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Created page with "'''Home * Engines * Sargon''' FILE:Sargon I screenshot.png|border|right|thumb|329px|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_%28chess%29|Sargon I for the..."
'''[[Main Page|Home]] * [[Engines]] * Sargon'''
[[FILE:Sargon I screenshot.png|border|right|thumb|329px|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_%28chess%29|Sargon I for the [[Apple II]] <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_%28chess%29 Sargon (chess) from Wikipedia]</ref> ]]
'''Sargon''',<br/>
a family of chess programs by [[Dan Spracklen|Dan]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]]. They started chess programming in 1977 on a [[Z80|Z-80]] based ''Wavemate Jupiter III'' <ref>[http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/JupiterII-1975.htm Jupiter II-1975]</ref> in [[Assembly|assembly language]]. The '''first''' Sargon version had a [[10x12 Board#Sargon|10x12 board]] board representation and a two [[Ply|ply]] [[Alpha-Beta|alpha-beta search]] without [[Quiescence Search|quiescence]] but a [[SOMA#SOMAALGO|SOMA]] like [[Static Exchange Evaluation|exchange evaluation]] <ref>[[Dan Spracklen]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6da6d4 First Steps in Computer Chess Programming] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte_%28magazine%29 Byte] Publications Inc., as [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/4-4.First_Steps.Byte_Magazine/First_Steps_in_Computer_Chess_Programing.Spracklen-Dan_Kathe.Byte_Magazine.Oct-1978.062303035.sm.pdf pdf reprint] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.andreadrian.de/schach/sargon.asm Sargon Z80 assembly listing] by [[Dan Spracklen|Dan]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]], hosted by [[Andre Adrian]]</ref>.
After first tournament successes in 1978, at [[MCCT 1978|The Second West Coast Computer Faire]], winning with a 100% score <ref>[http://www.amazon.com/The-BYTE-Book-Computer-Music/dp/0070430977 Chris Morgan] ('''1978'''). ''[http://blog.modernmechanix.com/the-second-west-coast-computer-faire/1/#mmGal The Second West Coast Computer Faire]''. [[Byte Magazine#BYTE307|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 7]], hosted by [http://blog.modernmechanix.com/ Modern Mechanix], Photo 4: [[Ira Baxter|Ira Baxter’s]] [[SD Chess|chess playing system]] display, which competed in the [[MCCT 1978|Microcomputer Chess Tournament]] at the Faire. The level of play was impressive, and the winning program, called [[Sargon|SARGON]], was a 16 K byte [[Z80|Z-80]] [[Assembly|assembler]] program written by a husband and wife team, [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]].</ref>, and the shared third place at [[ACM 1978]] already with '''Sargon II''', the Spracklens became professional computer chess programmers. They first started selling their well commented Sargon I Z-80 assembly listing as paper copy for $15 by their own <ref>page 25 in [http://www.computerhistory.org/trustee/gardner-hendrie Gardner Hendrie] ('''2005'''). ''Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen''. [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref>, and then made a contract with ''Hayden Books'' to publish a book about Sargon with explanations and listing <ref>[[Dan Spracklen]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). ''SARGON: A Computer Chess Program''. Hayden Bk.Co. ISBN: 978-0810451551, [http://www.amazon.com/Sargon-Computer-Program-Dan-Spracklen/dp/0810451557 amazon.com]</ref>. ''Hayden Software'' <ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/company/hayden-software-co Hayden Software Co.] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]</ref> remained primary distributor of all further Sargon software versions, even when the Spracklens worked full time for [[Fidelity Electronics]] during the 80s.
=MOS Technology=
'''Sargon I''' was already ported to the [[Apple II]] by [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe Spracklen's]] brother, Gary Shannon <ref>page 30 in [http://www.computerhistory.org/trustee/gardner-hendrie Gardner Hendrie] ('''2005'''). ''Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen''. [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref>. Despite its lower frequency, they found the [[6502]] the much better processor for their program than the Z80, and soon the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology MOS Technology] processor became the major target platform.
<span id="Sargon2"></span>
=Sargon II=
'''Sargon II''' was written for various [[Z80|Z-80]] and [[6502]] based home computers, and was base for their first [[Dedicated Chess Computers|dedicated unit]], the [[Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5]] <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_ARB_Sargon_2.5 Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki]</ref>. After civil proceedings between manufacturer [[Applied Concepts]] <ref>[http://www.great-game-machine.com/ Great Game Machine]</ref> and their sales company [[Chafitz]], the Spracklens began their long term collaboration with [[Sidney Samole]] and [[Fidelity Electronics]] in the 80s. Sargon II already played the [[ACM 1978]] still with the ''Jupiter III'', and the [[WMCCC 1980]], where it had to compete with its dedicated relatives, winner [[Chess Challenger]], runner up [[Boris|Boris Experimental]], [[Chafitz Modular Game System|Sargon 2.5 Modular GS]] and [[Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5|Sargon 2.5 Auto RB]], and became tied third with 3/5, last game losing from Challenger.
<span id="Sargon3"></span>
=Sargon III=
'''Sargon III''' was a complete rewrite, using [[Quiescence Search|quiescence search]], and a [[Transposition Table|transposition table]] with [[BCH Hashing|BCH hashing]]. Sargon III was ported to the [[68000]], to be the first third-party executable software for the [[Macintosh]] <ref>[http://www.computerhistory.org/trustee/gardner-hendrie Gardner Hendrie] ('''2005'''). ''Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen''. [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref>. The [[8086]] Sargon III port for [[IBM PC|PC]] was done by [[Kevin Leavelle]] in 1984 <ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,25972/ Kevin Leavelle Video Game Credits and Biography] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]</ref>, so that three Sargon 3 software versions played the [[WMCCC 1984]], where the [[Fidelity Electronics]] [[Elite]] by the same authors tied for first place, the [[Apple II]] became 10th with 4/7, the Macintosh 12th with 3½/7 and the [[8086|8088]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq Compaq] PC 17th with 2½/7. In cooperation agreement between [[Fidelity Electronics]] and [[Software Toolworks]] in 1988, an enhanced and improved Sargon III was market as [[Chessmaster#2100|Fidelity Chessmaster 2100]] <ref>Reply by [[Mark Manyen]] in [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/commodore_c64_fidelity_chessma.html Fidelity Chessmaster 2100] from [[The Spacious Mind]]</ref>.
