BabasChess - best interface for the Free Internet Chess Server. Can handle PGNs, engines for analysis (UCI and Winboard), and is nearly infinitely customizable. I maintain a website devoted to this interface:

1. Fritz 16 Chess Playing Software

Fritz 16 Chess Playing Software Program (Download) Fritz 16 Chess Playing Software Program; Fritz 16 brings back the fun in chess! A host of features, including 'Assisted Analysis,' which gives you discreet visual hints as you move. Best 5 free Chess Software. KiloNewton Mar 20, 2013 #1. It is my non-Fritz choice for use on my laptop when I'm away from the big desktop computer.

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Lucas Chess - Amazing piece of software that is severly under-rated. Lots of really great training modes, very customizable (can add new positions for study, store your opening repertoire and let you practice it, etc.)

Chess Hero - Also under-rated. Let's you pick positions from PGNs in a myriad of ways (randomly, sequentially, etc.) for practicing. Can be just quiet positions picked randomly from big files of games or specific positions selected for whatever reason (tactics, etc.). Performance graded based on configurable criteria (game move is best, computer engine grading, etc.).

Scid vs. PC - Database software that does everything one could possibly need in a database program. This is a more recently upated fork of the SCID project.

Chess Position Trainer - Trial version is free, but you can pay for more features. Full features work for a month before deactivating to the free version. The features of the free version are functional for nearly everyone. Allows you to enter your own repertoire of opening moves quickly and easily and then train yourself to memorize what you have entered/learned using various flashcard/spaced repetition methods.

I really feel any budding chess player should have all five of these free programs. I also feel commercial software is unnecessary due to the quality of these programs.

From ChessBase GmbH: What does the modern chess player need? A sparring partner, a trainer, an up-to-date database and access to an online chess server. Fritz, probably the world's most popular chess program (think back to Fritz's unforgettable victories against Kasparov, Kramnik & Co) offers just that for beginners and tournament players alike: it plays at the highest level, offers training features for every stage of the game and comes with access to playchess.com. It also includes management and analysis options for your own games, as well as a database with 2 million games.

The completely reworked 'friend' mode makes Fritz 15 the ideal training partner. During the course of a game, Fritz is able to constantly tailor its level to your playing strength and how much time you are using. The program can give you a sign when a tactical opportunity presents itself or point out typical mistakes to help you improve. Another exciting element is the new evaluation function that analyzes your playing strength throughout the game. Where are your strengths - where are your weaknesses? The opening? Middlegame? Or perhaps the endgame? Fritz 15 gives you an ELO rating for all three phases. You definitely need to see this.

What do you need to know about free software?

From ChessBase GmbH: What does the modern chess player need? A sparring partner, a trainer, an up-to-date database and access to an online chess server. Fritz, probably the world's most popular chess program (think back to Fritz's unforgettable victories against Kasparov, Kramnik & Co) offers just that for beginners and tournament players alike: it plays at the highest level, offers training features for every stage of the game and comes with access to playchess.com. It also includes management and analysis options for your own games, as well as a database with 2 million games.

Fritz 16 Chess Playing Software

The completely reworked 'friend' mode makes Fritz 15 the ideal training partner. During the course of a game, Fritz is able to constantly tailor its level to your playing strength and how much time you are using. The program can give you a sign when a tactical opportunity presents itself or point out typical mistakes to help you improve. Another exciting element is the new evaluation function that analyzes your playing strength throughout the game. Where are your strengths - where are your weaknesses? The opening? Middlegame? Or perhaps the endgame? Fritz 15 gives you an ELO rating for all three phases. You definitely need to see this.