Games/Chess
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Chess
Linux chess software generally is separated into a "front end" application and a "chess engine". There are also "chess databases". While only gnuchess and phalanx "chess engines", and xboard & knights chess "front ends", and scid "chess database" come with openSUSE, there are many "chess engines" that run under openSUSE. This openSUSE chess game guide provides a list of some of these chess applications.
Front End Application
A front end application:
- Arena is a freeware MS-Windows GUI front end that works under wine. Useful for playing freeware MS-Windows chess engines Typically to run, just navigate to Arena directory and type "wine Arena.exe"
- decaf is a Java based chess client for FICS (not yet reported as being tested by any wiki writer under openSUSE)
- eboard is a chess interface for Unix-like systems (GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, etc.) based on the GTK+ GUI toolkit. It provides a chess board interface to ICS (Internet Chess Servers) like FICS and to chess engines like GNU Chess, Sjeng and Crafty. It does not come with openSUSE, but there is an rpm on the eboard web site for download that works on openSUSE.
- Gnome-chess is a chess client for Gnome
- Jin is a Java based graphical client for internet chess servers (not yet reported as being tested by any wiki writer under openSUSE)
- Knights is a chess client for KDE - rpm available SUSE 10.x and 11.x
- Polyglot is a a "UCI adapter". It connects a UCI chess engine to an xboard interface such as WinBoard or xboard itself. This is functional under openSUSE.
- PyChess is a Gnome chess client written in Python (not yet reported as being tested by any wiki writer under openSUSE)
- Slibo is a chess interface for KDE. Designed to be usable as a replacement for the xboard chess interface, can be used with common chess engines like crafty or gnuchess, but it provides its own chess engine too. This is difficult for the average user to compile, as it requires QT knowledge. According to this URL, the project is "dead" and it does not compile against KDE-3.5 http://en.linuxreviews.org/Chess_games
- XBoard runs in any X window environment - rpm is packaged with SUSE 10.x and 11.x and can be installed via zypper via the command
zypper install xboard
Various examples of how to use xboard are given through out this wiki.
Chess Engine
Chess Engine Overview
A chess engine of which there are many, including some commercial that can interact with the above front ends as they use the Xboard or UCI protocol.
- Amundsen not provided with openSUSE but there is a tarball available for download. (not yet reported as being tested by any wiki writer under openSUSE)
- Arasan not provided with openSUSE, but there is Linux source code and Windows compiled versions on web.
- Crafty The rpm was packaged with openSUSE 10.2. For openSUSE-10.3 and 11.x the rpm is packaged in the openSUSE Education repository. There is also Linux source code (see below "Crafty" section for installation details).
- DeepLearningToga not packaged with openSUSE. This version of TogaII is derived from 1.4.1 and aimed at multi processor machines and has a learning mode implemented. It will work with the XBoard/PolyGlot.
- Faile not provided with openSUSE, but there are Linux and Windows compiled versions on web.
- Fruit not packed with openSUSE. There are Linux and Windows compiled versions on web. It will work with the XBoard/Polyglot combination.
- Glaurung not packaged with openSUSE. It will work with the XBoard/PolyGlot combination.
- GNUChess rpm packaged with openSUSE 10.x & 11.x
- Phalanx XXII rpm packaged with openSUSE 10.x & 1l.x
- pouet Chess not provided with openSUSE, but there is Linux source code and binaries
- Pro Deo not provided with openSUSE, but there is a free Windows version that runs under Wine on the web.
- Rybkanot provided with openSUSE but there is a (older) free Windows version that runs under Wine on the web.
- Scorpio not provided with openSUSE but source code is available from http://wbec-ridderkerk.nl/html/details1/Scorpio.html
- sjeng not provided with openSUSE, but there is Linux source code on the web.
- Spike not provided with openSUSE, but easy to download and install Linux version from web.
- Stockfish Based on glaurung 2.1, it is not packaged with openSUSE. It will work with the XBoard/PolyGlot combination.
- Toga not provided with openSUSE, but there is Linux source code and Windows compiled version on the web. It will work with the XBoard/PolyGlot combination.
- Zappa not provided with openSUSE, but there is a free Windows version that runs under Wine on the web.
For more detail on the above engines, read the following.
