Producer: Deep Thought/CP Software
Memory Required: 48K
Retail Price: £9.95
Language: Machine code
Author:Chris Whittington

Jeremy Spencer considers his endgame.

I was surprised to find that we hadn't reviewed that many chess games in CRASH, I had formed the opinion that the world was awash with them and they simply were not , good enough to find their way into these hallowed pages. This one is. Superchess 3.5 claims to be 100 times faster and 1500 times more intelligent than any other prog ram. With my chess playing ability being what it is I decided to ask in Syd, our in-house chess player. More from Syd later.

A lot of chess programs must surely be sold to people who either cannot play or are weak players as well as those who are brilliant; chess programs offer an important function as tutors, they don't laugh when you make a stupid move (they simply slaughter you) and they will quickly tell you if you attempt an illegal move. A program that can suggest moves is even more useful.

What does Superchess 3.5 offer? Well there are seven basic options, the first being to set up a new game. Having done that you can request that the computer will limit its 'think time' to your average, or you could simply set the amount of time you will allow it - effectively a selection of skill levels. This option lets you set up the board to solve chess problems.

Option 2 allows the board play to be analysed, but should you be in the middle of a game you could use this option to reset the game by moving pieces around in answer to the prompts. If the game isn't going too well for you, now's your chance to turn the tables a little. Option 3 simply allows the user to change the playing colours.

If a player is stuck for ideas then option 4 can be used either to make the computer play the player's move or to suggest a move. Option 4 can also display a review of the moves made to date. Option 5 allows the program and the current game to be saved to microdrive.

The screen displays a great deal of information. At the top there is a clock showing each player's total time and move time. On the left the computer shows its favoured move but as it continues to think it may change its mind. The score gives some idea who is ahead and below that 'nodes' show how many lines of possible moves the program has analysed so far. More often than not this figure is in the hundreds of thousands. The computer also shows the moves it is predicting it will make which gives the player a very good idea of the program's strategy, and using that information the player ought to be able to utterly frustrate the machine.

COMMENTS

Control keys: as requested
Joystick: n/a
Keyboard play: very easy
Use of colour: selectable
Graphics: very neat
Sound: spot only
Skill levels: varies according to time setting
Lives: n/a
Screen: n/a

This is without doubt one of the best implementations of chess that I have come across. Given a fair time setting it will play a very strong game but more importantly the whole program seems geared to help the novice. The information given, together with the facilities to suggest moves for the player, make this program a superb tutor. The program is menu driven and very well error checked, which makes setting up the board a delight. The graphics are very well done so the board layout is clear and intelligible. My own chess playing is very weak but I shall be using Superchess 3.5 to improve my play. See you in Moscow.

Syd's game started very well, he had Superchess in check after only 7 moves but from there, I'm afraid to say, that it was all downhill. Syd was reduced to adopting a defensive posture fairly early on in the game, it was apparent that Superchess wits making big plans and that Syd's success was due, in part, to being able to muck those plans up in the short term. The game lasted for 1 hour and 32 minutes and in that time 56 moves had been made. Syd was left with a King, Knight and a Pawn, he was reduced to making childish moves around the board in a vain attempt to escape the inevitable. To be fair to Syd though, Superchess only claimed to be up 104 points, the capture of a Queen is worth 144 points so Syd had pretty well held his own. To sum up, Syd's attempts at a quick kill damaged the Superchess 3.5 strategy but towards the middle game the persistence of the strategy was paying off. I should point out that Superchess was only allowed the same time as Syd to make its moves that must have cramped its style. (Syd is a ZX81 playing Mikro-Gen chess at level 2).

Memory: 48K
Price: £8.95

Superchess Three is one of the best versions of the popular mind game for the 48K Spectrum. It is an upgrade of the CP Software original Superchess which has foxed many better-than-average players.

As well as allowing you to play games at 10 levels of difficulty, the program will also analyse chess problems of up to four mating moves. The option will also give you an idea of how mate in various positions should be achieved.

One of the good aspects of Superchess Three is that a relative beginner can play on level one and have the feeling that he is a good match for the computer. On the higher levels, which can take some time to play, the expert at chess will find the computer an impressive opponent.

All the usual features which have become part of computer chess games are included. There is a recommended move option, an option to change sides halfway through a game, and a routine which will allow you to change the colours of both the pieces and the board.

