HIARCS: PC DOS and Mac program

HIARCS7 - CD price reduction to £9.95 in UK

**While stocks are available the program is available for just £4.95 when you subscribe to Selective Search magazine for 1 year!

I met Mark Uniacke, the HIARCS programmer, in 1992 when he was considering 'going commercial' with v.1 of his exciting program. I remember playing 2 games with it, Mephisto Berlin 68000 v Hiarcs1, at the Countrywide Computers' offices in Wilburton, and I think Hiarcs1 was probably on a 386/40 or similar at that time. We assumed the Berlin would win, but Hiarcs outplayed it in both games and Countrywide quickly agreed to be involved in the launch and advertising!

EARLY VERSIONS

About 18 months afterwards, just after the arrival of the upgrade HIARCS2.1, Mark [pictured right] and his colleague David Hatchett created a method by which a user can add to and alter the Opening Book, and they asked me if I would be willing to make a major effort to enlarge the then HIARCS Book of just 12,000 positions (with which it became World Software Micro-Computer Champion nonetheless!). I've been doing this ever since, though Mark joins in regularly, adding ideas and lines of his own. Incidentally owners can easily make their own changes and additions to the latest 143,000 position HIARCS book.

HIARCS7

I, with many others, consider HIARCS7 to be the most human-like chess program currently available, with an apparent positional understanding above its competitors. It's a real pleasure to play against and work with because of:

1. Its analytical facilities, including monitor mode analysis + evaluation showing top 1, 2, or 3 lines in current position
2. The interesting play and ideas it comes up with when I am researching Openings to keep its Book up-to-date, sharp... and as varied as we dare :-)
3. It has a good positional sense (especially for a Computer!), an active middlegame, is tactically very powerful with a willingness to sacrifice for attacking potential or positional advantages, and has a really strong endgame.

OTHER MAIN FEATURES:

• Import/export ChessBase [cbf] files, PGN files, and EPD positions. Includes Database filter system
• Unrivalled range of Playing Levels, including specification of primary, secondary and/or tertiary time controls. User settable Fischer incremental clock. Instant play. Shuffle chess!
• Compatability with TASC Smartboard, Chess232 board and, soon, Novag UNIVERSAL board!
• Massive 488,000 position Tournament Opening Book. The book is user extendable and adjustable! Openings are named and ECO coded, and our evaluation of the opening moves is shown on screen to help users assess the viability or otherwise of the opening being played.

We have also enjoyed the Hiarcs6 v (I.M) Dean Hergott 40/2hours Match in April 1997, which saw all optimism rewarded with a correspondingly good result, a 4-2 win! - in this $1000 challenge! Click here to see... Hiarcs6 v Hergott games

• HIARCS7 comes on one CD which includes both PC and MAC versions!
• Cost in the UK is £29
• There is now a HIARCS 732 Windows version done by ChessBase. See Hiarcs 732