Answers.Body: <p>Download <a href="http://www.babaschess.net/">Babaschess</a>, sign up for the <a href="http://www.freechess.org/">Free Internet Chess Server (FICS)</a> and start playing unrated games against real people. :)</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-25T19:46:17.627Z
Answers.Text: I use BabasChess on FICS. Once you have a rating, you can play other people at your same skill level. IMHO this is WAY better than playing against the computer.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Rick G
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-11-17T04:03:33.683Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-12-03T18:54:45.720Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-12-03T18:54:45.720Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tyler C Langan
Answers.Body: <p><strong><a href="https://lucaschess.pythonanywhere.com/home" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lucas Chess</a></strong> is great! From the description of the program:</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>&quot;The computer uses different chess programs (so-called chess engines) of various strength. The user starts playing against the weakest engine at first. Initially the engine plays with limited strength but as the user wins more games the engine will be given more calculation time and its strength will improve. Eventually the engine will reach its maximum level of strength and if the user continues to win he will be passed to the next stronger engine and so forth.</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>It comes with a tutor that watches over your moves.<br />
  Lucas Chess ships with several chess engines from very weak to very strong (Stockfish,Rybka) and thousands of training positions (mate in 2,3,4 .. etc.)<br />
  For improving your openings try <a href="http://innokuo.altervista.org/chesshero.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>ChessHero</strong></a> or <strong><a href="http://www.chesspositiontrainer.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">ChessPositionTrainer</a></strong></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-11-22T01:42:12.497Z
Answers.Text: It's worth mentioning Lucas Chess has really good analyzing capabilities, also it works under wine (or natively if you run from its python source and fix some issues, but then you will need to add native engines).
Answers.UserDisplayName: Roberto Mizzoni
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-03T18:53:27.500Z
Answers.Text: +1. I just started playing around with this and it is great.
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-05-23T11:49:57.490Z
Answers.Text: Is Lucas Chess still available anywhere? The link is no longer working.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tsundoku
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-05-24T05:34:09.230Z
Answers.Text: @Christophe Strobbe  It's still available, but the link changes frequently => http://bfy.tw/IHLm
Answers.UserDisplayName: Rebse
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-05-24T08:53:06.483Z
Answers.Text: @Rebse https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-is-not-your-friend/
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tsundoku
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-11-20T20:00:03.893Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-09-16T23:59:02.527Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2021-09-16T23:59:02.527Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Rebse
Answers.Body: <p>You could try <a href="http://www.gnu.org/software/xboard/#tag-A1">WinBoard</a>. WinBoard is a GUI, that you can use with thousands of engines. Two of the most famously weak engines, that you can use it with it are:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><a href="http://wbec-ridderkerk.nl/html/details1/Ufim.html">Ufim</a> 0.82 The limit strength can be set as low as 700 ELO</li>
  <li><a href="http://home.xmsnet.nl/vermeire/BrutusRND.rar">BrutusRND</a> This one literally makes random (legal) moves. </li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Source: <a href="http://www.chessforums.org/chess-software-recommended-websites/9553-searching-really-bad-chess-engine.html">chessforums</a></p>
  
  <p>When you outgrow those engines, it will be easy to switch to a stronger one. The advantage of having multiple Engines is, that they all play different and so you won't get bored as fast.</p>
  
  <p>Additionally, you could also weaken any existing engine. Here is an <a href="http://www.horizonchess.com/FAQ/Winboard/Winboard4.html#%5BD.4.7%5D">example with Crafty</a>.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-25T23:48:50.723Z
Answers.Text: +1 for Winboard, its small, fast and relatively easy to beat.  It also supports extra engines.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Seth
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-11-12T17:10:59.387Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-11-12T17:22:54.090Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-11-12T17:22:54.090Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: AyaProgram
Answers.Body: <p>If I'm not on my own computer, I use <a href="http://chromefree.shredderchess.com/" rel="noreferrer">Shredder Chess Online</a>. You probably can't get much simpler than that. Unfortunately it has just 3 levels, but fortunately the middle level fits for me if I don't want to think too hard, and the highest level if I'm in serious mood :-)</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-11-13T23:07:24.777Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-11-13T23:07:24.777Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Landei
Answers.Body: <p>My favourite chess engine is Numpty chess.
  I am an "average"(?!) rated chess player and I have had hours of fun playing against this engine and look forward to more. It is not so highly rated like some other engines eg StockFish, Rybka, Fritz etc etc and is great for learning &amp; improving at chess. This means you do get winning chances and so you do not get so demoralised as when playing super strength engines. </p>
  