=Photos & Games=
==Mike==
[[FILE:Mike_Johnson_1_40_x_40.JPG|none|border|text-bottom|580px|link=http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/chess_computers_-_the_uk_story.html]]
[[Kathe Spracklen]] and [[Mike Johnson]], [[Mike]] vs. [[Sargon|Sargon 2]], [[ACM 1978]] <ref>[http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/chess_computers_-_the_uk_story.html Chess Computers - The UK Story] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.csvn.nl/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=60&Itemid=26&lang=en PGN Download NACCC] from [http://www.csvn.nl/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=13&Itemid=26&lang=en Computerschaak/Downloads/Games] hosted by [[CSVN]]</ref>
<pre>
[Event "ACM 1978"]
[Site "Washington USA"]
[Date "1978.12.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mike"]
[Black "Sargon 2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
1.e4 e5 2.d4 Nc6 3.d5 Nb4 4.c3 Na6 5.f4 Nc5 6.fxe5 Qh4+ 7.Kd2 Nxe4+ 8.Kc2 Nf2
9.Qe1 Bc5 10.Nf3 Qh5 11.Rg1 Ne7 12.Be3 Qg6+ 13.Kc1 Bxe3+ 14.Qxe3 Ng4 15.Qd2 d6
16.Bd3 Qh5 17.Bb5+ Bd7 18.Bxd7+ Kxd7 19.exd6 cxd6 20.h3 Nf6 21.Qg5 Qxg5+
22.Nxg5 Rhf8 23.c4 Rac8 24.Nd2 Nexd5 25.Kb1 Ne3 26.Nge4 Nxe4 27.Nxe4 Rxc4
28.Nc3 f5 29.a4 d5 30.g3 Rf6 31.Re1 d4 32.Nb5 a6 33.Nxd4 f4 34.gxf4 Rxd4
35.Rxe3 Rfxf4 36.a5 Rd1+ 37.Ka2 Ra4+ 38.Ra3 Rxa3+ 39.bxa3 Rd2+ 40.Kb3 Rd3+
41.Kc4 Rxh3 42.Rd1+ Kc6 43.a4 Rh5 44.Kb4 Rh4+ 45.Kb3 Rh3+ 46.Kc4 Rh5
47.Kb4 Rh4+ 48.Kb3 Rh3+ 49.Kc4 Rh5 50.Kb4 Rh4+ 1/2-1/2
</pre>
<span id="Awit"></span>
==Awit==
[[Dan Spracklen|Dan]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]] from their oral history on the Sargon 2 vs [[Awit]] game, round 4, [[ACM 1978]] <ref>page 35-36 in [http://www.computerhistory.org/trustee/gardner-hendrie Gardner Hendrie] ('''2005'''). ''Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen''. [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref> <ref>see also [[Harry Shershow]] ('''1979'''). ''A Little Bit is a Little Better''. [[Personal Computing#3_4|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 4]], pp. 61</ref>:
I think the most exciting part for us was the last round of the tournament, when we played [[Tony Marsland|Tony Marsland’s]] program [[Awit]]. It was a 6 million dollar [[Amdahl 470|Amdahl computer]]. And we won the game. And we were just amazed. I remember, at the time, we won it. And there was a huge audience there. There was like a hundred people sitting out there, watching it, and they just all started cheering and clapping. And then we woke up the following morning to a big article in the Washington Post that says, Microcomputer Beats 6 Million Dollar Machine, or something like that.
<pre>
[Event "ACM 1978"]
[Site "Washington USA"]
[Date "1978.12.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sargon 2"]
[Black "Awit"]
[Result "1-0"]
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bb5 a6 8.Bxc6 dxc6
9.Bd2 Ng4 10.Qf4 Nf6 11.O-O O-O 12.Rad1 b5 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Bd4 Bxc3 15.Bxc3 Qxa2
16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qxf6 Qc4 18.Qg5+ Kh8 19.Qf6+ Kg8 20.Qg5+ Kh8 21.Rd8 Rxd8 22.Qf6+
Kg8 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Qxd8+ Kg7 25.Qg5+ Kf8 26.Qd8+ Kg7 27.Qd4+ Qxd4 28.Nxd4 Bb7
29.Re1 Kg6 30.Re3 Rd8 31.Rd3 c5 32.Nxe6 Rxd3 33.Nf4+ Kg5 34.Nxd3 Bxe4 35.Nxc5
Bxc2 36.Nxa6 Bb3 37.Nc5 Bd5 38.g3 Bf3 39.Nb3 b4 40.Nd4 Be4 41.f3 Bb7 42.Kf2 h6
43.Ke3 Bd5 44.Nc2 b3 45.Nd4 Kg6 46.Kd3 Kh7 47.f4 Kg8 48.Kc3 Kg7 49.Nxb3 Bxb3
50.Kxb3 Kf6 51.Kc4 Ke7 52.b4 Kd7 53.Kd5 h5 54.b5 Kc7 55.Kc5 Kb7 56.b6 Kb8 57.Kc6
Kc8 58.b7+ Kb8 59.Kb6 h4 60.gxh4 f6 61.h5 f5 62.Kc6 Ka7 63.Kc7 Ka6 64.b8=Q Ka5
65.Qb3 Ka6 66.Qa4# 1-0
</pre>
=See also=
* [[Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5]]
* [[Chafitz Modular Game System]]
* [[Chess Challenger]]
* [[Chessmaster#2100|Fidelity Chessmaster 2100]]
* [[Various Classifications#Legend|Legend]]
* [[Various Classifications#Nobility|Nobility]]
* [[10x12 Board#Sargon|Sargon's 10x12 Board]]
* [[SOMA#SOMAALGO|SOMA Algorithm]]
* [[Fidelity Electronics#SpracklensAppleICE|Spracklens debugging with Apple II ICE]]
=Pages with Spracklen Quotes=
* [[:Category:Spracklen Quotes]]
=Publications=
==1978 ...==
* [[Dan Spracklen]], [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). ''[http://web.archive.org/web/20070614114334/http://madscientistroom.org/chm/Sargon.html SARGON: A Computer Chess Program]''. Hayden Bk.Co.