Amundsen
Amundsen is an XBoard compatible chess playing program. It is not provided with openSUSE but there is a tarball available for download. Not yet reported as being tested by any wiki writer under openSUSE.
Arasan
A chess program for Linux and Windows. The Linux version comes as source code. The Windows versions runs with the "arena" GUI frontend and wine. The "MS-Windows" executable has been successfully tested with "wine" on openSUSE-10.3 and 11.0. The licence usage terms are set out in the README file in the "doc directory" distributed with the application.
Arasan-11.5 compiles ok (in the src directory with make, make install and checkinstall) under x86_64 openSUSE-11.1, playing with xboard. Arasan-11.5 can then be run with:
xboard -size medium -fcp /PATH_TO_arasanx_FILE/arasanx
Crafty
Prior to openSUSE 10.3, simply install openSUSE provided rpm. openSUSE 10.3 and 11.0 do not provide an rpm for Crafty. However it is relatively easy to install crafty on those PCs. Either use the one-click install package from the build service or follow these instructions to compile it:
Copy the crafty zip file to /home/username/chess, and unzip it there. The respective zip files can be downloaded from here:
To compile crafty on a 32-bit openSUSE PC, one needs to type: "make linux". For a 64-bit openSUSE, instead use "make linux-amd64". This will create a crafty executable. Now copy this executable to the path on your openSUSE.
In addition, with that openSUSE Education repository packaged version of crafty installed, and with xboard installed, crafty can then be run by the command
xcrafty
or alternatively with xboard installed, run in the more traditional manner with
xboard -size medium -fcp crafty
DeepLearningToga
This version of TogaII is derived from 1.4.1 and aimed at multi processor machines and has a learning mode implemented. The linux download site for DeepLearningToga is here:
DeepLearningToga runs with the front end combination polyglot/xboard installed to run (see above Front End section in this wiki). With polyglot/xboard front ends installed,
Faile
A purported master level (approx 2200 to 2250 ELO) program. Successfully tested/compiled under openSUSE-11.0 (follow the readme.txt instructions) with the command "makefile.gcc" It is not as strong as some of the other programs.
Fruit
Fruit is available as freeware in Linux and Windows versions. The Windows versions runs with the "arena" GUI frontend and wine. The "MS-Windows" executable has been successfully tested with "wine" on openSUSE-10.3 and 11.0.
Fruit needs the front end combination polyglot/xboard installed to run (see above Front End section in this wiki).
With polyglot/xboard, create a polyglot-compatible ini-File and run:
xboard -size medium -fd '/PATH_TO_INI_FILE/' -fcp 'polyglot NAME_OF_INI_FILE.ini'
Glaurung
Glaurung is a chess program for Mac OS/X which can be made to run under Linux with XBoard and PolyGlot. It is not not provided with openSUSE but it is included in the openSUSE chess program repository.
Glaurung needs the front end combination polyglot/xboard installed to run (see above Front End section in this wiki).
With polyglot/xboard installed, create a polyglot-compatible ini-File and run:
xboard -size medium -fd '/PATH_TO_INI_FILE/' -fcp 'polyglot NAME_OF_INI_FILE.ini'
GNUChess
GNUChess is packaged with openSUSE-10.x/11.x. Simply install the openSUSE provided rpm from OSS repository or one's installation DVD.
Phalanx
Phalanx is packaged with openSUSE-10.x/11.x. Simply install the openSUSE provided rpm from OSS repository or one's installation DVD.
poeut Chess
poeut Chess is an opensource chess game for Linux and Windows. It has its own custom gui (and does not require a front end). It does not come with openSUSE, but both binaries and source code can be downloaded. It is not as strong as the other programs.
