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==The King==
With the release of ''Chessmaster '''4000 Turbo''''' in '''1993''', [[The King]] by [[Johan de Koning]] became the CM engine until the present, with annual, biennial and triennial releases for major [[Windows]] versions until ''Chessmaster '''XI''''' in 2007, incorporating the ''The King '''3.50''''' with a [[Parallel Search|parallel search]] able to support multiple processors. The King Version '''3.12''' has become a [[WinBoard]] engine within the ''ChessMaster '''8000''''' and newer versions <ref>[http://horizonchess.com/FAQ/Winboard/confusion.html What can Winboard do?] by [[Aaron Tay]], March 01, 2002, hosted by [[Ron Murawski]]</ref> . Some versions were also made available for [[Mac OS]] computers, and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_Live_Arcade Xbox Live Arcade] <ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/game/chessmaster-live Chessmaster LIVE for Xbox 360 (2008)] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]</ref>.
=Releases=
* 2007: Chessmaster XI - The King 3.50
<span id="EGTB"></span>
=Endgame Tablebases=
Chessmaster '''9000''' and later versions support their own compact 3-5-man [[Endgame Tablebases|Endgame Tablebases]] designed by [[Johan de Koning]], which can be generated with the ''Final Endgame Generator'' (FEG) via the [[Windows]] [[CLI|Command Prompt]] <ref>[ftp://ftp.ubisoft.com/games/chessmaster/other/FEG-Readme.TXT An Introduction to FEG and Endgame Databases]</ref>. Tablebase researcher [[Marc Bourzutschky]] further created some theoretically important six piece EGTBs in 2003 <ref>[http://www.volny.cz/evcomp/dkas2.htm De Koenig's endgame databases] by [[Emil Vlasák]]</ref>.
=Companies=
[[Software Toolworks]] was founded in 1980 by [[Walt Bilofsky]], who was one of three programmers who designed and created the Chessmaster in the mid 80s <ref>[http://www.toolworks.com/bilofsky/software.htm Walt's Home Page - Software Publisher]</ref>. In 1994, ''Software Toolworks, Inc.'' was merged to [[Mindscape]] <ref>[https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/3oL-J6n8nBU/qX3ovhUOBgkJ Software Toolworks (Mindscape) is there, and *yes* they do care!] by Joe Stella, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], December 24, 1994</ref> <ref>[https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.chess/XdN-hL47cb0/Uu_iu24M9iIJ Net Contact List of Chessmaster] by [[Carlos Justiniano]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgc]], April 06, 1995</ref> in conjunction with the acquirement by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearson_PLC Pearson PLC] <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindscape Mindscape from Wikipedia] mentions: Mindscape sold to Pearson PLC for $503 million in 1994</ref> with [[Michael E. Duffy]] <ref>[[Michael E. Duffy]] mentions sale of The Software Toolworks to Pearson PLC for $462 million, April 1994, [http://www.mikeduffy.com/ Michael E. Duffy & Associates]</ref> and [[David Grenewetzki]] <ref> [[David Grenewetzki]] mentions $462 million sale of The Software Toolworks to Pearson PLC, Mai 1993, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgreno David Grenewetzki - LinkedIn]</ref> involved, in 1998 sold to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Learning_Company The Learning Company], in the same year bought by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattel Mattel] and renamed to ''Mattel Interactive''. In 2000, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gores_Group The Gores Group] carves out the re-renamed ''Learning Company'' from Mattel, and the ''Game Studios'' of The Learning Company was sold to [[Ubisoft|Ubi Soft]] - all employees were given the opportunity to become employees of their most well-known studio, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubisoft_Red_Storm Red Storm Entertainment] <ref>[https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=159490 Software Toolworks to Ubi Soft (OT)] by [[John Merlino]], [[CCC]], March 20, 2001</ref> .
