Date   : Fri, 15 Oct 1993 08:43:50 +1300
From   : Philip Sainty <Philip.Sainty@...>
Subject: Re: Chess stuff

Ian says:

> With all the chess on TV, I decided to dig out my old copy of MicroPower
> chess and give it a go.

> My feelings were somewhat mixed when after about four games I started to
> thrash it quite regularly! Previously it ALWAYS beat me, so I've obviously
> got better :-), but it does mean that my BBC isn't much of a challenge :-(.

> I remember hearing very good things about "White Knight II" (OK its hardly
> state of the art, but I'm really not very good). Does anyone know where I
> could get a copy ;-) ?

Well I'm afraid I can't help there, but I do know that the very best chess
program for the beeb is undoubtedly "Colossus 4 Chess". I remember seeing
some statistics from a tournament in which it had beaten each opponent (all
other programs) in a sixteen game contest, and that only a couple had managed
to win any games at all...

I'm sure it is the best, as it was written by the author of the "White Knight"
chess games which would be the next best... (and which, incidentally, reached
version 12 if I remember correctly)

I imagine it has a good range of difficulty levels if that sounds intimidating,
and I believe it even has a 3D board should you wish it :) (Master, or
possibly just expanded B, version only if I remember)

If you used to get "The Micro User" I think there is a review in the issue
with a light blue cover showing a man sitting down holding a flare gun in
his lap... something to do with airports perhaps... I think it's an '86 or
'87 issue

If anyone knows how to get hold of it, I too would be most interested... :-)

> In the mean time I've been playing round writing a BBC ICS client! Once I've
> drawn the icons I should have a mouse driven chess board, which I can then
> interface to ICS/gnuchess or whatever via a serial line to a Unix. If this is
> of interest to anyone then I'll pass it on.

Sounds cool... pity I don't have a mouse...


Philip