Best 5 free Chess Software

Here is a complete list of free/open source engines, divided by relative strength.

Up today the top rated is Stockfish DD, but I prefer Komodo 5, amongst the strongest, now free as well.

Stockfish

SCID v PC (anyone prefer SCID?)

Babas Chess

I don't really put the ICC interfaces in the same category. But BlitzIn is amazing and Dasher is good too.

One thing perhaps isn't being noted here, is how the engines in the list perform in open or closed positions. I recommend going to the website above and checking how the engine you prefer performs. Depending on your playing style, you may realize it is isn't as good as you thought.

well, i see the engine strenght by giving them matchess - Arena has feature for it. But their strength is completely non-understandable by your self playing with them.

Arena 3.5 released.

I saw that and was wanting to test it, has anyone  ? any major changes ?

There is a lost of changes on the Arena site

playwitharena.com

Arena 3.5 GUI, with new pieces

Deep Fritz and Rybka (using arena) are the only two chess softwares I have used, both are very useful.  I like Fritz better.

I tried the new Arena. It is ok, but, pretty much the same...

  i have fritz 13 - a nice gui with huge Database. But its far easier & comfortable to Analyse in Arena. The thing i liked in Arena 3.5, is the more smooth pieces, and you can use any chess font.

  its also posible to play in FICS in arena, but i didnt find basic options like rematch or seeking game in ranged opponent or graph!

  i latter tried Scid - a nice thing to view pgn and analyse. it has nice FICS option - But it lacks "flag" or "auto flag" options, as a result opponents can play even after their time is finished!!!

wat is the best for windows

I am wanting to buy Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition (11th) for PC does anybody have it that no longer uses and is willing to sell? Price completely negotiable!

Its for a present and i need it as soon as possible 

Anybody who can help me????? Pretty please?

Holly xxxx

@chesslover 156:  Be a little careful buying a used copy.  Ubisoft has a really nasty surprise if you try to install it for a third time.  Most modern computers now have a "write" capacity on their cd/dvd drives and Ubisoft activates your "burner" and deletes needed files so that your copy is useless.  Don't ask me how I know...

Nice conspiracy theory... or rather not: too naive to be believable, even by 10-year olds.

I believed him...Still do. (Why would he lie about that?) I always prided myself on the fact that I'm a cynical curmudgeon. Now I'm being told I'm more naive than a 10-year old. Dang!

Ubisoft has some really draconian DRM measures in place these days, having bought and played Might and Magic: Heroes VI. It's a big turnoff really. If I can't connect to their DRM server, or if their DRM server is down, or I don't have an internet connection, I can't play the game. Saved games are also on their servers...

There may be an offline mode, but such a mode, if it is there, is kind of buried.

I have it, and no longer need it.

Drop me a message if you still want it, with an offer.

If you want to do it via ebay I can.