Engines with Fantastic Style List

[Eraserheads]

Here are some more engines. These I played for a good many years during the height of my computer chess frenzy.


Bright 0.4a in my opinion is the engine that is able to turn ordinary positions into unique, chaotic and messy situations at a relatively frequent rate. Think Morozevich or a prime Speelman.

I've heard some good things about Glass also.

Glaurung 1.2.1 was also known to have played aggressively.

Chess Tiger 14.0, when playing against 2200-2600 rated engines, exhibit the playing style of the young Karpov - positional, tactically surefooted and a knack to go into the endgame.

Shredder 5 (Millenium Chess edition), world champion in 2000 / 2001, exhibits a smart, active style with a knack for sacrificing a single pawn in almost every game for some positional advantage with human-like willingness. I believe this trait was completely misunderstood by early programs, and thus Shredder was able to overwhelm its opponents in its heyday.

Fritz 6 of course exhibits a very pure, early computer-like style which is still interesting to watch nowadays (if it plays vs humans). It is very trappy. It plays pure Spider tactics. Very tough to play against, it would wear you down by making you calculate the tactical consequences in every move.

Virtual Chess 2 plays like a steamroller especially in blitz against humans. Its moves are tactical but more simple, and difficult to outplay. Fritz 6 was tactically fancier and more trappy. Virtual Chess 2 was more direct, brutal and clear.

Junior 6.0 is another steamroller, but with a willingness to move its h-pawn or a-pawn forward in almost every game, and it plays so differently compared to Junior 7. Junior 6 was the more positionally-inclined Fritz 6. I could say its style goes like this: It like to put its opponents in a vice grip and then when it does, rarely do its opponents get away.

Rybka 3 - A level above all these engines I mentioned... think a boxer with a haymaker punch ready at all times. It plays aggressively for its strength, and most of the time it nets the win using a tacticall Hammer at the end. Very interesting to watch.

Now of course with the increase in playing strength of the field, I notice these engines tend to lose their 'playing style'. I think in order for them to exhibit their special character, you have to allow them to play vs similar era / similar strength opponents.

Hey guys,

Just trying to compile a list of the engines that play in the most beautiful, positional, aggressive, human-like etc styles.

You guys are the experts...let me know if I've missed any.

• Zappa Mexico Dissident Aggressor
  Komodo Kinghunter
  Deep Fritz 10
  Frenzee (Capablanca-like play in my opinion)
  Hiarcs 8 Bareev
  Deep Junior 7
  Prodeo (numerous great personalities)
  WChess 1.6
  Zarkov
  Wasp (a new fav)
  Toga 3.1.2 Checkov
  Nimzo
  Tao 5.6
  Thinker (a few versions I love)
  ZChess 2.00
  Rybka Winfinder 2.2
  King 3.23 Tribute
  Vitruvius 0.84b
  Ktulu 5.1
  Phalanx
  Critter 0.70
  Rhetoric (material at 50)
  Hiarcs 2007 Paderborn
  Shredder 7.04
  Gandalf 4.32
  Gambit Tiger 2.0
  Rodent II Henny/Remy
  DisasterArea Cognac
  Gambit Fruit Cognac
  Twisted Logic Cognac
  Nejmet
  Maverick 1.0 (nice aggression in several types of position)
  Little Goliath Evolution

Clearly I'm a guy who cares more for style than strength.

There are also a handful of personalities I am working on but still testing.

Have I missed any great current or historial engines in my list (which is in random order I should mention)?

[Eraserheads]

Here are some more engines. These I played for a good many years during the height of my computer chess frenzy.


Bright 0.4a in my opinion is the engine that is able to turn ordinary positions into unique, chaotic and messy situations at a relatively frequent rate. Think Morozevich or a prime Speelman.

I've heard some good things about Glass also.

Glaurung 1.2.1 was also known to have played aggressively.

Chess Tiger 14.0, when playing against 2200-2600 rated engines, exhibit the playing style of the young Karpov - positional, tactically surefooted and a knack to go into the endgame.

Shredder 5 (Millenium Chess edition), world champion in 2000 / 2001, exhibits a smart, active style with a knack for sacrificing a single pawn in almost every game for some positional advantage with human-like willingness. I believe this trait was completely misunderstood by early programs, and thus Shredder was able to overwhelm its opponents in its heyday.

Fritz 6 of course exhibits a very pure, early computer-like style which is still interesting to watch nowadays (if it plays vs humans). It is very trappy, especially in exchange sequences. That's why for a human to play Fritz , it gets real tiring quickly. It plays pure Spider tactics. Very tough to play against, it would wear you down by making you calculate the tactical consequences in every move.

