Questions about chess-related software, but not including chess programs; there's a more specific tag for those questions, the [chess-computers] tag.
7
votes
1answer
116 views
Is there software that simulates the Tri-D or 3-D chess as seen in Star Trek?
I want to try this game without making/buying a board and it is easier to learn to play when the computer can prevent invalid moves. Does any software, preferably freeware, exist which simulates this ...
5
votes
1answer
104 views
What is the best way to maintain an opening repertoire in electronic form?
I am torn between two options:
a) having a database with separate games (e.g. in pgn files, or any one of ChessBase, Chess Assistant or SCID database format), where each game would be a subvariation ...
3
votes
2answers
102 views
Is PGN split utility available anywhere?
A couple of places on the web mention a free utility called pgnsplit, that does the following:
"A commandline tool to convert pgn-files including games with variation into pgn-files where each ...
3
votes
0answers
45 views
Are there any (free) programs that utilize Chessmetrics or Glicko-2?
I'm looking for a program that is capable of keeping track of player ratings while taking in the game data, and hopefully outputting rankings based upon those ratings in some form.
I've found ...
3
votes
2answers
69 views
OSX implementation of WinBoard / XBoard?
Is there a Mac OSX implementation (or equivalent) of WinBoard / XBoard?
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Chess program that will play an opening against me?
Is there a chess program that will play a specific opening against me? The reason being is that I want to practice against the Ruy Lopez, for example and I want a computer to play up to Bb5. Is ...
4
votes
1answer
59 views
I would like an iPad app for annoting my games
I would like an app for annotating my games and/or replay others' games. Do you have any suggestions?
4
votes
2answers
78 views
Any database that will return the reversed position?
I recently started an online game as White beginning
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
1. Nf3 f5 2. d3 Nc6 3. e4 e5
And here I deliberately decided to lose a tempo ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
A simple free opening editor?
I am looking for a simple and free opening editor where I can save openings and variations. I know Chess Position Trainer is free, but I am looking for something much more simple.
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Can 'Favorites' tagged with “Scid on the Go” be searched for in Scid on PC?
In "Scid on the go" I can label games as favorites, but then the search filter on Scid Vs. Pc 4.8 does not show a way to search those favorites in the database. Is "Favorites" - Scid on the Go ...
6
votes
1answer
69 views
How to search a chess database for exchange sacrifices?
I am looking for a way within any of the common chess packages to search for a specific maneuver - rook takes bishop that is protected (i.e. an exchange sacrifice)? I've heard of CQL, but never used, ...
7
votes
2answers
75 views
Simple programs for recording chess games — Like ECTool — for Ubuntu and Windows
I should be able to google this, but I don't know what the name for this item is:
I'm looking for a simple program that can be used to record and play back a chess game. I'm not looking for a ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Deep Rybka vs Deep Fritz vs Houdini vs (other), which one to buy?
I want to invest my hard-earned money to buy a chess engine which can help me to:
analyze games easily
experiment with different opening repertoire
strategical analysis
positional play
I don't ...
7
votes
2answers
190 views
Chess program for Linux/Unix console
For reasons I'd rather not get into, what chess programs work well on the console (ie. does not require X Windows)? Something with an ASCII visualization of the board would be incredibly helpful (I'm ...
6
votes
2answers
315 views
Fritz: Full analysis Vs Blunder check
In Fritz, I am interested to know the differences between the Full Analysis and Blunder Check.
The differences at the first look seem superficial. For example, I wouldn't mind if there is no natural ...
5
votes
1answer
110 views
Electronic gadget chess opponent for children
I am looking for an electronic gadget that is a chess opponent, designed specially for children. I want to it be touch screen, where the pieces are large enough so you don't need to use a special pen ...
8
votes
1answer
114 views
Is there a tool to automatically download a player's latest ICC games (history) into a pgn file?
ICC stores your last 20 games, some of the clients also allow storing them into pgn files as you play. But if you use a client that does not support it, you then have to manually go and get each game ...
7
votes
1answer
150 views
Can SCID be configured so that engines use Endgame Tablebases?
I set the options in Scid VS. PC 4.8, so that Tablebase information shows up in game information window (when 5 piece endgame is reached. But when I turn on an analysis engine, it still does not ...
5
votes
2answers
167 views
Free chess computer game
I am a chess novice.