  <p>It needs a GUI to run in &amp; is easily setup in Winboard or Arena chess gui. Chris Tatham is the engine author and a fine friend of mine (only through Numpty!).
  Numpty is at <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/numptychess/" rel="nofollow">Numpty chess engine</a> and is freeware. Give it a game &amp; enjoy!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-22T16:34:27.300Z
Answers.Text: I love Chris Tatham's Numpty.
Answers.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-15T01:06:08.650Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-01-15T01:06:08.650Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: rpd
Answers.Body: <p>Another free chess program under Windows is <a href="http://zillionsofgames.com/demo/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Zillions of Games</a>. Zillions is a generalized game system that includes chess as well as other games. You can easily control its intelligence. There are different settings for<br>
  1. Skill level<br>
  2. How variable its move choices are<br>
  3. How fast the computer moves   </p>
  
  <p>I purchased the full version of Zillions, because I wanted to play more games than those included in the free download version.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-25T19:44:43.940Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-08-01T11:01:06.337Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-08-01T11:01:06.337Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Rick G
Answers.Body: <p>I find that <a href="http://www.sparkchess.com/" rel="nofollow">SparkChess</a> is fast and easy to beat on its lowest level.  It has a neat flash based interface, though you'll need <a href="http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?no_redirect" rel="nofollow">Adobe's Flash Plugin</a> to play.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-25T23:55:15.403Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-12-29T02:40:14.597Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-12-29T02:40:14.597Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Seth
Answers.Body: <p>I'd like to answer my own question with a recommendation for <a href="https://chessology-sampler.software.informer.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chessology</a>.</p>
  
  <p>Interface is pretty clean, and good difficulty settings, I found.</p>
  
  <p>It also has an interesting feature: it colors squares of the board to reflect which player controls them. Red for black control, green for white control, with the color varying along a spectrum to represent weaker or stronger control (I think the formula is just Control = WhitePiecesThreateningSquare - BlackPiecesThreateningSquare, but I haven't done extensive testing). How useful that feature is I don't know because I don't know much about Chess, I'll leave it up to you esteemed gentlemen to discuss in the comments.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-09T01:53:58.353Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-08-01T11:05:59.500Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-08-01T11:05:59.500Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jack M
Answers.Body: <p>You can try the online option at <a href="https://www.apronus.com/chess/playcomputer/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.apronus.com/chess/playcomputer/</a>. You can experiment with the strength of the computer by reducing its time to think per move (in milliseconds).</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-05-23T11:24:18.017Z
Answers.Text: Is that a dead link now?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tsundoku
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-05-24T13:34:02.670Z
Answers.Text: The link is back in shape. Just a glitch with server configuration.
Answers.UserDisplayName: MichalRyszardWojcik
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-22T15:35:48.037Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-05-25T06:33:21.313Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2018-05-25T06:33:21.313Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: MichalRyszardWojcik
Answers.Body: <p>Download Chess Wizard from this site:</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.chess-wizard.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.chess-wizard.com/</a></p>
  
  <p>It's completely free and lightweight. It also supports UCI engines. You can <a href="http://www.xs4all.nl/~vermeire/BrutusRND.rar" rel="nofollow noreferrer">download the BrutusRND engine</a>, which plays random legal moves.</p>
  
  <p>You can also <a href="http://wbec-ridderkerk.nl/html/details1/Ufim.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">download ufim_802</a>, which is a very weak engine.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-09-16T11:53:33.507Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-08-01T11:15:59.970Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-08-01T11:15:59.970Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: James Okedi
Answers.Body: <p>believe me you should download chess master (grand master edition) 
  it has all the features you want + there are many levels to play with
  including many low levels that I'm sure that any small kid can beat them </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-22T14:12:46.423Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-08-22T14:12:46.423Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Anas Shaikhany
Body: <p>I can't play chess very well, and want a computer game to play against. I've tried two so far - Chessbase (Fritz 5.32) and Crafty Chess. Both had the same problem that even on the lowest difficulty setting, the computer trashed me.</p>
  