* [http://www.amazon.com/The-BYTE-Book-Computer-Music/dp/0070430977 Chris Morgan] ('''1978'''). ''[http://blog.modernmechanix.com/the-second-west-coast-computer-faire/1/#mmGal The Second West Coast Computer Faire]''. [[Byte Magazine#BYTE307|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 7]] » [[MCCT 1978]]
* [[Dan Spracklen]], [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). ''First Steps in Computer Chess Programming''. [[Byte Magazine#BYTE310|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 10]], [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/4-4.First_Steps.Byte_Magazine/First_Steps_in_Computer_Chess_Programing.Spracklen-Dan_Kathe.Byte_Magazine.Oct-1978.062303035.sm.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [[Dan Spracklen]], [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). ''An Exchange Evaluator for Computer Chess''. [[Byte Magazine#BYTE311|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 11]]
* [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). ''The Making of Sargon''. [[Personal Computing#2_12|Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 12]], pp. 62
* [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1979'''). ''The Playing of Sargon''. [[Personal Computing#3_1|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 1]], pp. 70
* [[Harry Shershow]] ('''1979'''). ''A Little Bit is a Little Better''. [[Personal Computing#3_4|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 4]], pp. 61 » [[Sargon#Awit|Sargon - Awit]]
* [[Harry Shershow]] ('''1979'''). ''Chafitz' Big Move in Computer Chess''. [[Personal Computing#3_9|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9]], pp. 59 » [[Boris]], [[Chafitz]]
* Charles Sullivan Jr. ('''1979'''). ''A Chess Program for the Apple''. [[Personal Computing#3_9|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9]], pp. 60 » [[Apple II]]
==1980 ...==
* Lynn L. Beavers ('''1980'''). ''Sargon II: A Human View''. [[Personal Computing#4_9|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 9]], pp. 79
* Editor ('''1980'''). ''The battle of Boris 2.5 vs Sargon 2.5'' [[Personal Computing#4_10|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10]], pp. 83 » [[Boris#2.5|Boris 2.5]], [[Applied Concepts]], [[Chafitz]]
* [[William Fink]] ('''1981'''). ''Sfinks riddles Sargon II''. [[Personal Computing#5_3|Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 3]], pp. 104 » [[Sfinks]]
* [[John F. White]] ('''1981'''). ''[http://yourcomputeronline.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/survey-chess-games/ Survey-Chess Games]''. [[Your Computer]], [http://yourcomputeronline.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/augustseptember-1981-contents-and-editorial/ August/September 1981]
* [[John F. White]] ('''1982'''). ''[http://yourcomputeronline.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/review-chess-computers/ Review-Chess Computers]''. [[Your Computer]], [http://yourcomputeronline.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/march-1982-contents-and-editorial/ March 1982]
==2000 ...==
* [[Rob van Son]] ('''2003'''). ''Sargon fought until the very end!''. [[Selective Search]] 106, [http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/01-2016,%20Rob%20van%20Son,%20Sargon%20fought%20until%20the%20very%20end!.pdf pdf] hosted by [[Hein Veldhuis]] (2016)
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/trustee/gardner-hendrie Gardner Hendrie] ('''2005'''). ''Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen''. [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf pdf] and [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/index.php?iid=orl-43343fb422232 Video] from [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [[Rob van Son]] ('''2011'''). ''De Assyrische krijgsman die vaak won!'' (Dutch) [http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/10-2011,%20Rob%20van%20Son,%20De%20Assyrische%20krijgsman%20die%20vaak%20won.pdf pdf] hosted by [[Hein Veldhuis]]
=Forum Posts=
==1989==
* [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/7dxSVCWzNQY/5igmGfVIYnIJ Sargon IV] by Paul H. Nelson, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], August 08, 1989
==1990 ...==
* [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/qH7LeruGk7E/lPbqPfJuXyAJ Sargon V rating ("they claim")] by John M. Nason, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], September 18, 1992
* [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/wCJMvTiAHbQ/VQhAoTIzQu8J Is Sargon IV System 7 compatible?] by Bertrand Limoges, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], October 27, 1992
* [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/vMfQCuDkedM/b-J5QlYKBUsJ Strength of Sargon III on Commodore 64] by Daniel Marsalone, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], January 08, 1993
* [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/JFm3Z8kKfcU/81wlkUtSwMcJ Sargon 4] by Michael M Gorman Jr, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], May 27, 1993
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/a9e582deb4ffd0de Sargon] by Randal Dean, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], March 27, 1997
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/46f6faf068a47fe Sargon V] by parrot-head, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], September 15, 1999
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=84425 Sargon V: from 486-33Mhz to Pentium 266 Mhz] by [[Fernando Villegas]], [[CCC]], December 26, 1999
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=84628 Sargon Coming down in Flames...] by [[Fernando Villegas]], [[CCC]], December 27, 1999
==2000 ...==
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=106541 OLD Sargon II and Sargon III chess programs] by Osorio Meirelles, [[CCC]], April 18, 2000
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=116352 Is Sargon V code written by Dan and Kathy Spracklen ?] by Osorio Meirelles, [[CCC]], June 23, 2000
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=199546 Help with old software - Sargon III] by [[José Carlos Martínez Galán|José Carlos]], [[CCC]], November 29, 2001
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=244047 Re: Amusing errors to Sargon 4] by [[Fernando Villegas]], [[CCC]], August 04, 2002
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=277976 Sargon III for the PC] by Jeff White, [[CCC]], January 18, 2003
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=296318 Sargon V] by [[Bryan Whitby]], [[CCC]], May 12, 2003
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=299338 Old Sargon source articles] by Jan Willem de Kort, [[CCC]], June 04, 2003
==2010 ...==
* [http://www.foro.meca-web.es/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=72&start=10#p1706 Re: La Máquina Preservadora. Programas de Ajedrez] by Luis a, [[Computer Chess Forums|Meca Foro]], May 30, 2013 (Spanish) » [[Macintosh]]
* [http://rybkaforum.net/cgi-bin/rybkaforum/topic_show.pl?tid=30052 SARGON] by Vegan, [[Computer Chess Forums|Rybka Forum]], April 08, 2015
* [http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8273 Kevin. E. leavelle] by [[Fernando Villegas|Fernando]], [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], February 18, 2017
=External Links=
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_%28chess%29 Sargon (chess) from Wikipedia]
* [https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/program.php?id=461 Sargon's ICGA Tournaments]
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=20666 The chess games of Sargon] from [http://www.chessgames.com/index.html chessgames.com]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20071221115817/http://classicchess.googlepages.com/Chess.htm Classic Computer Chess - ... The programs of yesteryear] by [[Carey Bloodworth|Carey]], hosted by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Archive Internet Archive] <ref>[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=56938&start=2 Re: Old programs CHAOS and USC] by [[Dann Corbit]], [[CCC]], July 11, 2015</ref>
