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Chess Software for Mac

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_Dalle_

Hey there, 

 

I'm looking for a good Chess software, mainly for analysing purposes. Meaning that I'd like to open PGN files, adding some lines and save it again for later viewing. 

 

I thought about Shredder 12 and the Shredder Support told my that Shredder 13 won't be available until the middle of 2013. So it I think it would be agood time to buy it now. 

 

Do you guys have any experiences with Shredder or would you recommend any other software? 

corum

I use Sigma Chess 6.2 on my mac. It seems to work nicely and it's free.

alwaysAYAYA

Free: Sigma Chess or chessx -- Keep in mind that sigma chess won't work with modern versions of os x.

Commercial: Hiarcs Chess Explorer

red-lady

Hiarcs, yes, but it is quite expensive though. I looked at it today but changed my mind when I saw the price Embarassed

CraftBukkit

Windows: Arena or Fritz 13

Mac: Scid with Stockfish

iOS: Stockfish app

alwaysAYAYA

Isn't it 50 for single cpu ver, and 99$ elsewise? Seems pretty typical, considering it comes with hiarcs. It'd be nice if it came unbundled from hiarcs as an option, but I don't know that this is any more expensive than chessbase engine+ui packages or the prior hiacs + sigma chess bundles.

chessx seems pretty good, and sigma is free now (although it won't work with newest version of os x).

_Dalle_

Thanks for your replies.  

 

I've bought shredder 12 now. I'm pretty happy with, at least for a first impression. 

Fugazy_Crapov

I like Mac Chess Explorer, featuring HIARCS 14.  It's really a great product - mature, stable, powerful.  But, yes, it's pricey.  So is Shredder.

Mark Uniake has been supporting the Mac for many years and provides great support.

HIARCS for iPad is simply gorgeous, BTW.

From the website:

"HIARCS Mac Chess Explorer is a superb new chess database, analysis and playing program for Apple Macintosh computers. It offers an innovative and intuitive new graphical user interface with powerful features together with the reigning World Chess Software Champion HIARCS 14 chess engine. This unique combination is refreshingly easy to use and includes many new features for chess preparation, analysis and training for players of all abilities from beginner to Grandmaster. It has specialised features to help weaker chess players improve their chess including special realistic weakened opponents, a chess coach which can demonstrate mistakes, show improvements and help you improve your chess.

For expert chess players HIARCS Chess Explorer for the Mac has many advanced features not seen in other chess software. The new features can help you analyse your chess games, improve your openings and prepare for your opponents."

http://www.hiarcs.com/mac-chess-explorer.htm

corum

I'm curious what version of Mac OS Sigma doesn't work with. Anyone know? I use Mac OS X 10.6.8 and it works fine.

_Dalle_

As far as I know Sigma won't work with Lion and Mountain Lion. SInce those Versions don't support PowerPC applications. 

JamesCoons

I find I use ChessX about 70% of the time and Hiarcs Chess Explorer about 30%. I have tried the others including SCID, SCIDvsMac Mac OS Sigma, Shredder etc, but do not use them.

reed_raiders

Houdini 3 Pro :D