This is why I love Rebel 12

[Robert Flesher]

It allows me to draw the odd game!

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2011.02.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Robert Flesher"]
[Black "Rebel 12.00.01 - Rebel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 Qc7 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O Bd6 9. h3 Bf4 10. Bxf4 Qxf4 11. Nde2 Qc7 12. Kh1 O-O 13. f4 d6 14. Ng3 Qb6
15. Rb1 Bd7 16. f5 Ne5 17. Be2 Rac8 18. Nh5 Nxh5 19. Bxh5 Nc4 20. f6 Ne3 21.
Qf3 Nxf1 22. Rxf1 g5 23. Qg4 h6 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7 25. Qh5 Bb5 26. Rf3 Rcc7 27.
Qxh6 Rh7 28. Qg6+ Kf8 29. f7 Rhxf7 30. Qh6+ Ke8 31. Qg6 1/2-1/2


Does my move f6 !?! actually draw?

[d]2r2rk1/1p1b1ppp/pq1pp3/5P1B/2n1P3/2N4P/PPP3P1/1R1Q1R1K w - - 0 20

[Mike S.]

I think 20.f6! is a very fine move. After some interactive analysis, strong engines seem to agree that Black should simply reply 20...g6 (then if 21.Qc1, 21...Qe3). But also, after 20...Ne3 they prefer 21.Qd2 with a 0.00 score over 21.Qf3.

[tomgdrums]

It allows me to draw the odd game!

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2011.02.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Robert Flesher"]
[Black "Rebel 12.00.01 - Rebel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 Qc7 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O Bd6 9. h3 Bf4 10. Bxf4 Qxf4 11. Nde2 Qc7 12. Kh1 O-O 13. f4 d6 14. Ng3 Qb6
15. Rb1 Bd7 16. f5 Ne5 17. Be2 Rac8 18. Nh5 Nxh5 19. Bxh5 Nc4 20. f6 Ne3 21.
Qf3 Nxf1 22. Rxf1 g5 23. Qg4 h6 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7 25. Qh5 Bb5 26. Rf3 Rcc7 27.
Qxh6 Rh7 28. Qg6+ Kf8 29. f7 Rhxf7 30. Qh6+ Ke8 31. Qg6 1/2-1/2


Does my move f6 !?! actually draw?

[d]2r2rk1/1p1b1ppp/pq1pp3/5P1B/2n1P3/2N4P/PPP3P1/1R1Q1R1K w - - 0 20

I don't have Rebel 12. Would you say it is worth getting or should I just download the free version of Pro-Deo? Is Rebel 12 fun to play against?

I also don't have Chesstiger but have been thinking that might a fun engine to purchase and play against as well.

[Robert Flesher]

It allows me to draw the odd game!

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2011.02.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Robert Flesher"]
[Black "Rebel 12.00.01 - Rebel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 Qc7 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O Bd6 9. h3 Bf4 10. Bxf4 Qxf4 11. Nde2 Qc7 12. Kh1 O-O 13. f4 d6 14. Ng3 Qb6
15. Rb1 Bd7 16. f5 Ne5 17. Be2 Rac8 18. Nh5 Nxh5 19. Bxh5 Nc4 20. f6 Ne3 21.
Qf3 Nxf1 22. Rxf1 g5 23. Qg4 h6 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7 25. Qh5 Bb5 26. Rf3 Rcc7 27.
Qxh6 Rh7 28. Qg6+ Kf8 29. f7 Rhxf7 30. Qh6+ Ke8 31. Qg6 1/2-1/2


Does my move f6 !?! actually draw?

[d]2r2rk1/1p1b1ppp/pq1pp3/5P1B/2n1P3/2N4P/PPP3P1/1R1Q1R1K w - - 0 20

I don't have Rebel 12. Would you say it is worth getting or should I just download the free version of Pro-Deo? Is Rebel 12 fun to play against?

I also don't have Chesstiger but have been thinking that might a fun engine to purchase and play against as well.

Hello Tom, I am a huge Rebel fan, so I may be somewhat biased. With that being said, I love the style of Rebel 12.0 , and I prefer it to Pro deo even if it may be a tad weaker. But, for human vs engine, it's one of my clear favourites.

[yanquis1972]

you'd have to play @ GM level strength either way (& congrats on yr draw). i'd tune an engine like pro deo, junior or hiarcs which all had similar phlosophies (imo) to your level. whether that means elo edjustments or personality adjustments is up to you. me personally, i'd play none of em never

but the last junior had some serioursly awesome parameter tweaks. i posted it here but i got it to be be stronger than fritz 5 (without trying) as an absolutely sacrificial monster. CS Tal 3 if we'll ever get one.

[tomgdrums]

you'd have to play @ GM level strength either way (& congrats on yr draw). i'd tune an engine like pro deo, junior or hiarcs which all had similar phlosophies (imo) to your level. whether that means elo edjustments or personality adjustments is up to you. me personally, i'd play none of em never

but the last junior had some serioursly awesome parameter tweaks. i posted it here but i got it to be be stronger than fritz 5 (without trying) as an absolutely sacrificial monster. CS Tal 3 if we'll ever get one.

I was reading on the lokasoft site that Rebel 12 does have a level adjustment.

I have thought about buying a copy of junior 10 as that seems like a fun engine to play against as well.

AND I LOVE CS Tal II.

[tomgdrums]

It allows me to draw the odd game!

