Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Best chessprogram

Author: Lawrence S. Tamarkin

Date: 10:42:27 11/05/99

Go up one level in this thread


There is no best chess program, because all the component's that make for what I
want in a program are only available by getting a lot of them.  That being said
here are my 4 favorights (with reasons).



1. Fritz5.32 (Fritz6).  Handles all database types (that matter, pgn., edd.,
cbf., Cbv.) Large included database, (303,000 games, with around 5,000
annotated, Fritz6 will have 320,000 games, up to the Summer of '99).  Plays back
Chess Base Video files.  Has Good training and annotation features. Now plays
Music. (Yes, I enjoy this feature a lot!) Many included engines & Winboard
compatability.

Rebel Century.  Very strong engine with adustable parimiter's.  'Human like
play'.  Adjustable personalities.  Shuffle book.  Large games database. A lot of
utilities included on CD.  Really great opening book(s) (probably the best I've
seen) Encyclopedia Of Chess (EOC - i'm not of what use this thing is, but it
certainly is cool:)).  4-boards feature - If your studying the Ruy Lopez after
the 12th move, and you want to play several games from the same position,
without re-loading, this is a very excellent feature.

Millenium Chess Genius 6.5 (MCG 6.5)  Best overall look & feel.  Best looking 3d
boards.  The 3d board in Fritz is so ugly, it is not even worth having, in my
opinion.  Most interesting included engines. (Genius6.5, Shredder4, and
Nimzo2000.  Thompson endgame CDs (I don't care about these, but some chess
software collector's feel they are very important to have). Winboard
compatability.  DOWN-SIDE - The entry & upgrade price is still a little on the
high side.  But your opinion my well differ.

Chess Master 6000/7000
Many tutorial & fun features - Read past threads here.
Best price. (and Software remover software included with current new version)
DOWN-SIDE - Some buyer's have reported very sever bugs on instalation.  Also
company support totally sucks!

Chessica CD, with included (complete) 5 vol. tutorial series for beginner's
right through to Expert level.

Program is regarded as Windows version of Fritz3.  Very attractive interface.
Limited book and relatively small database.  For about $65 with the included
tutorial set, it is one of the best program values there is.  Customer service
-NON-EXISTANT!  But fortunately, the product has held up as just about bug-free,
so as long as you can buy (if the company, TASCBASE, doesn't fold its tent),it
is certainly worth it.

In my opinion, all the above programs(in future versions, if there are future
versions), should incorporate Internet connectivity, and perhaps Chess System
Tall II, (which does have that), should have been included above, but since
getting that one I've hardly looked at it), but aside from that, together, they
have everything I need.


Larry - the chess software addict!



On November 05, 1999 at 11:25:33, Alvaro Rodriguez wrote:

>Hi all,
>       I have thought and thought it over and over again, but I can´t come to a
>conclution. What´s the best chessprogram? And How do you know that? Maybe a
>program is better against humans but loses against other programs. it´s hard to
>say for sure, because all the computer tournaments are played with different
>prestenda for each program, at least that´s what I know!
>  It would be really interesting to hear different opinions from chessfans as
>myself and also from programmers!



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.