Pro Deo
PRO DEO is available as freeware for Windows and it runs under wine in Linux. It is the freeware version of the former commercial REBEL chess program series. After the author Ed Schröder retired from active competition and commerce, he made available this free version of the program. To run Pro Deo under openSUSE you need to call it from the "arena" front end. Run Arena (from its own directory) with something like "wine Arena.exe" and then under ARENA navigate to Engines -> New Engine -> navigate-to-Pro-Deo-directory -> RebelUCI.exe
Rybka
Rybka 1.0 beta is a strong free uci chess engine. There is a commecial Rybka 2.1 c mp engine that is purportedly 200 elo stronger than the Rybka 1.0 beta. To run Rybka under openSUSE you need to call it from the "arena" front end. Run Arena (from its own directory) with something like "wine Arena.exe" and then under ARENA navigate to Engines -> New Engine -> navigate-to-Pro-Deo-directory -> Rybka v1.0.exe. Installation instructions under Arena are here
Scorpio
Scorpio is a winboard/xboard compatible engine. It is not not provided with openSUSE but it is included in the openSUSE chess program repository.
Scorpio runs with the front end xboard installed, with xboard installed, copy the following files/folders to a directory (i.e. $HOME/scorpio)
- scorpio.ini
- folder "personality with the three files "opn.per", "mid.per" and "end.per"
and run:
xboard -size medium -fd /path/to/your/scorpio_folder/ -fcp /patch/to/scorpio_exectuable/scorpio
sjeng
sjeng (old version) is available for free for Linux: http://sjeng.org/ To custom compile sjeng on openSUSE-11.0 first install gdbm and gdbm-devel. A custom rpm can also be built with "checkinstall" (instead of using "make install"). The free version of sjeng available is very old. There is a commercial product called "deep sengh" (with a stronger chess engine) which has no mention on the web site as running under Linux.
Spike
Spike is available for Linux (and it plays well under xboard). Simply download Spike to one's home directory to a suitable folder, unarchive the tarball, and run the provided executable. This has been successfully tested on openSUSE-10.3, 11.0 and 11.1.
To play spike with xboard if in the directory where the spike executable is located:
xboard -fcp ./spike
Stockfish
- Stockfish is a chess program based on glaurung 2.1 (see above) and it can be made to run under Linux with XBoard and PolyGlot.
Stockfish needs the front end combination polyglot/xboard installed to run (see above Front End section in this wiki).
With polyglot/xboard installed, create a polyglot-compatible ini-File and run:
xboard -size medium -fd '/PATH_TO_INI_FILE/' -fcp 'polyglot NAME_OF_INI_FILE.ini'
Toga II
Toga II is a derivative of fruit, based on Fruit 2.1. It is freeware. The Windows version of this works on openSUSE-11.0 under wine (using the "arena" GUI frontend).
- version 1.3.1 - The last version with "official" unix support (meaning it had a POSIX-compatible Makefile and compiled "OOTB"), no eggb-support.
- version 1.3.4 - Modified with patches and Makefile adapted from version 1.4.1 to compile under linux, first version with eggb-support, latest "stable" version.
- version 1.4.1 - Modified with patches for POSIX-support, see Posix ports of some recent version of Toga II for more information.
Like Fruit, Toga needs the front end combination polyglot/xboard installed to run (see above Front End section in this wiki).
With polyglot/xboard installed, create a polyglot-compatible ini-File and run:
xboard -size medium -fd '/PATH_TO_INI_FILE/' -fcp 'polyglot NAME_OF_INI_FILE.ini'
Zappa
Zappa is available as freeware for Windows and it runs under wine in Linux. There is also a commercial version known as Zappa Mexico. To run Zappa under openSUSE you need to call it from the "arena" front end. Run Arena (from its own directory) with something like "wine Arena.exe" and then under ARENA navigate to Engines -> New Engine -> navigate-to--appropriate-Zappa-directory -> zappa.exe (if prompted select the UCI interface).
Chess Databases
Scid
The chess database scid ("Shane's Chess Information Database") also comes (and works ok) with openSUSE-10x and 11.0 and 11.1. In addition to recording games in a database, Scid can be used with a chess engine to playback and analyze the moves in a game.
Scid is packaged with openSUSE and can be installed from the OSS-repo via YaST or with
zypper install scid
chessdb
ChessDB is a free chess database which can be used on Microsoft Windows, Linux, Apple Macs running OS X, FreeBSD, and most modern UNIX versions. The program has translations into many languages. It appears to be a fork of scid (scid now appears to have features that ChessDB was to have added). It does not come with openSUSE and must be custom compiled, where its compilation is not straight forward. Last update appears to have been in 2007.
