Show material count in a game

It would be useful to see the material count for each player in a game, according to the traditional point system:
Queen = 9 pts.
Rook = 5 pts.
Knight or Bishop = 3 pts.
Pawn = 1 pt.

I've gotten pretty good at quickly counting the material tally for any position, but this would be convenient to have the material count. They do it on ICC and FICS, so why not here?

Position > Material imo

Originally posted by ketchuplover
Position > Material imo

There's no doubt about that, but material count is still an important consideration.

If you use firefox and add greasemonkey, there are numerous scripts for this site, including what you are asking about.

This is the link for the scripts, and as far as I know they are still good.

http://members.shaw.ca/ouroboros/RHP/

Originally posted by trumbull2400
It would be useful to see the material count for each player in a game, according to the traditional point system:

Good players should not need this.

Bad players will only use this to mislead themselves.

Pawn counts are only useful for players who don't need the computer to make the calculations.

Richard

Originally posted by Shallow Blue
Good players should not need this.

Bad players will only use this to mislead themselves.

Pawn counts are only useful for players who don't need the computer to make the calculations.

Richard

Make the pawn count a button. You must press the button to show the count.

The quick 3b ban - 90 wins in a row and the guy never once checked the pawn count!

Originally posted by ketchuplover
Position > Material imo

Material is part of the position. A subset.

Hi trumbull

You should avoid using this counting system.
It can mislead you into thinking you are winning and lower your guard.

Also the maths don't add up.

One page one of any beginners primer you find the Queen = 9 etc table.
A few pages on and you find basic checkmates.


Two Knights (= 6 points.) Yet there is no forced mate. this is a draw.


One Rook (= only 5 points.) This is a win.
Infact with White to play 1.Ra7 it's mate in 12.

So 5pts beat 6pts. As I said, the maths don't add up.

Originally posted by mwmiller
If you use firefox and add greasemonkey, there are numerous scripts for this site, including what you are asking about.

This is the link for the scripts, and as far as I know they are still good.

http://members.shaw.ca/ouroboros/RHP/

Just a word of warning - when ths new UI comes out, it is highly likley all existing Grease Monkey scripts will be broken.

Originally posted by trumbull2400
It would be useful to see the material count for each player in a game, according to the traditional point system:
Queen = 9 pts.
Rook = 5 pts.
Knight or Bishop = 3 pts.
Pawn = 1 pt.

I've gotten pretty good at quickly counting the material tally for any position, but this would be convenient to have the material count. They do it on ICC and FICS, so why not here?

We have a tabbed section on the side bar on the new UI, I could accommodate this for anyone who wants it.

Originally posted by Russ
Just a word of warning - when ths new UI comes out, it is highly likley all existing Grease Monkey scripts will be broken.

We'll be OK until 2014 then?

Originally posted by Kewpie
We'll be OK until 2014 then?

Possibly. Or maybe I'll surprise you.

Originally posted by Russ
Just a word of warning - when ths new UI comes out, it is highly likley all existing Grease Monkey scripts will be broken.

If the new UI is done right, we won't need them. 🙂

Originally posted by SwissGambit
If the new UI is done right, we won't need them. 🙂

To be honest, I have no idea which scripts people are using these days.

Originally posted by Russ
To be honest, I have no idea which scripts people are using these days.

Some of my favorites added the following functionality:

- Display the FEN below any game board.
- Display the material difference for any game board position. For example, +3 means white is up a Bishop, or 3 pawns, or equivalent. If Black is up a Rook, it should be -5.
- Add a link to the first board page that allows you to get the PGN/FEN without having to go to the "game history" page.