* [http://wondersmith.com/rants/howfar.htm How Far We've Come: 20 Years of Personal Computing] by [http://wondersmith.com/scifi/author.htm Blake Linton Wilfong], November 05, 2000 » [[ACM 1981]], [[Cray Blitz]], [[Crafty]]
* [http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=1026 Sargon – a chess program from the past] from [[ChessBase|ChessBase News]], June 27, 2003
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/main.php?sec=thm-42f15c9b2be73&sel=thm-42f15cde9001e Chess For Everyone - Micros Become Masters] from [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [http://www.andreadrian.de/schach/ Computer Schach] by [[Andre Adrian]] (German)
: [http://www.andreadrian.de/schach/sargon.asm Sargon Z80 assembly listing] by [[Dan Spracklen|Dan]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]], hosted by [[Andre Adrian]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/sargon-series Sargon series] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
==Sargon II==
[[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Commodore VIC-20]], [[Commodore 64]], [[TRS-80]]
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6dae8f Sargon II: A Computer Chess Program], [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sargon-ii Sargon II] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/vic-20/sargon-ii Sargon II for VIC-20 (1982) - MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/sargon-ii Sargon II for Commodore 64 (1983) - MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/apple2/sargon-ii/cover-art Sargon II (198?) Apple II cover art - MobyGames]
* [http://www.fadden.com/techmisc/cassette-protect.htm Early Copy Protection on the Apple II], [http://www.fadden.com/index.htm Fadden.com] » [[MicroChess]]
* [http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-sargon-ii_4510.html Atari 400 800 XL XE Sargon II]
* [http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-zaps-programs.htm#backupsargon2 How to Back Up The Sargon II Tape -and- How to Put Sargon II on Disk] by R Baker, from [http://www.trs-80.com/wordpress/ Ira Goldklang's TRS-80 Revived Site]
* [http://www.gamespot.com/sargon-ii-chess/ Sargon II Chess] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameSpot GameSpot]
* [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/commodore_c64_sargon_ii.html Commodore 64/128 Old Computer Chess Game Collection - Sargon II] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
: [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/c64_emu_-_sargon_ii.html Commodore 64 Emulator - Computer Chess Game Collection - Sargon II Chess] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
* [http://www.c64-wiki.de/index.php/Sargon_II Sargon II – C64-Wiki] (German)
==Sargon III==
[[Apple II]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Macintosh]], [[IBM PC|PC]]
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=sft-431f693475252 Sargon III chess program], [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sargon-iii Sargon III] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/apple2/sargon-iii Sargon III for Apple II (1983) - MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/sargon-iii Sargon III for DOS (1983) - MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/sargon-iii Sargon III for Commodore 64 (1984) - MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/macintosh/sargon-iii Sargon III for Macintosh (1984) - MobyGames]
* [http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-sargon-iii_4511.html Atari 400 800 XL XE Sargon III]
* [http://www.atariarchives.org/deli/computer_chess.php Computer Chess] by [[Dan Spracklen|Dan]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]] from [http://www.atariarchives.org/ AtariArchives.org - archiving vintage computer books, information, and software]
* [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/commodore_c64_sargon_iii.html Commodore 64/128 Old Computer Chess Game Collection - Sargon III] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
: [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/c64_emu_-_sargon_iii.html Commodore 64 Emulator - Computer Chess Game Collection - Sargon III Chess] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
* [http://www.c64-wiki.de/index.php/Sargon_III Sargon III – C64-Wiki] (German)
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Chronicles Computer Chronicles]: [http://archive.org/details/Computer1985_6 Computer Games (1985)] from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Archive Internet Archive], "[[Kathe Spracklen#LadySargon|Lady Sargon]]" introducing Sargon III for [[Macintosh]] at 4:10
==Sargon 4==
[[Macintosh]], [[IBM PC|PC]]
* [http://www.pcmuseum.ca/details.asp?id=39091&type=software The Personal Computer Museum, Brantford, Ontario, Canada - Sargon 4]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sargon-4 Sargon 4 for DOS (1989)] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
* [http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv3n9/macpconst.html Sargon IV and Printer Interface III] by David Plotkin, [http://www.atarimagazines.com/index/?issue=startv3n9 STart Vol. 3 No. 9], April 1989
==Sargon 5==
[[Macintosh]], [[IBM PC|PC]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philips_CD-i Philips CD-i]
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=sft-431f693470431 Sargon Chess program], [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [http://www.top-5000.nl/cp.htm Download Chess Programs] hosted by [[Ed Schroder|Ed Schröder]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sargon-5-world-class-chess Sargon 5: World Class Chess for DOS (1991)] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/945809-sargon-v-world-class-chess Sargon V: World Class Chess for PC] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameFAQs GameFAQs]
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/cdi/937503-sargon-chess Sargon Chess for CD-I] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameFAQs GameFAQs]
==Misc==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon Sargon (disambiguation) from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_the_Sorcerer Sargon the Sorcerer from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_of_Akkad Sargon of Akkad from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_I Sargon I from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_II Sargon II from Wikipedia]
=References=
<references />
'''[[Engines|Up one Level]]'''
[[Category:Spracklen Quotes]]
[[FILE:Sargon I screenshot.png|border|right|thumb|329px|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_%28chess%29|Sargon I for the [[Apple II]] <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_%28chess%29 Sargon (chess) from Wikipedia]</ref> ]]
'''Sargon''',<br/>
a family of chess programs by [[Dan Spracklen|Dan]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]]. They started chess programming in 1977 on a [[Z80|Z-80]] based ''Wavemate Jupiter III'' <ref>[http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/JupiterII-1975.htm Jupiter II-1975]</ref> in [[Assembly|assembly language]]. The '''first''' Sargon version had a [[10x12 Board#Sargon|10x12 board]] board representation and a two [[Ply|ply]] [[Alpha-Beta|alpha-beta search]] without [[Quiescence Search|quiescence]] but a [[SOMA#SOMAALGO|SOMA]] like [[Static Exchange Evaluation|exchange evaluation]] <ref>[[Dan Spracklen]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6da6d4 First Steps in Computer Chess Programming] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte_%28magazine%29 Byte] Publications Inc., as [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/4-4.First_Steps.Byte_Magazine/First_Steps_in_Computer_Chess_Programing.Spracklen-Dan_Kathe.Byte_Magazine.Oct-1978.062303035.sm.pdf pdf reprint] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.andreadrian.de/schach/sargon.asm Sargon Z80 assembly listing] by [[Dan Spracklen|Dan]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]], hosted by [[Andre Adrian]]</ref>.
