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Aug 3, 202317 min read

The Ultimate Guide to Download Chess Linux Engines and GUIs

Download Chess Software for Linux

Chess is a recreational and competitive board game played between two players. It is a very popular game, played by millions across the world, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments. Chess has the virtue of being suitable for people of all ages. It has many positive attributes such as to help individuals develop their memory, improve and enhance their concentration, as well as logical thinking. It also promotes and improves imagination and creativity.

Linux is a powerful and versatile operating system that can run on various devices, such as computers, smartphones, servers, and embedded systems. Linux is free and open source software, which means anyone can use it, modify it, and distribute it. Linux also offers a lot of choices and customization options for users who want to tailor their system to their needs and preferences.

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If you are a chess enthusiast who uses Linux, you might be wondering how to download chess software for Linux. There are many options available for chess software on Linux, but they can be broadly classified into three categories: chess engines, chess frontends, and chess databases and tournament managers. Let's take a look at each of these categories in more detail.

Chess Engines

A chess engine is a computer program that can play chess by calculating the best moves in a given position. A chess engine does not have a graphical user interface (GUI), but rather communicates with other programs using a protocol such as UCI (Universal Chess Interface) or XBoard/WinBoard.

There are many chess engines available for Linux, some of which are free and open source software, while others are proprietary or commercial software. Some of the most popular and strongest chess engines for Linux are:

Stockfish: A free and open source chess engine that is one of the strongest in the world, with an Elo rating of over 3500. It supports both UCI and XBoard protocols, and can run on multiple platforms, including Linux.

Gull: A free and open source chess engine that is also very strong, with an Elo rating of over 3200. It supports UCI protocol, and can run on Linux and other platforms.

Crafty: A free and open source chess engine that is a descendant of Cray Blitz, the World Computer Chess Champion from 1983 to 1989. It has an Elo rating of over 2600, and supports XBoard protocol. It can run on Linux and other platforms.

Chess engines can play chess by themselves, but they are more fun and useful when combined with a chess frontend.

Chess Frontends

A chess frontend is a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows you to play chess against a chess engine, or watch two chess engines play against each other. A chess frontend can also provide other features, such as board setup, move history, game analysis, opening books, puzzles, online play, and more.

There are many chess frontends available for Linux, some of which are free and open source software, while others are proprietary or commercial software. Some of the most popular and user-friendly chess frontends for Linux are:

PyChess: A free and open source chess frontend that follows the GNOME Human Interface Guidelines. It supports both UCI and XBoard protocols, and can run Stockfish, Gull, Crafty, and other engines. It also has a built-in FICS (Free Internet Chess Server) client, a game database, an opening book, a hint mode, a puzzle mode, and more.

chs: A free and open source chess frontend that runs in the terminal. It supports UCI protocol, and can run Stockfish and other engines. It also has a built-in FICS client, a board setup mode, a move history mode, an analysis mode, and more.

XBoard: A free and open source chess frontend that supports XBoard protocol. It can run Crafty and other engines. It also has a built-in FICS client, a game database, an opening book, a board setup mode, a move history mode, an analysis mode, and more.

Chess frontends can help you play chess against the computer or online, but they are not very good at organizing or managing your chess games. For that purpose, you need a chess database and tournament manager.

Chess Databases and Tournament Managers

A chess database is a software that allows you to store, search, view, edit, analyze, and annotate your own chess games or games from other players. A chess database can also provide statistics, ratings, graphs, reports, and other information about your games or players.

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A tournament manager is a software that allows you to create, run, and manage chess tournaments. A tournament manager can also provide pairings, standings, results, ratings, reports, and other information about your tournaments or players.

There are many chess databases and tournament managers available for Linux, some of which are free and open source software, while others are proprietary or commercial software. Some of the most popular and feature-rich chess databases and tournament managers for Linux are:

SCID vs PC: A free and open source chess database and tournament manager that is a fork of SCID (Shane's Chess Information Database). It supports both UCI and XBoard protocols, and can run Stockfish, Gull, Crafty, and other engines. It also has a built-in FICS client, an opening book, chess engine and a chess frontend, or even with just a web browser. In the next section, I will show you how to install chess software on Linux, and then how to play chess on Linux using different software and modes.

Install Chess Software for Linux

Installing chess software on Linux is not very difficult, but it may require some familiarity with the command line or the graphical interface of your Linux distribution. There are two main ways to install chess software on Linux: using the package manager or downloading the binary file. The package manager is a software that allows you to install, update, and remove software packages from a repository. The binary file is a file that contains the executable code of the software. Depending on the software and your Linux distribution, you may have to choose one or the other method. Here are some examples of how to install chess software on Linux using both methods.

