Download Arasan Chess (Windows 3.x)

chesslover 2017-03-12 0 point

You don't need a DGT Pi, Acid Ape Chess also supports the DGT e-board (via Bluetooth).

BenRedic 2016-12-31 1 point

Developer: Jon Dart.

BenRedic 2016-12-31 2 points

Ah, Arasan! Not really abandonware, this is open source freeware, and still in active development. See http://www.arasanchess.org/

The first versions used its own simple GUI under Windows 3.

Version 4 (1995) moved to 32 bit Windows, and also separated the chess engine from the GUI by implementing it as a Winboard engine that can be used with another GUI like WinBoard.

The current Arasan (version 19.2 released november 2016) is a 64-bit UCI beast with multi-CPU support and a rating north of 3000 on the CCRL 40/40 rating list. You can use any GUI you like, including Chessbase, Aquarium or Arena, but it also still has it's own simple GUI, which although somewhat improved over the GUI from the 16-bit version 1.0 looks pretty dated.

Other ways to play against Arasan:

- The Android app Acid Ape Chess comes bundled with a couple of engines, including Arasan, and allows you to select different levels of strength from it.

- If you have money to burn you can also treat yourself to a DGT e-board coupled with a DGT Pi chess clock/computer, which comes with a selection of engines including Arasan, as well as Stockfish. Mind you, a full set like this is likely to set you back around 1000€, and it's almost a year until christmas.