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Personal Computing

Personal Computing,
was a monthly microcomputer periodical founded by David Bunnell in 1977 , launched by Benwill Publishing, Boston Massachusetts, and since December 1980 by Hayden Publishing Co. Inc. Rochelle Park, New Jersey, imprint of Macmillan Publishers, defunct in 1999.

In April 1978, Computer Chess became a monthly department in Personal Computing, initially a continuation of Douglas Penrod's Computer Chess Newsletters, from January 1979 until March 1981 edited by Harry Shershow supported by Morris Miller. The magazine also covered computer games like Checkers, Othello, Gomoku, and Go - Thomas A. Throop had a computer Bridge column. Kathe Spracklen's announcement in April 1981 to continue the editorship of the computer chess column , apparently put an end to it.

Most Personal Computing Magazines from 1977 until 1984 are available from the Internet Archive .

Selected Authors

• Ira Baxter
• Alan Biermann
• Mikhail Donskoy
• William Fink
• Peter W. Frey
• Jack Good
• Robert Hyatt
• Evan Katz
• Ephraim Kishon
• Donald Michie
• Monroe Newborn
• Tony Scherzer
• Frieder Schwenkel
• Harry Shershow
• Kathe Spracklen
• Barend Swets
• Thomas A. Throop
• Tom Truscott
• John Urwin
• Mike Valenti
• Larry Wagner
• David E. Welsh
• Norman Whaland
• Patrick Winston

Chess Programs

• 8080 Chess
• Astro 64
• Awit
• BB-1
• Belle
• Black Knight
• Blitz
• Boris
• CAPS II
• CCCP
• Chess 4.x
• Chess Challenger
• Chute
• Compucolor Chess
• Cray Blitz
• Duchess
• Kaissa
• Morphy
• MyChess
• Ostrich
• Pioneer
• Sargon
• SD Chess
• Sfinks
• Steve Stuart Chess

Selected Articles

Volume 1, 1977

Vol. 1, No 5/6, May/June 1977

• David Galef (1977). A Chess Piece. Personal Computing, Vol. 1, No. 5/6

Vol. 1, No 9/10, Septober 1977

• Will Overington (1977). Chess from an information storage angle. Personal Computing, Vol. 1, No. 9/10, pp. 43
• David Galef (1977). Playing Against the Computer: Games with Finite Solutions. Personal Computing, Vol. 1, No. 9/10 pp. 45

Vol. 1, No 11/12, November 1977

• David Galef (1977). Some Comments on Randomness. Personal Computing, Vol. 1, No. 11/12 pp. 35

Volume 2, 1978

Vol. 2, No. 4, April 1978

• Barend Swets, Editor (1978). News on the Toronto Tournament. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 103  » WCCC 1977
• Editor (1978). Notes from Seattle's Computer Chess Tournament. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 106 » ACM 1977

Vol. 2, No. 5, May 1978

• Editor (1978). Tumult at the Toronto Tournament. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 98 » WCCC 1977
• Mike Valenti (1978). A program thesis. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 108 » Chute
• Andrew Koenig (1978). Light-Pen used in game. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 112 » CCCP
• Douglas Penrod (1978). Micro chess tourney. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 112 » MCCT 1978

Vol. 2, No. 6, June 1978

• Editor (1978). Flashes from the Chess Wars. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 87 » WCCC 1977
• Mike Valenti (1978). Valenti's Chess Program - Part II. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 90
• Ira Baxter (1978). Software Dynamics Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 91 » SD Chess
• Editor (1978). Seattle's Third Round. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 93 » ACM 1977

Vol. 2, No. 7, July 1978

• Mike Valenti (1978). Computer Chess Programming. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 7, pp. 77
• Editor (1978). Cyber 176 tops Toronto Chess Tournament. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 7, pp. 79
• Mike Valenti (1978). Computer-Chess-Program-Thesis: Part III. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 7, pp. 84

Vol. 2, No. 8, August 1978

• Editor (1978). Toronto Tournament Concludes. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 8, pp. 81
• Editor, Ben Mittman (1978). Echoes from the past. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 8, pp. 84 » panel discussion ACM 1972
• Larry Wagner (1978). San Jose Micro Tournament. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 8, pp. 87 » MCCT 1978
• Mike Valenti (1978). Part IV of Valenti Thesis on Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 8, pp. 89

