STRONG
Revelation II 1 15 x 15

This webpage introduces the stronger chess computers in my collection. Each chess computer will have it’s own page of photographs, technical information, comment and games. Click on the photos below to go to each chess computer’s page. [Please note - some of the pages will be under construction for a while]

Right from the first chess computers to be sold to the public the race was on to produce a machine which could match and surpass human standards of play. The chess computers you see on this webpage are the result of the arms race between manufacturers, and between programmers, which waged through the 1980s, 90s and into this century. At the top end of the market the demand was for ever stronger levels of play, more and more features, ease and flexibility of use and pleasure in using the machine. As far as my particular collection is concerned these are the ‘best’.

For now I have chosen thirty of my strongest chess computers based on the Elo ratings published in Selective Search and Schachcomputer.info. These I am dividing into three groups of ten with the intention that each group play an all-play-all tournament of Active Chess (all moves in 30 minutes). The games will be added to each computers webpage as I play them and when finished I will try to commentate in detail on the most interesting games, with evaluations.

This is a long term project. In particular the game information will build up over time. Hopefully by the time the project has finished the reader will have the information they need to gain an appreciation of the playing characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of each of these chess computers.

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Manufacturer and Model

Country
of programmer and manufacture

Year
of release

Programmer

Selective
Search Elo
+
(Position on
All-Time List)

Selective Search
v Humans
Elo (Games)

Active
Chess
Elo
(Games)

Group One

 

 

 

 

 

 

.
.
.

Revelation II 1 3 x 3

DGT Revelation II

Netherlands

2013

Ruud Martin,
Uniake, Meyer-Kahlen, Pijl, Rajlich, Gaksch, Letousy, Valfridsson

-

-

2800
approx

Mephisto Munchen Resurrection  1  5 x 5

Resurrection 2.09 + Mephisto Munchen

Netherlands/
Germany

2005

Ruud Martin, Letouzy, Valfridsson,
Pascutto, Gaksch
(+ Rajlich v2.09)

-

-

2514
(Fruit’05)
2375
(Ruffian 2.1)

Tasc R30 SB30 3 3 x 3

Tasc R30 v2.5

Netherlands

1995

Johan de Koning

(1) 2330

2276
(18)

2367
(450)

Mephisto Bavaria Genius 68030 London  1  5 x 5

Mephisto Genius 68030 London + Bavaria board

UK / Germany

1996

Richard Lang

(2) 2298

2272
(6)

2344
(384)

Fidelity Avant Garde V.11  1  5 x 5

Fidelity Elite
Avant Garde v11
68060

USA / Germany

2007

Dan & Kathe Spracklen

-

-

2331
(471)

Mephisto Atlanta 3 3 x 3

Mephisto Atlanta

Netherlands/
Germany

1997

Frans Morsch

(16) 2206

2357
(9)

2267
(374)

Mephisto Berlin Professional London 7 3 x 3

Mephisto Berlin Professional
London 68020

UK / Germany

1994

Richard Lang

(5) 2266

-

2264
(151)

Mephisto Exclusive RISC2 5 3 x 3

Mephisto Exclusive RISC2

Netherlands/
Germany

1994

Ed Schroder

(8) 2247

2316
(9)

2253
(371)

Saitek RISC 2500 2Mb 4 3 x 3

Saitek RISC 2500
2Mb v1.03

Netherlands/
Hong Kong

1993

Johan de Koning

(12) 2232+

2330
(17)

2241
(587)

Saitek Renaissance Sparc  10  5 x 5

Saitek Renaissance Sparc

USA / Hong Kong

1993

Dan & Kathe Spracklen

(15) 2208

2251
(24)

2206
(439)

