Review of Wim van Beusekom's "MacChess 2.0" - Richard A. Fowell
Summary:
MacChess 2.0 is a Master-strength, commercial-grade freeware chess program. MacChess 2.0 is quite polished, and stronger than 99% of U.S. tournament chess players. MacChess should be U.S. Master strength on any machine with a 25Mhz 68040 or faster (all Macintoshes currently on sale). Using the Connectix utility "Speed Doubler" on PowerMacs should make that certain.
Description
MacChess has a full set of options: six chess sets ( in b/w or color), human or computer as Black or White (4 combinations), arbitrary computer time settings, force or advise move, take back move, switch sides, display time remaining, computer's thinking (best line found so far, positions examined, positions/second examined, current line, etc.) saving and loading of games, save or print the game score or the board position, scroll through a game score, set up position, and more. I'd like to see a PowerMac native version, and the ability to read and write games in Portable Game Notation (PGN) format. The documentation says the author is working on these (and other desirable improvements).
I tested MacChess on a set of 25 problems from Computer Chess Reports (CCR) on a Mac 6100/66 using Speed Doubler. The result was an estimated U.S. chess rating of 2310 - median Master strength. Since MacChess is written in non-PowerMac code, Speed Doubler makes a big difference - it increases MacChess's speed about 2.7x . Doubling chess computer speed generally improves its strength by roughly 60 points, so this is significant. Details of the test, and the test positions, are in the folder "CCR 1 hr test positions.”
Other Mac Chess Programs
Another freeware chess program is GNUChessMac4.0b5. It has fewer options, and is probably weaker. I did not test it, but CCR estimates GNUChess's rating of 2060 on an Intel 486/66.
The commercial program "Chessmaster 3000" is probably weaker than MacChess 2.0. I did not test the Mac version of Chessmaster 3000, but CCR estimates the DOS version of Chessmaster 3000 at 2273 on a 66Mhz Pentium. Since MacChess 2.0 is 2310 on a 66Mhz PowerMac (using emulated code, no less!) I expect that it is stronger than the Mac version of Chessmaster. Another spot check - MacChess knew how to handle the elementary (but tricky) ending K+B+N vs. K, whereas Chessmaster 3000 obviously didn't.
The commercial program "Chessmaster 4000" is not currently available on Macs. On DOS machines, however, it is overwhelmingly stronger than Chessmaster 3000 (about 250 points!) so I'm hoping to see a stronger Macintosh Chessmaster. The publisher, Mindscape, hopes to have an upgraded version of Chessmaster for the Mac out in the summer of 1996. The name seems uncertain - I've heard both "Chessmaster 5000", and "the anniversary edition.”
About the reviewer
Richard Fowell retired from tournament chess after 13 years with a USCF rating of 2210 (peak rating: 2325). He has used Chessmaster 2000, 2100 and 3000 on the Mac, as well as Sargon IV, various versions of GNUChess, and MacChess. He is a faithful (5 yr) subscriber to Computer Chess Reports (CCR), which is good for following news in computer chess. The rating estimates above are taken from CCR. Richard can be contacted on the Internet at fowell@netcom.com.
Where to obtain:
MacChess 2.0 - by Wim van Beusekom
Hopefully, MacChess 2.0 accompanied this review. If not, I obtained it from the Internet Sumex archives, and plan to upload it to the Umich archives, America On Line (AOL) and the BMUG and LAMG BBSs.
Speed Doubler - by Connectix
Should be available via your favorite Mac software outlet (retail or mail order). Publisher is Connectix. Basically, speeds up PowerMac emulation of 680x0 code. Retails for ca. $54, also available bundled with "Ram Doubler" for ca. $80. Connectix also sells directly to consumers: 800-950-5880, or 415-571-5100.
GNUChessMac4.0b5
Should be available in the same locations as MacChess. You're on your own here.
Chessmaster 3000
Should be available via your favorite Mac software outlet (retail or mail order). Publisher is Mindscape (the company formerly known as "The Software Toolworks"). Chessmaster 3000 is available both alone (Mindscape direct price $39.96), and on CD with four other games (Wordtris, Vette!, Maniac Sports and U.S. Atlas) as "The Mac Pack Vol. 1" (Mindscape direct price $47.96). Mindscape is at 800-234-3088 or 415-897-9900.
Computer Chess Reports
This publication is edited by International Master Larry Kaufman. Subscriptions are available through the computer chess retailer ICD at $18.00 for four issues (ca. 40 pp/issue). Phone number is 800-645-4710 (516-424-3300 outside U.S.). ICD carries lots of chess machines and DOS/Windows chess software.
United States Chess Federation (USCF)
The USCF is the official US chess organization. (Note that the rating estimates above are in no way sanctioned by the USCF). They publish the monthly magazine Chess Life, sell chess books and equipment, organize tournaments, and perform numerous other services related to extending the role of chess in the US (such as rated chess tournaments on Compuserve). They are a not-for-profit organization. Membership is $40/yr for adults (includes Chess Life), with discounts for seniors and juniors. They can be contacted at 800-388-5464 (914-561-2437). Note that Chess Life is carried by many public libraries.
