How do I play as black in arena?

It's my first time using arena and it's great and all, but how do I play as black ? I tried every thing but it's just not there. Can someone help me please?

First you have to flip the board view (either the Options menu then Flip Chessboard View, or click on the vertical double arrow on the toolbar, or just press the F12 key).

Next you have to get the engine to move. There's an icon you can click on, but the easiest way to describe how is to use the menu (Game, Move Now!). Or just press the Ctrl+Z keys.

Thanks, it really helped

I followed these instructions but when I click "Game, Move Now!" It only moves once.  Then when I move black's pieces white doesn't move and I have to click "Game, Move Now!" in order to get white to move again.  Is there a way I can play as black without having to tell the computer to move for white on every single move?

One possible cause for the problem is if you accidentally have the Edit button activated on the navigation bar. If it's not that, then I have no idea.

Yes that was it! Thanks EscherehcsE!

Jeesh, I have been looking for this for ages and was about to give up. Thanks EschereschsE (nice Commander Keen avatar btw!)

I cant do it neither... how a hell could a GUI of this level have not a very clear great enourmeus button saying in red colour just

"CHANGE SIDES"?!?!?!?!?!!? :-(

For example.... where is that "EDIT" Button?? :-/

.

Would you like for me to come over to your house and move the mouse around for you?  Maybe I could also adjust the window blinds for the optimal light level and adjust your seat cushions for optimal comfort?

Thanks , I found now the "Edit button".... and now waht?

I could flip the chessboard too..... but I just be now with withes on top of screen.... If I push the "move now", two engines start theire match :-(

Just make sure the Edit button is off. As long as it's off, you won't need to do anything with it for playing against engines.

If you want to play an engine, you need to have only one engine loaded. So, if you have two engines loaded, you need to unload (close) one of them.

LOL.... actually I could not play even on whites :-O  :-(

I have 23 engines "installed" but just one "loaded",

If I have the "Edit" button in blue, the engine clock do not start.

If I have the "edit" button not in blue, I click on new game, in 5/20 blitz level, I move e4 and Stockfish keep thinking for ever....

My guess is that you may have installed Stockfish incorrectly. Try loading one of the engines that came with Arena (SOS, AnMon, Hermann, Ruffian, Rybka, or Spike) and see if you can play as White and Black against one of those engines. Then, if you're successful at that, try to determine why you can't get Stockfish to play.

I changed Stockfish by Anmon.... I Fliped the board... and when I click in "Move now", the engine takes control of the two sides.

But I tried Sheredder and after your suggestion in the other thread, it has no sense to continue fighting with this incredibly against intuition* GUI ;-)

*: my opinion is not the only one being this post opened by other guy ;-)

Whatever works for you.

Arena makes sense to me, but maybe that's because I've been using it since the stone age.

Hi,

I joined chess.com forum specially to ask about the choice of color in Arena chess program.

I think that the developers of Arena are committing a huge mistake by ignoring the option for selecting the color of pieces that a player can choose at the start of a new game. The same mistake is persistent by the lack of possibility to switch sides during the game.

Maybe the developers of Arena are Not chess players, or did not play chess against computer in their life experience. Someone needs to remind them that the game is played one time as white and one time as BLACK.

If you're complaining that you can't choose to play either white or black, you're mistaken.  You can change sides mid-game, too.

Here's a two minute video where I install Komodo, set the hash size and number of threads, set an openings book, configure a few optional settings, and define the Syzygy tablebases path in the UCI configurable options.

Then I start a game as white, then as black.  I hope this is helpful.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=C466F82E6FB96105!151&authkey=!AMCfJAPy7PEadWw&ithint=video%2cmp4

Hi Crappov,

Is there a much simpler way to play as black instead of going thru all that? Thanks.