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Subject: Likes and dislikes about chess computers

Author: Graham Laight

Date: 01:48:29 05/06/98


I would be interested to hear what people say about their chess
computers!!!

Here are my views about my machines (in order of acquisition - most
recent first)

CS-Tal +

Most exciting machine to play against - a real adrenalin rush
Adjusts to different standards of play very well

CS-Tal -

Can't think of any at the moment

Hiarcs 2.1 +

Can flash squares when moving pieces, so that you can see what move
it's making without looking at the move list
Has a very elegant style of play in "aggressive" mode
Nice analysis as you go along
Sheer "cleverness" of the program

Hiarcs 2.1 -

Cannot weaken the standard of play sufficiently (though I can beat it in
aggressive mode with permanent brain off)

TC 2100 +

Very high standard of play for a portable
Nice board

TC 2100 -

Because of the lid hinges, cannot use for a human v human game
Black pieces too dark
Too much tactical trickery reduces the fun a little
Standard of play jumps too much between levels (e.g. between fun 6 and
fun 7, and between ply 1 and ply 2, it goes from too easy to absolutely
unbeatable)

CM 2100 +

Really feature packed for a 1989 program
Includes a tutorial on how to play chess!!!
Built in fun throughout the program (e.g. if you offer a draw, it says
"draw offer delined - play on!")
Speech and music available

CM 2100 -

Too much tactical trickery
Pieces not so easy to see as on modern boards

RS 1850 +

Beatable on full strength!
Nice board

RS 1850 -

Cheats (often takes 3x the time it's supposed to, making games at high
levels very slow)
No clocks
Whenever I play it, I seem to end up in the same type of position all
the time. Lack of variety in play

Fidelity Portable Challenger +

Very strong for an early 1980s portable
Fun

Fidelity Portable Challenger -

Very slow and poor in end games
Poorly assembled - low quality



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