Install Stockfish Chess Engine

Stockfish is one of the strongest chess engines in the world, and it is free and open source software. It supports both UCI and XBoard protocols, and can run on multiple platforms, including Linux. To install Stockfish on Linux, you can use either the package manager or download the binary file.

To install Stockfish using the package manager, you need to open a terminal and type the following command:

sudo apt-get install stockfish

This command will install Stockfish from the official repository of your Linux distribution. You may need to enter your password and confirm the installation. If you use a different package manager than apt-get, you may need to adjust the command accordingly.

To install Stockfish by downloading the binary file, you need to go to the official website of Stockfish and download the latest version for Linux. You will get a compressed file that contains the executable file of Stockfish. You need to extract the file and move it to a folder of your choice. You may also need to make the file executable by typing the following command in a terminal:

chmod +x stockfish_14_linux_x64_bmi2

This command will make the file stockfish_14_linux_x64_bmi2 executable. You may need to change the name of the file depending on the version you downloaded.

Install chs Chess Frontend

chs is a terminal-based chess frontend that uses Stockfish as the default engine. It supports UCI protocol, and can run other engines as well. It also has a built-in FICS client, a board setup mode, a move history mode, an analysis mode, and more. chs is free and open source software, and it is written in Python. To install chs on Linux, you can use either pip or download the source code.

pip is a package manager for Python that allows you to install Python packages from PyPI (Python Package Index). To install chs using pip, you need to open a terminal and type the following command:

pip install chs

This command will install chs from PyPI. You may need to use sudo or --user option depending on your permissions.

To install chs by downloading the source code, you need to go to the official GitHub repository of chs and download or clone the code. You will get a folder that contains the source code of chs. You need to enter the folder and run the following command in a terminal: python setup.py install

This command will install chs from the source code. You may need to use sudo or --user option depending on your permissions. Install SCID vs PC Chess Database and Tournament Manager

SCID vs PC is a fork of SCID (Shane's Chess Information Database) that offers more features and updates. It supports both UCI and XBoard protocols, and can run Stockfish, Gull, Crafty, and other engines. It also has a built-in FICS client, an opening book, a game database, a tournament manager, a puzzle mode, a tree mode, and more. SCID vs PC is free and open source software, and it can run on Linux and other platforms. To install SCID vs PC on Linux, you can use either the package manager or download the binary file. To install SCID vs PC using the package manager, you need to open a terminal and type the following command: sudo apt-get install scid

This command will install SCID vs PC from the official repository of your Linux distribution. You may need to enter your password and confirm the installation. If you use a different package manager than apt-get, you may need to adjust the command accordingly. To install SCID vs PC by downloading the binary file, you need to go to the official website of SCID vs PC and download the latest version for Linux. You will get a compressed file that contains the executable file of SCID vs PC. You need to extract the file and move it to a folder of your choice. You may also need to make the file executable by typing the following command in a terminal: chmod +x scid_vs_pc-4.22-Linux

This command will make the file scid_vs_pc-4.22-Linux executable. You may need to change the name of the file depending on the version you downloaded. Play Chess on Linux

Now that you have installed chess software on Linux, you are ready to play chess on Linux. There are many ways to play chess on Linux, depending on your preferences and goals. You can play chess against the computer, play chess online, or play chess over SSH. Let's see how to do each of these methods.

Play Chess Against the Computer

Playing chess against the computer is a great way to practice your skills, test your ideas, or just have fun. You can play chess against the computer using any of the chess frontends that you installed, such as PyChess, chs, or XBoard. You can also use any of the chess engines that you installed, such as Stockfish, Gull, or Crafty.

To play chess against Stockfish using chs, you need to open a terminal and type the following command:

chs

This command will launch chs and start a new game with Stockfish as the opponent. You can use the keyboard or the mouse to make your moves. You can also use commands such as /help, /new, /quit, /undo, /setboard, /analyze, /hint, /eval, /book, and more to control the game and the engine. You can also adjust the difficulty level and other settings of Stockfish by using the /setoption command. For example, to set the skill level to 10 (out of 20), you can type: /setoption name Skill Level value 10

To play chess against Stockfish using PyChess, you need to open PyChess from the menu or the terminal, and select New Game from the File menu. You can then choose Stockfish as the opponent, and adjust the difficulty level and other settings. You can use the mouse to make your moves, and use the buttons and menus to control the game and the engine. To play chess against Stockfish using XBoard, you need to open XBoard from the menu or the terminal, and select New Game from the File menu. You can then choose Stockfish as the opponent, and adjust the difficulty level and other settings. You can use the mouse to make your moves, and use the buttons and menus to control the game and the engine. Play Chess Online