After first tournament successes in 1978, at [[MCCT 1978|The Second West Coast Computer Faire]], winning with a 100% score <ref>[http://www.amazon.com/The-BYTE-Book-Computer-Music/dp/0070430977 Chris Morgan] ('''1978'''). ''[http://blog.modernmechanix.com/the-second-west-coast-computer-faire/1/#mmGal The Second West Coast Computer Faire]''. [[Byte Magazine#BYTE307|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 7]], hosted by [http://blog.modernmechanix.com/ Modern Mechanix], Photo 4: [[Ira Baxter|Ira Baxter’s]] [[SD Chess|chess playing system]] display, which competed in the [[MCCT 1978|Microcomputer Chess Tournament]] at the Faire. The level of play was impressive, and the winning program, called [[Sargon|SARGON]], was a 16 K byte [[Z80|Z-80]] [[Assembly|assembler]] program written by a husband and wife team, [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]].</ref>, and the shared third place at [[ACM 1978]] already with '''Sargon II''', the Spracklens became professional computer chess programmers. They first started selling their well commented Sargon I Z-80 assembly listing as paper copy for $15 by their own <ref>page 25 in [http://www.computerhistory.org/trustee/gardner-hendrie Gardner Hendrie] ('''2005'''). ''Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen''. [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref>, and then made a contract with ''Hayden Books'' to publish a book about Sargon with explanations and listing <ref>[[Dan Spracklen]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). ''SARGON: A Computer Chess Program''. Hayden Bk.Co. ISBN: 978-0810451551, [http://www.amazon.com/Sargon-Computer-Program-Dan-Spracklen/dp/0810451557 amazon.com]</ref>. ''Hayden Software'' <ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/company/hayden-software-co Hayden Software Co.] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]</ref> remained primary distributor of all further Sargon software versions, even when the Spracklens worked full time for [[Fidelity Electronics]] during the 80s.
=MOS Technology=
'''Sargon I''' was already ported to the [[Apple II]] by [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe Spracklen's]] brother, Gary Shannon <ref>page 30 in [http://www.computerhistory.org/trustee/gardner-hendrie Gardner Hendrie] ('''2005'''). ''Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen''. [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref>. Despite its lower frequency, they found the [[6502]] the much better processor for their program than the Z80, and soon the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology MOS Technology] processor became the major target platform.
<span id="Sargon2"></span>
=Sargon II=
'''Sargon II''' was written for various [[Z80|Z-80]] and [[6502]] based home computers, and was base for their first [[Dedicated Chess Computers|dedicated unit]], the [[Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5]] <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_ARB_Sargon_2.5 Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki]</ref>. After civil proceedings between manufacturer [[Applied Concepts]] <ref>[http://www.great-game-machine.com/ Great Game Machine]</ref> and their sales company [[Chafitz]], the Spracklens began their long term collaboration with [[Sidney Samole]] and [[Fidelity Electronics]] in the 80s. Sargon II already played the [[ACM 1978]] still with the ''Jupiter III'', and the [[WMCCC 1980]], where it had to compete with its dedicated relatives, winner [[Chess Challenger]], runner up [[Boris|Boris Experimental]], [[Chafitz Modular Game System|Sargon 2.5 Modular GS]] and [[Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5|Sargon 2.5 Auto RB]], and became tied third with 3/5, last game losing from Challenger.
<span id="Sargon3"></span>
=Sargon III=
'''Sargon III''' was a complete rewrite, using [[Quiescence Search|quiescence search]], and a [[Transposition Table|transposition table]] with [[BCH Hashing|BCH hashing]]. Sargon III was ported to the [[68000]], to be the first third-party executable software for the [[Macintosh]] <ref>[http://www.computerhistory.org/trustee/gardner-hendrie Gardner Hendrie] ('''2005'''). ''Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen''. [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref>. The [[8086]] Sargon III port for [[IBM PC|PC]] was done by [[Kevin Leavelle]] in 1984 <ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,25972/ Kevin Leavelle Video Game Credits and Biography] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]</ref>, so that three Sargon 3 software versions played the [[WMCCC 1984]], where the [[Fidelity Electronics]] [[Elite]] by the same authors tied for first place, the [[Apple II]] became 10th with 4/7, the Macintosh 12th with 3½/7 and the [[8086|8088]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq Compaq] PC 17th with 2½/7. In cooperation agreement between [[Fidelity Electronics]] and [[Software Toolworks]] in 1988, an enhanced and improved Sargon III was market as [[Chessmaster#2100|Fidelity Chessmaster 2100]] <ref>Reply by [[Mark Manyen]] in [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/commodore_c64_fidelity_chessma.html Fidelity Chessmaster 2100] from [[The Spacious Mind]]</ref>.
