mclure%sri-prism@sri-unix.UUCP (10/04/84)
Comprehensive Chess Openings by Estrin is a good treatise on common
chess openings. It is in three volumes.
As to what the best chess computers are, here's the info:
1. Prestige by Fidelity still available? $1000-$1500
The "Rolls Royce" of home chess computers. This is
the machine that is playing at 8-ply against members
of the Arpanet community. It is beautifully engineered,
wood-carved, a real conversation piece. Might be out
of production. Not sure.
2. Elite by Fidelity, $400-$500?
A weaker version of Prestige. The chip doesn't run as
fast, with weakening effects. Still, it is no more than
100 ELO points worse than Prestige, if even that.
Both of these machines are Class A players, that is, at least 1800 on
the ELO rating scale. I think they have proved themselves sufficiently
in tournaments and against humans to earn the 1800+ ratings. Prestige
scored a 1875 rating in a 12-round Swiss at a major chess tournament a
couple years ago. They are *very* good sparring partners for any
non-master chess player. Some time ago, the Elite played about 20
speed games against a couple of strong Experts (now both Masters) here
in the Bay Area. The result? Elite had a PLUS score against the Experts.
Speed chess is the legacy of chess computers, even micros.
Next on the list come the Novag machines
3. Constellation 3.6mhz by Novag, $240
A stronger version of #4. I do not think it is everything
it was cracked up to be. Its speed chess is as strong as
the Prestige (both slightly less strong in speed than
Elite), but its normal time-limit (40/2) is not nearly
as strong as Prestige. The latter crushes it fairly often.
A good buy for the money.
4. Constellation by Novag, $200
Earlier version of #3. Set new price/performance for the
rest of the industry. Still, neither #3 or #4 is as good
as #1 or #2.
5. I wouldn't bother with any other micros.
Stuart