Author: Chris Carson
Date: 06:12:53 08/25/99
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On August 25, 1999 at 08:42:19, Alvaro Polo wrote: >I am a intermediate chess player. The chess program that I use (Genius) is too >strong for me even on its lower levels, and therefore gives me no satisfaction >to play against it. > >I would like to know if someone here knows some program that can play in the >1500-2000 ELO levels. I don't mind if it is freeware or a commercial program. I >am willing to pay if the software gives me what I look for. > >Thanks a lot. > >Alvaro Polo Hi, I use to play Genius 2/3/4 on 486 (66mhz) and P90 (shows some age here). Now I play Crafty on a PII 300. On Crafty's strongest settings, Crafty plays better against me than Genius and I never grow tired of the openings (since I can easily expand with the latest games or lines) or I can study specific openings as well by only using PGN files for that line. :) I no longer buy Genius or Chess Master (4K, 5K, 6K). Although CM4/5K/6K are all good values/programs that should also meet your needs. Rebel also looks like a great value/program. Rebel Decade or the Rebel Trial are free to try. The people at ICD are a lot of help and the best place to purchase programs (in my opinion, I do not work for them, I just like the products and service). :) I recommend Crafty (using the null personality, ie: set all the eval options to 0). If you still need to adjust you can play with the time setting (and ponder=off). Give Crafty less time than you get, for example if you get 30 min/game, give Crafty 15 (without pondering). You can also reduce the size of the Crafty book and adjust the randomness of the book to play a broader array of moves. Adjusting the eval is the best way to weaken Crafty, see the documentation. :) I play Crafty different ways. I will watch analysis (using Winboard) and try to play a better move if I can find one when it is my turn. I think of this as a tutoring mode, and I have improved my game a lot by using this. Mostly in the area of tactics, I use to (10 years ago or so) make silly tactical mistakes in a lot of games. I still do, but it is not often. Another way I use Crafty is to play serious (no help) games. I then analyze the results myself to try to improve, I may have a friend look at the results to get a second opinion, and I may have Crafty analyze to get a third. :) Not the best way to improve, but hey I'm in this for fun, not blood. :) I play mostly 15min or 30min/game time controls. This is freeware, see the CCC links to find Crafty. Also, Crafty is a very strong program, so read the documentation and join the Crafty e-mail list. Get Winboard (see CCC links) for the GUI. As you get better, you can adjust Crafty to fit your skill, you most likley will never consistently play better than Crafty on its strongest settings, but you can adjust the eval to levels below, at or above your strength. :) Have fun, Chris Carson
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