Coach Dinosaur - User Guide

01

First session

Set up the app once, then train from the dashboard.

The first screen asks for basic training details. These choices help the app show work that matches the student's level.

Open the app and read the rules before continuing.
Tick the agreement box when the rules are understood.
Enter a training name. This can be a real name or a classroom nickname.
Select the current level so practice starts at the right difficulty.
Tap Continue to open the main dashboard.

Offline is fine for the first pass. Core practice works locally. Sign-in and server setup are only needed for online rooms, community features, and shared content.

02

Dashboard

Use the main screen as a launch pad, not a menu maze.

Each dashboard card opens a specific kind of work. Pick the card that matches the goal for the session.

Train

Puzzles, board drills, opening practice, and endgame exercises.

Learn

Lesson pages with matching audio for reviewing concepts.

Play and analyze

Custom positions, game analysis, and coach-style practice from a chosen board state.

Account and settings

Training name, level, theme, backup, sign-in, and help controls.

03

Training rooms

Choose the room based on the skill being trained.

The app is built around focused practice. Short, consistent sessions are more useful than jumping between every feature at once.

Calculation

Endgame Trainer

Practice converting, defending, and finding precise endgame moves.

Tactics

Middlegame Trainer

Work on mates, forcing moves, and material-winning patterns.

Visualization

Blindfold Trainer

Build board memory by tracking positions without relying on every visual cue.

Study

Endgame Lessons

Read or listen to compact explanations before trying related positions.

Openings

Opening Trainer

Build and train a guided White and Black opening repertoire.

Study

Great Players

Read player articles and replay annotated featured games from 12 configured profiles.

Coordinates

Master the Board

Improve square recognition and notation speed.

Custom board

Set Up Board

Create a position and play from it against a coach profile.

Review

Game Analysis

Inspect candidate moves, evaluations, and PGN lines from a position.

Report

Find My Endgame Weakness

Upload PGNs and review a saved endgame weakness report.

Progress

Progress Tracker

Check practice volume, outcomes, and areas that need another pass.

Assessment

Take or review your placement assessment and saved placement history.

Help

User Guide

Open this offline reference for setup, training, analysis, and access details.

Help

Learn the App

Search offline help answers for app features, access, backups, and settings.

Bundled content snapshot. This build includes 31,594 endgame puzzle entries, 31,967 middlegame puzzle entries, 28 blindfold positions, 75 endgame lessons with 75 matching audio files, 146 opening families with 3,663 lines, 1,009 opening model-game variation files, and 12 configured Great Players.

04

Opening Trainer

Choose one opening, understand the idea, then train it.

Opening Trainer starts from a simple home screen. New students choose one opening and add it to a repertoire. Returning students use Train Today for due, weak, and new lines.

Opening Tier

Select available catalog tiers as your current access and progress unlock them.

Opening Intro

Preview the starting moves, style tags, best-for sentence, short explanation, board position, and Learn More theory before adding the line.

Repertoire Builder

Manage White and Black repertoires, active switches, model games, alternatives, and Delete Opening.

Add and Train

Add the beginner main line and train the first short drill immediately. Add to Repertoire saves without starting a drill.

Train Today

Practice due reviews, weak lines, and new lines. More Options can train White only or Black only.

Model Games

Use Study to replay bundled examples, Compare to check differences, and Save Alternative to keep useful branches.

Gap	No line has been added for that bucket yet. Add a catalog line from Choose Opening or Repertoire Builder.
Alternative	Stockfish analysis can be saved with Add as Alternative, and model-game segments can be saved with Save Alternative.
Ready	Active repertoire lines are included in Train Today and can also be trained directly from their progress card.

White buckets cover common replies to White's first move, such as vs ...e5, vs ...c5, vs ...e6, vs ...c6, vs ...d5, and Other.
Black buckets cover common White starts: vs 1.e4, vs 1.d4, vs 1.c4 / 1.Nf3, and Other.
Training board asks for your repertoire color's moves, auto-plays the other side, and supports Hint, Analyze, Stop, Retry, and Add as Alternative.
Play out Middlegame starts a playable board from the exact position where the opening session ended.
Progress is tracked separately for White and Black repertoire work.

Model games are study material. They are bundled examples for replay, comparison, and saving alternatives; Game Analysis and Find My Endgame Weakness are the app areas for PGN workflows.

05

Daily use

Run each practice round with the same simple pattern.

A predictable workflow makes the app easier to use and makes progress easier to measure.

Pick one training room for the session.
Choose a position, lesson, or drill that is available for the current level.
Play moves on the board and read feedback before moving on.
Use hints only after making a serious attempt.
Restart difficult positions once, then continue to the next item.
Review progress after the session instead of checking after every move.

Hint	Shows a small amount of help. Use it when the position is stuck, not as the first move.
Restart	Returns the current item to the beginning so the student can try it cleanly.
Next	Moves to the next exercise or lesson after the current item is complete.
Read	Opens explanation text for lesson-based material. The lesson card also includes a read/stop audio control.
Analyze	Starts engine review for the current board position when analysis is available.

06

Connected mode

Use online features when the session needs shared data.

Some features require internet access, a configured server, or a linked account. These are useful for group work and coach-managed content.

Tournament opens rooms for live play and organized matches.
Community Hub shows leaderboards, tips, announcements, and polls.
Video Tutorials provides coach-selected lesson videos.
Saved Links opens personal study links and shared links published by the server admin.

Coach or teacher checkpoint. If an online screen asks for server details or sign-in, confirm the correct setup before changing account settings.

07

Maintenance

Keep profile, level, and backups in one place.

Account and Settings is where students or coaches adjust the local training profile and manage support tasks.

Training profile

Change the training name or level when the student moves to a new group.

Appearance

Switch theme settings if a different visual mode is easier to read.

Backup and restore

Use local backup tools when moving data or preparing a reset.

Help

Use support actions when access, server connection, or progress data looks wrong.