Author: Richard A. Fowell (fowell@netcom.com)
Date: 08:18:34 12/18/98
MacChess 5.0 PPC can now be downloaded from <http://www.macdownload.com/>
(use the "search" facility to search for "macchess")
Here's some info on it, but if you have a iMac/PowerMac, you want it!
MacChess is FREE, master-strength, and commercial quality.
It includes easy levels and a "Learning Chess" file for learners.
Web site is: http://members.aol.com/macchess/
(I'll add a download link there when it is through Info-Mac)
Prior versions have over 50,000 total downloads on AOL!
No PowerMac? Download the 68K version, MacChess 2.5 - downloaded by
more people (25,000+) than any other Mac Board Game file on AOL.
(Only two arcade games had more downloads than MacChess 2.5 as of 12/1/98).
Available at: http://www.gambitsoft.com/mac.htm
Have MacChess 2.5? Download this for the opening book -
12,000 more positions than the MacChess 4.0 opening book.
Last year, MacChess defeated a master and a near-master at the
Aegon 1997 computer-human tournament on an old Mac.
This year, 13,500+ AOL users downloaded MacChess 4.0.
18 Major New Features since MacChess 4.0, including.
- New large board option - great for iMacs or large displays
- "Learning Chess" file added
- Reworked chess engine finds forced mates faster
(solves the Shirov "computers can't find" Mate in the 11/98 Chess Life,
page 901, in 52 seconds on my 7300/180 using 8Mb hash)
6r1/2rp1kpp/2qQp3/p3Pp1P/1pP2P2/1P2KP2/P5R1/6R1 w - - id "Shirov 1";bm Rxg7;
- Expanded opening book - 12,000 new positions added.
- Improved endgame knowledge
- New level settings: sudden death, increment, handicap
- Added quick level setting options to Level menu
- Setup window movable - eases copying Web diagrams
- PGN "result" tag now automatically generated, popup
Features introduced in MacChess 4.0:
- Analyze Game - MacChess will find where you went wrong
- Analyze Player vs. Player - analyzes while you move
- Copy and Paste positions (EPD), games (PGN) and analysis.
- More ending "smarts" added - ending test score up 180 pts.
- Expanded opening book - over 8,000 new positions added.
- Displays ECO opening codes
- Displays player names from PGN files above the board
- Displays your name as MacChess's opponent.
Features introduced in MacChess 3.0:
- PowerPC native - MUCH stronger on Power Macintoshes.
- Special "Easy" levels for learners to play against.
- "Next Best Move" option for getting the second best move.
- "Log" option records MacChess's analysis during a game.
- Analyzes sets of EPD test positions in "batch" mode
Retains the features that made MacChess 2.5 the most
frequently downloaded file in the "Board Games" area.
* 5 chess sets, each in b/w or color, can select board colors
* Strength adjustable by time allowed, or search depth
* Take back as many moves as you like
* Scroll through (back and forth) saved games
* Turn off its opening book or thinking on your time
* Ask for a hint, or force the computer to move now
* Move list has "VCR" controls, click to any move, animation
* Includes "American Style" piece set - most popular style
* iconic position setup, separate windows menu
* Preferences window for set choice, color, sound, etc.
* Choice of short/long notation, click or drag movement
* Reads/Writes PGN/EPD formats (used by chess archives)
* Batch position analysis feature, with detailed log files
* It displays:
- current opening
- what it thinks the best line is
- what move it is currently examining
- time taken by each player (on current move, and total)
* You can save or load games
* You can print out the game score (move sequence)
* You can save positions as graphics or text
* You can print positions as graphics
* You can have Black at the top or bottom of the screen
Richard A. Fowell (fowell@netcom.com)
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