=Associated People=
=Selected Games=
==Aegon 1995==
[[Aegon 1995]], round 5, [[David Bronstein]] - [[Chessmaster|Chessmaster 4000]] <ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1238107 David Bronstein vs Chessmaster] from [http://www.chessgames.com/index.html chessgames.com]</ref>
<pre>
36.Rd1 Rc2 37.Rd8 g5 38.Rxf8+ Kxf8 39.Ra8+ Ke7 40.c8=Q 1-0
</pre>
[https://lichess.org/leiW4L9c View this game on Lichess.org]
==Match vs GM Larry Christiansen ==
In September 2002, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Christiansen Larry Christiansen] played a 4 games match versus Chessmaster 9000 on ICC <ref>8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Week_in_Chess TWIC] #415. ''17) Larry Christiansen vs. Chessmaster 9000 Match''.</ref><br/>
Larry Christiansen lost the 3rd game where he sacrificed a rook to get a strong attack. 55...Rh5! would have been probably winning! <br/>
Chessmaster 9000 won the match 2.5-1.5.<br/>
[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?pid=15040&pid2=70670 The 4 games on chessgames.com]
<br/>
<br/>The 3rd game.
<pre>
[Event "ICC 2 120 u"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2002.09.29"]
[Round "3"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Chessmaster (Computer)"]
[Black "Larry Mark Christiansen"]
[ECO "A28"]
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Ne5 9.e3 d6
10.Be2 Ng6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.O-O O-O 13.Qc2 Re8 14.Rfd1 Nf8 15.Bd3 Ne6 16.Nb3 Rb8 17.a4 Qe7
18.a5 Bd7 19.a6 b6 20.Nd4 Nc5 21.Nb5 Bxb5 22.cxb5 Qf6 23.Bc4 Re5 24.Bd5 Rbe8 25.Rd4 Ne6
26.Rd2 g6 27.Ra4 Kg7 28.Rd1 Re7 29.Rb4 g5 30.Bc6 Qg6 31.Qb2 f5 32.Qb1 Qf6 33.Bd5 f4 34.e4
Nf8 35.f3 h5 36.Qc2 Ng6 37.Qa2 Kh6 38.Qd2 Rg7 39.Qd4 g4 40.fxg4 Nh4 41.Rb2 Rxg4 42.Kh1 Ng6
43.Rf2 Qe7 44.Qd2 Reg5 45.Ra1 h4 46.c4 Qe5 47.Rc1 Kg7 48.Bc6 Qe7 49.Rcf1 Re5 50.Qc3 Kh6
51.Bd5 Reg5 52.Qb3 Qe5 53.Rd1 Rg3 54.hxg3 hxg3 55.Ra2 Rg4 56.Kg1 Qh5 57.Kf1 f3 58.Ke1 f2+
59.Kd2 Rh4 60.Qe3+ Kg7 61.Rf1 Qe5 62.Kc2 Rh2 63.Qf3 Qf4 64.e5 Qxf3 65.Bxf3 Nxe5 66.Bd5 Rh5
67.Ra3 Rg5 68.Kd2 Ng6 69.Re3 Ne5 70.Ke2 Kf6 71.Rh1 Ng6 72.Rh7 1-0
</pre>
[https://lichess.org/QxzuV22w View this game on Lichess.org] <br/>
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuXZ7vW728c Youtube video for this game with comments from GM Larry Christiansen himself]
=See also=
=Publications=
* [https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/1989/james-trunzo James V. Trunzo] ('''1986'''). ''[https://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue78/027_1_Reviews_Chessmaster_2000.php Chessmaster 2000]''. [[Compute!]], [https://archive.org/stream/1986-11-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_078_1986_Nov#page/n67/mode/2up Issue 078]
* [https://www.linkedin.com/pub/tim-carter/17/620/80a Tim Carter] ('''1992'''). ''Knight Stalker - Software Toolworks' Chessmaster 3000''. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Gaming_World Computer Gaming World], 08/1992, [http://pdf.textfiles.com/zines/CGW/1992_08_issue97.pdf pdf]
* [[Shawn Benn]], [[Danny Kopec]] ('''1993'''). ''The Bratko-Kopec Test Recalibrated.'' [[ICGA Journal#16_3|ICCA Journal, Vol. 16, No. 3]] » [[Bratko-Kopec Test]]
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=86638 Potential STRONG Chessmaster personality] by [[John Merlino]], [[CCC]], January 07, 2000
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=99410 Re: Chessmaster on winboard?] by [[John Merlino]], [[CCC]], February 28, 2000 » [[WinBoard]]
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=163590 CM8 Utzinger strongest chess program of the world??] by [[Kurt Utzinger]], [[CCC]], April 15, 2001
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=166208 CM8 Utzinger: Latest results] by [[Kurt Utzinger]], [[CCC]], April 26, 2001
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=112355 An open call to all USCF rated players from the Chessmaster developers] by [[John Merlino]], [[CCC]], May 24, 2000
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=120408 Chessmaster 8000 FAQ] by [[John Merlino]], [[CCC]], July 19, 2000
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=277597 Chessmaster 2000 for Amiga, Release: 1986] by [[Eli David|Omid David]], [[CCC]], January 16, 2003
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=287267 Re: Just Curious - Does anyone know Johan de Koning of Chessmaster fame?] by [[John Merlino]], [[CCC]], February 28, 2003
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=297506 Re: Kurt Utzinger: I don't understand why you stop testing The King engine] by [[Kurt Utzinger]], [[CCC]], May 21, 2003
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=324722 Usage of general.ctg book+CB learner by ChessMaster in SSDF testing] by [[Gian-Carlo Pascutto]], [[CCC]], October 30, 2003
'''2004'''
==2015 ...==
* [http://hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9403&start=16 DOSBox Windows 95 for Chess] by [[The Spacious Mind]], [[Computer Chess Forums|HIARCS Forum]], March 09, 2019 » [[Bringer]], ...