Playing chess online is a great way to meet and challenge other players from around the world, or join a community of chess enthusiasts. You can play chess online using any of the chess frontends that you installed, such as PyChess, chs, or XBoard. You can also use any of the chess engines that you installed, such as Stockfish, Gull, or Crafty. To play chess online using FICS (Free Internet Chess Server), you need to register a free account on their website. FICS is one of the oldest and largest online chess servers, with thousands of players online at any time. You can play rated or unrated games, join tournaments, chat with other players, watch games, and more. To play chess online using FICS with chs, you need to open a terminal and type the following command: chs --fics

This command will launch chs and connect to FICS. You will be prompted to enter your username and password. You can then use commands such as /help, /seek, /match, /accept, /decline, /observe, /tell, /shout, /kibitz, /whisper, and more to interact with FICS. You can also use commands such as /setengine or /setoption to use a chess engine for analysis or assistance. To play chess online using FICS with PyChess, you need to open PyChess from the menu or the terminal, and select Internet Chess from the File menu. You can then choose FICS as the server, and enter your username and password. You can then use the tabs and menus to interact with FICS. You can also use buttons such as Analyze or Hint to use a chess engine for analysis or assistance. To play chess online using FICS with XBoard, you need to open XBoard from the menu or the terminal, and select Internet Chess Server from the File menu. You can then choose FICS as the server, and enter your username and password. You can then use the buttons and menus to interact with FICS. You can also use buttons such as Analyze or Hint to use a chess engine for analysis or assistance. To play chess online using other websites, such as chess.com, lichess.org, or chess24.com, you don't need to install any software on Linux. You just need to use a web browser, such as Firefox or Chrome, and visit the website of your choice. You can then register a free account, or play as a guest, and enjoy the features and games that the website offers. You can also use extensions or plugins to enhance your online chess experience, such as using a chess engine for analysis or assistance. Play Chess Over SSH

Playing chess over SSH (Secure Shell) is a way to play chess with another player on a remote Linux machine using chs. SSH is a protocol that allows you to securely access and control a remote computer over a network. chs is a terminal-based chess frontend that supports SSH mode. To play chess over SSH with chs, you need to have chs installed on both your local and remote Linux machines. You also need to have SSH access to the remote Linux machine, and know its IP address or hostname, and the username and password of the user you want to play with. To play chess over SSH with chs, you need to open two terminals on your local Linux machine. In one terminal, you need to type the following command: chs --ssh

This command will launch chs in SSH mode, and wait for an incoming connection from the remote Linux machine. In the other terminal, you need to type the following command: ssh user@host -t 'chs --ssh'

This command will connect to the remote Linux machine using SSH, and launch chs in SSH mode. You need to replace user with the username of the user you want to play with, and host with the IP address or hostname of the remote Linux machine. You may also need to enter your password for SSH authentication. Once both terminals are connected, you can start playing chess with chs over SSH. You can use the keyboard or the mouse to make your moves. You can also use commands such as /help, /new, /quit, /undo, /setboard, /analyze, /hint, /eval, /book, and more to control the game and the engine. You can also adjust the difficulty level and other settings of the engine by using the /setoption command. Playing chess over SSH with chs is a fun and simple way to play chess with another player on a remote Linux machine, without using any graphical interface or online server. Tips and Benefits of Playing Chess on Linux

Playing chess on Linux is not only possible, but also enjoyable and rewarding. There are many tips and benefits of playing chess on Linux, which I will summarize in this section.

Tips for Improving Your Chess Skills on Linux

If you want to improve your chess skills on Linux, here are some tips that you can follow:

Use analysis tools: You can use chess engines, chess frontends, and chess databases to analyze your games, find your mistakes, and learn from them. You can also use these tools to study games from other players, especially grandmasters and world champions, and learn from their moves and strategies.

Study openings: You can use opening books, chess frontends, and chess databases to study chess openings, learn the main lines and variations, and understand the ideas and principles behind them. You can also use these tools to practice your openings against the computer or online opponents, and test your knowledge and skills.

Solve puzzles: You can use puzzle books, chess frontends, and chess websites to solve chess puzzles, such as checkmates, tactics, endgames, and more. Solving puzzles can help you improve your calculation, visualization, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills.

Play against stronger opponents: You can use chess engines, chess frontends, and chess websites to play against stronger opponents, such as higher-rated players or computer programs. Playing against stronger opponents can help you challenge yourself, learn from your defeats, and improve your confidence and resilience.

Benefits of Playing Chess on Linux

If you play chess on Linux, you can enjoy many benefits, such as:

Having more control and customization options: You can choose from a variety of chess software for Linux, and customize them to your liking. You can also modify or create your own software if you have the skills and interest. You can also control the performance and security of your system by using Linux.

Saving money and resources: You can play chess on Linux without spending any money on software or hardware. Most of the chess software for Linux is free and open source software, which means you don't have to pay for licenses or subscriptions. You can also run Linux on older or low-end devices, which means you don't have to buy new or expensive devices.

