The time system used by this program

The time system used by this program differs slightly from both the time system used in professional Shogi games, and that used in Shogi tournaments in Europe.

Both sides start with a normal time allowance that currently defaults to nine hours. This can be altered for either or both sides via the Clocks selection on the settings menu.

If a move is made in less than one minute, then no time is deducted from the clock (since the clock is actually updated every second, then what happens is the clock is reset to the time remaining at the start of the move concerned), unless the Reset time option is not selected. Otherwise, all the time used is deducted from the clock (not just whole minutes).

When the last second of normal time has been used, that player enters byo yomi (overtime), unless the Sudden Death option is selected. The move in progress must be completed within the next 60 seconds, and every move thereafter also. Failure to do so means that player loses the game (a dialog box will pop up informing you of the result - when you select the OK button, the game will be terminated, as if you pressed CTRL-N).

The version 1 computer player will certainly lose on time if it goes into byo yomi.

The version 2 computer player is capable of playing the entire game in byo-yomi, though this is problematic. It should not be possible for it to lose in byo-yomi. Turning on the Ignore Flag Falling option ensuress this.

The program (version 2) is biased towards saving time for the endgame, when it is most needed. The Set Search Parameters Dialog affects this behaviour.

• Until the first threshold, the program will not search any deeper than the Maximum Search Depth that you set, regardless of how little time is used. (This is the only control that affects Mating Problem Mode. And the effect is slightly different - see Mating Mode.
• The program calculates how much time it has in which to make a move, by dividing the remaining time on the clock, by the difference between the current move number, and the number of estimated moves that you set. This number is then further divided by the divisor you set (a different one according to whether the second threshold or the third threshold has been approached). The program will continue to search deeper until this calculated time has been passed.
• After the third threshold has been passed, this calculated time is no longer used. Instead the time that you provide is used directly.
• When byo yomi is reached, then a different time (that you provide) is used directly.

The default settings for the divisors work reasonably well for short games, but if you are going to play with 3 hours on the clock, it is a good idea to increase both divisors by one. This is also not a bad idea for shorter games, too, as the all-important endgame strength is increased.

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