ftp://ftp.ubi.com/us/games/chessmaster10/demos/Chessmaster10thEditionDemo.zip
This is the demo version of Chessmaster 10th edition. It has all the features you specified, but it only lasts for 6 hours of use until you have to buy or delete it. It's pretty good, and with a bit of computer work you can install it again, with another 6 hours of use.
I tried to download it and my virus scanner - Trend Micro would not let me.
But on second thought, I do have Chessmaster 9000.
Does that have all the same good things that CM 10 does?
stwils
http://download.shredderchess.com/pc/sc3/manual/ShredderManual.pdf
Check page 36, I think this should help you out.
You have to download the arena sound file an load it you have to download the arena opening book s one or more an load it you have to download uci an chess engines an load them.For some chess downloads you have to have a unzipper program if its a zipped file some have tar or more exotic compresed files but there are a lot of free unziiper programs to download.You have to learn how to download its a learnin process.Hey i is a old 48 year old mississippi hick bought my first computer 10 years ago if i can start to lern this you can also do not give up.OK enough i think mayura chessboard is a simple program to start with its stable an comes with a book an sejeng engine altough it was toga when i downloaded it a while back.Also arena 1.1 is very stable an good its not the program its you doing something wrong now if you use windows xp if you use vista sell it to somepoor fool an get you a used compuer however i have been told by my computer expert friend you can still find new xps an get someone to load it for you onto your new computer an jnk vista.
hentener, I just downloaded the Mayura Chess Board, and it is just wonderful. Worked right off, and has lots of nice little preferences you can select like mark undefended pieces, mark attacked pieces, etc. And I love the style of the board and chessmen.
And there is SOUND when you move. "click"
I have just gotten it and want to play a bit now with it before I say more.
THANK YOU.
stwils
I think Arena is the best free chess engine interface. Sound doesn't matter to me. A full featured chess program with the bells and whistles will require some cash. A couple of years ago, I bought Fritz 10 for $20. Fritz 9 or Fritz 8 probably retail for the same or less. Chessmaster 10th Edition or Grandmaster Edition (Not much of a difference IMHO) are available for $20.
Personally, I'd recommend a Fritz family product. It uses the Chessbase format which means anything created with Chessbase can be used in Fritz. The Fritz interface is UCI, so any UCI Engine will work with it. I think Fritz has the better analysis features as well. Chessmaster, on the other hand kicks buttocks when it comes to astetics. Very polished with a wide assortment of board/piece combinations and the most configurable interface.
I have fritz 7 and a unusual pogram by fritz called grandmater challenge which i think is the fritz 8 package with out the fritz 8 engine but with the yes its true fritz 7 engine it has a 511500 game database where as the fritz 7 has a 350000 game database.the gm callenge fritz has good uci engine suport where as fritz7 will not run some uci engines properly.when you load the free rybka2.2n2p 32 bit uci engine rated 2989 on a single cpu at 5 min bltz which is about 20 to 25 points stronger than fritz 11 on a single cpu so why spend for fritz 11.only thing fitz 11 adds is a biger data base but hey if you review a average of 5 games a day do the math how long it will take you to work through 500000 games
I suggest you get the latest Chessmaster.
It would be great for your rating, and you can get it through many ways.
I'm tired of Arena 1.99 disappearing and then not having any sound once I get it back.
I tried Aquarium demo but that has no sound either.
I do have Shredder Classic (which I downloaded and paid for) but it does not have the Rybca engine and I don't know if it has an opening "book." Or analysis. Mercifully it does have sound - "clunk"- when you move. And I love the interface.
Please tell me which of the download programs you like. I want one that comes with everything - sound, hints, opening books, good interface, analysis, and all the other features I hear you all talk about.
I would not mind paying for a program that had the whole thing - but it seems there are lots of good free downloads.
Please advise me.
stwils
I tried Arena 1.1 but it has no sound either.