=Photos & Games=
==Mike==
[[FILE:Mike_Johnson_1_40_x_40.JPG|none|border|text-bottom|580px|link=http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/chess_computers_-_the_uk_story.html]]
[[Kathe Spracklen]] and [[Mike Johnson]], [[Mike]] vs. [[Sargon|Sargon 2]], [[ACM 1978]] <ref>[http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/chess_computers_-_the_uk_story.html Chess Computers - The UK Story] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.csvn.nl/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=60&Itemid=26&lang=en PGN Download NACCC] from [http://www.csvn.nl/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=13&Itemid=26&lang=en Computerschaak/Downloads/Games] hosted by [[CSVN]]</ref>
<pre>
[Event "ACM 1978"]
[Site "Washington USA"]
[Date "1978.12.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mike"]
[Black "Sargon 2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
1.e4 e5 2.d4 Nc6 3.d5 Nb4 4.c3 Na6 5.f4 Nc5 6.fxe5 Qh4+ 7.Kd2 Nxe4+ 8.Kc2 Nf2
9.Qe1 Bc5 10.Nf3 Qh5 11.Rg1 Ne7 12.Be3 Qg6+ 13.Kc1 Bxe3+ 14.Qxe3 Ng4 15.Qd2 d6
16.Bd3 Qh5 17.Bb5+ Bd7 18.Bxd7+ Kxd7 19.exd6 cxd6 20.h3 Nf6 21.Qg5 Qxg5+
22.Nxg5 Rhf8 23.c4 Rac8 24.Nd2 Nexd5 25.Kb1 Ne3 26.Nge4 Nxe4 27.Nxe4 Rxc4
28.Nc3 f5 29.a4 d5 30.g3 Rf6 31.Re1 d4 32.Nb5 a6 33.Nxd4 f4 34.gxf4 Rxd4
35.Rxe3 Rfxf4 36.a5 Rd1+ 37.Ka2 Ra4+ 38.Ra3 Rxa3+ 39.bxa3 Rd2+ 40.Kb3 Rd3+
41.Kc4 Rxh3 42.Rd1+ Kc6 43.a4 Rh5 44.Kb4 Rh4+ 45.Kb3 Rh3+ 46.Kc4 Rh5
47.Kb4 Rh4+ 48.Kb3 Rh3+ 49.Kc4 Rh5 50.Kb4 Rh4+ 1/2-1/2
</pre>
<span id="Awit"></span>
==Awit==
[[Dan Spracklen|Dan]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]] from their oral history on the Sargon 2 vs [[Awit]] game, round 4, [[ACM 1978]] <ref>page 35-36 in [http://www.computerhistory.org/trustee/gardner-hendrie Gardner Hendrie] ('''2005'''). ''Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen''. [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref> <ref>see also [[Harry Shershow]] ('''1979'''). ''A Little Bit is a Little Better''. [[Personal Computing#3_4|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 4]], pp. 61</ref>:
I think the most exciting part for us was the last round of the tournament, when we played [[Tony Marsland|Tony Marsland’s]] program [[Awit]]. It was a 6 million dollar [[Amdahl 470|Amdahl computer]]. And we won the game. And we were just amazed. I remember, at the time, we won it. And there was a huge audience there. There was like a hundred people sitting out there, watching it, and they just all started cheering and clapping. And then we woke up the following morning to a big article in the Washington Post that says, Microcomputer Beats 6 Million Dollar Machine, or something like that.
<pre>
[Event "ACM 1978"]
[Site "Washington USA"]
[Date "1978.12.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sargon 2"]
[Black "Awit"]
[Result "1-0"]
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bb5 a6 8.Bxc6 dxc6
9.Bd2 Ng4 10.Qf4 Nf6 11.O-O O-O 12.Rad1 b5 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Bd4 Bxc3 15.Bxc3 Qxa2
16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qxf6 Qc4 18.Qg5+ Kh8 19.Qf6+ Kg8 20.Qg5+ Kh8 21.Rd8 Rxd8 22.Qf6+
Kg8 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Qxd8+ Kg7 25.Qg5+ Kf8 26.Qd8+ Kg7 27.Qd4+ Qxd4 28.Nxd4 Bb7
29.Re1 Kg6 30.Re3 Rd8 31.Rd3 c5 32.Nxe6 Rxd3 33.Nf4+ Kg5 34.Nxd3 Bxe4 35.Nxc5
Bxc2 36.Nxa6 Bb3 37.Nc5 Bd5 38.g3 Bf3 39.Nb3 b4 40.Nd4 Be4 41.f3 Bb7 42.Kf2 h6
43.Ke3 Bd5 44.Nc2 b3 45.Nd4 Kg6 46.Kd3 Kh7 47.f4 Kg8 48.Kc3 Kg7 49.Nxb3 Bxb3
50.Kxb3 Kf6 51.Kc4 Ke7 52.b4 Kd7 53.Kd5 h5 54.b5 Kc7 55.Kc5 Kb7 56.b6 Kb8 57.Kc6
Kc8 58.b7+ Kb8 59.Kb6 h4 60.gxh4 f6 61.h5 f5 62.Kc6 Ka7 63.Kc7 Ka6 64.b8=Q Ka5
65.Qb3 Ka6 66.Qa4# 1-0
</pre>
=See also=
* [[Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5]]
* [[Chafitz Modular Game System]]
* [[Chess Challenger]]
* [[Chessmaster#2100|Fidelity Chessmaster 2100]]
* [[Various Classifications#Legend|Legend]]
* [[Various Classifications#Nobility|Nobility]]
* [[10x12 Board#Sargon|Sargon's 10x12 Board]]
* [[SOMA#SOMAALGO|SOMA Algorithm]]
* [[Fidelity Electronics#SpracklensAppleICE|Spracklens debugging with Apple II ICE]]
=Pages with Spracklen Quotes=
* [[:Category:Spracklen Quotes]]
=Publications=
==1978 ...==
* [[Dan Spracklen]], [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). ''[http://web.archive.org/web/20070614114334/http://madscientistroom.org/chm/Sargon.html SARGON: A Computer Chess Program]''. Hayden Bk.Co.
