It's realy intelligent! I hav not been able 2 defeat it yet. However i wud b grateful if i cud read the source code as i m building a similar project 4 academic interest

#31, I don't know where you find opponents. Even most rank amateurs I know are aware of en passant. Regardless, no excuse for a software program to not have it. However, one of the ones Google allows you to add to the home page castles out of check. Does this do that? That is also illegal.

When I installed, McAfee said it was infected with a new virus which couldn't be cleaned. I had to delete it.

#11, you say "hundreds of free chess games" Where can they be found? Most I have seen are shareware with something like an hour playing time allowed.

The interface is a bit ugly. Before I try, I had a look at the screen shot and then downloaded it. I was very disappointed, I thought it has a 3D look but I was wrong. So if you are looking for a good looking game, this one is not the one will make you happy! But thanks anyway, GOTD!

Been seeking a chess game. This is a great game; good AI. The extra features look grat as well.

woohooo love playing chess and happy to see something great that makes you think long and hard .. Think McAfee antivirus should be free as it is nothing but a headache if you ask me i seen it screened this as a possible virus but when new trojans do come out it seems they are the slowest in updating their program pc-cillin all the way:) thanks again GGOTD!!!!

Following Gameseekers suggestion I went over to the download site and found a couple of freeware Chess Games. There's even one called Hot Babe Chess, but I didn't bother to paste a link for it here because it was given a very poor review. Just novelty value really.

Both of the following look good though:

Simple Chess plays a full chess game with a full set of rules, back and forward buttons, and variable level setting. Pawn promotion to any piece, and en passant are catered for.

http://www.download.com/Simple-Chess/3000-7562_4-10533695.html?tag=lst-0-1

and the one Gameseeker recommended can be downloaded from the following link:

http://www.download.com/Pawn/3000-7562_4-10495650.html?tag=lst-0-1

Pawn is a freeware chess program with an easy-to-use interface especially for beginners and intermediate players. Playing strength reaches up to club level but can be adjusted in several options. A special beginner's mode lets the program make mistakes. The game has high-resolution graphics and voice output.

I'll check both of these out. Your choice is looking good so far man. Thanks again

Thanks Game Seeker, comment #50, I'll try the freeware you mentioned. From your description it sounds ideal for my son. :)

Guys giveaways are not always the newest versions...So maybe its a rundown beta?

This file is clean... Can't say that what the game is like becuase i don't play chess and don't really care to learn my my AVG Prof. said it was clean.

It is ok. It seems to think for itself. though I do agree that the price tag is somewhat high, I happen to like the graphics. Simple and to the point. Thank you.

What's a Scrteenshot? lol

Porcupine: are you a scanner collector? hehe

This program has no virii in it...
(or trojun hoarses)
Yippee.

Very special chess game : - no "en passant " rule
- no "undo"
- no "replay"
- no "standard notation"
- no "library" to learn chess openings ...
And, worse, the IA play very badly !
Not only it forces you to continue playing with a twisted position
( analyse with "en passant" is natural, so this way of playing gives
random situations ), but also it does not recognize "pat" or a three
times iterated position to make null ...
Its only interest are its strange openings.
Note = 4/20. But keep on proposing chess games, next time shall
be better for sure !

Very disapointing in my opinion, did not find any virus or malware(using Norton) but not for the novice, the help file is terrible, it doesn't even explain simple chess rules.
Simple graphics and unless you are a really big fan of chess don't bother downloading

Good point out, 24.

It's an okay chess program. It has a nice appeal to it. Then again, as 24 pointed out, it doesn't know all the chess rules, and as 14 pointed out, it's only a chess program. It doesn't help you improve.

Didn't get any trojan warnings, but I still ran a few different programs to check and found no problem.
Its just another chess program, ok but not great. If you like chess, give it a try.

Well i downloaded it, and thus far have noooo problems other than my losing :).... Thanks GGOTD!

Game installed & played flawlessly. Wish I could say the same for me! They say you learn more from losing than winning, so I think this program is going to teach me a lot. Thanx GOTD.

Re: # 36 Ayedh and #48 Feedback, do you really expect they should either offer 2 free games tomorrow or repeat today's give away just because your McAfee anti-virus made a mistake and gave a false positive? Get real, get a better anti-virus program, or check McAfee's help file to learn how to shut off heuristics.

This game is OK, but at $30 for the normal shareware price it's likely they don't sell many. I think they tried but they really do need help with English. The previous game Robbox had that problem too but not nearly as bad, you could easily discern meaning at least. Plus Robbox is an excellent game, well worth buying if you like puzzle games and missed that give away day. In this one the expression in the description and in the game itself is so convoluted it's difficult to understand exactly what they meant to say.