An extra feature which is not included in most other chess games for the Spectrum is the technical information option. The section will tell you briefly about the techniques which the computer uses to find its moves and which are used when it analyses problems.

The program produces an absorbing game which it can modify quickly if the human player changes tactics. It is just as capable of defence as it is of attack.

We have no hesitation in recommending Superchess Three as one of the best chess programs for the Spectrum. It can be obtained from CP Software.

Spectrum 48K
Deep Thought - CP Software
Board-game
£9.95

If you're the sort of chess player who needs to know exactly what's going on in your opponent's mind, this is the program for you. If you also want an extremely fast, challenging game, the 1985 version of Superchess again fits the bill.

Down the left side of the board display is Plymax. It not only shows you how far ahead the computer is looking, but also details its best line of play together with your answering moves. Beginners will find this useful because it draws attention to traps and developments they might otherwise have overlooked.

The screen also displays the times the computer and the player have taken in all, as well as the time taken for the current move. As the program is working out what to do next it tells you the move it likes best so far, how many nodes or lines of play it has analysed and your last move.

Unlike most chess programs the pieces are moved round the board not with the cursor keys but by coordinates for example, E2-E4.

The way you set the level of play is again unconventional. With Superchess the amount of time you are prepared to give the computer to think over its moves determines the quality of the game. Obviously the more time you give it the better it will play.

Even with only an average of 10 seconds response time the program can give you a very good game.

BATTLE OF THE GIANTS

Philip Crocker and Christopher Doran match Superchess 3.0 and Cyrus IS Chess in a fight to the finish

Since the Spectrum first came out there have been many chess programs written for it. As the Spectrum has become more popular there has been a greater incentive to write the best Spectrum chess program.

The two most obvious contenders for title best Spectrum chess program are Cyrus IS Chess and Superchess 3.0 by CP Software. Cyrus IS Chess is based on a program which won the 1981 European Microcomputer Chess Championship. While Superchess 3.0 comes with a guarantee from CP Software, that it will beat any other Spectrum chess program.

CYRUS IS CHESS VERSUS SUPERCHESS 3.0

Both chess programs come in a well presented package which contains a cassette and an instruction booklet.

Cyrus contains two programs: one for the 16K and one for the 48K Spectrum. Both Cyrus programs have the following features:

1 Eight playing levels.
2 Cursor key movement of pieces.
3 Auto-demonstration mode.
4 It can be used as a chessboard by two humans.
5 Take-back facility.
6 Replay a game.
7 Set up a position.
8 It solves chess problems (up to mate in three).
9 Turn round board.
10 Change sides during a game.

The additional features for the 48K Spectrum are:

1 Full library of chess openings.
2 Change colour of board and 2 Change colour of board and pieces.
3 Print out a record of the game.
4 Save game on tape (for future 4 Save game on tape (for future continuation).
5 Force the computer to make its best move.

Superchess 3.0 is for the 48K Spectrum only. Its features are:

1 Ten playing levels.
2 Recommended move option.
3 Change sides and level of play during game.
4 Set up a position.
5 Self-play option.
6 Technical information (how the program works). During the game Superchess gives itself a score dependent on positional factors and material advantage or loss.
7 Library of opening moves.
8 Change colour scheme.
9 Solve chess problems (up to mate in four).
10 List Moves.

Cyrus definitely has more features than Superchess 3.0. For example Cyrus's take-back facility is a very useful feature which Superchess lacks. There is also a replay feature which enables the beginner and expert alike to examine the previous game, and even to begin the game at a chosen point.

CHESS ABILITY

In order to discover the chess ability of both programs we decided to play the two programs off against each other. We attempted to play the two chess programs off at approximately equal time limits. The results are shown in table 1.

EXAMPLE GAME

This game was between Cyrus (white) and Superchess (black). Cyrus played on level 6 and Superchess played on level 3. The game was typical of the games which were played. Cyrus played a fine opening due to its superior opening knowledge and the game soon reached a middlegame with a positional advantage to Cyrus. Cyrus exploited this advantage with some fine, logical play and won a pawn. However this led to a multitude of exchanges and an endgame was reached with Cyrus having some winning chances and almost certain drawing chances.

