Chess computer software for free, now as UCI

[Skybird]

Eons ago they used to build computers and sensor boards around chess programs. The computers had nice boards and displays built-in. We called them chess computers. Today, there are only chess DVDs or chess downloads. The computers are gone. The material aspect has vanished.

The better of those machines are still liked by many players, because they were - not so perfect, not so lethal, not so god-like, like today's modern chess software. It also was and is amusing to see and identify "typical" computer moves, "typical" computer" deficits in the electronic partner.

Many of those old programs that once have driven the big machines of the golden era of chess computers, have been made available to be run on Windows PCs now. FOR FREE. Amongst them is software by former giants of chess programming, like Kittinger, Lang, and Schroeder.

On this page

http://www.top-5000.nl/index.htm (http://www.top-5000.nl/index.htm)

you can check what is available and may run on your rig. To my great delight, my favourite chess computer programs - those that ran the Mephisto M-IV and M-V machines - now have been turned into UCI-compatible formats (they were available for operation by an interface that copied the Mephisto'S hardware consoles since years), that means you can run them under any chess GUI like chessbase or Arena like any other engine. There also are many of the DOS-based Rebel-versions, Psion, the famous Sargon, and many more.

Enjoy!

[Skybird]

Just had a match of Mephisto Roma versus Mephisto Amsterdam run under Fritz 11 interface - on my table, in my home, before my eyes.

I cannot believe that happened! Anyone remember how expensive those things were!? :sunny:

[Platapus]

I still have my Boris. I think I will hang on to it. :D

[Skybird]

I still have my Boris. I think I will hang on to it. :D
Now that is an old machine. One of my great desires at school, before the Chess Challenger Series and the Mephistos started to dominate the scene.

Keep it, stroke it - never sell it! Is it the Boris Master with accus, or the simple Boris?

[Platapus]

Basic. I got it for christmas in 78 (or it could have been 79)

For an introverted, socially isolated kid like me, this was a wonderful toy.

[Takeda Shingen]

Awesome. Been wanting something like this since I got my new machine. Thanks, Sky! :up:

[Platapus]

Maybe it is time for a Computer v. Computer chess tournament. :up:

"My chess computer can beat your chess computer!"

"Oh yeah, Your chess computer's mother did not even have a hard drive!":D

[Skybird]

When downloading the Mephisto pack linked somewhere on the right side and a bit down, you get several old engines in one zip, The Mephisot Amsterdam, Dallas, Roma, M-IV, M-V, some in 16 and 32 bit versions. That is great for an old Mephisto lover like me! H+G's Mephistos ruled.

Be advised though that the M-IV seems to be porked, I get an error when installing it under chessbase Fritz 11 GUI, it then seems to start, but only plays moves from the book. Once the book has ended, it calculates no moves by itself, and the match ends. :oops: The others I tried did all work well.

You know the drill: first "define new UCI engine", then "load engine". When loading the engine, also go into the "parameters" and select "own book", else the engine will run with the last book loaded before, for example Fritz or Hiarcs or whatever you have.

Of course these old engines do not produce as much data output as modern, GUI optmised engines: no endless variation treees, popsitions value assessements, etc etc. The old engines simply lack the protocol to communicate with modern GUIs. But they calculate moves, and that'S what it is about.