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=71765 Strongest currently available Winboard engines for import to Chessmaster?] by Matthew Power, [[CCC]], September 09, 2019* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=71774 ChessMaster:Worlds Greatest Chess Program Or Corrupt Criminal Enterprise?] by supersharp77, [[CCC]], September 09, 2019 <span id="CM11Settings"></span>
==CM11 Settings and Testing==
<ref>[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50819&start=1 Re: Which is the best personality CM XI ? (in elo strength)] by [[Graham Banks]], [[CCC]], January 07, 2014</ref>
* [http://kirill-kryukov.com/chess/discussion-board/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5162 CM11 Slugfest II (completed)] by [[Graham Banks]], [[Computer Chess Forums|CCRL Discussion Board]], May 30, 2010
* [http://kirill-kryukov.com/chess/discussion-board/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5991 CM11 Champions 2011 (completed)] by [[Graham Banks]], [[Computer Chess Forums|CCRL Discussion Board]], July 18, 2011
* [http://kirill-kryukov.com/chess/discussion-board/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6130 Arrival Of The Conqueror (completed)] by [[Graham Banks]], [[Computer Chess Forums|CCRL Discussion Board]], September 17, 2011 <ref>[http://www.computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/4040/cgi/engine_details.cgi?match_length=30&each_game=1&print=Details&each_game=1&eng=Chessmaster%2011%20Conqueror#Chessmaster_11_Conqueror Chessmaster 11 Conqueror]] in [[CCRL|CCRL 40/15]]</ref>
* [http://kirill-kryukov.com/chess/discussion-board/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12089 The Conqueror] by [[Graham Banks]], [[Computer Chess Forums|CCRL Discussion Board]], May 30, 2020
=External Links=
* [http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/896/the-chessmaster-died-in-1997 VC&G | The Chessmaster Died in 1997] by Benj Edwards, August 27, 2012
* [http://kotaku.com/5939503/the-life-and-death-of-pc-gamings-most-famous-cover-star The Life, and Death, of PC Gaming's Most Famous Cover Star]
* [http://www.computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/404/cgi/compare_engines.cgi?family=Chessmaster&print=Rating+list&print=Results+table&print=LOS+table&print=Ponder+hit+table&print=Eval+difference+table&print=Comopp+gamenum+table&print=Overlap+table&print=Score+with+common+opponents Chessmaster] in [[CCRL|CCRL 40/4Blitz]]* [http://www.computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/4040/cgi/compare_engines.cgi?family=Chessmaster&print=Rating+list&print=Results+table&print=LOS+table&print=Ponder+hit+table&print=Eval+difference+table&print=Comopp+gamenum+table&print=Overlap+table&print=Score+with+common+opponents Chessmaster] in [[CCRL|CCRL 40/4015]]
==CM 2000==
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/chessmaster-2000 The Chessmaster 2000] - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
'''[[Engines|Up one level]]'''
[[Category:Commercial]]
[[Category:Z80]]
[[Category:6502]]
[[Category:68000]]
[[Category:8086]]
[[Category:X86]]
[[Category:Apple II]]
[[Category:Amiga]]
[[Category:Spectrum]]
[[Category:Atari 8-bit]]
[[Category:Atari ST]]
[[Category:Mac]]
[[Category:C64]]
[[Category:PC]]
[[Category:Master]]
