Editing Computer chess (section)

== Types and features of chess software ==
Perhaps the most common type of chess software are programs that simply play chess.  A human player makes a move on the board, the AI calculates and plays a subsequent move, and the human and AI alternate turns until the game ends.  The [[chess engine]], which calculates the moves, and the [[graphical user interface]] (GUI) are sometimes separate programs.  Different engines can be connected to the GUI, permitting play against different styles of opponent.  Engines often have  a simple text [[command-line interface]], while GUIs may offer a variety of piece sets, board styles, or even 3D or animated pieces.  Because recent engines are so capable, engines or GUIs may offer some way of handicapping the engine's ability, to improve the odds for a win by the human player. [[Universal Chess Interface]] (UCI) engines such as [[Fritz (chess)|Fritz]] or [[Rybka]] may have a built-in mechanism for reducing the [[Elo rating]] of the engine (via UCI's uci_limitstrength and uci_elo parameters).  Some versions of [[Fritz (chess)|Fritz]] have a Handicap and Fun mode for limiting the current engine or changing the percentage of mistakes it makes or changing its style. [[Fritz (chess)|Fritz]] also has a Friend Mode where during the game it tries to match the level of the player.

[[File:Chess screenshot.png|thumb|Screenshot of [[List of macOS components#Chess|Chess]], a component of [[macOS]]]]

Chess databases allow users to search through a large library of historical games, analyze them, check statistics, and formulate an opening repertoire. [[Chessbase]] (for PC) is a common program for these purposes amongst professional players, but there are alternatives such as [[Shane's Chess Information Database]] (Scid) <ref>[http://scid.sourceforge.net/ http://scid.sourceforge.net] SCID.</ref> for Windows, Mac or Linux, [[Chess Assistant]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.convekta.com/about.asp |title= Chess Assistant Chess Website:: About Us|website=www.convekta.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820180940/http://www.convekta.com/about.asp |archive-date=August 20, 2008}}</ref> for PC,<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19981205093026/http://www.exachess.com/ http://www.exachess.com]}} ExaChess for Mac</ref> Gerhard Kalab's Chess PGN Master for Android<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kalab.com/pgnviewer/|title=Chess PGN Master}}</ref> or Giordano Vicoli's Chess-Studio for iOS.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/chessstudioapp/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>

Programs such as [[Playchess]] allow players to play against one another over the internet.

Chess training programs teach chess. [[Chessmaster]] had playthrough tutorials by IM [[Josh Waitzkin]] and GM [[Larry Christiansen]]. [[Stefan Meyer-Kahlen]] offers [[Shredder (chess)|Shredder]] Chess Tutor based on the Step coursebooks of Rob Brunia and Cor Van Wijgerden. Former [[World Chess Championship|World Champion]] [[Magnus Carlsen]]'s [[Play Magnus Group|Play Magnus company]] released a [[Play Magnus (mobile app)|Magnus Trainer app]] for Android and iOS. [[Chessbase]] has [[Fritz and Chesster]] for children.  Convekta provides a large number of training apps such as CT-ART and its Chess King line based on tutorials by GM Alexander Kalinin and Maxim Blokh.

There is also [[software for handling chess problems]].