Archived from groups: rec.games.chess.computer (
More info?)
Dan Kalish wrote:
> See below:
>
> "Vegard Krog Petersen" <vegard_krog_petersen@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:d0mv80$cj4$1@news.tdcnorge.no...
>
>>Hans J. Jensen wrote:
>>
>>>Hi NG.
>>>I know this question properly have been asked many times before, but
>
> anyway:
>
>>>Does anyone know a good _free_ program for playing chess against the
>>>computer?
>>>
>>>/Hans
>>
>>
>>Rudy has some in his Board section:
>>http://www.caiman.us/scripts/fw/fboard.html
>>
>>Free, but I have no idea if they are any good...
>
> ...
>
>>Vegard Krog Petersen, Norway
>>
>
>
> There are literally hundreds of programs. So many programmers developed
> these with no compensation. You need two parts: the user interface and the
> engine.
>
> The interface is the part that deals with the user, i.e. I/O. In general,
> there are three types of interfaces for IBM compatibles: Winboard (Xboard
> for Mac), UCI, and Chessbase.
>
> The engine is the part that calculates moves. Engines may be designed for
> only one type interface, in which case it is called "native." Most engines
> these days are designed for two or three types. Chessbase has made its
> recent programs (I think starting with Fritz 6; I know Junior 8 and Hiarcs 8
> work) suitable for UCI. Arena, mentioned in an earlier post, is UCI.
>
> Here are some links to sites which explain this in more detail and which
> provide free programs:
>
>
http://www.tim-mann.org/engines.html
>
http://www.aarontay.per.sg/Winboard/index.html
>
http://www.aarontay.per.sg/Winboard/article.html
> http://www.aarontay.per.sg/Winboard/Winboard4.html#[D.4]
>
http://www.moq.dk/WinBoard.htm
>
http://wbforum.volker-pittlik.name/profile.php
>
http://www.winboardengines.de/html/winboard-detailpages.html
>
http://www.chessville.com/links/links_comp_computer.htm
>
http://www.geocities.com/lyapko/rat30.htm
>
> I found out about this the same way you did: by inquiring of this newsgroup.
> Jonathan Beckett wrote back, suggesting:
>
> SCID
> Winboard
> Arena
> Crafty
> Ruffian.
Download jose-chess from http://jose-chess.sf.net; it is a chess
database/chess interface, featuring a 3D board and great user interface;
it also comes with Crafty, as good a free engine as you will ever want.
Best of all, jose-chess is Free Software!
(Herr Schäffer, hope this is all right
)