Virtual Chess 2 plays like a steamroller especially in blitz against humans. Its moves are tactical but more simple, and difficult to outplay. Fritz 6 was tactically fancier and more trappy. Virtual Chess 2 was more direct, brutal and clear.

Junior 6.0 is another steamroller, but with a willingness to move its h-pawn or a-pawn forward in almost every game, and it plays so differently compared to Junior 7. Junior 6 was the more positionally-inclined Fritz 6. I could say its style goes like this: It like to put its opponents in a vice grip and then when it does, rarely do its opponents get away.

Rybka 3 - A level above all these engines I mentioned... think a boxer with a haymaker punch ready at all times. It plays aggressively for its strength, and most of the time it nets the win using a tacticall Hammer at the end. Very interesting to watch.

Now of course with the increase in playing strength of the field, I notice these engines tend to lose their 'playing style'. I think in order for them to exhibit their special character, you have to allow them to play vs similar era / similar strength opponents.

Hey guys,

Just trying to compile a list of the engines that play in the most beautiful, positional, aggressive, human-like etc styles.

You guys are the experts...let me know if I've missed any.

• Zappa Mexico Dissident Aggressor
  Komodo Kinghunter
  Deep Fritz 10
  Frenzee (Capablanca-like play in my opinion)
  Hiarcs 8 Bareev
  Deep Junior 7
  Prodeo (numerous great personalities)
  WChess 1.6
  Zarkov
  Wasp (a new fav)
  Toga 3.1.2 Checkov
  Nimzo
  Tao 5.6
  Thinker (a few versions I love)
  ZChess 2.00
  Rybka Winfinder 2.2
  King 3.23 Tribute
  Vitruvius 0.84b
  Ktulu 5.1
  Phalanx
  Critter 0.70
  Rhetoric (material at 50)
  Hiarcs 2007 Paderborn
  Shredder 7.04
  Gandalf 4.32
  Gambit Tiger 2.0
  Rodent II Henny/Remy
  DisasterArea Cognac
  Gambit Fruit Cognac
  Twisted Logic Cognac
  Nejmet
  Maverick 1.0 (nice aggression in several types of position)
  Little Goliath Evolution

Clearly I'm a guy who cares more for style than strength.

There are also a handful of personalities I am working on but still testing.

Have I missed any great current or historial engines in my list (which is in random order I should mention)?

[Eraserheads]

Here are some more engines. These I played for a good many years during the height of my computer chess frenzy.


Bright 0.4a in my opinion is the engine that is able to turn ordinary positions into unique, chaotic and messy situations at a relatively frequent rate. Think Morozevich or a prime Speelman.

I've heard some good things about Glass also.

Glaurung 1.2.1 was also known to have played aggressively.

Chess Tiger 14.0, when playing against 2200-2600 rated engines, exhibit the playing style of the young Karpov - positional, tactically surefooted and a knack to go into the endgame.

Shredder 5 (Millenium Chess edition), world champion in 2000 / 2001, exhibits a smart, active style with a knack for sacrificing a single pawn in almost every game for some positional advantage with human-like willingness. I believe this trait was completely misunderstood by early programs, and thus Shredder was able to overwhelm its opponents in its heyday.

Fritz 6 of course exhibits a very pure, early computer-like style which is still interesting to watch nowadays (if it plays vs humans). It is very trappy, especially in exchange sequences. That's why for a human to play Fritz , it gets real tiring quickly. It plays pure Spider tactics. Very tough to play against, it would wear you down by making you calculate the tactical consequences in every move.

Virtual Chess 2 plays like a steamroller especially in blitz against humans. Its moves are tactical but more simple, and difficult to outplay. Fritz 6 was tactically fancier and more trappy. Virtual Chess 2 was more direct, brutal and clear.

Junior 6.0 is another steamroller, but with a willingness to move its h-pawn or a-pawn forward in almost every game, and it plays so differently compared to Junior 7. Junior 6 was the more positionally-inclined Fritz 6. I could say its style goes like this: It like to put its opponents in a vice grip and then when it does, rarely do its opponents get away.

Rybka 3 - A level above all these engines I mentioned... think a boxer with a haymaker punch ready at all times. It plays aggressively for its strength, and most of the time it nets the win using a tacticall Hammer at the end. Very interesting to watch.

Now of course with the increase in playing strength of the field, I notice these engines tend to lose their 'playing style'. I think in order for them to exhibit their special character, you have to allow them to play vs similar era / similar strength opponents.

Hey guys,

Just trying to compile a list of the engines that play in the most beautiful, positional, aggressive, human-like etc styles.

You guys are the experts...let me know if I've missed any.

