Playing the Computer

Scid offers two ways to play a Computer Opponent. They are against Phalanx, or any installed UCI Engine.

Other computer opponents can be found in the training features of Engine Analysis, Tablebases and Tree.

To play as Black, simply flip the board before starting a game. The clocks may be hidden by pressing the 'x' on the White clock.

Playing Phalanx

Phalanx is an old XBoard engine written by Dusan Dobes. With it one may play a game of Normal, Fischer (castling not supported), or Random Pawns Chess.

Recently, Dusan has updated Phalanx to be a stronger engine, with more sophisticated code for playing at different ELO. It's level can be adjusted roughly between 1400 (a novice club member), to 2400. There is also a computer coach (Toga II) watching, which will indicate when Phalanx has made a blunder.

Coach's analysis time is the allowable time for the coach to check the players moves for errors. If this time is not limited the coach is allowed to think in the background.

Playing an UCI Engine

Stronger opponents can be found against any installed UCI Engine. By default, this only includes Toga - but users may wish to install others. Stockfish is a good alternative, as it has an adjustable "Skill Level" feature.

Engine parameters may be configured - to tune performance or utilize engine features. Opening Books and Specific Openings to follow can also be selected.

It is now possible to play (or train with) any opening found in the ECO Window. With this window open at the desired line, select the "Import ECO" button.

Other configuration items are straight forward except:

• Fixed depth does not set the time per game but the depth the engine will calculate in half moves. As this disables the ability to calculate deeper if necessary, the computer will not see certain mates and combinations, the engine may play weaker and thus offer a better partner for training purposes.
• Nodes is similar to limiting the search depth, but here the engine has to move after the evaluation of a certain number of positions.
• Permanent thinking (sometimes also called ponder) allows the engine to calculate on the players time. If unchecked, the engine will stop analysing the position if the player has the move. If the game is set for a fixed time per move, this will weaken the engine. On the other hand, the engine might move immediately, if the player made the move it was analysing on the players time.
• Coach is Watching offers the player to take back a move if the computer thinks it is a blunder. The blunder value used is that of the Informant "Poor move" (not "Blunder") , and is configurable in the Informants window, where one may also alter the "Game is considered Won", which acts as a cutoff above which blunders are not notified.