Supporting open source software: You can play chess on Linux while supporting the open source software movement, which promotes collaboration, innovation, freedom, and transparency. You can also contribute to the development and improvement of the chess software for Linux by reporting bugs, suggesting features, donating money or time, or writing code.

Having fun: You can play chess on Linux while having fun with a fascinating game that can improve your mental skills, such as logic, memory, concentration, and creativity. You can also have fun with the different software and modes that Linux offers, and explore the possibilities and challenges that they present.

Playing chess on Linux is a rewarding and enjoyable activity that can enrich your life and mind. I hope this article has helped you learn how to download chess software for Linux, how to install it, how to play it, and some tips and benefits of playing chess on Linux. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for reading, and happy chess playing!

Conclusion

In this article, I have shown you how to download chess software for Linux, how to install it, how to play it, and some tips and benefits of playing chess on Linux. I have covered the following topics:

What are chess engines, chess frontends, and chess databases and tournament managers, and what are some of the most popular and strongest ones for Linux.

How to install chess software on Linux using the package manager or downloading the binary file.

How to play chess on Linux using different software and modes, such as playing against the computer, playing online, or playing over SSH.

What are some tips for improving your chess skills on Linux, such as using analysis tools, studying openings, solving puzzles, and playing against stronger opponents.

What are some benefits of playing chess on Linux, such as having more control and customization options, saving money and resources, supporting open source software, and having fun.

I hope you have enjoyed this article and learned something new. If you want to learn more about chess or Linux, you can check out the following resources:

[The official website of Stockfish]

[The official website of chs]

[The official website of SCID vs PC](

[The official website of FICS](

[The official website of Linux](

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about playing chess on Linux:

Q: Can I play chess on Linux without installing any software?

A: Yes, you can play chess on Linux without installing any software by using a web browser. You can visit any of the online chess websites, such as chess.com, lichess.org, or chess24.com, and play chess there. You can also use extensions or plugins to enhance your online chess experience.

Q: Can I use other chess engines or frontends than the ones mentioned in this article?

A: Yes, you can use other chess engines or frontends than the ones mentioned in this article. There are many other options available for chess software on Linux, but I have chosen the ones that I think are the most popular and user-friendly. You can search for other chess engines or frontends on the internet or in the repository of your Linux distribution.

Q: How can I update or uninstall the chess software that I installed on Linux?

A: To update or uninstall the chess software that you installed on Linux, you can use either the package manager or the terminal. To update the software using the package manager, you need to open a terminal and type the following command:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

This command will update all the software packages that you installed from the repository of your Linux distribution. You may need to enter your password and confirm the update. If you use a different package manager than apt-get, you may need to adjust the command accordingly.

To uninstall the software using the package manager, you need to open a terminal and type the following command:

sudo apt-get remove stockfish chs scid

This command will uninstall Stockfish, chs, and SCID vs PC from your system. You may need to enter your password and confirm the uninstallation. If you use a different package manager than apt-get, you may need to adjust the command accordingly.

To update or uninstall the software by using the terminal, you need to go to the folder where you downloaded or extracted the binary file of the software, and type the following command:

./stockfish_14_linux_x64_bmi2 update

This command will update Stockfish to the latest version. You may need to change the name of the file depending on the version you downloaded.

rm stockfish_14_linux_x64_bmi2

This command will delete Stockfish from your system. You may need to change the name of the file depending on the version you downloaded.

You can use similar commands to update or uninstall other software that you installed by using the terminal.

Q: How can I play chess with a friend on Linux?

A: There are several ways to play chess with a friend on Linux, depending on your preferences and goals. You can play chess with a friend on Linux by using any of the following methods:

Play chess online: You can play chess online with a friend by using any of the online chess websites, such as chess.com, lichess.org, or chess24.com. You can also use any of the chess frontends that you installed, such as PyChess, chs, or XBoard, and connect to an online chess server, such as FICS. You can then challenge your friend to a game, or join a game that your friend has created.

Play chess over SSH: You can play chess over SSH with a friend by using chs. You need to have chs installed on both your local and remote Linux machines. You also need to have SSH access to the remote Linux machine, and know its IP address or hostname, and the username and password of your friend. You can then use the commands that I explained in the previous section to play chess over SSH with chs.

Play chess over LAN: You can play chess over LAN (Local Area Network) with a friend by using any of the chess frontends that you installed, such as PyChess, chs, or XBoard. You need to have both your local and remote Linux machines connected to the same network. You also need to know the IP address or hostname of your friend's machine. You can then use any of the chess frontends that you installed to create or join a game over LAN.

Q: How can I learn more about chess or Linux?

A: If you want to learn more about chess or Linux, there are many resources available for you. You can check out some of the following resources:

[The official website of Stockfish]

[The official website of chs]