Database Organization
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| Chess Informant |
Chess Informant has been publishing some of the most important chess books since 1966. Their software permits access to the electronic versions of these books and much more. For example, the chess diagrams on these pages were easy to create with CI Expert.
CI Expert Light, the trial version is free. |
| ChessBase |
The standard for database storage and
organization. Their database software sets the standard, and their
playing/analysis engines are among the best. Chess Base Light, the trial
version is free. |
| Chess
Assistant |
The main rival to ChessBase with many similar
features. In addition, Chess Assistant can be used as an interface for
accessing ICC. Chess Assistant Light, the trial version is free. |
| SCID |
Shane's Chess Information Database. Many players
claim this program is exceptional; I have not tried it. It is free, but
there are additional perks for financial donors. |
| Bookup |
Reputedly the best software for developing and
refining an opening repertoire. I have not used it, as the powerbook
feature of ChessBase appear to meet my needs. A free trial version is
available. |
Playing Programs
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| Fritz |
This software sets the standard for chess
playing. Two essential elements are packaged together as Fritz. The
Graphic User Interface (GUI) and the engine. The Fritz GUI supports
limited database features, opening training, and with an engine performs
automatic game annotation. The GUI is shared by all playing programs
marketed by ChessBase--Fritz, Shredder, Junior, and Hiarcs. The Deep
versions of these are for multiprocessor systems. Each of these engines
rivals the others for claim of the strongest engine. The GUI supports all
these engines, as well as others that have been configured to run with
it--Crafty, Comet, Anaconda, and others. It also supports the Universal
Chess Interface (UCI) for which there are more than 100 engines available,
many free. |
| Hiarcs |
Hiarcs has a more positional, almost human-like
style than Fritz. It is also the strongest engine available for Palm and
Mac platforms. It is often my first choice for game analysis, although
Fritz, Crafty, and Ruffian all receive regular use on my PC. |
| Chessmaster |
Chessmaster 10th edition has a completely new
interface quite different than the standard that prevailed from 3000
through 9000. It still has the exceptional training feature--many levels
of play designed as personalities, interactive lessons by Josh Waitzkin
and others, and limited database features. Only one playing engine--the
King--is supported, however. The King appears only marginally weaker than
Fritz and family in playing strength. |
| Arena |
Arena is an interface with limited database
features, but exceptional engine support. A user may play against any of
the hundreds of engines it supports--as many as six may be downloaded as
part of the basic Arena set-up package. It supports Winboard protocol and
UCI. It is the software of choice for engine vs. engine matches and
tournaments. The software can run tournaments with little to no attention
from the user. Arena is free. |
| Winboard |
Winboard, and its Unix-compatible counterpart
Xboard set the standard for open-source GUIs, a standard followed by UCI.
Winboard is a PGN viewer, a chess server interface (it can be used to
access FICS, for example), and a chess engine interface. Since its
introduction with the Gnuchess engine in 1991, hundreds of chess playing
programs have been developed to work with it. Because it is open-source,
anyone with the requisite programming knowledge can write an engine
program to work with it. |
Winboard Engines
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| Tim
Mann's Chess Pages |
Tim Mann developed Winboard and Xboard, as well
as several other chess applications. |
| Aaron's
Winboard FAQ |
Aaron Tay's FAQ pages offers loads of history of
Winboard and UCI protocols, as well as explanations of tablebases, and
how-to accomplish many tasks with Winboard and UCI interfaces and engines. |
| Winboard
Forum |
This forum, which requires registration to
access, is a primary means of communication for Winboard engine
developers. It is also an excellent source of news and information for
users of Winboard engines. |
| Tom's
Stuff |
Thomas McBurney has developed two Winboard
engines, as well as several utilities for Winboard. I use his Engine
Manager for installing and managing engines in Winboard, and his Network
Adaptor for connecting two computers (pitting my partner's Athlon against
my Pentium, for example). |
| WBEC
Ridderkerk |
This site is devoted to Winboard engine
tournaments. It offers information on currently running engine
tournaments, as well as many that have finished. The site offers engine
rating lists, and is an excellent gateway to download pages for many free
Winboard compatible engines. |
| RWBC:
Regensberg Winboard Circuit |
This site is also devoted to Winboard engine
tournaments. It offers information on currently running engine
tournaments, as well as many that have finished. The site offers engine
rating lists, a WB engines chronology, links to the best Winboard sites,
and PGN files of engine matches for download. These games can also be
replayed on an Applet chessboard built into the site. |
| Winboard-Newsticker |
Although no longer updated, this site offers
useful information concerning many Winboard engines with links sites for
download. |
UCI Engines
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| UCI
Engines.de |
This site functions as a gateway for information
about UCI interfaces and engines. It lists more than seventy free UCI
engines with links to the creators' homepages for more information and
download. The news-ticker records continuing developments in Arena and
other UCI interfaces, and efforts to improve compatibility between
Winboard and UCI. |
| Ruffian |
The Homepage for Ruffian, one of the strongest
free engines. |
| Aristarch
and List |
The Homepage for Aristarch and List, two of the
strongest free engines. |