* [http://www.amazon.com/The-BYTE-Book-Computer-Music/dp/0070430977 Chris Morgan] ('''1978'''). ''[http://blog.modernmechanix.com/the-second-west-coast-computer-faire/1/#mmGal The Second West Coast Computer Faire]''. [[Byte Magazine#BYTE307|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 7]] » [[MCCT 1978]]
* [[Dan Spracklen]], [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). ''First Steps in Computer Chess Programming''. [[Byte Magazine#BYTE310|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 10]], [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/4-4.First_Steps.Byte_Magazine/First_Steps_in_Computer_Chess_Programing.Spracklen-Dan_Kathe.Byte_Magazine.Oct-1978.062303035.sm.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [[Dan Spracklen]], [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). ''An Exchange Evaluator for Computer Chess''. [[Byte Magazine#BYTE311|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 11]]
* [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1978'''). ''The Making of Sargon''. [[Personal Computing#2_12|Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 12]], pp. 62
* [[Kathe Spracklen]] ('''1979'''). ''The Playing of Sargon''. [[Personal Computing#3_1|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 1]], pp. 70
* [[Harry Shershow]] ('''1979'''). ''A Little Bit is a Little Better''. [[Personal Computing#3_4|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 4]], pp. 61 » [[Sargon#Awit|Sargon - Awit]]
* [[Harry Shershow]] ('''1979'''). ''Chafitz' Big Move in Computer Chess''. [[Personal Computing#3_9|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9]], pp. 59 » [[Boris]], [[Chafitz]]
* Charles Sullivan Jr. ('''1979'''). ''A Chess Program for the Apple''. [[Personal Computing#3_9|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9]], pp. 60 » [[Apple II]]
==1980 ...==
* Lynn L. Beavers ('''1980'''). ''Sargon II: A Human View''. [[Personal Computing#4_9|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 9]], pp. 79
* Editor ('''1980'''). ''The battle of Boris 2.5 vs Sargon 2.5'' [[Personal Computing#4_10|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10]], pp. 83 » [[Boris#2.5|Boris 2.5]], [[Applied Concepts]], [[Chafitz]]
* [[William Fink]] ('''1981'''). ''Sfinks riddles Sargon II''. [[Personal Computing#5_3|Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 3]], pp. 104 » [[Sfinks]]
* [[John F. White]] ('''1981'''). ''[http://yourcomputeronline.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/survey-chess-games/ Survey-Chess Games]''. [[Your Computer]], [http://yourcomputeronline.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/augustseptember-1981-contents-and-editorial/ August/September 1981]
* [[John F. White]] ('''1982'''). ''[http://yourcomputeronline.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/review-chess-computers/ Review-Chess Computers]''. [[Your Computer]], [http://yourcomputeronline.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/march-1982-contents-and-editorial/ March 1982]
==2000 ...==
* [[Rob van Son]] ('''2003'''). ''Sargon fought until the very end!''. [[Selective Search]] 106, [http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/01-2016,%20Rob%20van%20Son,%20Sargon%20fought%20until%20the%20very%20end!.pdf pdf] hosted by [[Hein Veldhuis]] (2016)
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/trustee/gardner-hendrie Gardner Hendrie] ('''2005'''). ''Oral History of Kathe and Dan Spracklen''. [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/spracklen.oral_history_transcript.2005.102630821.pdf pdf] and [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/related_materials/oral-history/spacklen.oral_history.2005.102630821/index.php?iid=orl-43343fb422232 Video] from [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [[Rob van Son]] ('''2011'''). ''De Assyrische krijgsman die vaak won!'' (Dutch) [http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/10-2011,%20Rob%20van%20Son,%20De%20Assyrische%20krijgsman%20die%20vaak%20won.pdf pdf] hosted by [[Hein Veldhuis]]
=Forum Posts=
==1989==
* [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/7dxSVCWzNQY/5igmGfVIYnIJ Sargon IV] by Paul H. Nelson, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], August 08, 1989
==1990 ...==
* [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/qH7LeruGk7E/lPbqPfJuXyAJ Sargon V rating ("they claim")] by John M. Nason, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], September 18, 1992
* [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/wCJMvTiAHbQ/VQhAoTIzQu8J Is Sargon IV System 7 compatible?] by Bertrand Limoges, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], October 27, 1992
* [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/vMfQCuDkedM/b-J5QlYKBUsJ Strength of Sargon III on Commodore 64] by Daniel Marsalone, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], January 08, 1993
* [https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/JFm3Z8kKfcU/81wlkUtSwMcJ Sargon 4] by Michael M Gorman Jr, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], May 27, 1993
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/a9e582deb4ffd0de Sargon] by Randal Dean, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], March 27, 1997
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/46f6faf068a47fe Sargon V] by parrot-head, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], September 15, 1999
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=84425 Sargon V: from 486-33Mhz to Pentium 266 Mhz] by [[Fernando Villegas]], [[CCC]], December 26, 1999
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=84628 Sargon Coming down in Flames...] by [[Fernando Villegas]], [[CCC]], December 27, 1999
==2000 ...==
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=106541 OLD Sargon II and Sargon III chess programs] by Osorio Meirelles, [[CCC]], April 18, 2000
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=116352 Is Sargon V code written by Dan and Kathy Spracklen ?] by Osorio Meirelles, [[CCC]], June 23, 2000
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=199546 Help with old software - Sargon III] by [[José Carlos Martínez Galán|José Carlos]], [[CCC]], November 29, 2001
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=244047 Re: Amusing errors to Sargon 4] by [[Fernando Villegas]], [[CCC]], August 04, 2002
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=277976 Sargon III for the PC] by Jeff White, [[CCC]], January 18, 2003
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=296318 Sargon V] by [[Bryan Whitby]], [[CCC]], May 12, 2003
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=299338 Old Sargon source articles] by Jan Willem de Kort, [[CCC]], June 04, 2003
==2010 ...==
* [http://www.foro.meca-web.es/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=72&start=10#p1706 Re: La Máquina Preservadora. Programas de Ajedrez] by Luis a, [[Computer Chess Forums|Meca Foro]], May 30, 2013 (Spanish) » [[Macintosh]]
* [http://rybkaforum.net/cgi-bin/rybkaforum/topic_show.pl?tid=30052 SARGON] by Vegan, [[Computer Chess Forums|Rybka Forum]], April 08, 2015
* [http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8273 Kevin. E. leavelle] by [[Fernando Villegas|Fernando]], [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], February 18, 2017