Vol. 2, No. 9, September 1978

• Editor (1978). The People Speak Out. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 9, pp. 80 » Chess Challenger
• Editor (1978). Toronto Tally. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 9, pp. 82 » WCCC 1977, Master, Duchess
• Editor (1978). Some San Jose Color. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 9, pp. 82 » MCCT 1978, Compucolor Chess, Steve Stuart Chess
• Tom Truscott (1978). Computer-Checkers. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 9, pp. 86

Alan Biermann (1978). Theoretical Issues Related to Computer Game Playing Programs. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 9, pp. 86-88

• Mike Valenti (1978). Part V Chess Program. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 9, pp. 88

Vol. 2, No. 10, October 1978

• Ulrich Friedberg (1978). A Roumanian Rhapsody - Computer Felix C-256 Plays Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 10, pp. 76  » Astro 64
• Jack Good (1978). Historical Notes. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 10, pp. 80
• Mike Valenti (1978). Valenti's Chess Program. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 10, pp. 82
• Editor (1978). Chessboard fray at Jose Color. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 10, pp. 84 » MCCT 1978, 8080 Chess, Sargon
• Editor (1978). Computer beats U.S. chess champ. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 10, pp. 84 » Chesstor

Vol. 2, No. 11, November 1978

• Editor (1978). Black-box war. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 11, pp. 17  » Boris, Chess Challenger
• Mike Valenti (1978). Writing a Chess Program. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 11, pp. 22
• Jack Good (1978). Historical Notes. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 11, pp. 27
• Patrick Winston (1978). Dealing with Adversaries. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 11, pp. 30 » Alpha-Beta

Vol. 2, No. 12, December 1978

• Editor (1978). Rumbles from Roumania. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 12, pp. 62 » Astro 64
• Kathe Spracklen (1978). The Making of Sargon. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 12, pp. 62 » Sargon
• Editor (1978). Chess Chatter. Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 12, pp. 67  » Jerusalem CC Tournament 1978

Volume 3, 1979

Vol. 3, No. 1, January 1979

• Kathe Spracklen (1979). The Playing of Sargon. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 70 » MCCT 1978, Sargon
• Mike Valenti (1979). A Chess Program - Part VIII. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 73
• Editor (1979). From Jerusalem. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 71 » Jerusalem CC Tournament 1978

Vol. 3, No. 2, February 1979

• Harry Shershow (1979). A Chessboard Fantasy. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No.2, pp. 24
• Don Gerue, Russ McNeil (1979). Chess Challenger-10 wins Microchess Tourney. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 63 » Chess Challenger, The Penrod Memorial Microchess Tournament
• Editor (1979). He Dwelt in Courage ... Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 65  » Douglas Penrod
• Alan Biermann (1979). When a Duchess Reigned in Jerusalem. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 71 » Duchess
• Editor (1979). Computer Checkers. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 73 » Checkers
• Kathe Spracklen (1979). Micro Graphics and X-Y Plotter. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 75

Vol. 3, No. 3, March 1979

• Harry Shershow (1979). Computer Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 38
• Editor (1979). Romanian Computer Loses to Newspaper Readers. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 45 » Astro 64
• Jack Good (1979). On the Grading of Chess Players. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 47
• Mike Valenti (1979). Valenti Chess Program - Part IX. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 50
• Harry Shershow (1979). The 9th Annual ACM Chess Tournament in Washington, D.C. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 58 » ACM 1978

Vol. 3, No. 4, April 1979

• Harry Shershow (1979). A Little Bit is a Little Better. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 61 » ACM 1978, Awit, Sargon
• Harry Shershow (1979). Playing for the Title. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 63 » Belle
• Mike Valenti (1979). A Chess Program - Part X. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 64
• Editor (1979). Computer Checkers. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 70 » Checkers

Vol. 3, No. 5, May 1979

• Harry Shershow (1979). On Botvinnik's Program. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 51 » Pioneer
• Editor (1979). Computer GO Has Come. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 55 » Go
• Mike Valenti (1979). Chess Program - Part XI. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 56
• Editor (1979). Computer Checkers - A Checkers Program. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 60 » Checkers

Vol. 3, No. 6, June 1979

• Herbert L. Dershem (1979). A General Game Playing Program. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 6, pp. 70 » General Game Playing
• Harry Shershow (1979). A Russian Algorithm for Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 6, pp. 77 » Pioneer
• Don Gerue, Russ McNeil (1979). The Longest Game. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 6, pp. 79 » The Penrod Memorial Microchess Tournament

