I’ve received an inquiry from a player in our local club about using this app. Did a search on this forum and didn’t find anything. From what I can tell it is not officially sanctioned by the USCF but if neither the director or opponent object it’s okay to use?
As the player stated,“I won’t spend $400 for a monroi but I’ll spend $10 for the app.” We are a small, friendly club and I don’t foresee opponents objecting, I don’t have an objection based on my limited research (requires airplane mode on in tournament edition).
Any thoughts? Anyone who has actually used it or seen it used in tournament play?
Yep, as long as the director and opponent agree; however, if an opponent does object then the app can’t be used. But be very careful with those apps on phones (and other devices) that can receive signals from outside or access other programs, the potential for causing mischief is great.
Don’t count on TD agreement in any event in which I am the director. I have firsthand experience with someone consulting pocket Fritz on a device that had USCF approved software that purportedly locked other applications out. If that can happen with an approved device, I’m not sanctioning an unapproved device.
And always count on TD agreement in any event in which I am the director. I have firsthand experience with the devices and know that such cheating can be spotted by TDs who know the rules (especially revised Rule 15A requiring display at all times) and are paying the same level of attention as they would to players writing analysis notes on their scoresheet. And I can tell you I would consider that a USCF-approved device being arbitrarily disallowed to be a material change of rules requiring advance notice of same. (i.e. I’ll turn around and go home rather than play if I wasn’t told that in advance, unless all players must use a uniform provided scoresheet. If the latter is not the case the TD may then expect I will file a complaint.)
The advice I would give is: I would want to see the device and make sure it is only a recorder. As the player is using a device, I will caution that it must remain in clear sight at all times and explain if the player has to leave the board I expect the device to be left at the board. It is the player’s responsibility to decide if the theft risk is worth it. And I will look at the way the player is using the device and the screen. (And I am used to having the TD come over and look at my screen as I’m using it, multiple times, personally.)
This:
Does not look like this:
(And it still looks different with all the windows suppressed and just the board.)
And it is a TD’s responsibility to know these things.
But I certainly very much want to use a chess notation app on my smartphone when I play tournament games.
Convenient and faster during the game.
Extremely convenient for instant .PGN upload to Fritz later for post-game analysis and long-term keeping.
We can all think of ways to reduce the cheating risk (app design, etc).
But I agree with LaughingVulcan — keeping the device flat on the playing table, visible at all times, is pretty good security for 99.9% of class level local club play.
Single-function dedicated devices like MonRoi, and Garman GPS, seems obsolete in this era of flexible multi-function hand computers that we all have now. Lots of players want to use a chess notation app on their hand computer.
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I posted above in haste, and in my clumsy effort to emphasize why I will not allow an unapproved electronic scoresheet to be used, I was inadvertently unfair to an approved scoresheet.
It was almost certainly the case that approved software wasn’t running, although it was at some point during the tournament at hand. The incident has been discussed on the forums and was chronicled here:
I credit the explanation of the software designer fully (thank you, Sevan), and I did not intend to cast aspersions on his or any other approved scorekeeping software or device. But the experience affirms my belief that a heightened standard of care is warranted when it comes to unapproved devices.
In no case will I permit the use of an unapproved electronic scoresheet. If I have the resources, I actually prefer to provide a duplicate paper scoresheet and mandate its use, but that has as much to do with creating a uniform playing experience than with electronic scoresheet security. If I am unable to provide a duplicate paper scoresheet, then I’ll certainly allow eNotate and MonRoi as the two approved software or device combinations, though you may be certain I’ll be looking over the users’ shoulders regularly.
Darren Erickson, aka LaughingVulcan was the one that I first saw using an eNotate system. Well, I’m here to tell you he ruined me, and he ruined me good. Within a few months I bought a Dell Axim 51 and the program, and have been using it ever since.
Darren taught me something about the use of these that has made quite a difference. We don’t let the unit lie flat on the table, but use some type of holder or stand to hold the device at an ergonomic angle for ease of use. Darren had fashioned one from a box or something he bought at Hobby Lobby. I bought a PDA holder or stand off Amazon.
Using a stand is pretty crucial for ease of use and a quick turnaround time of the notation. I really never pick up the device but simply grab my PHD pen/stylus, press the power button which is at top and center of the unit, make my move notation and put the pen/stylus down. The unit automatically dims and turns off on its own in about a minute.
If a TD or my opponent wants to see it, they can either look at it as it’s in the stand or pick it up.
Using it this way makes it pretty hard for someone to use it for analysis without the opponent really noticing. The player’s attention is never really on the unit much at all when used correctly.
I see - my apologies for leaping on my horse quickly. It was an interesting article to read. And yes, it does still take observation - likewise I didn’t mean to imply that it doesn’t.
I would also qualify that I’d take into consideration the venue I’d consider allowing an unapproved app. A local club event of under ten players allows a greater potential to observe than even sixteen players and you don’t know everyone. And allowing anything but eNotate and Monroi is debatable.
ETA: The second image above seems to have went away. Apologies for that also.
The person who purchased the app should try to have the creator get it approved. If not approved, most of the major events will not approve non-certified devices. The users will not be happy if they get used to using it in local events and then go to a big one and have to go back to paper.
Regards, Ernie
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Suppose that both players trust each other and agree to let each other use a convenient chess notation application on their hand computers (aka smartphones) during a rated tournament game.
** Would a majority of T.D.'s tolerate their agreement?
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For me, the decision would be based on the type of event. At our local club in a ratings only tournament, no problem but I would tell them that their device is not approved and I am making an exception for this event only. I don’t want them going to another event and claiming that I said they could use them. For any event with money or significant non-cash prizes such as scholarships, I would not allow its use. We want our players to enjoy chess so by explaining that they have to be approved and that they should contact the seller and request that the unit be submitted for approval, we may help anyone who got stuck with a non-approved device feel a little bit better.
It is a very good idea for TDs to ask players who have an electronic score sheet to show them how it looks in the score sheet mode so you can check the units as you walk around the tournament. This is important and can be done at the same time that you check the clocks for proper setting. It is also very important to make sure that they are ALWAYS VISIBLE. Don’t forget that our rules now mandate that all scoresheets shall be visible.
Visible Scoresheet:
Rule 15A has added wording indicating that the scoresheet, or score keeping device, shall be visible at all times to the TD and opponent.
As I think about it, the USCF should post a list of approved devices and have pictures of each device in both the scorekeeping mode and other modes that should not be used while playing. Perhaps also a link to the website for the device if it has more info and pictures.
Regards, Ernie
I’m in the process of putting together a battle card for TD’s for eNotate. We just finished v3.0 and are about to release it in the next week to 10 days so we’re going to release the updated software and the battle card.
It was an interesting article to read. And yes, it does still take observation - likewise I didn’t mean to imply that it doesn’t.