  <p>I'm running Windows XP. Here are my criteria:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>100% Free (no nagware)</li>
  <li>Lightweight: loads quickly, small filesize (say under 15 Mb)</li>
  <li>Not system intensive. I don't need or want a 3d board.</li>
  <li>Multiple difficulty levels, the lowest one being comparable to someone who's just been told what the legal moves are, and the highest one being... good. Good enough that I won't have to switch to a more advanced program for a while.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>If it could have a nice clean interface without clutter everywhere, like the current move list and advanced AI options and what not - which might be great for advanced players but I have no need for - that would be nice.</p>
  
  <p>If you know of a program like this for other operating systems, go ahead and post them for future readers... but I'm on XP.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-08-01T14:13:17.600Z
Comments.Text: That program is called chess.com ! Where you can play against different human opponents of all levels
Comments.UserDisplayName: David
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2021-09-17T15:52:44.100Z
Comments.Text: [Lichess](https://lichess.org) is way better than chess.com, and satisfies all your requirements, and has an excellent analysis interface for after you have finished your game.
Comments.UserDisplayName: user21820
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-11-11T17:26:11.447Z
Comments.Text: finding the right difficulty is very hard, either I win easily or don't stand a chance, similar to ontrolling the amount of hot water from my shower
Comments.UserDisplayName: ajax333221
Tags: <engines><learning>
Title: Free, simple chess program for beginners
ThreadText: # Free, simple chess program for beginners
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-11-11)
  
  I can't play chess very well, and want a computer game to play against. I've tried two so far - Chessbase (Fritz 5.32) and Crafty Chess. Both had the same problem that even on the lowest difficulty setting, the computer trashed me.
  
  I'm running Windows XP. Here are my criteria:
  
  * 100% Free (no nagware)
  * Lightweight: loads quickly, small filesize (say under 15 Mb)
  * Not system intensive. I don't need or want a 3d board.
  * Multiple difficulty levels, the lowest one being comparable to someone who's just been told what the legal moves are, and the highest one being... good. Good enough that I won't have to switch to a more advanced program for a while.
  
  If it could have a nice clean interface without clutter everywhere, like the current move list and advanced AI options and what not - which might be great for advanced players but I have no need for - that would be nice.
  
  If you know of a program like this for other operating systems, go ahead and post them for future readers... but I'm on XP.
  
  **Tags:** engines, learning
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: finding the right difficulty is very hard, either I win easily or don't stand a chance, similar to ontrolling the amount of hot water from my shower  
  > **username_1**: That program is called chess.com ! Where you can play against different human opponents of all levels  
  > **username_2**: [Lichess](https://lichess.org) is way better than chess.com, and satisfies all your requirements, and has an excellent analysis interface for after you have finished your game.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 11 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2012-11-17. Score: 16
  
  Download [Babaschess](http://www.babaschess.net/), sign up for the [Free Internet Chess Server (FICS)](http://www.freechess.org/) and start playing unrated games against real people. :)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_5**: I use BabasChess on FICS. Once you have a rating, you can play other people at your same skill level. IMHO this is WAY better than playing against the computer.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_10 on 2012-11-12. Score: 10
  
  You could try [WinBoard](http://www.gnu.org/software/xboard/#tag-A1). WinBoard is a GUI, that you can use with thousands of engines. Two of the most famously weak engines, that you can use it with it are:
  
  * [Ufim](http://wbec-ridderkerk.nl/html/details1/Ufim.html) 0.82 The limit strength can be set as low as 700 ELO
  * [BrutusRND](http://home.xmsnet.nl/vermeire/BrutusRND.rar) This one literally makes random (legal) moves.
  
  Source: [chessforums](http://www.chessforums.org/chess-software-recommended-websites/9553-searching-really-bad-chess-engine.html)
  
  When you outgrow those engines, it will be easy to switch to a stronger one. The advantage of having multiple Engines is, that they all play different and so you won't get bored as fast.
  
  Additionally, you could also weaken any existing engine. Here is an [example with Crafty](http://www.horizonchess.com/FAQ/Winboard/Winboard4.html#%5BD.4.7%5D).
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_11**: +1 for Winboard, its small, fast and relatively easy to beat.  It also supports extra engines.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2012-11-20. Score: 8
  
  **[Lucas Chess](https://lucaschess.pythonanywhere.com/home)** is great! From the description of the program:
  
  > "The computer uses different chess programs (so-called chess engines) of various strength. The user starts playing against the weakest engine at first. Initially the engine plays with limited strength but as the user wins more games the engine will be given more calculation time and its strength will improve. Eventually the engine will reach its maximum level of strength and if the user continues to win he will be passed to the next stronger engine and so forth.
  