=External Links=
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_%28chess%29 Sargon (chess) from Wikipedia]
* [https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/program.php?id=461 Sargon's ICGA Tournaments]
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=20666 The chess games of Sargon] from [http://www.chessgames.com/index.html chessgames.com]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20071221115817/http://classicchess.googlepages.com/Chess.htm Classic Computer Chess - ... The programs of yesteryear] by [[Carey Bloodworth|Carey]], hosted by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Archive Internet Archive] <ref>[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=56938&start=2 Re: Old programs CHAOS and USC] by [[Dann Corbit]], [[CCC]], July 11, 2015</ref>
* [http://wondersmith.com/rants/howfar.htm How Far We've Come: 20 Years of Personal Computing] by [http://wondersmith.com/scifi/author.htm Blake Linton Wilfong], November 05, 2000 » [[ACM 1981]], [[Cray Blitz]], [[Crafty]]
* [http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=1026 Sargon – a chess program from the past] from [[ChessBase|ChessBase News]], June 27, 2003
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/main.php?sec=thm-42f15c9b2be73&sel=thm-42f15cde9001e Chess For Everyone - Micros Become Masters] from [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [http://www.andreadrian.de/schach/ Computer Schach] by [[Andre Adrian]] (German)
: [http://www.andreadrian.de/schach/sargon.asm Sargon Z80 assembly listing] by [[Dan Spracklen|Dan]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]], hosted by [[Andre Adrian]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/sargon-series Sargon series] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
==Sargon II==
[[Apple II]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Commodore VIC-20]], [[Commodore 64]], [[TRS-80]]
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6dae8f Sargon II: A Computer Chess Program], [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sargon-ii Sargon II] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/vic-20/sargon-ii Sargon II for VIC-20 (1982) - MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/sargon-ii Sargon II for Commodore 64 (1983) - MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/apple2/sargon-ii/cover-art Sargon II (198?) Apple II cover art - MobyGames]
* [http://www.fadden.com/techmisc/cassette-protect.htm Early Copy Protection on the Apple II], [http://www.fadden.com/index.htm Fadden.com] » [[MicroChess]]
* [http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-sargon-ii_4510.html Atari 400 800 XL XE Sargon II]
* [http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-zaps-programs.htm#backupsargon2 How to Back Up The Sargon II Tape -and- How to Put Sargon II on Disk] by R Baker, from [http://www.trs-80.com/wordpress/ Ira Goldklang's TRS-80 Revived Site]
* [http://www.gamespot.com/sargon-ii-chess/ Sargon II Chess] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameSpot GameSpot]
* [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/commodore_c64_sargon_ii.html Commodore 64/128 Old Computer Chess Game Collection - Sargon II] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
: [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/c64_emu_-_sargon_ii.html Commodore 64 Emulator - Computer Chess Game Collection - Sargon II Chess] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
* [http://www.c64-wiki.de/index.php/Sargon_II Sargon II – C64-Wiki] (German)
==Sargon III==
[[Apple II]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Macintosh]], [[IBM PC|PC]]
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=sft-431f693475252 Sargon III chess program], [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sargon-iii Sargon III] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/apple2/sargon-iii Sargon III for Apple II (1983) - MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/sargon-iii Sargon III for DOS (1983) - MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/sargon-iii Sargon III for Commodore 64 (1984) - MobyGames]
: [http://www.mobygames.com/game/macintosh/sargon-iii Sargon III for Macintosh (1984) - MobyGames]
* [http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-sargon-iii_4511.html Atari 400 800 XL XE Sargon III]
* [http://www.atariarchives.org/deli/computer_chess.php Computer Chess] by [[Dan Spracklen|Dan]] and [[Kathe Spracklen]] from [http://www.atariarchives.org/ AtariArchives.org - archiving vintage computer books, information, and software]
* [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/commodore_c64_sargon_iii.html Commodore 64/128 Old Computer Chess Game Collection - Sargon III] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
: [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/c64_emu_-_sargon_iii.html Commodore 64 Emulator - Computer Chess Game Collection - Sargon III Chess] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
* [http://www.c64-wiki.de/index.php/Sargon_III Sargon III – C64-Wiki] (German)
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Chronicles Computer Chronicles]: [http://archive.org/details/Computer1985_6 Computer Games (1985)] from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Archive Internet Archive], "[[Kathe Spracklen#LadySargon|Lady Sargon]]" introducing Sargon III for [[Macintosh]] at 4:10
==Sargon 4==
[[Macintosh]], [[IBM PC|PC]]
* [http://www.pcmuseum.ca/details.asp?id=39091&type=software The Personal Computer Museum, Brantford, Ontario, Canada - Sargon 4]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sargon-4 Sargon 4 for DOS (1989)] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
* [http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv3n9/macpconst.html Sargon IV and Printer Interface III] by David Plotkin, [http://www.atarimagazines.com/index/?issue=startv3n9 STart Vol. 3 No. 9], April 1989
==Sargon 5==
[[Macintosh]], [[IBM PC|PC]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philips_CD-i Philips CD-i]
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=sft-431f693470431 Sargon Chess program], [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [http://www.top-5000.nl/cp.htm Download Chess Programs] hosted by [[Ed Schroder|Ed Schröder]]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sargon-5-world-class-chess Sargon 5: World Class Chess for DOS (1991)] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/945809-sargon-v-world-class-chess Sargon V: World Class Chess for PC] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameFAQs GameFAQs]
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/cdi/937503-sargon-chess Sargon Chess for CD-I] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameFAQs GameFAQs]
==Misc==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon Sargon (disambiguation) from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_the_Sorcerer Sargon the Sorcerer from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_of_Akkad Sargon of Akkad from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_I Sargon I from Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargon_II Sargon II from Wikipedia]
=References=
<references />
'''[[Engines|Up one Level]]'''
[[Category:Spracklen Quotes]]
