Free Chess Programs for Windows to teach a complete n00b?

[Sir Big Jugs]

So? What do you recommend?


Thanks for replies!

[scandium]

As long as you know how the pieces move then I'd recommend this site: http://www.50chessgames.freeserve.co.uk/ It has 50 annotated games, all illustrated move for move online, that are aimed at teaching beginners how to go beyond the basic moves to strategy and tactics through teaching by example.

Note that once you enter the game portion it may take up to a minute or a few to download all the elements but that's the only lag you'll see.

If you're unclear on the basic rules of the game I can post another link on that (just let me know). Unfortunately I don't know of any free software programs that can teach you the game. Of the commercial ones, Chessmaster has the most beginner friendly reputation I believe (as it includes many tutorials and other novice friendly features) and you can often find an older (but still excellent and Windows based) version in the "bargain bin" at most stores for next to nothing.

Edit: adding a link to an excellent single page tutorial (curtesy of the US Chess Federation) explaining the rules of the game and illustrating the moves:

http://www.uschess.org/beginners/letsplay.php

Edit #2: adding another link with lots of details and explanation for the novice player. It assumes no prior knowledge of the game at all and explains all aspects of the game:

http://www.chessclub.demon.co.uk/tutorial/learning/learning.htm

Also adding a link to the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS) webpage where you can practice what you learn online in real time. There are thousands of players there of all strengths differentiated by online rating (the higher the rating the stronger the player). You'll need an interface to play on it, and there's a simple java based interface on their webpage but the majority of players use instead a better 3rd party interface. So also adding a link to one of the more popular ones which I also use as well.

FICS: http://www.freechess.org/

Winboard interface: http://www.tim-mann.org/xboard.html

[Skybird]

You may want to consider looking out for a smile-price edition of an older version of any of the chessbase-programs, sometimes you can pick up one of these in stores for 5-10 euros. Additional to the engines you get the most functional and best-looking interface under which a diversity of various free engines can be run (and be integrated very easily).