• Zappa Mexico Dissident Aggressor
  Komodo Kinghunter
  Deep Fritz 10
  Frenzee (Capablanca-like play in my opinion)
  Hiarcs 8 Bareev
  Deep Junior 7
  Prodeo (numerous great personalities)
  WChess 1.6
  Zarkov
  Wasp (a new fav)
  Toga 3.1.2 Checkov
  Nimzo
  Tao 5.6
  Thinker (a few versions I love)
  ZChess 2.00
  Rybka Winfinder 2.2
  King 3.23 Tribute
  Vitruvius 0.84b
  Ktulu 5.1
  Phalanx
  Critter 0.70
  Rhetoric (material at 50)
  Hiarcs 2007 Paderborn
  Shredder 7.04
  Gandalf 4.32
  Gambit Tiger 2.0
  Rodent II Henny/Remy
  DisasterArea Cognac
  Gambit Fruit Cognac
  Twisted Logic Cognac
  Nejmet
  Maverick 1.0 (nice aggression in several types of position)
  Little Goliath Evolution

Clearly I'm a guy who cares more for style than strength.

There are also a handful of personalities I am working on but still testing.

Have I missed any great current or historial engines in my list (which is in random order I should mention)?

[carldaman]

Here are some more engines. These I played for a good many years during the height of my computer chess frenzy.


Bright 0.4a in my opinion is the engine that is able to turn ordinary positions into unique, chaotic and messy situations at a relatively frequent rate. Think Morozevich or a prime Speelman.

I've heard some good things about Glass also.

Glaurung 1.2.1 was also known to have played aggressively.

Chess Tiger 14.0, when playing against 2200-2600 rated engines, exhibit the playing style of the young Karpov - positional, tactically surefooted and a knack to go into the endgame.

Shredder 5 (Millenium Chess edition), world champion in 2000 / 2001, exhibits a smart, active style with a knack for sacrificing a single pawn in almost every game for some positional advantage with human-like willingness. I believe this trait was completely misunderstood by early programs, and thus Shredder was able to overwhelm its opponents in its heyday.

Fritz 6 of course exhibits a very pure, early computer-like style which is still interesting to watch nowadays (if it plays vs humans). pure Spider tactics. Very tough to play against, it would wear you down by making you calculate the tactical consequences in every move.

Virtual Chess 2 plays like a steamroller especially in blitz against humans. Its moves are tactical but more simple, and difficult to outplay. Fritz 6 was tactically fancier. Virtual Chess 2 was more direct, brutal and clear.

Junior 6.0 is another steamroller, but with a willingness to move its h-pawn or a-pawn forward in almost every game, and it plays so differently compared to Junior 7. Junior 6 was the more positionally-inclined Fritz 6. I could say its style goes like this: It like to put its opponents in a vice grip and then when it does, rarely do its opponents get away.

Rybka 3 - A level above all these engines I mentioned... think a boxer with a haymaker punch ready at all times. It plays aggressively for its strength, and most of the time it nets the win using a tacticall Hammer at the end. Very interesting to watch.

Now of course with the increase in playing strength of the field, I notice these engines tend to lose their 'playing style'. I think in order for them to exhibit their special character, you have to allow them to play vs similar era / similar strength opponents.

Good additions and great point at the end. I would only add that they really shine against weaker opposition, too. Similar to Brendan, I like using weaker "cannon fodder" opponents facing off against interesting engines. You can get a lot of brilliancies that way.

CL

[jmartus]

I would include Phalanx XXV in that list. I find it as aggressive as any engine especially vs weaker engines.

[carldaman]

I would include Phalanx XXV in that list. I find it as aggressive as any engine especially vs weaker engines.

Agreed, and Brendan had already included 'Phalanx' in his original list.

[BrendanJNorman]

Here are some more engines. These I played for a good many years during the height of my computer chess frenzy.


Bright 0.4a in my opinion is the engine that is able to turn ordinary positions into unique, chaotic and messy situations at a relatively frequent rate. Think Morozevich or a prime Speelman.

I've heard some good things about Glass also.

Glaurung 1.2.1 was also known to have played aggressively.

Chess Tiger 14.0, when playing against 2200-2600 rated engines, exhibit the playing style of the young Karpov - positional, tactically surefooted and a knack to go into the endgame.

Shredder 5 (Millenium Chess edition), world champion in 2000 / 2001, exhibits a smart, active style with a knack for sacrificing a single pawn in almost every game for some positional advantage with human-like willingness. I believe this trait was completely misunderstood by early programs, and thus Shredder was able to overwhelm its opponents in its heyday.

Fritz 6 of course exhibits a very pure, early computer-like style which is still interesting to watch nowadays (if it plays vs humans). pure Spider tactics. Very tough to play against, it would wear you down by making you calculate the tactical consequences in every move.