GROUP ONE

Revelation II

Resurrection

Tasc R30

Genius 68030

Fidelity v.11

 Atlanta

Berlin Pro

RISC 2

RISC 2500

Sparc

Score

DGT Revelation II Hiarcs 14.1

- - -

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

18

Resurrection 2.09 Fruit’05

0 - 1

- - -

0.5 - 0.5

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

13.5

Tasc R30 v2.5

0 - 1

1 - 0

 - - -

0 - 1

0.5 - 0.5

1 - 0

0.5 - 0.5

0.5 - 0.5

1 - 0

1 - 0

10.5

Genius 68030 London

0 - 1

0.5 - 0.5

1 - 0

- - -

0.5 - 0.5

0.5 - 0.5

0.5 - 0.5

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

10

Elite v.11 68060

0 - 1

0 - 1

1 - 0

1 - 0

- - -

0 - 1

0 - 1

0.5 - 0.5

1 - 0

1 - 0

9.5

Mephisto Atlanta

0 - 1

0.5 - 0.5

0.5 - 0.5

0.5 - 0.5

0 - 1

- - -

0.5 - 0.5

1 - 0

1 - 0

1 - 0

7.5

Berlin Professional London

0 - 1

0 - 1

0 - 1

0.5 - 0.5

0 - 1

1 - 0

- - -

0 - 1

1 - 0

0 - 1

7

Mephisto RISC2

0 - 1

0 - 1

0 - 1

0 - 1

0 - 1

1 - 0

0.5 - 0.5

- - -

1 - 0

1 - 0

6

Saitek RISC 2500

0 - 1

0 - 1

0 - 1

0 - 1

0.5 - 0.5

1 - 0

0 - 1

0.5 - 0.5

- - -

1 - 0

4

Saitek Sparc

0 - 1

0 - 1

0 - 1

1 - 0

0.5 - 0.5

0 - 1

0.5 - 0.5

1 - 0

0 - 1

- - -

4

The results are shown in a crosstable. The horizontal rows show the results for that chess computer playing white. The vertical columns show the chess computers results playing black. The final Score includes all of the results.

Mephisto Atlanta v Mephisto Risc II 10 x 10
Tasc R30 v Fidelity Elite v.11 10 x 10
Revelation v Mephisto 68030 London 1 10 x 10

Strong Group One
Clockwise -  Fidelity Elite v.11, Tasc R30, Mephisto Atlanta, Mephisto Risc II, Mephisto Bavaria 68030 Genius London, Revelation II, Mephisto Berlin Professional London, Resurrection, Saitek Risc 2500 and Saitek Sparc.

Mephisto Berlin London v Resurrection 10 x 10
Saitek Sparc v Saitek Risc 2500 10 x 10

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Manufacturer and Model

Country
of programmer and manufacture

Year
of release

Programmer

Selective
Search Elo
+
(Position on
All-Time List)

Selective Search
v Humans
Elo (Games)

Active
Chess
Elo
(Games)

Group Two

 

 

 

 

 

 

.
.
.

Millennium ChessGenius Pro  1 12 x 12

Millennium
ChessGenius Pro

UK / China

2016

Richard Lang

-

-

2307
(110)

Mephisto Montreux 3 3 x 3

Mephisto Montreux

Netherlands/
China
 

1995

Johan de Koning

(14) 2211

2288
(54)

2259
(272)

Novag Star Diamond 4 3 x 3

Novag Star Diamond

USA / China

2003

David Kittinger

(19) 2173

-

2180
(565)

Mephisto Munchen Lyon 68020 2 3 x 4

Mephisto Munchen
 Lyon 68020

UK / Germany

1990

Richard Lang

(22) 2149

2246
(92)

2167
(149)

Fidelity Elite Premiere  1  5 x 5

Fidelity Elite Premiere

UK / USA

1992

Richard Lang +
Dan & Kathe Spracklen

(27) 2107+

2126+
(23)

2179
(26)

Mephisto Almeria Turniermaschine  3 3 x 3

Mephisto Almeria Turniermaschine
(Lyon 68020 v2.07)

UK / West Germany

1988

Richard Lang

(30/10)
2101++

2152++
(243)

2277
(140)

Fidelity Designer 2325 Master 3 3 x 3

Fidelity Designer 2325 Master

USA / USA

1991

Dan & Kathe Spracklen

(35) 2075

2179
(130)

2127
(431)

