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Main
Date: 18 Jun 2007 10:27:34
From:
Subject: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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Hi,
For some years I used an old Fritz3 to play chess against the
computer. I never purchased a new one because never cared much to play
against computers, always prefering to play humans.
Now I don't have much time to go to local club and play humans, so I
started to play more against computer.
I would like to buy a new program. My force is about 1600 ELO.
I have been looking the net and found so many programs that I cannot
choose only by the advertising.
>From Fritz 10, Hiarcs 10, Shredder 10, Junior 10, Rybka 2.3.2, Tiger
15 and others, what would you choose?
Thanks in advance,
JP
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Date:
From: Martin Brown
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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Date: 22 Jun 2007 09:29:51
From: Jud McCranie
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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On Fri, 22 Jun 2007 01:00:25 -0700, tin Brown
<
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Date: 27 Jun 2007 09:24:18
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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Jud McCranie <[email protected] > wrote:
>On Fri, 22 Jun 2007 01:00:25 -0700, tin Brown
> <
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Date:
From: Martin Brown
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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Date: 22 Jun 2007 04:54:43
From: Guy Macon
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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help bot wrote:
>But the program advertised at the Chessbase Web site
>called "Shredder" claims to come with the endgame TBs
>on DVD, highly compressed so they won't gobble up
>your hard drive or require a massive (free) download.
>That is what I was referring to.
DVD with 3-4-5 piece Nalimov endgame tablebases,
compressed (7.5 GB):
http://www.chesscentral.com/software/nalimov.htm
Two Double DVDs with most 6 piece Nalimov endgame
tablebases, compressed (17GB):
http://www.chesscentral.com/chess-database-p/2358817.htm
The above DVDs works with Chess Assistant 6/7, Comprehensive
Chess Endings, Fritz 7/8, Tiger 14/15, Shredder 7, Junior 8
and many other engines.
>So, why choose Winboard? I mean, as opposed to Arena, for
instance.
Two reasons:
[1] Far more information available on the Internet.
[2] Arena is a Windows-only program. Winboard has a Linux
version (XBoard).
Arena is a fine program, though, and folks won't go wrong
choosing it.
Here are some choices:
Arena (Windows only)
http://www.playwitharena.com
BabasChess (Windows only)
http://www.babaschess.net/
Chess Pad (Windows only)
http://www.wmlsoftware.com/chesspad.html
Scid (Windows, Linux, OS X)
http://scid.sourceforge.net/
Scotti's Enhanced Winboard (Windows only)
http://www.ascotti.org/programming/chess/winboard_x.htm
Slibo (Linux only)
http://slibo.sourceforge.net/
Winboard/Xboard (Windows, Linux, OS X)
http://www.tim-mann.org/xboard.html
--
Guy Macon
<http://www.guymacon.com/ >
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Date: 21 Jun 2007 20:21:21
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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On Jun 21, 6:28 am, Guy Macon <http://www.guymacon.com/ > wrote:
> help bot wrote:
> >Finally, there are a few chess programs which are now
> >free, and which can be downloaded on the internet.
> ...
> >IMO, these beat paying for a remaindered program except in
> >the case of endgame tablebases, which they won't have.
>
> A lot of them do. Certainly crafty does.
But the program advertised at the Chessbase Web site
called "Shredder" claims to come with the endgame TBs
on DVD, highly compressed so they won't gobble up
your hard drive or require a massive (free) download.
That is what I was referring to. BTW, I have already
downloaded a free endgame tablebase, but I never
followed through by actually installing it somewhere.
So, why choose Winboard? I mean, as opposed to
Arena, for instance.
-- help bot
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Date: 21 Jun 2007 10:28:57
From: Guy Macon
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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help bot wrote:
>Finally, there are a few chess programs which are now
>free, and which can be downloaded on the internet.
...
>IMO, these beat paying for a remaindered program except in
>the case of endgame tablebases, which they won't have.
A lot of them do. Certainly crafty does.
http://horizonchess.com/FAQ/Winboard/egtb.html#%5BA.4%5D
http://horizonchess.com/FAQ/Winboard/Winboard3.html#%5BC.8%5D
http://horizonchess.com/FAQ/Winboard/egtb.html#%5BA.7%5D
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Date: 21 Jun 2007 10:17:33
From: Guy Macon
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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[email protected] wrote:
>
>Guy Macon <http://www.guymacon.com/> wrote:
>
>> [email protected] wrote:
>>
>> >For some years I used an old Fritz3 to play chess against the
>> >computer. I never purchased a new one because never cared much to play
>> >against computers, always prefering to play humans.
