Chess related
Stop the presses! I've found what may be the best commerial chess program available today. It's not cheap, ($45-50 currently) but worth every cent if you really enjoy chess.
What program is it? Hiarcs 10.0. It learns with you, plays more like a human, and has many more features.
Believe me, I've "tried em all", and this one is far superior to most, perhaps even all.
Bare in mind, this is ment for club players or better, so if you are just starting to learn chess, you may want to find something more geared to that level. Chessmaster 8000 can be purchased cheap on the internet, ($10-20). It can't hold a candle to Hiarcs, but it will keep a beginner busy for a long time.
Hiarcs is not shareware. It can be ordered online,and likely via US mail.
http://www.hiarcs.com/pc_chess_hiarcs.htm
I came across an interesting exchange regarding a new chess program called Rybka 1.2. It is in fact, an even more powerful program than Hiarcs 10.0. To my knowledge they are respectively the number 1 and number 2 most powerful commercial chess programs on the market as of 7/1/06.
Even though Rybka is more powerful, it is not as good at playing with a human like style, and is likely not as good a learning tool as Hiarcs 10.0. So, power is not everything to look for if you want to learn from a program.
Here is the link to the "conversation":
http://www.avlerchess.com/chess-computer/From_Junior_9_to_Hiarcs_10__A_big_improvement__114423.html
Helpful hint if you purchase Hiarcs 10.0:
Be sure to select the Hiarcs opening book if you are playing in "friend mode". Otherwise it plays the same dimwitted opening moves each game.
Make sure book learning is on, (tools/book...). Check it a couple times after you have played a game or two, it tends to revert back to no learning, I do not know why.
Rebel Decade 3.0:
In my opinion, this may be the best free chess playing program downloadable on the internet as of 6/2/05.
http://www.rebel.nl/decdown.htm
Shredder Classic version 1.1:
There are several versions of Shredder. This refers to Shredder Classic, downloadable on the internet.
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update 6/10/06:
I am sorry to inform folks that to upgrade from version 1.x to 2.x appears to require a full further $29.95 at this time. There appears to be no discount for registered users of version 1.x. This being the case seems to make Shredder Classic a bit too pricey for the value. At least that is the way I see it. Otherwise, the data below still holds true at this time.
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Can you buy better? Yes. Can you buy cheaper? Yes. But for some reason I'm not quite sure of, I like this one. It is possibly the best, certainly one of the best shareware chess playing programs available. If you can't afford Hiarcs mentioned above, this one is cheaper, ($29.95 maybe). And it's a good program. As mentioned above, it's not for the beginner either.
What you can't do with Shredder:Play chess on the internet, ( at the time of this writing ). Try Winboard for internet chess playing,(See below). I recommend the site: FICS if you do this (again, see below).
What you can do with Shredder:Play lots of fun games of chess against the program. You can adjust it's playing capability to match your's. ( Better is to try to set it SLIGHTLY stronger than you. This way you will either grow to be a better player, or lose a lot. :) ) And Shredder's "personality" is adjustable as well.
http://www.shredderchess.com/
Winboard/Xboard:
Winboard is for use with Windows 95, 98, maybe XP, etc.. Xboard is basically the same program for Unix systems I believe. See the site for more compatibility details.
Winboard takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do, it's easy. When your PC is connected to the internet, Winboard should be able to connect to FICS, barring firewall difficulties, etc.. You will have to get a free FICS membership.
http://www.tim-mann.org/xboard.html
FICS ( Free Internet Chess Server ):
FICS has it's own software you can download to play, and if I recall correctly, there may be a java board at the site you can use without having to download anything. As indicated above, I prefer Winboard, but the java board, and their downloadable software may be simpler to operate. It will likely also have fewer niceties for those who want to play alot at FICS.
Bare in mind that there may be a little salty language there, so don't take your grandma. :)
The regulars there will know you are a beginner at the site. Best is, just be up front about it, and be yourself. There are all levels of players that use FICS from beginner to and above master.
Fics has it's own set of commands, see their "help" to learn more after you are logged on.
Free chess lectures can be observed there also.
Pick your FICS "handle", (name) carefully when you register. You may have it a long time.
Play unrated games for a while until you get the feel of things. Remember to set "autoflag" ON in Winboard, or whatever the equivalent is with the program you use. That way, when you've got em in a time bind, when their flag falls you win!
Who knows, you may run into rhoadesb there, though it's been a while since I've played online.
http://www.freechess.org/
There are many more free and shareware chess programs, games, instruction, etc. to be had online, but the above will get you going.
Advice from the university of hard knocks to total beginners:
While it is true that you may be able to learn how to play in 30 minutes or so, unless you have what I and most people lack,(talent) it will take years or decades to become a master. And if you are just the average Joe like me, I advise you don't even try. I did long ago. It is a lot of WORK to become a master. I never got close, (1850 USCF(for those who understand) was when I was at my best, but I've gone to pot. :) ).Instead, just play for fun.When I first learned to play chess from a comparatively weak program back in 1982, it took me THREE MONTHS before I beat it the first time. So, if you are short on patience, chess may not be for you. :)
What program is it? Hiarcs 10.0. It learns with you, plays more like a human, and has many more features.