  It comes with a tutor that watches over your moves.  
  Lucas Chess ships with several chess engines from very weak to very strong (Stockfish,Rybka) and thousands of training positions (mate in 2,3,4 .. etc.)  
  For improving your openings try [**ChessHero**](http://innokuo.altervista.org/chesshero.html) or **[ChessPositionTrainer](http://www.chesspositiontrainer.com)**
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: It's worth mentioning Lucas Chess has really good analyzing capabilities, also it works under wine (or natively if you run from its python source and fix some issues, but then you will need to add native engines).  
  > **username_8**: +1. I just started playing around with this and it is great.  
  > **username_9**: Is Lucas Chess still available anywhere? The link is no longer working.  
  > **username_6**: @Christophe Strobbe  It's still available, but the link changes frequently => http://bfy.tw/IHLm  
  > **username_9**: @username_6 https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-is-not-your-friend/  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_12 on 2012-11-13. Score: 5
  
  If I'm not on my own computer, I use [Shredder Chess Online](http://chromefree.shredderchess.com/). You probably can't get much simpler than that. Unfortunately it has just 3 levels, but fortunately the middle level fits for me if I don't want to think too hard, and the highest level if I'm in serious mood :-)
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_13 on 2013-01-15. Score: 4
  
  My favourite chess engine is Numpty chess.
  I am an "average"(?!) rated chess player and I have had hours of fun playing against this engine and look forward to more. It is not so highly rated like some other engines eg StockFish, Rybka, Fritz etc etc and is great for learning & improving at chess. This means you do get winning chances and so you do not get so demoralised as when playing super strength engines.
  
  It needs a GUI to run in & is easily setup in Winboard or Arena chess gui. Chris Tatham is the engine author and a fine friend of mine (only through Numpty!).
  Numpty is at [Numpty chess engine](https://sites.google.com/site/numptychess/) and is freeware. Give it a game & enjoy!
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_14**: I love Chris Tatham's Numpty.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2012-12-25. Score: 4
  
  Another free chess program under Windows is [Zillions of Games](http://zillionsofgames.com/demo/). Zillions is a generalized game system that includes chess as well as other games. You can easily control its intelligence. There are different settings for  
  1. Skill level  
  2. How variable its move choices are  
  3. How fast the computer moves
  
  I purchased the full version of Zillions, because I wanted to play more games than those included in the free download version.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_11 on 2012-12-25. Score: 4
  
  I find that [SparkChess](http://www.sparkchess.com/) is fast and easy to beat on its lowest level. It has a neat flash based interface, though you'll need [Adobe's Flash Plugin](http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?no_redirect) to play.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2013-01-09. Score: 3
  
  I'd like to answer my own question with a recommendation for [Chessology](https://chessology-sampler.software.informer.com/).
  
  Interface is pretty clean, and good difficulty settings, I found.
  
  It also has an interesting feature: it colors squares of the board to reflect which player controls them. Red for black control, green for white control, with the color varying along a spectrum to represent weaker or stronger control (I think the formula is just Control = WhitePiecesThreateningSquare - BlackPiecesThreateningSquare, but I haven't done extensive testing). How useful that feature is I don't know because I don't know much about Chess, I'll leave it up to you esteemed gentlemen to discuss in the comments.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_15 on 2014-08-22. Score: 3
  
  You can try the online option at <https://www.apronus.com/chess/playcomputer/>. You can experiment with the strength of the computer by reducing its time to think per move (in milliseconds).
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_9**: Is that a dead link now?  
  > **username_15**: The link is back in shape. Just a glitch with server configuration.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_16 on 2014-09-16. Score: 2
  
  Download Chess Wizard from this site:
  
  <http://www.chess-wizard.com/>
  
  It's completely free and lightweight. It also supports UCI engines. You can [download the BrutusRND engine](http://www.xs4all.nl/~vermeire/BrutusRND.rar), which plays random legal moves.
  
  You can also [download ufim\_802](http://wbec-ridderkerk.nl/html/details1/Ufim.html), which is a very weak engine.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_17 on 2014-08-22. Score: 1
  
  believe me you should download chess master (grand master edition)
  it has all the features you want + there are many levels to play with
  including many low levels that I'm sure that any small kid can beat them
  
  
  ---
  
  