>>
>> >Now I don't have much time to go to local club and play humans, so I
>> >started to play more against computer.
>>
>> >I would like to buy a new program. My force is about 1600 ELO.
>>
>> >I have been looking the net and found so many programs that I cannot
>> >choose only by the advertising.
>>
>> That's because the advertising makes the same error tjat some
>> of the replies in this thread make: confusing the questions
>> "whats the best program for a 1600 player?" with "what's the
>> strongest program?" You need to figure out which program you
>> will enjoy using most and which will best help you to improve.
>>
>> Your very first question should be which of the following
>> best meets your needs:
>>
>> [1] Computer program on a PC
>>
>> [2] Computer program on a PDA
>>
>> [3] Standalone dedicated chess computer
>>
>> [4] Handheld dedicated chess computer
>>
>> [5] Website where you can play against a computer
>>
>> [6] Website where you can play against a human
>
>I prefer a computer program to use on a PC.
>Of course, the problem of knowing which is the strongest program is
>not very important because I cannot beat any of those I mentioned.
>I want it for fun, for learning and for training. Practicing openings
>is important.
I suggest that you start with Winboard and a couple of winboard
chess engines. The cost is zero, and there is a lot of info about
winboard on the web. For example. I just did a Google search on
[ winboard opening training ] and found _ A Beginner's Guide to
building a opening book_ which looks like a good way to practice a
certain opening in Winboard.
Info on WinBoard:
http://horizonchess.com/FAQ/Winboard/openingbook.html
http://www.tim-mann.org/xboard/FAQ.html
http://computer-chess.org/pmwiki.php?n=Main.WinboardFAQ
http://computer-chess.org/pmwiki.php?n=Main.CloneEngineList
http://www.tim-mann.org/extensions.html
--
Guy Macon
<http://www.guymacon.com/ >
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Date: 21 Jun 2007 00:57:09
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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On Jun 21, 3:17 am, tin Brown <
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Date:
From: Martin Brown
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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Date: 20 Jun 2007 16:10:28
From:
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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On Jun 19, 4:01 pm, Guy Macon <http://www.guymacon.com/ > wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> >For some years I used an old Fritz3 to play chess against the
> >computer. I never purchased a new one because never cared much to play
> >against computers, always prefering to play humans.
>
> >Now I don't have much time to go to local club and play humans, so I
> >started to play more against computer.
>
> >I would like to buy a new program. My force is about 1600 ELO.
>
> >I have been looking the net and found so many programs that I cannot
> >choose only by the advertising.
>
> That's because the advertising makes the same error tjat some
> of the replies in this thread make: confusing the questions
> "whats the best program for a 1600 player?" with "what's the
> strongest program?" You need to figure out which program you
> will enjoy using most and which will best help you to improve.
>
> Your very first question should be which of the following
> best meets your needs:
>
> [1] Computer program on a PC
>
> [2] Computer program on a PDA
>
> [3] Standalone dedicated chess computer
>
> [4] Handheld dedicated chess computer
>
> [5] Website where you can play against a computer
>
> [6] Website where you can play against a human
I prefer a computer program to use on a PC.
Of course, the problem of knowing which is the strongest program is
not very important because I cannot beat any of those I mentioned.
I want it for fun, for learning and for training. Practicing openings
is important.
JP
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Date: 26 Jun 2007 16:01:27
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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<[email protected] > wrote:
> I prefer a computer program to use on a PC.
> Of course, the problem of knowing which is the strongest program is
> not very important because I cannot beat any of those I mentioned.
> I want it for fun, for learning and for training.
Consider Chessmaster -- it's consistently recommended for its
tutorials and its range of play.
> Practicing openings is important.
Not for a 1600 player, it isn't.
Dave.
--
David Richerby Incredible Tool (TM): it's like a
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ hammer but it'll blow your mind!
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Date: 20 Jun 2007 20:50:34
From: Jud McCranie
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:10:28 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>Of course, the problem of knowing which is the strongest program is
>not very important because I cannot beat any of those I mentioned.