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2011.02.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Robert Flesher"]
[Black "Rebel 12.00.01 - Rebel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 Qc7 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O Bd6 9. h3 Bf4 10. Bxf4 Qxf4 11. Nde2 Qc7 12. Kh1 O-O 13. f4 d6 14. Ng3 Qb6
15. Rb1 Bd7 16. f5 Ne5 17. Be2 Rac8 18. Nh5 Nxh5 19. Bxh5 Nc4 20. f6 Ne3 21.
Qf3 Nxf1 22. Rxf1 g5 23. Qg4 h6 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7 25. Qh5 Bb5 26. Rf3 Rcc7 27.
Qxh6 Rh7 28. Qg6+ Kf8 29. f7 Rhxf7 30. Qh6+ Ke8 31. Qg6 1/2-1/2


Does my move f6 !?! actually draw?

[d]2r2rk1/1p1b1ppp/pq1pp3/5P1B/2n1P3/2N4P/PPP3P1/1R1Q1R1K w - - 0 20

I don't have Rebel 12. Would you say it is worth getting or should I just download the free version of Pro-Deo? Is Rebel 12 fun to play against?

I also don't have Chesstiger but have been thinking that might a fun engine to purchase and play against as well.

Hello Tom, I am a huge Rebel fan, so I may be somewhat biased. With that being said, I love the style of Rebel 12.0 , and I prefer it to Pro deo even if it may be a tad weaker. But, for human vs engine, it's one of my clear favourites.

You have convinced me. Next paycheck..I am going to get Rebel 12!

[Eelco de Groot]

Rebel was one of the most complete DOS programs but if Tom is intending to buy it, it is still for sale I believe from Lex Loep's Lokasoft, as is Chess Tiger, however maybe my memory is wrong but I'm not sure Rebel 12 was compatible with the then just new Windows XP? So if that would be the case it would be a pity if, after getting it through the mail Rebel 12 does not run on a new system. It would probably run in something like DosBox like Ed Schröder also recommended for his older DOS versions, even in Windows 7 I think? I would just try out one of the free versions first, they do not have all the database extras like the Encyclopedia Of Chess, but I seem to remember Ed also made that freeware for programmers so maybe EOC can be found somewhere too. To avoid disappointments with incompatibility with new Windows versions, I would first try some of Ed's gifts; there are quite a few of the older Rebel versions available here: http://www.top-5000.nl/rebel.htm

There is a Rebel XP but the name is a bit misleading as I'm not sure that one was not also only compatible only in Dos modes. I think that one was fairly close to Rebel 12 itself, maybe even identical, without the databases etc.?

Best,
Eelco

[Robert Flesher]

Rebel was one of the most complete DOS programs but if Tom is intending to buy it, it is still for sale I believe from Lex Loep's Lokasoft, as is Chess Tiger, however maybe my memory is wrong but I'm not sure Rebel 12 was compatible with the then just new Windows XP? So if that would be the case it would be a pity if, after getting it through the mail Rebel 12 does not run on a new system. It would probably run in something like DosBox like Ed Schröder also recommended for his older DOS versions, even in Windows 7 I think? I would just try out one of the free versions first, they do not have all the database extras like the Encyclopedia Of Chess, but I seem to remember Ed also made that freeware for programmers so maybe EOC can be found somewhere too. To avoid disappointments with incompatibility with new Windows versions, I would first try some of Ed's gifts; there are quite a few of the older Rebel versions available here: http://www.top-5000.nl/rebel.htm

There is a Rebel XP but the name is a bit misleading as I'm not sure that one was not also only compatible only in Dos modes. I think that one was fairly close to Rebel 12 itself, maybe even identical, without the databases etc.?

Best,
Eelco

No Rebel 12 runs in windows just fine. It is not DOS based. I run it under Windows Vista 64 bit without any troubles, just set the .exe as administrator and it run flawless.

Also, Rebel 12 includes MANY different versions . For example, there is : Rebel 1,2,3,4, different GM personalalities, tactical engine Q3, and of course the weaker engine personalities. But, also very important is the Anti-Gm feature. Good luck trying to close the position when this is turned on, Rebel destroys anti-chess ideas.

So indeed, bang for the buck, you get alot!

[Albert Silver]

It allows me to draw the odd game!

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2011.02.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Robert Flesher"]
[Black "Rebel 12.00.01 - Rebel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 Qc7 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O Bd6 9. h3 Bf4 10. Bxf4 Qxf4 11. Nde2 Qc7 12. Kh1 O-O 13. f4 d6 14. Ng3 Qb6
15. Rb1 Bd7 16. f5 Ne5 17. Be2 Rac8 18. Nh5 Nxh5 19. Bxh5 Nc4 20. f6 Ne3 21.
Qf3 Nxf1 22. Rxf1 g5 23. Qg4 h6 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7 25. Qh5 Bb5 26. Rf3 Rcc7 27.
Qxh6 Rh7 28. Qg6+ Kf8 29. f7 Rhxf7 30. Qh6+ Ke8 31. Qg6 1/2-1/2


Does my move f6 !?! actually draw?

[d]2r2rk1/1p1b1ppp/pq1pp3/5P1B/2n1P3/2N4P/PPP3P1/1R1Q1R1K w - - 0 20

Actually, this brings an important point to the fore. I interviewed Nakamura and asked about using engines to spar with. He said there was no point as they were too strong nowadays. He obviously had in mind the top echelon engines, but if one lowers one's sights, there are plenty of perfectly valid sparring engines, though they will still inevitably play differently than humans. No whitewashing either though.