Colossus Chess is a formidable program and probably rates as one of the best of its kind.

It contains an opening 'book' of approximately 3,000 moves which allows Colossus to consider the vital starting moves and hence play an intelligent and aggressive opening. Coupled with its ability to consider over 450 moves per second, it is hardly surprising that it has an estimated British Chess Federation rating of 150 (1800 ELO) and has consistently beaten such opponents as White Knight II, Cyruss IS and Sargon III.

All required data can be quickly entered via the cursor and return keys. The level of play is dictated by the amount of time the computer is allowed to consider its move. This can be from one second to several hours.

Colossus allows you to set up the board for a problem, run through a completed game or take back any of the previous 120 moves. It will also demonstrate your best move. You can also stop its thinking to force it to use the best move already thought out. Colossus is also capable of recognising most situations and countering aggressively.

Truthfully it is the best computer chess I have ever seen and I recommend it to any Atari owner as the best chess available for this machine, beginners and experts alike.

A.K.