Good of GGOTD to put up a screenshot since there aren't any at the developer's website. Graphics are unimpressive, someone mentioned that this doesn't matter for chess but it the developer wants such a high price for this game on any other day then graphics should be far better. This one looks like a throwback to the DOS days, in fact the graphics are nearly identical to Sargon which was an excellent DOS chess game from way back before anybody had Windows.

Today's game is an uninstall for me as I already have a much better freeware chess game, Tom Starke's Pawn 2.86 available from download dot com. In Pawn 2.86 you can set the game's depth of analysis and error margin, save a game to finish later or even roll back a current one. Chess beginners can set it to show possible moves and allow undo last move. Not to mention far better English and much better graphics too. WhiteRabbit/Stephen you might consider this one over today's game, no need for your 8 year old to learn poor grammar at the same time you're trying to teach him chess!

Okay, this game is really hard. I am a decent chess player and I put it on easy mode and they beat me in 5 minutes! The graphics aren't the best and I have no idea why someone would pay $30 for this game where you can get Sim CIty, something with greater graphics, for less.

Nice collection, Porcupine!

However I cannot agree with your McAfee status after being blocked by it myself, just like most of other users. I hope the Giveaway Team will repeat this one after sorting the part that caused the flagging message with the software makers.

Since I trust them big time by now, once they said "NO VIRUS/SPYWARE!" I even turned off McAfee but (for the first time ever) it just came back and flagged the program again.

I'm a chessplayer... sorry but this software is very weak! It is very expensive IMHO... for 34% one can buy Rybka, the strongest software in the world. Greenchess doesn't know the basic rules of chess, i.e. "en passant" capture... terrible!

Results of a multiple virus- and malewarescan:
Program - version - last update - result

AntiVir 7.3.1.38 02.28.2007 no virus found
Authentium 4.93.8 02.27.2007 no virus found
Avast 4.7.936.0 02.28.2007 no virus found
AVG 7.5.0.447 02.28.2007 no virus found
BitDefender 7.2 02.28.2007 no virus found
CAT-QuickHeal 9.00 02.28.2007 no virus found
ClamAV devel-20060426 02.28.2007 no virus found
DrWeb 4.33 02.28.2007 no virus found
eSafe 7.0.14.0 02.28.2007 no virus found
eTrust-Vet 30.6.3441 02.28.2007 no virus found
Ewido 4.0 02.28.2007 no virus found
FileAdvisor 1 02.28.2007 no virus found
Fortinet 2.85.0.0 02.28.2007 no virus found
F-Prot 4.3.1.45 02.28.2007 no virus found
F-Secure 6.70.13030.0 02.28.2007 no virus found
Ikarus T3.1.1.3 02.28.2007 no virus found
Kaspersky 4.0.2.24 02.28.2007 no virus found
McAfee 4972 02.27.2007 no virus found
Microsoft 1.2204 02.28.2007 no virus found
NOD32v2 2085 02.28.2007 no virus found
Norman 5.80.02 02.28.2007 no virus found
Panda 9.0.0.4 02.28.2007 Suspicious file
Prevx1 V2 02.28.2007 no virus found
Sophos 4.14.0 02.26.2007 no virus found
Sunbelt 2.2.907.0 02.24.2007 no virus found
Symantec 10 02.28.2007 no virus found
TheHacker 6.1.6.065 02.26.2007 no virus found
UNA 1.83 02.27.2007 no virus found
VBA32 3.11.2 02.27.2007 no virus found
VirusBuster 4.3.19:9 02.28.2007 no virus found

I don't think Mcafee is bad, however I am not using Mcafee right now. I am using Active Virus Shield (powered by Kaspersky) and it is free and it didn't detect nothing in the file.

Contains a trojan

#26 - I half agree with you and half want to swear a blue streak at u. Mcafee is the best there is in all but 1 department. The "Heuristic" virus detections. But I am going to search how to disable the Heuristic detections and I will post instructions for anyone that wants them.

I enjoy the chess game. I'm not that good of player, but I find it a fun game, and worth the download. And for all of those who say it has a trojan. Don't worry there's no trojan, you just have a worthless virus program, and should take the money saved by not having to purchase these free game's and software from Gaotd, and get a virus program that actually protects your computer.

It's an okay game. I don't see where it helps you improve your game like it claims, I don't see any instruction on move options or stradagy?

Geebus, I've hardly played chess and I know what an En Passant move is. Sad, sad world we live in that they can't even do their homework research.

