Levent Pekcan
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re:pocket fritz 2.0 - 2006/09/18 13:07
My previous post from Jan2003.
Note I stand by the estimate of 2200-2300 below. I have not nor do I know of any tournament matches to rate it.
If anyone is interested I thought I would share my experience with portable computer chess. Forgive the rambling but here is a stream of consciousness.
I've played computer chess sporadically over the years. It's more convenient and I have more free time away from a desktop. I've never found a laptop really effective and since I rarely travel I never bothered with one. I used to use a Saitek Cavalier since 1989. It still works which is surprising but it plays poorly- I'd say 1500 to 1600 at 40 moves /80 minutes. I splurged after doing some research and went for a PDA which is really devoted to nothing but chess. I've found that pen and paper and cell phone really takes care of all the PDA PIM functions. I tried an HP LX100 a dozen years ago as a PIM and gave up on PDA's then. For chess I decided on a PocketPC instead of a Palm. The hardware is more capable, cheaper and the Chess software more varied. I bought an HP Ipaq 1910 at Office Depot for $250 with coupon. It's a stripped down Ipaq, no wifi. Display is great, absolutely gorgeous, smaller than a pack of cigarettes ( half the size), connection to PC is very easy and all games played on the PocketPC can be downloaded to desktop. The software is surprisingly diverse. Pocket
Fritz2 is really slick and plays well-$50. Pocket Grandmaster 2, $20, is truly excellent. The interface is as slick as Fritz but you can use alternative engines 3 in all, Gromit, Ruffian and SOS. They are remarkably different. Pocket Crafty, free, is equally strong but the user interface poor. I can play chess using any of the 3. I also bought an 128 meg SD card, $30 with coupon at Costco, and downloaded enormous game databases.
The Pocket Grandmaster2 database interface is clearly better than Fritz. As to playing strength, I play only at 40/80, I would almost equally match the
Gromit engine with Fritz (really Shredder I believe) but all of them are surprisingly strong. Next in strength Crafty then Ruffian and then SOS;
these ratings are anecdotal. If I had to buy only one Chess program it would be Pocket Grandmaster2-note its bought on-line via download. None in strength match a desktop. If I had to rate them like SSDF, again anecdotally, on a relative basis compared to games I've played 40/80 on the desktop using Crafty, CM etc I'd say 200-300 points lower so say 2200-2300.
I'd be curious to hear from anyone on their perceived or scientific ratings of these pocket chess programs. Overall delighted with the PocketPC approach to chess. Only drawback is the battery lasts about 5 hours and that's with not toning down the chess program at all, e.g. pondering on.
Note that model 1910 has replaceable batteries. Again, I have no financial or other interest in any of the above vendors, I just wanted to share with
any future purchase..
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An unjust punishment is never forgotten.
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or dont have access to my pc or laptop. I am a
. 