because staff are concerned that someone might put a position from one of their online chess games into it, effectively using a computer to play the game for them, which chess.com consider to be cheating.

If one wants to cheat he will cheat ... This probably takes away the temptation (?) or the embarassment (!) of doing it using chess.com functionality Nevertheless, I think that if cheaters had that option they would be more easily detected
2 years ago · Quote · #8
Solvoid

~bobby and dajacca: Thanks for your input, I will check out the computer workout more and see what I can get out of it. What exercises/positions would you recommend for a complete begginer to practice and get better at?

~Azikikuru: I agree about the cheapness of the apps for iPad/iPhone and I like it.. I will check out shredder and see how I like it. I found that I like "Chess Wise Free" and I think I will upgrade to "Chess Wise Pro" because it is pretty awesome and has this feature too. Thanks for the recommendation.

~nxavar: I searched for compochess but only found a PC program, which I might be able to use with crossover on my mac, but there is likely to be problems. I might try it if I can't find anything better. Thanks for the recommendation though.

~TheMouse & nxavar: That makes a lot of sense, now I think I get why they don't have that feature, but still I also agree with nxavar about how it would be easier to detect a cheater if they were using the feature on the site instead of with a 3rd party application.

Maybe they could create the feature for the site and make clear warnings about how using it to cheat would be detected and punished. It might also be possible to just disable it while any live chess game is going on or something like that.

~Everyone: Do any of y'all use this feature to practice/learn (not on the website)? What do you use it for? How do you get the most out of it? If the feature was added to the site, what would you use it for?
13 months ago · Quote · #9
rmreport

I would use it to learn how to play various end game pawn formations.
4 months ago · Quote · #10
Swannda

I think solvoid is totally right.. it would be a great feature and maybe it just gets disabled if you're in Live chess modes of playing a turn by turn game. I've been looking for the same sort of feature and yeah I could go elsewhere but I spend all my chess time here and everything else is here so I was trying to avoid getting a bunch of other programs.
4 months ago · Quote · #11
kohai

Is there anyway to do this on my computer(mac) instead of my iPad?

Not at the moment but we are working on adding this feature.