However in the endgame Superchess came into its own. Its driving, delicate play forced zugzwang (the compulsion to make a move resulting in material or positional loss) upon Cyrus. Superchess then proceeded to overwhelm the depleted Cyrus and quickly concluded the game. The moves are listed in table 2.

For those of you who are not familiar with the notation used in table 2, I will briefly explain how it works. The piece to be moved is shown by the first letter of its name except for the knight which is represented by N. There is then a dash, or an x if the move captures a piece. The square to which the piece should be moved is shown by the piece which would be on the same file at the beginning of a game and then by the number of squares forward (one to eight). The symbols are KR (kings rook), QR (queen's rook), QN, KN, Q, K, QB and KB. Kingside castling is shown by 0-0 and queenside castling by 0-0-0. Check is shown by + and ! indicates a good move. If for example two rooks could move to the same square then the correct rook is shown in brackets. The moves should be worked out by looking at the board from the point of view of the person who is moving.

CONCLUSION

Superchess was the clear winner in this contest and this supports the claim that it can beat any other Spectrum chess program. Superchess seems to improve as the game goes on. Its standard opening play and weak (compared to Cyrus) opening library convey a dubious impression. Its middlegame is sound without being spectacular but its endgame is excellent and this is where it won or drew games in which it had a material or positional disadvantage. For example in the final game Cyrus reached the endgame three pawns up and with a better position after a brilliant combination. However by playing outright blunders which lost Cyrus material and decentralised its pieces it enabled Superchess to draw the game with some subtle play.

Cyrus was rather a disappointment in the game just described. Often it would play an excellent opening and middlegame and then lose a "won" endgame. Sometimes on lower levels it would play nonsensical moves in the middlegame or in the endgame. For example it would move a rook backwards and forwards for several moves which enabled Superchess to improve its position unhindered.

Both packages have room for improvement. Superchess has fewer features than Cyrus and it also has a weak opening library compared to Cyrus. Cyrus has weak endgame play and it has a habit of making nonsensical moves.

Cyrus iS Chess is written by Intelligent Software and is priced £9.95. It can be obtained from most computer software retailers. Superchess 3.0 costs £8.95 and can be obtained from the following address:

CP SOFTWARE, Dept YC2
2 Glebe Road,
Uxbridge
Middlesex UB8 2RD

It may also be available from good software shops.

A game capable of playing at tournament level, it includes many features not normally incorporated into computer chess programs. It has ten levels of play all of which are timed within tournament limits and the usual options such as recommended move, setting up problems and solving mating problems are included. Extra options include information on the way the program 'thinks', a display showing the types of move that the computer is considering and the number of evaluated moves.

The game is a descendant of Superchess I and II, both of which were produced by Chris Wittington, and uses sophisticated artificial intelligence routines.

Position 49/50

SOFTWARE SCENE

While some software houses are taking the Spectrum to its limits and beyond others doggedly continue to churn out ever more diabolical pieces of programmed junk. John Gilbert present a personal pick of the bunch, and Chris Bourne take an irreverent look at the dwindling ZX-81 software scene. Their talents are combinedd in listing the Top Ten Turkeys of 1984. Let the reader be warned.

SPECTRUM SOFTWARE

A cynic may argue that development within the software market in 1984 was non-existent. The same type of game appeared as those which took the lead in 1983, the most popular being of the arcade variety. The programs were written in the same style and to please the same type of customers.

That is only a superficial view, however, and if you look at the games market as a whole, dividing it up into sectors such as strategy, arcade and adventure, you will see that substantial and sophisticated changes have taken place. Despite what some pundits have said you will find that the world of computer games is still buzzing with life.

£8.95
CP Software

Only one chess program of note was launched in 1984 and that was Superchess III from CP Software.

As well as allowing you to play games at 10 levels of difficulty, the program will also analyse chess problems of up to four mating moves. The option will also give you an idea of how mate in various positions should be achieved.

A relative beginner can play on level one and have the feeling that he is a good match for the computer. On the higher levels, which can take some time to play, the expert at chess will find the computer an impressive opponent.

All the usual features which have become part of computer chess games are included. There is a recommended move option, an option to change sides halfway through a game, and a routine which will allow you to change the colours of both the pieces and the board.

An extra feature which is not included in most other chess games for the Spectrum is the technical information option. The section will tell you briefly about the techniques which the computer uses to find its moves and which are used when it analyses problems.