Anyway, I'm really getting tired of crap titles. Don't get me wrong: This, in concept, was not a bad one. The graphics being poor really doesn't matter (This is CHESS!), but it not knowing particular moves sinks it faster than a rock. I agree with the need for more strategy games - perhaps something like RISK?

#35 (Anonymous coward): AVG sucks. It really, really does. I'll get you the chart I looked at the other day - AVG didn't even rank as "standard" on it. Avast, though only somewhat better, ranked higher and it's still free.

Re:#34

This game is for someone's who really love chess games and you cannot expect a CallOfDuty or Half Life to be putted on.This are free games that are usually for pay(20,00$ or more)and I download it because old games are better then games in 21st century.
They really had some fun and entertainment.
Now I cannot say I don't like new-days games but these are better and best of all they are free.

But if you don't appreciate the old games and just "buckle in" the graphic games for which you need to buy 400$ worth graphic card and 2048x980 inch screen...then I better choose this game then that.
It's better and best of all it's free.
If you don't appreciate it then don't download it and keep this comments for yourself.

Thank you GAOTD-Game for this great game.

Okay - I give...

MY MAIN MENU HAS NO ICONS AT ALL...!

HOW DO YOU START THIS GAME????

mcafee is the worst antivirus program out there next to norton, people. seriously, switch to panda, or at least trend micro. if you want a free antivirus use avg.

My mcaffe identified it as a trojan and it was deleted immediately.I hope tomorrow you will give away two games instead of one to compensate.
Yet I am grateful for your other great games and applications.Thanks

PS: AVG IS THE WAY TO GO PEOPLE I use AVG for years now and I have it scan for me the whole system at 4 in the morning and all my results say im virus free no random restarts here if AVG says Im virus free its probley right!!! Macafee and Norton are too sensiative there crazy and Norton is a resource hog anyway just read comment #26 also!!!

RE #31
If a chess program doesn't handle en passant it is useless!
If a player doesn't know en passant they are not "seasoned" either!

I can't believe there are that many chess programs out there that don't handle it. That is one of the rules of the game, albeit obscure. What's next, missing the Castling move??

Not downloading this there are tons of [free] alternatives.

But seriously... kudos for GAOTD for offering a different type of game other than something with the word "Bubble" in it. Keep on bringing the strategy games!

Looks like sucky graphics its not a grabber file size only 1.19 megabytes its value speaks for itself people who play chess alot may like it.

I think I'll pass on this one. I know nothing about playing chess and have no desire to learn. To those who are having problems with McAfee, when McAfee upgraded everything and got really fancy, I started having all kinds of problems with it. I finally cancelled my subscription and removed it from my computer. A friend recommend Norton. I went with it and have had no problems whatso ever.

Regarding comment #24 by Arian-
most seasoned chess players I know don't know en passant either. Most games I have played aren't programmed for it as well. Whenever I try to make the move against a live person, I get accused of cheating LOL I am SO tired of having to explain this is a legit move.

Thank You !

Even as an average player I can see problems with this game technically. It's great to get a chess program! Mt son will be thrilled. But I do agree it would be better itthe program knew chess rules and allowed ALL legal moves. I mean, the kids are gonna get upset pretty quick losing to a cheating computer. But i do appreciate GGOTD trying.

Wow! Nice job, GAOTD! Awesome program!
Unfortunately, I already own Fritz 9 (chess playing/notation/analysis, etc.) but this is great, especially if you don't want to pay $60 for Fritz!

Thank you for this game GGAotD team and Green-D Software; although there are free chess games out there I'll review this to see if it's suitable for my son, whose's just turned 8. I bought him one of those chess champion computers that were common about 20 years ago, from a charity shop recently and he has been showing interest in learning the game. :D


I decided to give the game a quick try out before I posted the above comment and I must say I definitely have seen better freeware versions, but at this moment can't recall them, lol, apart from "Real Chess" (see link below)