Then you should not pick Rybka. I think all of the others you
mentioned use the same interface. I haven't used Hiarcs or Junior,
but I would go with Fritz of that set. It can interface with other
stuff. Another program to consider is Chessmaster.
--
Replace you know what by j to email
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Date: 19 Jun 2007 09:20:24
From: SAT W-7
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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My Ivan chess computer say's I,800 ELO on the box but a guy kept
dummying down his Fritz and around I,700 ELO they battled real well ..So
i think Ivan is about I700 ELO....
When fritz was beating it i can see Ivans weaknesses in the end game
but i am not good enough to exploit them myself ..
I have beaten Ivan one time at it's strongest level and lost 400 +
times over the years.
I usually only play the strongest level..I have not played it in awhile
.Been kind of busy.
hey if you want to play it you can over e mail..
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Date: 26 Jun 2007 15:59:00
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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SAT W-7 <[email protected] > wrote:
> My Ivan chess computer say's I,800 ELO on the box but a guy kept
> dummying down his Fritz and around I,700 ELO they battled real well
> ..So i think Ivan is about I700 ELO....
Huh? You're not prepared to believe the Ivan when it says it's
playing at 1800 but you do believe Fritz when it says it's at 1700?
Why do you assume that Fritz is right? All of these numbers are just
estimates, anyway.
Dave.
--
David Richerby Carnivorous Widget (TM): it's like a
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ thingy but it's full of teeth!
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Date: 19 Jun 2007 15:01:58
From: Guy Macon
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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[email protected] wrote:
>For some years I used an old Fritz3 to play chess against the
>computer. I never purchased a new one because never cared much to play
>against computers, always prefering to play humans.
>
>Now I don't have much time to go to local club and play humans, so I
>started to play more against computer.
>
>I would like to buy a new program. My force is about 1600 ELO.
>
>I have been looking the net and found so many programs that I cannot
>choose only by the advertising.
That's because the advertising makes the same error tjat some
of the replies in this thread make: confusing the questions
"whats the best program for a 1600 player?" with "what's the
strongest program?" You need to figure out which program you
will enjoy using most and which will best help you to improve.
Your very first question should be which of the following
best meets your needs:
[1] Computer program on a PC
[2] Computer program on a PDA
[3] Standalone dedicated chess computer
[4] Handheld dedicated chess computer
[5] Website where you can play against a computer
[6] Website where you can play against a human
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Date: 18 Jun 2007 14:55:08
From:
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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Shredder was the best at endgames until very recently. Rybka 2.3.2
(the latest version) has scored the highest-ever at solving endgame
test positions, and now there is a 2.3.2a version that supposedly
fixes some zugzwang bugs so it is even better yet.
Without a doubt Rybka is the strongest chess engine around, and by a
considerable gin. This latest version added an estimated 35-40 ELO
over 2.3.1, so it is actually pulling away from the field. If you add
Rybka's performance in every high profile computer chess tournament it
has participated in since it started you will find that it has posted
an amazing 88% success rate.
However if you want a complete chess package you really ought to buy
Fritz 10 strictly for the GUI and access to the server, and then buy
Rybka separately. That would be the best of all worlds.
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Date: 18 Jun 2007 18:41:31
From: Jud McCranie
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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On Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:55:08 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>Shredder was the best at endgames until very recently. Rybka 2.3.2
>(the latest version) has scored the highest-ever at solving endgame
>test positions, and now there is a 2.3.2a version that supposedly
>fixes some zugzwang bugs so it is even better yet.
Thanks for that info. I have both of those, but only the single
processor version of Shredder, and I have a dual core CPU now, so I
can use the mp version of Rybka.
--
Replace you know what by j to email
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Date: 18 Jun 2007 15:15:57
From: Jud McCranie
Subject: Re: Suggestion for a computer chess program
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On Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:27:34 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>>From Fritz 10, Hiarcs 10, Shredder 10, Junior 10, Rybka 2.3.2, Tiger
>15 and others, what would you choose?
I have Rybka 2.3.2, Shredder 10, and Deep Fritz 10. Rybka is the
strongest, however it needs an interface such as one of the other
programs. I think Fritz may be a little better than the rest, but I'm
not positive. There is a rating list somewhere. Shredder is said to
be better in the endgame.
--
Replace you know what by j to email
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