looking for free online chess (against the computer)

I wasn't even looking for one, but I downloaded it and it's great. Thanks.
 
cgmblade said:
I like alphaChess 3.

http://www.heresysoft.com/alphachess.php
Click to expand...

Thank you so much, Sir. :thumbup:

I played it yesterday at work, as we were really slow. The computer beat me several times at the "novice" level, then I beat it several times. Moved up to the middle level ("skilled")to see how I would do, beat it on the first game, and had a draw on the second. It's fun, relaxing, addicting, stimulating - all in one. It's a superb exercise in staying calm too. :)

As I have played only briefly as a kid 25+ years ago when my dad would let me win, I am still learning some of the rules that describe the more exotic scenarios. Namely, in the beautifully illustrated book "How to Play Winning Chess" by John Saunders, on page 62 I learned "it is perfectly permissible to have two queens (of the same color) on the board - or even nine, in the unlikely event that all eight pawns are promoted to queens....this is unusual in practice, but two queens are occasionallly seen, or more rarely, an extra rook, bishop, or knight."

I was always under the wrong impression that you can promote a pawn only to a piece you don't already have on the board. Question: why would anyone want an extra rook, bishop, or knight when they have the option of an extra queen instead?

Thanks again. :)
 
Because they are nostalgic about their lost comrades? I always upgrade to queens. But it has been a few years since I have played.
 
I just beat the "expert" level (third and top level) for the first time. :D:D:D

Damn good feeling.
 
I wonder if there are still some bugs in the software? For example, when one player has only the king and a knight, and the other player the king only, there is no way that can end in a checkmate, so an automatic draw should be declared, no?

Again, this is a minor/negligible concern, and it's a superb piece of software.
 
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I think I have more to go before that day comes. After all, it's a computer, and they're never tired or distracted. :)
 
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