Virtual Chess 2 plays like a steamroller especially in blitz against humans. Its moves are tactical but more simple, and difficult to outplay. Fritz 6 was tactically fancier. Virtual Chess 2 was more direct, brutal and clear.

Junior 6.0 is another steamroller, but with a willingness to move its h-pawn or a-pawn forward in almost every game, and it plays so differently compared to Junior 7. Junior 6 was the more positionally-inclined Fritz 6. I could say its style goes like this: It like to put its opponents in a vice grip and then when it does, rarely do its opponents get away.

Rybka 3 - A level above all these engines I mentioned... think a boxer with a haymaker punch ready at all times. It plays aggressively for its strength, and most of the time it nets the win using a tacticall Hammer at the end. Very interesting to watch.

Now of course with the increase in playing strength of the field, I notice these engines tend to lose their 'playing style'. I think in order for them to exhibit their special character, you have to allow them to play vs similar era / similar strength opponents.

Good additions and great point at the end. I would only add that they really shine against weaker opposition, too. Similar to Brendan, I like using weaker "cannon fodder" opponents facing off against interesting engines. You can get a lot of brilliancies that way.

CL

Been reading my blog, mate?

Exactly, an engine with an amazing style like Junior 7 or Hiarcs 8 Bareev (two opposing sides of the style spectrum) just looks ridiculous against almost any modern engine.

Put em against WChess 1.6, ZChess 2.0, Phalanx, AnMon and you'll see the real beauty in their play.

By the way fellas... Due to the mentions of Amyan in this thread, I did a test and YES indeed, it plays like Karpov!

Very nice engine as well.

[carldaman]

Here are some more engines. These I played for a good many years during the height of my computer chess frenzy.


Bright 0.4a in my opinion is the engine that is able to turn ordinary positions into unique, chaotic and messy situations at a relatively frequent rate. Think Morozevich or a prime Speelman.

I've heard some good things about Glass also.

Glaurung 1.2.1 was also known to have played aggressively.

Chess Tiger 14.0, when playing against 2200-2600 rated engines, exhibit the playing style of the young Karpov - positional, tactically surefooted and a knack to go into the endgame.

Shredder 5 (Millenium Chess edition), world champion in 2000 / 2001, exhibits a smart, active style with a knack for sacrificing a single pawn in almost every game for some positional advantage with human-like willingness. I believe this trait was completely misunderstood by early programs, and thus Shredder was able to overwhelm its opponents in its heyday.

Fritz 6 of course exhibits a very pure, early computer-like style which is still interesting to watch nowadays (if it plays vs humans). pure Spider tactics. Very tough to play against, it would wear you down by making you calculate the tactical consequences in every move.

Virtual Chess 2 plays like a steamroller especially in blitz against humans. Its moves are tactical but more simple, and difficult to outplay. Fritz 6 was tactically fancier. Virtual Chess 2 was more direct, brutal and clear.

Junior 6.0 is another steamroller, but with a willingness to move its h-pawn or a-pawn forward in almost every game, and it plays so differently compared to Junior 7. Junior 6 was the more positionally-inclined Fritz 6. I could say its style goes like this: It like to put its opponents in a vice grip and then when it does, rarely do its opponents get away.

Rybka 3 - A level above all these engines I mentioned... think a boxer with a haymaker punch ready at all times. It plays aggressively for its strength, and most of the time it nets the win using a tacticall Hammer at the end. Very interesting to watch.

Now of course with the increase in playing strength of the field, I notice these engines tend to lose their 'playing style'. I think in order for them to exhibit their special character, you have to allow them to play vs similar era / similar strength opponents.

Good additions and great point at the end. I would only add that they really shine against weaker opposition, too. Similar to Brendan, I like using weaker "cannon fodder" opponents facing off against interesting engines. You can get a lot of brilliancies that way.

CL

Been reading my blog, mate?

Exactly, an engine with an amazing style like Junior 7 or Hiarcs 8 Bareev (two opposing sides of the style spectrum) just looks ridiculous against almost any modern engine.

Put em against WChess 1.6, ZChess 2.0, Phalanx, AnMon and you'll see the real beauty in their play.

By the way fellas... Due to the mentions of Amyan in this thread, I did a test and YES indeed, it plays like Karpov!

Very nice engine as well.

Yes, excellent blog, Brendan. Keep up the good work!
It is great to see others with a preference of style over strength.

[rcmaddox]

What is "Komodo Kinghunter?"

[BrendanJNorman]

What is "Komodo Kinghunter?"

Komodo 1.0 (and old engine) had the ability for users to tweak settings and make personalities.

Someone made a "kinghunter" personality that plays very nice (but still strong as hell) attacking chess.