There's a new chess app for the iPhone, called "ChessFree" (link opens up iTunes). It's produced by Optime Software (web site link). It looks so new that the web site doesn't even make mention of the game. The game is free but supported by an ad banner on the bottom of the game screen (I was flattered that the I was presented with a Jaguar add... if they only knew the state of my bank account!). The game itself looks okay, but the features seem very sparse. No PNG exporting or importing, no analysis of any kind and really nothing that would make it a serious chess player's app. That's not necessarily bad. Maybe Optime Software's market was the casual or beginning player. The AI strength is selected with a simple sliding scale. At mid-point the AI is shockingly bad (even for someone as bad as myself!). Pushed to the max, it seems to hold it's own but it's difficult for me to judge since I'm a poor player.
Take a look for yourself. The price is right! I'd be interested to see what stronger players think of the engine. It seems that it's playing from a opening database because usually the first 4 or 5 moves are played lightening fast, but then the computer opponent suddenly slows down to think about each move.
There's a new chess app for the iPhone, called "ChessFree" (link opens up iTunes). It's produced by Optime Software (web site link). It looks so new that the web site doesn't even make mention of the game. The game is free but supported by an ad banner on the bottom of the game screen (I was flattered that the I was presented with a Jaguar add... if they only knew the state of my bank account!). The game itself looks okay, but the features seem very sparse. No PNG exporting or importing, no analysis of any kind and really nothing that would make it a serious chess player's app. That's not necessarily bad. Maybe Optime Software's market was the casual or beginning player. The AI strength is selected with a simple sliding scale. At mid-point the AI is shockingly bad (even for someone as bad as myself!). Pushed to the max, it seems to hold it's own but it's difficult for me to judge since I'm a poor player.
Take a look for yourself. The price is right! I'd be interested to see what stronger players think of the engine. It seems that it's playing from a opening database because usually the first 4 or 5 moves are played lightening fast, but then the computer opponent suddenly slows down to think about each move.
Back to pushing the wood.