Believe me, I've "tried em all", and this one is far superior to most, perhaps even all.
Bare in mind, this is ment for club players or better, so if you are just starting to learn chess, you may want to find something more geared to that level. Chessmaster 8000 can be purchased cheap on the internet, ($10-20). It can't hold a candle to Hiarcs, but it will keep a beginner busy for a long time.
Hiarcs is not shareware. It can be ordered online,and likely via US mail.
http://www.hiarcs.com/pc_chess_hiarcs.htm
I came across an interesting exchange regarding a new chess program called Rybka 1.2. It is in fact, an even more powerful program than Hiarcs 10.0. To my knowledge they are respectively the number 1 and number 2 most powerful commercial chess programs on the market as of 7/1/06.
Even though Rybka is more powerful, it is not as good at playing with a human like style, and is likely not as good a learning tool as Hiarcs 10.0. So, power is not everything to look for if you want to learn from a program.
Here is the link to the "conversation":
http://www.avlerchess.com/chess-computer/From_Junior_9_to_Hiarcs_10__A_big_improvement__114423.html
Helpful hint if you purchase Hiarcs 10.0:
Be sure to select the Hiarcs opening book if you are playing in "friend mode". Otherwise it plays the same dimwitted opening moves each game.
Make sure book learning is on, (tools/book...). Check it a couple times after you have played a game or two, it tends to revert back to no learning, I do not know why.
Rebel Decade 3.0:
In my opinion, this may be the best free chess playing program downloadable on the internet as of 6/2/05.
http://www.rebel.nl/decdown.htm
Shredder Classic version 1.1:
There are several versions of Shredder. This refers to Shredder Classic, downloadable on the internet.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
update 6/10/06:
I am sorry to inform folks that to upgrade from version 1.x to 2.x appears to require a full further $29.95 at this time. There appears to be no discount for registered users of version 1.x. This being the case seems to make Shredder Classic a bit too pricey for the value. At least that is the way I see it. Otherwise, the data below still holds true at this time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Can you buy better? Yes. Can you buy cheaper? Yes. But for some reason I'm not quite sure of, I like this one. It is possibly the best, certainly one of the best shareware chess playing programs available. If you can't afford Hiarcs mentioned above, this one is cheaper, ($29.95 maybe). And it's a good program. As mentioned above, it's not for the beginner either.
What you can't do with Shredder:Play chess on the internet, ( at the time of this writing ). Try Winboard for internet chess playing,(See below). I recommend the site: FICS if you do this (again, see below).
What you can do with Shredder:Play lots of fun games of chess against the program. You can adjust it's playing capability to match your's. ( Better is to try to set it SLIGHTLY stronger than you. This way you will either grow to be a better player, or lose a lot. :) ) And Shredder's "personality" is adjustable as well.
http://www.shredderchess.com/
Winboard/Xboard:
Winboard is for use with Windows 95, 98, maybe XP, etc.. Xboard is basically the same program for Unix systems I believe. See the site for more compatibility details.
Winboard takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do, it's easy. When your PC is connected to the internet, Winboard should be able to connect to FICS, barring firewall difficulties, etc.. You will have to get a free FICS membership.
http://www.tim-mann.org/xboard.html
FICS ( Free Internet Chess Server ):
FICS has it's own software you can download to play, and if I recall correctly, there may be a java board at the site you can use without having to download anything. As indicated above, I prefer Winboard, but the java board, and their downloadable software may be simpler to operate. It will likely also have fewer niceties for those who want to play alot at FICS.
Bare in mind that there may be a little salty language there, so don't take your grandma. :)
The regulars there will know you are a beginner at the site. Best is, just be up front about it, and be yourself. There are all levels of players that use FICS from beginner to and above master.
Fics has it's own set of commands, see their "help" to learn more after you are logged on.
Free chess lectures can be observed there also.
Pick your FICS "handle", (name) carefully when you register. You may have it a long time.
Play unrated games for a while until you get the feel of things. Remember to set "autoflag" ON in Winboard, or whatever the equivalent is with the program you use. That way, when you've got em in a time bind, when their flag falls you win!
Who knows, you may run into rhoadesb there, though it's been a while since I've played online.
http://www.freechess.org/
There are many more free and shareware chess programs, games, instruction, etc. to be had online, but the above will get you going.
Advice from the university of hard knocks to total beginners:
While it is true that you may be able to learn how to play in 30 minutes or so, unless you have what I and most people lack,(talent) it will take years or decades to become a master. And if you are just the average Joe like me, I advise you don't even try. I did long ago. It is a lot of WORK to become a master. I never got close, (1850 USCF(for those who understand) was when I was at my best, but I've gone to pot. :) ).Instead, just play for fun.When I first learned to play chess from a comparatively weak program back in 1982, it took me THREE MONTHS before I beat it the first time. So, if you are short on patience, chess may not be for you. :)
posted by rhoadesb | 7:45 AM
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