Vol. 3, No. 7, July 1979

• Editor (1979). Will Blitz be next year's champ? Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 7, pp. 80 » ACM 1978, Blitz 6.5 - Belle
• Mike Valenti (1979). Writing a chess program - Part XII. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 7, pp. 82
• Evan Katz (1979). A Glimpse at the World of Micro-Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 7, pp. 83
• Editor (1979). Computer Checkers - The Tinsely Challange. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 7, pp. 88 » Checkers

Vol. 3, No. 8, August 1979

• Harry Shershow (1979). Man Against Computer. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 8, pp. 73
• Mike Valenti (1979). Writing a chess program - Part XIII. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 8, pp. 75
• Editor (1979). Scuffle in a Corner. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 8, pp. 76 » ACM 1978, BB-1, Sargon
• Editor (1979). Computer Backgammon. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 8, pp. 81  » Backgammon

Vol. 3, No. 9, September 1979

• Harry Shershow (1979). Chafitz' Big Move in Computer Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9, pp. 59 » Boris, Sargon
• Charles Sullivan Jr. (1979). A Chess Program for the Apple. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9, pp. 60 » Sargon
• Gary L. Ratliff (1979). Practical Rating Program. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9, pp. 62
• Editor (1979). A Russian View of Chess Computers. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9, pp. 64 » Pioneer

Vol. 3, No. 10, October 1979

• Donald Michie (1979). The Computer Attacks Moravec Problem. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 10, pp. 73
• Monroe Newborn (1979). Ostrich IV meets the Black Knight. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 10, pp. 74 » ACM 1978, Ostrich, Black Knight
• Ephraim Kishon (1979). Compushvili. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 10, pp. 76
• Editor (1979). The Gomoku Tournament. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 10, pp. 81 » Gomoku

Vol. 3, No. 11, November 1979

• Editor (1979). A Review of Chess Devices and Programs. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 11, pp. 73
• Frieder Schwenkel (1979). Berating the ratings system. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 11, pp. 77 » Ratliff
• John Larkins (1979). Inside Chess Challenger. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 11, pp. 78 » Chess Challenger
• Gene Buza (1979). ABC's of "Z" Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 11, pp. 79 » Z-Chess
• Tony Scherzer (1979). Background on BB-1. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 11, pp. 80 » BB-1

Vol. 3, No. 12, December 1979

• Michael McCann (1979). Basic Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 12, pp. 48 » Basic
• John Urwin (1979). Two New Programs Are Tested. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 12, pp. 71 » MyChess, Video Chess
• John Shaposka (1979). "JS" Takes the Bloss Test. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 12, pp. 75 » Ratliff
• Editor (1979). Misadvantages of a Chess Traveler. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 12, pp. 75 » Chess Challenger
• Editor (1979). Chess Ratings from Problem Solving. Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 12, pp. 77 » CAPS II

Volume 4, 1980

Vol. 4, No. 5, May 1980

• Harry Shershow (1980). The Best of Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 74
• Mikhail Donskoy (1980). From Russia with Games. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 77 » Kaissa
• Evan Katz (1980). Chess Challenger's Voice comes out of Both Sides of its Mouth. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 80 » Chess Challenger Voice
• Editor (1980). A Checkers Debate. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 83 » Checkers, Martin Gardner

Vol. 4, No. 6, June 1980

• Editor (1980). MyChess goes to college. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 6, pp. 91 » MyChess
• Editor (1980). Battle for Survival. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 6, pp. 92 » PCW-MCC 1979 - Battle for Survival
• Robert Hyatt (1980). A Southern Blitz. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 6, pp. 93 » Blitz

Vol. 4, No. 7, July 1980

• Michael Ham (1980). Modular Game System and Boris / Sargon 2.5. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 7, pp. 79 » Boris 2.5, Modular Game System
• Editor (1980). "Easy Money" Offer. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 7, pp. 81 » The Fredkin Prize
• Editor (1980). Background and Origins of Othello. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 7, pp. 87 » Othello
• Peter W. Frey (1980). Machine Othello. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 7, pp. 89

