Chess Program

Archived from groups: rec.games.chess.computer,alt.comp.freeware.games (More info?)

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

Archived from groups: rec.games.chess.computer,alt.comp.freeware.games (More info?)

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
>
>

http://www.rebel.nl/decrel.htm

http://www.playwitharena.com/

100s of engines on the second link, all free.

Do a search on www.google.com if you want more

Archived from groups: rec.games.chess.computer,alt.comp.freeware.games (More info?)

See below:

"Vegard Krog Petersen" <vegard_krog_petersen@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news0mv80$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 [...] pages.html
http://www.chessville.com/links/li [...] mputer.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.

I'm still trying them out.

Good luck!

Dan

Archived from groups: rec.games.chess.computer,alt.comp.freeware.games (More info?)

"Dan Kalish" wrote
[cut]
>
> 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 [...] pages.html
> http://www.chessville.com/links/li [...] mputer.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.
>
> I'm still trying them out.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Dan

Hi Dan.
Thanks for the answer anf the links. I have downloaded Arena with some
engines. But I looks quite complicated, but I will give it a try.

/Hans

Archived from groups: rec.games.chess.computer,alt.comp.freeware.games (More info?)

* Hans J. Jensen <jjjg3401@hotmail.spam> (09:34) schrieb:

> Thanks for the answer anf the links. I have downloaded Arena with some
> engines. But I looks quite complicated, but I will give it a try.

For simple Tasks it's simple. Select you engine, and drag/drop your
moves. The leftmost Button in the toolbar is for a fresh board. You can
enable tooltips in the help menu.

mfg, simon .... l

Archived from groups: rec.games.chess.computer,alt.comp.freeware.games (More info?)

"Hans J. Jensen" <jjjg3401@hotmail.spam> wrote...
> "RPM1" wrote:
> [cut]
> > If you want a simple free chess program that's simple to use
> > and can play at various levels from beginner to master, try:
> >
> > Der Bringer:
> > http://chess.kearman.com/bringer/bringer-index.html
> >
> > You just unzip the zip file to a directory/folder and then click
> > on the icon. It has a nice GUI interface.
> >
> > Good luck
> > Patrick
>
> Thanks. I have also downloaded that program now. Maybe you know: How do I
> change the strength of the program? Fx. the search depth. (I guess that I
am
> not looking the correct place.)

Click on the Game menu and choose Level to set the
level, (search depth).

Click on the Options menu and choose Settings to
turn "Permanent Brain" on or off. This setting allows it to
think while it's your move. You can also set the programs
approximate Elo rating from Options-->Settings and then
click the "Engine" tab. There you can lower the Elo rating.
It only goes down to 1360 so if you try to set the rating
lower it won't accept it.

If I set the Elo to 1360 and set the Level to one ply and turn
Permanent Brain off, my 7 year old son can kill the program.
If I set it to it's strongest settings it will play master level chess.

Have fun!
Patrick

Archived from groups: rec.games.chess.computer (More info?)

"Simon Krahnke" skrev
> Hans J. Jensen (09:34) schrieb:
>
> > Thanks for the answer anf the links. I have downloaded Arena with some
> > engines. But I looks quite complicated, but I will give it a try.
>
> For simple Tasks it's simple. Select you engine, and drag/drop your
> moves. The leftmost Button in the toolbar is for a fresh board. You can
> enable tooltips in the help menu.
>
> mfg, simon .... l

Ok, so I figured out the basics. But while playing with the program I think
I changed a lot of things. But does that matter?

/Hans