In your opinion which is the Best Chess GUI ?

[Chessqueen]

I forgot to mention that I meant Free GUI, NOT commercial which is the best ?

I'm not aware of any 'free' programs that are focus on playing, though I'm working on one,I do only programming in the authum so it take time.
The few I have tested, there always something that didn't fit. Either it is impossible to get rid of the eval. Not recording time. Not possible to use Fide time control, not support of DGT board. The playing feature seems to be a left hand job where the main focuse are either on engine matches or some database features. In addition a playing program should make it fun to play, giving rating stat, have personalities etc. The Chess Dojo app. on Android is on the right track but I think I paid a few $ to open up the features that made it fun.

I was not referring to free programs. but Free GUI like Arena 3.5.1 ChessGUI etc.......... I've been using Arena for some years now and feel pretty comfortable in it however, right now I'm trying to study some knight/bishop mates and would like to highlight all attacked squares, I feel it would help me a lot, but arena seems to lack that option.

[pepechuy]

Hi.

I would like to know the answer.
My needs: I play against engines, and I analyze my games.
I have been using BanksiaGUI, and I feel it is catered towards needs very different from mine. It seems it is for engine-engine play.
I have just installed Winboard. I did use Xboard many years ago (like 25), I have some vague memories.
I will also try Arena.
I am somewhat reluctant to install even more GUIs.

Greetings.

[Chessqueen]

Hi.

I would like to know the answer.
My needs: I play against engines, and I analyze my games.
I have been using BanksiaGUI, and I feel it is catered towards needs very different from mine. It seems it is for engine-engine play.
I have just installed Winboard. I did use Xboard many years ago (like 25), I have some vague memories.
I will also try Arena.
I am somewhat reluctant to install even more GUIs.

Greetings.

Go with what Graham Banks recommended he is one of the CCRL testers for years on this forum ChessGUI, I just installed it and it works GREAT

[Odd Gunnar Malin]

Hi.

I would like to know the answer.
My needs: I play against engines, and I analyze my games.
I have been using BanksiaGUI, and I feel it is catered towards needs very different from mine. It seems it is for engine-engine play.
I have just installed Winboard. I did use Xboard many years ago (like 25), I have some vague memories.
I will also try Arena.
I am somewhat reluctant to install even more GUIs.

Greetings.

I would suggest that you try out LucasChess, it have some shortcommings compared to commerciasls but also some pluses. It looks like it have focus on playing against human. Anotther program you can try if it doesn't fit your need is Tarrach. The other program mention here was maybe started good but are now raped by the engintesters.
I guess you can do some analyses in both, but what I do more and more for my own games is to put them in a study on Lichess and do the commeting there, even though I own CB 16. I use very little computer when analysing, only to do a final check.

[alex67a]

There is no real favorite because each gui has something that the others lack
I use LucasChess and especially Arena
With LucasChess you can study chess in depth, with many useful functions
Arena...
Well, it's a bit old program but for me it remains unsurpassed for ease and immediacy of use, even with engines
I've always wondered why in the other GUIs I can't interrupt a tournament with a simple button that tells the program to stop everything as soon as the current game is over (Banksia interrupts the tournament but also the current game)
It is a very concrete function, and it is only an example
It is the most immediate GUI to use and very practical and concrete, other GUIs in themselves have more but are unnecessarily complex to use

[Chessqueen]

There is no real favorite because each gui has something that the others lack
I use LucasChess and especially Arena
With LucasChess you can study chess in depth, with many useful functions
Arena...
Well, it's a bit old program but for me it remains unsurpassed for ease and immediacy of use, even with engines
I've always wondered why in the other GUIs I can't interrupt a tournament with a simple button that tells the program to stop everything as soon as the current game is over (Banksia interrupts the tournament but also the current game)
It is a very concrete function, and it is only an example
It is the most immediate GUI to use and very practical and concrete, other GUIs in themselves have more but are unnecessarily complex to use

That is the same conclusion that I have come out with after I have used more than 6 different GUI, that Arena 3.5.1 it is the easier to use and most convenient, but you did made a point I have also used Lucas intensely for to study chess which comes with many many useful functions. But Unless he is willing to install both of these GUI so he can make his own conclusion he will never find out.

NOTE: Having many GUI does not hurt anybody computer as long as you have plenty space left on your hardrive

[Chessqueen]

There is no real favorite because each gui has something that the others lack
I use LucasChess and especially Arena
With LucasChess you can study chess in depth, with many useful functions
Arena...
Well, it's a bit old program but for me it remains unsurpassed for ease and immediacy of use, even with engines
I've always wondered why in the other GUIs I can't interrupt a tournament with a simple button that tells the program to stop everything as soon as the current game is over (Banksia interrupts the tournament but also the current game)
It is a very concrete function, and it is only an example
It is the most immediate GUI to use and very practical and concrete, other GUIs in themselves have more but are unnecessarily complex to use

That is the same conclusion that I have come out with after I have used more than 6 different GUI, that Arena 3.5.1 it is the easier to use and most convenient, but you did made a point I have also used Lucas intensely for to study chess which comes with many many useful functions. But Unless he José García is willing to install both of these GUI so José García can make his own conclusion he will never find out.
Here is Lucas Chess ===> https://lucaschess.pythonanywhere.com/downloads

NOTE: Having many GUI does not hurt anybody computer as long as you José García have plenty space left on your hardrive