The help menu is nearly as bad as the brief description given above by Vitalogy comment #4 and there is definitely no help with respect to improving your game. The DOS based Battle Chess from the late 80's was much better than this, but maybe my mind remembers the better parts of Battle Chess, lol. Still if you can already play chess this is okay as a freebie, but as Kevin comment #11 points out. There is a free chess game available from the following address which is basically the same, but looks slightly better,(in my opinion) together with several more games such as Pirates:Battle for the Carribean, Mad Truckers, Brixout, Sonic Roboblast, Air Assault II, Air Assault 3D, Tank Assault, KBG Hunter, Onslaught, Naval Strike, Galaxy Invaders, Mummys Curse, Starball, Pac-Xon, Ball in Troubles, Magic Pets, Fish Tales, Billy Bob, Bomermania, Air Typer, Sky Fire, Pac Manic, Super Mario Forever, Yeti Bubbles, Great Mohjong, Magic Drop, Amazon Quest, Gem Mine, Aqua Pop, Jezzball, Imperial Sudoku, Hamster blocks, Magic Jigsaw puzzle, Real Pool, Real Bowling, Real Chess, Real Checkers, Real Backgammon, Real Dominoes, Mini Golf Pro, Micro Racers, several card games, mainly solitaire, and several large commercial games that have recently been released as freeware, all are relatively old actually, except America's Army, which is a First Person Shooter, that has recently been upgraded with Coop play, (v2.8 I think) and is as good as all the recent FPS games except that you only get online play apart from the training missions. The Freeware games are Wolfenstein, Trackmania Nations, GTA 2, America's Army, Savage, StarSiege Tribes, SWINE, Free Space 2 and F.E.A.R Combat,a multiplayer only game, but basically the same as last years F.E.A.R. singleplayer release which has cutting edge graphics (last time I checked the game out, lol.)

Anyway here's the link: :)

http://www.gametop.com/

I've been using some of the above games since before I discovered the Giveaway project early in December and apart from the link at the end, which opens a page to the site, there's nothing else that is a cause for concern. Some of the games such as Air Assault 3D, Mad Truckers and Brixout are excellent games and are well worth the bother of having to click on the X to cancel the window once the game has been cancelled.

OH the alarm about the possible trojan. McAffee Antivirus sucks.
Use the FREE AVG for a month instead and you will be glad you
changed anti virus programs. It is a much better and trouble
free program.
Hooty

Love it! This is quick on it's responses and loads of fun!
I am a big chess fan and the layout and all is just fabulous!
If you love chess this is a great one to get ! Thanks for the
great downloads your company shares with us. Don't love them
all but how could anyone do that? You do a great job and I have
gotten quite a few that I have really liked.. Green Chess is
now one of them! Thanks bunches!
Hooty

Concerning the Alawar games I wrote two times in the past to make the program of mini golf & chess as a GiveAwayOfTheDay. And now there's a chess program. Great. But it's not a good program, because it doesn't know all chess rules! I saw it in the only game I played (to test it). It doesn't know the rule of taking a piece en passant. Here are the moves: 1 e2-e4, c7-c6. 2 d2-d4, d7-d5. 3 Sbi-c3, d5xe4. 4 Sc3xe4, Bc8-f5. 5 Se4-g3, Bf5-g6. 6 h2-h4, h7-h6. 7 h4-h5, Bg6-h7. 8 Bf1-d3, Qd8xd4. 9 Sg1-f3, Qd4-f6. 10 Bd3xh7, Rh8xh7. 11 0-0, Qf6-e6. 12 Rf1-e1, Qe6-c8. 13 Bc1-f4, g7-g5. And now the program doesn't accept my move 14 h5xg6, and so en passant taking the pawn.
But still stays I like to see another sort of game, and now it's chess. Let's hope also checker, poker etc. comes a time. So in a scale from 0-10 I give the program 8 points.

Re:#21 Rocks: you couldn't clean it 'cause there's no trojan in the file. ;)

Notice that everyone who seems to be getting this false positive is using McAfee? McAfee does in fact flag this program for a trojan but Avast, AVG, Norton AV and do not. SpySweeper , Spybot S&D and SuperAntiSpyware, all of which also flag trojans, don't find anything in this game either. Anti-virus/anti-spyware scanners do make mistakes so that's why it's good idea to have more than one so you can cross-reference. This program's clean.

For those with McAffee Antivirus problems:

This is a heuristic detection. The specific methods of infection may not be known as it is likely that the sample detected is a new virus or trojan. Please submit the sample to AVERT for analysis.

This is a heuristic detection that detects a wide variety of malware. The detection was created to proactively protect users from new and unknown threats.

Specific features and symptoms of the detected sample will vary. Files triggering this detection should be sent to AVERT for analysis.

To me, this seems to be due to using piss poor antivirus programs that simply give off false alarms regularily. Yesterday's GAOTD program had problems with Avira's Heuristic scanner falsely claiming virus as well. Todays Game Giveaway seems to also have a problem with McAffee's version of Heuristic Scanning.

The antivirus programs I recommend are either Panda Antivirus, Norman Antivirus, or Symantec's Norton Antivirus. GooglePack offers a 6 month free version of Norton as well. All three of these programs are well known and trusted worldwide.

I can verify that Panda Internet Security 2007 and Norton Antivirus 2005 had no problems with this file.

Also, for those of you who are having antivirus program issues, please state what Antivirus program that you are using and if possible, the latest version of updates.