This year sees potentially the most exciting world chess championship since the headline-grabbing Fischer-Spassky match 12 years ago and interest in the game is bound to increase yet again, particularly among computer users.

An abundance of chess software is available and practically all the programs can out-play anyone below country standard, so a knowledge of how they work and a guide to their strengths and weaknesses is invaluable to any grandmaster hopeful.

David Levy, chairman of Intelligent Software, has every credential for helping computer chess fans. He is an International Master whose own scepticism of computer-play drove him to accept a bet in 1968 that he would lose to a program within ten years. As he writes: "The programs got stronger, I got weaker, but I still won the bet in September 1978."

Since then he has estimated that a computer will be able to play at strong Grandmaster level by the year 2000, but he retains his reservations as to whether any machine could beat the intuitive genius of a human such as Fischer.

This book is a fascinating study of all types of chess computer, dedicated and programmed, and highlights some flaws still spoiling otherwise excellent versions of the game. It seems inexcusable that some still refuse to recognise castling or automatically promote a pawn to a queen, regardless of your wishes or the computer's own position.

Mr. Levy makes relevant chess theory easily understandable to the computer-oriented reader and gives excellent hints on ways to beat the machine and its value as an aid to improving your game. Indeed, it is the latter aspect of chess programs which he acknowledges at the most valuable, and stresses that the game must retain its fun element.

A chapter on the way a program searches for a move and anticipates responses is invaluable to even the moderately serious chess player and to anyone hoping to create their own strategy games.

The book's general style and well-indexed format make it well worth the fiver you could lose against your next opponent.

Stuart Cooke