Vol. 4, No. 8, August 1980

• Harry Shershow (1980). Computers in the Life of Chess. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 8, pp. 71
• Floyd R. Kirk (1980). Bloss Flunks Test. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 8, pp. 72 » Ratliff
• Walter Korn (1980). Electronic Chess: Changing Aesthetics and Mores. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 7, pp. 74
• Editor (1980). Boris on the Move. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 8, pp. 77 » Boris 2.5, Applied Concepts
• Editor (1980). The Challenge of Computer Go. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 8, pp. 79 » Go
• Editor (1980). Zobrist Program in Action. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 8, pp. 81 » Albert Zobrist

Vol. 4, No. 9, September 1980

• Tom Throop (1980). New Chess Products. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 9, pp. 75
• Lynn L. Beavers (1980). Sargon II: A Human View. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 9, pp. 79 » Sargon
• Harry Shershow (1980). On The Science of Chess-Thinking. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 9, pp. 80 » Advances in Computer Chess 2

Vol. 4, No. 10, October 1980

• Harry Shershow (1980). The Nerve of a Chess Player. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10, pp. 77
• David E. Welsh (1980). Rating Boris 2.5. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10, pp. 78 » Boris 2.5
• W. W. Foster (1980). Six Test Problems for Chess Playing Machines. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10, pp. 81
• Norman Whaland (1980). What Chess Programs Don't Do (Part I). Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10, pp. 82
• Editor (1980). The battle of Boris 2.5 vs Sargon 2.5 Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10, pp. 83 » Applied Concepts, Chafitz

Vol. 4, No. 11, November 1980

• Harry Shershow (1980). CSC Wins First Microcomputer-Chess Tournament. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 11, pp. 81 » MCC 1980
• Editor (1980). MyChess Shines. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 11, pp. 85 » MyChess
• David E. Welsh (1980). Rating Boris 2.5 - Part II. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 11, pp. 87 » Boris 2.5

Vol. 4, No. 12, December 1980

• Editor (1980). A Chess Program & Random Openings. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 12, pp. 75 » MCC 1980, Murray Lane
• Norman Whaland (1980). What Chess Programs Don't Do (Part II). Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 12, pp. 77
• Kevin O’Connell (1980). London's World Micro Chess Champions. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 12, pp. 79 » WMCCC 1980
• Editor (1980). World-Championship Tournament. Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 12, pp. 71 » WCCC 1980

Volume 5, 1981

Vol. 5, No. 1, January 1981

• Harry Shershow (1981). The MyChess-CSC Confrontation at San Jose. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 79 » MCC 1980, Interviews with David Kittinger and Mike Samole
• Editor (1981). Battle of the Chips. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 82 » 6502, Z80
• Robert Hyatt (1981). The Cray-1 Plays Chess (Part 1). Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 83 » Cray Blitz, Cray-1

Vol. 5, No. 2, February 1981

• Evan Katz (1981). The Eleventh North American Computer Chess Championship. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 87 » ACM 1980
• Harry Shershow (1981). Two New Units In Action. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 91 » MCC 1980, John Aker, Morphy
• Robert Hyatt (1981). The Cray-1 Plays Chess (Part 2). Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 95 » Cray Blitz, Cray-1

Vol. 5, No. 3, March 1981

• Evan Katz (1981). The Eleventh North American Computer Chess Championship - Part II. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 71 » ACM 1980
• William Fink (1981). Sfinks riddles Sargon II. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 104  » Sfinks
• David Levy, Ben Mittman, Monroe Newborn (1981). Belle Wins Championship. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 105  » WCCC 1980

Vol. 5, No. 4, April 1981

• Kathe Spracklen (1981). The Past, Present, and Future. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 67
• Editor (1981). Fredkin Incentive Awards. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 68

Vol. 5, No. 7, July 1981

• Robert L. Schuman (1981). Anatomy of a Chess Program. Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 7, pp. 55

Volume 6, 1982

Vol. 6, No. 2, February 1982

• Thomas Throop (1982). Computer chess: test your skill. Personal Computing, Vol. 6, No. 2

External Links

• Personal Computing magazine issues 1977-1984 : Free Texts : Download & Streaming : Internet Archive
• The Computer Magazine Glut by Eric N. Berg, The New York Times, September 8, 1984
• David Bunnell, publisher of tech magazines PC World and Macworld, dies at 69 by Matt Schudel, The Washington Post, October 21, 2016
• David Bunnell from Wikipedia

References

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