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Internet Chess: Essential Software

Not all chess playing sites are designed to work using your browser. In fact, the The Internet Chess Club "ICC", The Free Internet Chess Server "FICS" and a host of chess servers all over the world rely on an older internet technology called "telnet" which predates the graphic intensive World Wide Web we all know today.

Graphic interfaces are pieces of software that transform text-only telnet into an interactive chess-playing environment, with drag-and-drop chess boards and lots of other great features. Just as the name suggests, they allow you to interface with the chess server by means of a graphic image. Or, in plain English, they put a chess board on your screen and let you play by moving the pieces with your mouse.

These programs are easy to download, install and use. As an added bonus, most of them are available for free.

Sure, you can play chess online without downloading any software. There are plenty of sites out there that use java-enabled boards that pop right up on your browser. But the truth is, the quality of chess on those sites isn't as good as what you'll find at ICC or FICS. So, if you're ready to explore a whole new world of wired chess, give these programs a try:

• Blitzin
  This is the interface to use for the Internet Chess Club. Unfortunately, you can only use it for the ICC, as it is their proprietary software and it doesn't work with other chess servers.

• Winbard (aka "Xboard")
  A must have. This nifty program connects you to chess servers, reads PGN files, and serves as a front end for some chess-playing software. Free. Conveniently, Winboard has a long list of chess servers built right in; all you have to do is select one from the drop down list when you launch the program.

• ChessVision
  A new entry, this one has a lot of bells and whistles. However, the complicated board layout can take some getting used to. Luckily, a demo download is available.

• ChessBD (aka "SLICS")
  Designed to let you view games saved in PGN format, and to connect you to the chess servers. Shareware.

• Chess Client
  More sophisticated than some of the other freeware interfaces.

• ZIICS for DOS
  The great thing about telnet is that it's kind to out-of-date computers. Even if you still use a window-less 386 there is an interface for you, and this is it.

Want to Read More?

And take a look at our previous articles about chess on the web and The Internet Chess Club.