Jose
Jose is a chess database that allows one to view/add games to the database, analyse games with a selected chess engine, and play against the chess engine. A number of different opening books are easily downloadable. It does not come with openSUSE, but because it is java based (requires java-1.4) it runs readily on 32-bit openSUSE. 64-bit crashes.
- Jose Web site: http://jose-chess.sourceforge.net/
- Jose forum: http://jose-chess.sourceforge.net/index_forum.html
Misc Chess Utility Programs
Online Chess Club (OCC)
OCC is a small PHP chess program that allows multimple players to play each other over the internet. Its concept is to run a number of games simultaneously against various friends and to check from time to time, like once a day, whether anyone has moved and if so to enter your move along with a comment. It does NOT come with openSUSE and it also requires php knowledge to setup the chess server (playing only needs a simple web browser). The web site recommends NOT to download if a user does not have php knowledge.
Natch & iNatch
Natch is a freeware program (for DOS/Linux) that solves retrograd analysis problems by constructing "proof games" - the shortest possible game leading to a certain position. Natch is a command line utility, but there is a Java based graphical interface, iNatch. These programs are NOT included with openSUSE. To run iNatch you must have SUN's Java Runtime Environment 1.3 (or higher) installed.
- Natch: http://natch.free.fr/ (119 kb).
- iNatch: http://natch.free.fr/iNatch.html (110 kb).
Pgn-Extract
Pgn-Extract is a freeware utility program (for DOS/Unix/Linux) that extracts and manipulates games from PGN-files. You can use many criteria and search/extract doubles, positions, players, move sequence, ECO-codes etc. This program is not provided with openSUSE.
SOSS
SOSS is a chess pairing program. It is not yet reported as being tested by any wiki writer under openSUSE)
Vega
Vega is a freeware program (for Windows/Linux/DOS) for swiss pairing and tournament management. Options for printing cross tables, board cards etc. This program is not provided with openSUSE.
- Vega http://www.vegachess.com/ (598 KB).
Implementation Catches
The software might have bugs. For example Knights is unstable in openSUSE 10.3 and stable in 10.2. The stability issue may be resolved by installing jack audio libraries. Xboard defaults to using crafty which is fine in openSUSE 10.2 as it is supplied, but as it is not in default openSUSE 10.3 you have to set it up to call GNUChess vis:
xboard -fcp gnuchessx -fd /usr/share/gnuchess -size medium
Alternatively in 10.3 and 11.0 you can custom compile crafty (as explained above), add the crafty executeable to your PC's path, and the Xboard call to crafty will work.
xboard - more examples of its use
Since most of the programs above can use the xboard front end, below are some hints as to its use.
The first example illustrates how to play two chess programs against each other, with scorpio vs crafty, where they are both xboard/winboard compatible:
xboard -size medium -fd '/path/to/scorpios_ini_file/' -fcp /path/to/scorpio_executable/scorpio -scp crafty
Another example, is fruit vs glaurung, where both programs require polyglot to interface to xboard:
xboard -size medium -fd '/PATH_TO_GLAURUNGS_INI_FILE/' -fcp 'polyglot NAME_OF_GLAURUNGS_INI_FILE.ini' -sd '/PATH_TO_FRUITS_INI_FILE/' -scp 'polyglot NAME_OF_FRUITS_INI_FILE.ini'
A third example is glaurung vs gnuchess, where glaurung requires polyglot to interface to xboard, but gnuchess does not require polyglot:
xboard -size medium -sd '/PATH_TO_GLAURUNGS_INI_FILE/' -scp 'polyglot NAME_OF_GLAURUNGS_INI_FILE.ini' -fcp gnuchess -fd /usr/share/gnuchess -tc 15 -mps 60
The above example specifies 60 moves in 15 minutes for the time control
The engine started with "-fcp" (and "-fd" if needed) always plays white while the engine started with "scp" (and "-sd" if needed) plays black.
One can learn more about xboard commands by typing
man xboard
There are also many sites on the Internet, giving intructions in xboard use, such as:
- http://linux.about.com/library/cmd/blcmdl6_xboard.htm
- http://www.chemie.fu-berlin.de/chemnet/use/info/xboard/xboard.html
Applications Removed
(Aug-2009) Removed Gambit Fruit as binary no longer available.
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