Preface...I've just gotten "serious" about chess and am quite a novice.
I've heard lots of people sing Winboard's praises. I've dabbled, emphasis on dabbled....barely dabbled really, with both Winboard & Arena. Arena seems richer to me and more versatile. After about 10 minutes, I could not figure out how to "analyze" games with Winboard, whereas this was a snap for me with Arena.
So, let's hear it, which program do you prefer and why. Btw, I imagine there is a thread on this somewhere...but given this forum's scant searching utility, I didn't even bother to look. So, much obliged if someone could re-direct me if such a thread exists.
You also have to be a rocket scientist to install engines in winboard. With Arena it is easy to install new engines. You also have to use polygot to work around uci engines, arena supports both types of engines. If winboard has an edge its with FICS, and being able to play online fairly easy. But in my opinion Babas Chess is superior in that regard.
Originally posted by diskamylChessDB is a great free database and analysis program. It's what I use to store and analyse my completed games from here. Pretty simple to add new analysis engines but from what I have found it plays best with Crafty.
You can also use ChessDB. (google it, it's free.)
Not so good if you want to play against engines.
Originally posted by Deecejust a note, please do not use crafty. There are many better free programs out there, like Toga.
ChessDB is a great free database and analysis program. It's what I use to store and analyse my completed games from here. Pretty simple to add new analysis engines but from what I have found it plays best with Crafty.
Not so good if you want to play against engines.
Originally posted by diskamylUnfortunately ChessDB only supports the Winboard interface for engines and Toga II only supports the UCI interface. I am about to try using Polyglot to adapt Toga to the winboard interface. For any that are interested I will report back how it goes.
just a note, please do not use crafty. There are many better free programs out there, like Toga.
OK, the latest stable windows compiled version of ChessDB (3.6.15) that I was using does not support UCI engines but it does work with Toga via polyglot.
Turns out the latest beta version of ChessDB supports UCI engines directly.
Just something to keep in mind should anyone want to try ChessDB.
Originally posted by DeeceAnother option is to use the latest version of Scid. It's similar to ChessDB and also supports UCI engines. The distribution actually comes with some version of Toga, along with a couple of other engines. (Yes, diskamyl, Crafty is one of them.)
OK, the latest stable windows compiled version of ChessDB (3.6.15) that I was using does not support UCI engines but it does work with Toga via polyglot.
Turns out the latest beta version of ChessDB supports UCI engines directly.
Just something to keep in mind should anyone want to try ChessDB.
http://prolinux.free.fr/scid/
Originally posted by Mad RookAs I understand it SCID is no longer maintained, but ChessDB is based upon it, Thus, might we say that ChessDB is the latest version of SCID?
Another option is to use the latest version of Scid. It's similar to ChessDB and also supports UCI engines. The distribution actually comes with some version of Toga, along with a couple of other engines. (Yes, diskamyl, Crafty is one of them.)
http://prolinux.free.fr/scid/
Originally posted by WulebgrNot quite. The original author of Scid, Shane Hudson, did stop development of Scid. But Pascal Georges decided to continue the development of Scid, and it's still being updated. The latest release of Scid is version 3.6.24 (22 June 2008).
As I understand it SCID is no longer maintained, but ChessDB is based upon it, Thus, might we say that ChessDB is the latest version of SCID?
Edit - Hmm, I just noticed that the prior link that I gave to Scid states that the link is out of date, and it directs you to a new Scid Link:
http://scid.sourceforge.net/
(Although both links have the same Scid version to download.) If you're interested in Scid, just bookmark both links to be safe.
Originally posted by diskamylOh, come on, I'm sure Crafty is nearly as good as this obscure free engine, Rybka 2.2n2, just released by Vas! 😏
just a note, please do not use crafty. There are many better free programs out there, like Toga.
http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22815
(Yes, Diskamyl, it's finally out, wheeee! I'm already running it against several other engines.)