For my iPad I just bought a $4. App called (I think) Ohm chess .
Nice looking. But I started playing against the computer and the computer's responses were strange.
Not normal moves like Shredder or IChess Pro which I have on my iPad.
So what is this Faile chess engine?
Grit
Originally posted by gritFor a minute I thought you were asking about the Faile chess engine. Confusing.
For my iPad I just bought a $4. App called (I think) Ohm chess .
Nice looking. But I started playing against the computer and the computer's responses were strange.
Not normal moves like Shredder or IChess Pro which I have on my iPad.
So what is this Faile chess engine?
Grit
Yes it is the Faile chess engine.
I'd give gory details but the game is gone and I did not record it. But it moved almost before I could move and there were sudden moves going on with his knight. Came down quickly into my territory - took a piece and then disappeared back into it's own territory .
I'll try again tomorrow. But it was not like normal computer chess responses.
Grit
Originally posted by gritThere is probably a little 10 yo at the other end of the phone line. Better check your minutes left🙂
Yes it is the Faile chess engine.
I'd give gory details but the game is gone and I did not record it. But it moved almost before I could move and there were sudden moves going on with his knight. Came down quickly into my territory - took a piece and then disappeared back into it's own territory .
I'll try again tomorrow. But it was not like normal computer chess responses.
Grit
Originally posted by grithttp://faile.sourceforge.net/
For my iPad I just bought a $4. App called (I think) Ohm chess .
Nice looking. But I started playing against the computer and the computer's responses were strange.
Not normal moves like Shredder or IChess Pro which I have on my iPad.
So what is this Faile chess engine?
Grit
Here's a link to the engine's homepage. Apparently it's an older engine with open source code (something I repeat but know little about) that is useful for those trying to create their own engines.
If it's strong enough to challenge you without beating you all the time, I'd say it's useful.
And as for it's not playing like a human, I'd say that it doesn't play like us older humans who learned from other humans. Younger players are often learning from computer programs now, and their styles are a function of their exposure, so you sometimes see some funky but good moves.
New paradigm-"out of the box" takes on a whole new meaning!
Originally posted by gritOK, it took me a while to get up to speed on this stuff. (I don't have an iPad; I'm not familiar with the iPad apps, so I had to do some Googling. )
Yes it is the Faile chess engine.
I'd give gory details but the game is gone and I did not record it. But it moved almost before I could move and there were sudden moves going on with his knight. Came down quickly into my territory - took a piece and then disappeared back into it's own territory .
I'll try again tomorrow. But it was not like normal computer chess responses.
Grit
The app is Ohm Chess HD, by Ohm Interactive. It looks like Ohm Interactive consists of two developers in Sweden who claim to have "a history in game development", but Ohm Chess is their first release for the iPad.
The developers say that Ohm Chess is based on the Faile chess engine. Faile version 1.4 is a Winboard chess engine for the Windows operating system, rated around 2000 to 2100 (not real strong) . The Faile license basically lets anyone use it, modify it, sell it, etc. in an unrestricted manner. So all the developers would have to do is to take the free Faile engine and modify it (port it) for the iPad operating system.
I just installed the Windows version of Faile 1.4 in Arena, and it seems to be working just fine. No odd moves. (It can't analyze positions, though. ) So if you're getting odd moves on your iPad, then it's possible the developers let some bugs slip through during the porting process. In that case, don't blame the engine programmer, blame the app developers.
I saw a review on the web for another app that looks interesting, but it's $8. tChess Pro, by Tom Kerrigan. It uses the Stobor engine (around 2500 rating) and you can adjust its rating lower so you have a chance to win. I'm not sure how this compares to the Shredder app. You'll have to read the reviews.
Edit - A little more info on the Winboard Faile engine. Go to this link, then pick the Faile engine from the pick list on the left.
http://wbec-ridderkerk.nl/html/enginesindex.htm
OK. I just tried Ohm chess again and it is really not all that bad. There are 4 ai settings - novice, intermediate, expert, and grandmaster. Today I set it on intermediate level and it was fine. God only knows what setting I used yesterday. It moved like lightening and the moves were out of the ordinary to say the least.
Grit