Your Top Chess engines of the 2000's

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

I think I would add Ruffian on here. It caused quite a stir here when it was first released (and some thought it was a clone of Fritz ).

Agreed....I remember quite clear the era of Ruffian,it was and still an amazing engine....
Dr.D

[tomgdrums]

Hello Tom,

I am not at home and can't test Smarthink, means can't answer of your question to SmarThink.

About Ktulu:
Ktulu don't support any of the available endgame databases like Nalimov, egbbs.

I think in 60-70% of endgames will Ktulu give you a 90% "perfect" result for endgame studies. In other endgames Ktulu isn't better as the other available top engines without endgame databases.

Its the big topic for the programmer of Ktulu (Rahman Paidar). He like endgames and give this topic in his developement in the past clearly the most time.

The reason that Ktulu is under the TOP 15 engines in the World so far (1 CPU, 32bit). Means that Ktulu can be better in playing strength but tactic and king safty is the biggest problem for Ktulu.

A very interesting engine, completly other playing style as all other chess engines. If you like endgames, you will like Ktulu

Best
Frank

Thanks for the info Frank! I have been messing around with Ktulu 9 a bit and do like it for practicing endgames! I was looking at tweaking the settings and do you know what the setting "tactical factor" means in Ktulu 9? The default is 30 but I don't really know what that means. I am assuming a higher setting would make Ktulu look deeper for tactics?? Any thoughts?

[Rafael Vasquez]

I miss:

1.GAMBIT TIGER
2.REBEL
3.MCHESS