Can someone suggest a good, free chess computer game that I can use to start to learn chess by playing against the computer? Maybe with some different difficult levels...
3
votes
2answers
108 views
Is there a chess software that allows to generate and store engine evaluation graph for a chess game?
A software like Fritz or Arena typically shows a graph for a game that is currently being analyzed/played. Fritz 5.32 also generates those graphs as it does automated analysis of several games in DB. ...
9
votes
2answers
182 views
What Chess Software allows creating a chess Ebook?
I would like to take an annotated pgn file, and convert it into an ebook I could conveniently read on amazon kindle (or its pc version), or android/Ios device. It might have to create diagrams where ...
4
votes
1answer
65 views
Is there chess software that allows storage and replay of media annotations?
I would like to annotate my game not only with textual comments like 6. Be5 "This move brings the bishop to a long diagonal", but also record such comments with voice. Is there any software package ...
7
votes
1answer
168 views
Is there chess software to play against that rates your skill through actual games?
Is there chess software out there that will try and rate your play? I vaguely recall an old Chessmaster software that did something similar, though by having you play through puzzles. I was looking ...
9
votes
2answers
100 views
Any chess software with “force move” facility ?
Does anyone know if there is on the market a chess program (PC or I-Pad) which provides a force move facility while it is the computer turn to play (the opponent tells the computer program which move ...
1
vote
1answer
144 views
Programming chess engine [closed]
I'm a Java programmer, particularly an Android developer. I'm also a good chess player. My question is where do I start if I want to program a chess engine, may or may not be from scratch. Later I ...
4
votes
0answers
131 views
Why can't I analyze with Stockfish 2.0.1 in Winboard 4.5 beta?
I have to ask an engine-related question: after I installed the Stockfish 2.0.1 engine on my Winboard 4.5 beta, I can't analyze with it. What I mean is, it's giving nothing in the engine output; it ...
4
votes
2answers
269 views
Which is the most CPU efficient chess engine?
I am learning artificial intelligence and chess programming. I want to analyze the architecture/read code for existing chess engines. But I am confused between multiple choices. There are several free ...
3
votes
1answer
96 views
Where can I find mobile software for Fischer random chess?
Fischer had a chess variation (chess960) but I cannot find any mobile app to play it.
Does anyone knows where I can get the best software (if possible free or cheap) to play it?
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Are there mobile chess tutoring/training apps for Android or iPhone?
I'm looking for a Chess tutoring/teaching app that I can dip in and out of on my phone. At the moment I use shredder to practice when on the move (which basically involves repeating the puzzles over ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
Alternatives to chessbase on OS X
Most of my chess preparation and studying used to revolve around Chessbase products. I stored my databases and notes in .cbh files, used computers with the Chessbase interface to study and do ...
5
votes
1answer
45 views
What resources are there for connecting engines to play automatically on remote servers?
What resources are there, e.g. tutorials, for connecting engines to play automatically on remote servers such as ICC? There are certain opening variations that I want to have a strong engine test and ...
5
votes
1answer
146 views
What software is good for deliberate practice in specific areas?
Is there software that tracks unassisted game play and categorizes player's strengthens and weaknesses in a way that allows the player to focus on the most valuable deliberate area practice relative ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Are there consumer-level game play analysis systems that overlay the analysis on the board real-time?
An example of what I mean would be Thinking Table, though the Thinking Table is not a consumer product:
Thinking Table is a series of works that explore the invisible, elusive nature of
thought. ...
5
votes
3answers
181 views
How can I generate legal random chess setups?
Is there a free online website that attempts to generate "legal" random chess setups X amount of moves into the game?
8
votes
4answers
149 views
How to find the best websites for playing chess?
What factors are important when selecting a website to play chess on, including but not limited to features and community?
Note: Since asking for the best chess websites does not fall within the ...
13
votes
2answers
332 views
What software can I use to self-assess my own Elo rating?
What software (preferably free) can I use to do a self assessment to determine my own Elo rating?
8
votes
2answers
486 views
Is there any chess software that tutors beginners?
I am a beginning chess player, and I want to learn more about openings, the middle game, and the endgame.
Can anyone suggest any good chess software that 'tutors' beginners?
10
votes
4answers
551 views
Is there any free software to automatically analyze and annotate games?
I'm looking for a free software that automatically analyzes and annotates chess games (post-mortem), preferably marking blunts, suggesting good alternatives, pointing out to missing strategies (such ...
