Author: Don Prohaska
Date: 20:21:37 04/18/98
Go up one level in this thread
I would say that this is a very fair run down. Even though I still don't know what one means by "human like." Unless they mean the program makes foolish moves. On April 18, 1998 at 19:58:33, Larry S. Tamarkin wrote: >Here's a quicky review of some of the better programs, that I posted on >rec.games.chess.computer a while ago. Help it helps. > >Ratings of programs are now so high (for us ordinary chess experts that >is!) >that IMHO that shouldn't be the primary reason for selecting a program. >That said, on your list Fritz5 has a substantially lower rating than the >others, but notice that it is on a 90 MHz processor which really hurts >its >performance compared to the others. > >My personal selection of programs is based on its overall features and >computability with Chess Base (my database of choice) and looks like >this: > >1: Fritz5 - Has a Opening tree and many, training/coaching features that >set >it apart from other playing programs. Also, so far it is the only >program >that incorporates the new cbh file format of Chess Base and plays >multimedia >clips. So if you down load Chess Base Light and get this program you >pretty >much have a complete chess Database and Playing program together. Also >the >fact that Fritz5 comes with 300,000 chess games on the CD, and that >more >than 5000 are annotated is a very important feature. So far, I hardly >use >the Talk feature (German or English), but it is innovative and important >to >some. > >2: Genius5 Gold - Comes with all Genius versions (dos and Windows) on >one >CD! Genius 5 has the best interface of all the programs I've seen, is >compatible with Chess Base (CBF format), and has some settings for the >way >the program evaluates that seem more customizable then Fritz5. It also >has >the best 3d Board(s) I have seen! It is likely the fastest program in >Blitz, and also can be plugged into the an external board. > >3: Rebel9 - Probably the most feature rich dos program, It like HIARCS >is >thought to have the most human like playing style (Maybe not as human as >CS >TAL or HIARCS though) Rebel9 currently comes with a 'free' bonus CD >loaded >with a 105,000 game database, other famous games databases, 56 MB of >additional opening books, and numerous utilities to increase one's chess >playing fun. For true chess professionals, it is probably the best >combination of chess playing program and database in one. > >4: HIARCS - I only have an older version of this so I can only go by >what >others have said about it in this newsgroup rather than personal >experience. >Aside from Chess System Tal it is said to have the most human like >playing >style. It is said to incorporate 'more' chess knowledge then the >other's, >and yet somehow it is currently the highest rated (by 1 point! over >Rebel9) >of all the programs on the SSDF list. The version I had (2.1) had a >really >old - fashioned dos like interface which I quickly (like with MChess) >got >tired of. Like MChess it has a shuffle chess feature, if you like that >sort >of thing! Also is available as a DLL engine playing module usable >inside >Fritz5, but I was (am) disappointed that company Chess Base doesn't >offer an >additional discount to previous (and current)HIARCS owner's on this >add-on. > >Hope this quick summary helps, >mrslug - the inkompetent chess software addict! > > > > >On April 18, 1998 at 07:44:40, Rajen Gupta wrote: > >>On April 17, 1998 at 17:45:08, John Stafford wrote: >> >>>To anyone who may care to respond, Thanks. I'm trying to assess which >>>chess program to buy. I'm looking at Fritz5, Rebel, HIARC and others. My >>>son is now regularly beating me and I can't tell him much more about the >>>game. The program needs to have a good shelf life and some decent visual >>>appeal as well as helping a person improve their game. Can anyone help? >>>Thanks. John Stafford >> >>Fritz 5 Without doubt is the greatest single piece of chess software, >>both in terms of playing strength and fatures.for more specialized >>training software packages, refer to Mr Komputer Korners >>Recommendations. >> >>Rajen Gupta
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