Mephisto Exclusive Polgar 10 MHz 3 3 x 3

Mephisto Exclusive Polgar 10 MHz

Netherlands/
West Germany

1990

Ed Schroder

(38) 2034

2080
(54)

2062
(85)

Saitek Renaissance Brute Force 4 3 x 3

Saitek Renaissance Brute Force

Netherlands/
Hong Kong

1992

Frans Morsch

(44) 2022

2182
(42)

2106
(83)

Mephisto Munchen Dallas 68020  2  3 x 3

Mephisto Munchen
Dallas 68020

UK / West Germany

1986

 Richard Lang

(39) 2033

2069
(199)

2106
(61)

GROUP TWO

Genius Pro

Montreux

Star Diamond

Lyon 68020

Premiere

Almeria T

Designer2325

Polgar 10MHz

Brute Force

Dallas 68020

Score

Millennium ChessGenius Pro

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

2 - 0

2

Mephisto Montreux

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0.5 - 0.5

0 - 0

1

Novag Star Diamond

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Mephisto Lyon 68020

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Fidelity Elite Premiere

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Almeria Turniermaschine

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Fidelity Designer 2325

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Mephisto Polgar 10 MHz

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Saitek Brute Force

0 - 0

0.5 - 0.5

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

1

Mephisto Dallas 68020

0 - 2

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0

STRONG

Manufacturer and Model

Country
of programmer and manufacture

Year
of release

Programmer

Selective
Search Elo
+
(Position on
All-Time List)

Selective Search
v Humans
Elo (Games)

Active
Chess
Elo
(Games)

Group Three

 

 

 

 

 

 

.
.
.

Mephisto Explorer Pro 4 3 x 3

Mephisto Explorer Pro

Netherlands/
China

2007

Frans Morsch

(41) 2023

-

2058
(281)

Novag Diablo  1  5 x 5

Novag Diablo

USA / Hong Kong

1991

David Kittinger

(47) 2002

2126
(140)

2040
(232)

Saitek President 4 3 x 3

Saitek President

Netherlands/
Hong Kong

1993

Frans Morsch

(48) 1994

2072
(65)

2019
(-)

Fidelity Designer Mach III Master 4 3 x 3

Fidelity Designer Mach III
Master

USA / USA

1989

Dan & Kathe Spracklen

(49) 1983

2107
(245)

2034
(442)

Mephisto Exclusive Dallas 68000 3 3 x 3

Mephisto Exclusive
Dallas 68000

UK / West Germany

1986

Richard Lang

(51) 1974

1959
(65)

1985
(242)

Mephisto Nigel Short  1  5 x 5

Mephisto Nigel Short

Netherlands / Germany

1993

Ed Schroder

(52) 1970

2136
(5)

2031
(145)

Novag Super Expert C 6 4 3 x 3

Novag Super Expert C/6

USA / Hong Kong

1988

David Kittinger

(58) 1957

2000
(24)

2022
(240)

Mephisto Munchen Amsterdam 4 3 x 3

Mephisto Munchen
Amsterdam

UK / West Germany

1985

Richard Lang

(62) 1946

2054
(182)

1931
(91)

Mephisto Academy 2 3 x 3

Mephisto Academy

Netherlands/
West Germany

1989

Ed Schroder

(63) 1945

2023
(111)

1986
(164)

Fidelity Mach IIC 3 3 x 3

Fidelity Mach IIC

USA / USA

1987

Dan & Kathe Spracklen

(69) 1920

2059
(127)

1958
(23)

GROUP THREE

Explorer Pro

Diablo

President

Mach III

Dallas 68000

Nigel Short

Super Expert

Amsterdam

Academy

Mach IIC

Score

Mephisto Explorer Pro

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Novag Diablo

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Saitek President

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Fidelity Designer Mach III

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Mephisto Dallas 68000

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Mephisto Nigel Short

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Novag Super Expert C/6

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Mephisto Amsterdam

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0 - 0

0

Mephisto Academy

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0 - 0

0

Fidelity Mach IIC

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

0 - 0

- - -

0

free counters