Producer: Quicksilva, 48K
£6.94

The Chess Player speaks, at least briefly when he announces himself, thereafter he contents himself with on-screen remarks like, 'that was a pathetic move'. A useful feature is the ability to alter the colours of board and pieces to suit yourself. Six skill levels with varying response times. A good starter's program, because the computer does lose on the lower skill levels, which is encouraging! Computer-recommended moves, but watch it closely - it cheats sometimes!

Producer: Quicksilva, 48K
£6.94

The Chess Player speaks, at least briefly when he announces himself, thereafter he contents himself with on-screen remarks like, 'that was a pathetic move'. A useful feature is the ability to alter the colours of board and pieces to suit yourself. Six skill levels with varying response times. A good starter's program, because the computer does lose on the lower skill levels, which is encouraging! Computer-recommended moves, but watch it closely - it cheats sometimes!

Memory Required: 48K
Price: £6.95

In an impressive piece of synthesised speech Quicksilva's chess program announces itself at the beginning with "this is the Chess Player". Rather startlingly the packaging relates how the Chess Player, an Evil Being, has called for a challenger from Earth. The planet's survival hangs on your game - and you thought you were just going to have a quiet game of chess.

In the event the program plays quite a strong game with the option of six levels of play. The board is clearly displayed and the pieces are well designed. Psion's chess program, however, is probably the better player.

The growling gravelly voice of Quicksilva's Chess program does not add much to the game.

However, its sharp comments on the current state of play do give this program a slightly more human feel.

There's a surge of pride each time it finds itself in more difficulties than it expected and says so on screen. And after being roundly criticised for a queen sacrifice, "That was a pathetic move!" I enjoyed mating it five moves later all the more.

The program does respond quickly at the lower levels but does not play a particularly good opening and has a tendency to capitulate utterly when things start going wrong.

Still, it will give beginners a hard game and will probably hand out more beatings than it takes.

The presentation on the Spectrum is a problem and the screen takes some getting used to. With several of the pieces barely recognisable from their board equivalents. While good chess players know (by colour and position) where the king and queen start a game, learners will not have such a clear idea.

Probably a bit too gimmicky for the more serious chess enthusiast and perhaps not enough thought for the complete beginner to help him around the little things most of us take for granted. It costs £6.95 and runs on the 48K model.