Producer: Intelligent Software, 16K/48K
£9.95

This program is winner of the Second European Microcomputer Chess Championship. The 48K side has more sophisticated options such as altering the colours of board and pieces, printouts and game saving. Cursor keys movement allows you to analyse a move or take the piece back. Illegal moves are buzzed. Eight skill levels and a problem level system whereby the computer can be instructed to look for a mate in one, two or three moves. Comes complete with an instruction manual and a library of opening moves. Excellent value.

Producer: Intelligent Software. 16K/48K
£9.95

This program is winner of the Second European Microcomputer Chess Championship. The 48K side has more sophisticated options such as altering the colours of board and pieces, printouts and game saving. Cursor keys movement allows you to analyse a move or take the piece back. Illegal moves are buzzed. Eight skill levels and a problem level system whereby the computer can be instructed to look for a mate in one, two or three moves. Comes complete with an instruction manual and a library of opening moves. Excellent value.

16/48K Spectrum
Boardgame
£9.95
Sinclair

Adapted from a competition-winning program by Intelligent Software, Cyrus plays an exceptionally fast and strong game. Fits into 16K with eight levels of play and full board display.

Rightly or wrongly, many judge a a computer by its ability to play a good game of chess and every self respecting micro has at least one chess program to offer. Many commercial mainframe computers are not above a quick game of chess either and national pride is put on the line in organised International Computer Chess Tournaments - micros too have their own International Chess Competitions.

Several chess programs have been available for the Spectrum for some time, so the appearance Intelligent Softwares Cyrus is Chess program in July accompanied by the slogan "based upon the program which won the European Micro Computer Championship 1981" must arouse some curiosity - especially as it comes with a 16 page User's Manual, and is marketed by Sinclair who already have a chess program in their Spectrum Catalogue. The Cyrus program is designed by David Levy, the Scottish International Chess Master and noted chess computer expert whose programs can be found in several dedicated chess computers.

How does the Cyrus program differ from its contemporaries? It is one of the few chess programs that fit into either the 16K or 48K models. Side A of the cassette has two copies of the 16K version whilst side B has two copies of the 48K version with some additional features. Side A (16K) loads in 90 seconds and Side 8 (48K) in 2 minutes. The graphics are clear and they are moved using the cursor keys; a flashing square is moved to the piece to be moved then 'entered'; the flashing square is then moved to the destination square and 'entered' again. The cursor method requires five key movements - the same number as the more usual E2 E4 'ENTER' method - but for some reason the cursor actually moving the pieces seems closer to 'over the board confrontation'.

Cyrus has eight playing levels and three problem solving levels (mate in 1 ,'2 or 3) and the approximate times for each level are:

Level 1 - 2 secs.
Level 2 - 5 sees.
Level 3 - 10 secs.
Level 4 - 20 secs.
Level 5 - 30 secs.
Level 6 - 1 min. 15 secs.
Level 7 - 3 mins.
Level 8 - 5-12 mins.
P1, P2, P3 - Computes until 'Mate' found.

Levels or sides can be changed during the course of the game and the board can be turned around but of more interest is the fact that the level times are faster than those stated for many 'dedicated' chess computers to be found in the shops - this should mean that you can have a worthwhile game of chess without waiting too long for the computer to reply to your move. The Cyrus program also enables the player to take back moves, up to 80 moves in the 16K program and up to the beginning of any longer game in the 48K version. The 48K program also enables a player to ask the computer to take its move back and play its next best move, then second best move, then third etc. This means that you can 'cheat' but of more importance to the chess enthusiast is the fact that you can use your computer to analyse various openings and positions. In addition by tapping the R key you can ask Cyrus to automatically replay the game for both sides up to the present position, be it a mid-game position or a final mate. This is rather like watching Mastergame on television.

In demonstration mode Cyrus will play both sides through a complete game at any preset level and as a bonus there is a Human v Human mode which enables two players to use Cyrus as a chessboard and pieces. This also means that a school or chess club can use Cyrus instead of a demonstration board at a quarter of the normal cost.

An impressive list of features - but how well does Cyrus play? On loading, Cyrus automatically sets itself to level 2 (response time 5 seconds). The manual states that the 48K version might be quicker in the opening than the 16K program as it has a larger opening 'book' ie it has been programmed with a larger repertoire of popular openings to respond quickly to anticipated moves. Impressive for a 5 second response! Cyrus, then, can prove a formidable opponent.

As a further measure Cyrus was pitted against two dedicated chess computers - Morphy Encore {£140) and Mini Sensory-Advanced (£80) both of advanced design which 'think' in their opponent's time. At approximately the same response levels and playing Black in each case:

Cyrus Level 3 defeated Mini-Sensory Advanced Level 2 (29 moves).

Cyrus Level 6 had the better of the exchange and was heading for a win endgame against Morphy Encore Level 3 (44 moves).

To be fair, Morphy Encore has a lot more reserves to call up having nine levels, including two at tournament level but the fact that Cyrus did so well says a lot for the Cyrus Program and a Mate-in-Three Chess Problem was solved in a very acceptable 3 minutes.

One irritating feature of the 16K version is that it does not display the Menu of 15 options on the screen with the chess board but fills up the lower area Of the screen with a rather distracting 'I S Chess' Logo. Playing strengths of the 16K and 48K versions are the same.

Apart from the larger opening 'book' and 'menu' display on screen the 48K version offers:

(a) The option of using a printer to print every move as it is made, to produce a record after a complete game or to print out the current board position.

(b) A game may be saved on tape and re-entered into the computer's memory later.

(c) The colours of the screen display can be changed.

(d) In problem mode the 48K will display 'NO MATE FOUND' if it cannot solve a problem in the number of moves stipulated.

An unusual feature for both the 16K and 48K versions is that Cyrus will announce a DRAW if no pawn is moved or piece captured during a sequence of 50 moves or if both sides move the same pieces backwards and forwards over the same squares three times running. This is in accord with the rules of chess but is a feature not to be found in many other computer chess programs. In conclusion, Cyrus is a strong yet flexible chess program suitable for both beginner and chess enthusiast, even if you already have a chess program for your Spectrum you will be fascinated by this one!

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.