HIARCS Chess Software for PC Windows, Apple Mac and iPhone/iPad Mac HIARCS 10 FAQ
World Championship winning computer chess software program & downloads for chess database, analysis & play on PC, Mac and iPhone

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This page contains answers to common questions you may have, along with some tips and tricks that we have found useful and presented here as questions. This page will grow over time as new questions and answers are added.

  1. Which computers will Sigma Chess HIARCS run on?
  2. How do I install Sigma Chess HIARCS on my Macintosh?
  3. How do I install the HIARCS 10 chess engine?
  4. How do I register and activate the full capabilities of HIARCS?
  5. Is Hiarcs the strongest Macintosh chess program?
  6. What levels are there for the beginner and average club player?
  7. Is there a HIARCS chess product for the older Mac Classic OS 7, 8 or 9?

 

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Which computers will Sigma Chess HIARCS run on?

Sigma Chess HIARCS is compatible with Apple Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.1 or later.

It is compatible with the new "Mini Mac" computers. 

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How do I install Sigma Chess HIARCS on my Macintosh?

First download the Sigma Chess HIARCS product from our Macintosh download page.

Once you have downloaded the Sigma Chess HIARCS zip archive, move the archive to the Applications folder. You can unpack the archive by double clicking on the archive icon. You will now have a Sigma Chess HIARCS folder in your Applications folder.

For further details please read the How to Install document.

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How do I install the HIARCS 10 chess engine?

You will first need the Sigma Chess HIARCS product which contains a high quality UCI capable Graphical User Interface. Once you have the Sigma Chess HIARCS product installed correctly, the following steps will install the HIARCS 10 chess engine.

1) Downloaded the HIARCS10.zip archive and save the archive into the /Applications/Sigma Chess HIARCS/HIARCS folder.

2) You can unpack the archive by double clicking on the archive icon. The archive will unpack a Hiarcs10 folder containing the Hiarcs10 chess engine, small opening book, ReadMe and License files. The chess engine is now installed on your harddisk and the last step is to tell the Sigma Chess GUI about this new chess engine.

3) Start Sigma Chess and open the Engine Manager dialog via the Analyze->Engine Manager menu item.

4) In the Engine Manager dialog select the "Add.." button and browse to the Hiarcs10 folder and select the "Hiarcs10" chess engine. The engine will then be loaded into Sigma Chess and can now be used.

Registered customers should ensure a valid license key is contained either in their home folder or in the "Hiarcs10" folder so that Hiarcs 10 runs fully activated.

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How do I register and activate the full capabilities of HIARCS?

In order to activate the HIARCS chess engine you must first purchase and register the product

To register the product you will need the unique registration code which is found on the initial HIARCS start up dialog and also in the Engine Manager when the HIARCS engine is selected. You can reach the Engine Manager dialog via the Analyze->Engine->Engine Manager... menu item.

You will see the registration code in the Author section (near the top) of the Engine Manager dialog. It is contained within <> and takes the form <XX-XXXX-XXXX-XX>, for example MU-45C1-9ADB-12.

Please email your registration code and purchase order reference number to hiarcs@hiarcs.com and in response you will receive an activation license key by email attachment.

Simply save the license key into the HIARCS folder (e.g. /Applications/Sigma Chess HIARCS/HIARCS) on your Macintosh to activate the HIARCS chess engine.

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Is Hiarcs the strongest Macintosh chess program ?

The HIARCS 10 chess engine on the Macintosh is a significant improvement on the HIARCS 9.0 chess engine currently available for PC computers. The HIARCS 9.0 chess software has been extensively tested and ranks higher on the SSDF rating lists than any other chess software available on the Macintosh.

The HIARCS 10 chess engine is significantly stronger than the HIARCS 9 and 9.6 chess engine. This means with HIARCS you have the strongest chess program available on Apple Macintosh computers. Depending on your Macintosh hardware you can have World Championship Chess strength of 2800+ Elo.

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What levels are there for the beginner and average club player?

In conjunction with Sigma Chess Pro, HIARCS can provide you with customised opponents from beginner at 1250 Elo to Super Grandmaster at 2800 Elo. In addition Sigma Chess can provide Elo rating statistics so you can have your progress measured and even graphically presented.

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Is there a HIARCS chess product for the older Mac Classic OS 7, 8 or 9?

Yes, HIARCS was the first world class chess program to support the Macintosh. We began supporting the Macintosh as far back as 1995. You will find details our last product Hiarcs 7 for Macintosh here which is still available from some retailers. We now support the Mac OS X and no longer support the older Mac OS Classic 7, 8 or 9.

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Sigma Chess 6.1.3 HIARCS 10 for Macintosh OS X

Contains the Sigma Chess 6.1.3 GUI and HIARCS 10 UCI chess engine for Apple Macintosh computers. Also included is a small openings book and various Sigma chess libraries and databases. For even stronger performance and opening theory we recommend the addition of the free large or massive tournament openings book on this page for registered customers. Until purchase, registration and activation Sigma Chess HIARCS will operate in as a Lite product with restricted features.

Download Sigma Chess HIARCS.dmg  (4,444Kb)

IMPORTANT: Do NOT run the software directly from the Sigma 6.1.3 HIARCS 10 Installer volume. Instead copy the enclosed Sigma 6.1.3 HIARCS 10 folder from the volume to a suitable location on your hard drive (e.g. the Applications folder). Then eject the volume. Please read the How to Install document in the download for details BEFORE using the product or click here to read now.

Requires Apple Macintosh running Mac OS X 10.3 or later - including the new Tiger 10.4 OS. Not compatible with Mac OS 9 or earlier; or MS Windows.
Please read and agree to the HIARCS License.txt license agreement before using the software.
Last updated: 29th December 2005. 

HIARCS 10 chess engine for Macintosh OS X

Contains the HIARCS 10 chess engine and new small openings book. You will already need the Sigma Chess GUI or another UCI capable Macintosh GUI to use this chess engine. Sigma Chess HIARCS owners simply need to copy Hiarcs10 archive to their HIARCS folder and open the archive. Full installation details are found in the Mac HIARCS FAQ.

Download HIARCS 10 chess engine (404Kb)

Please read and agree to the HIARCS License.txt license agreement before using the software.
Last updated: 11th December 2005. 

HIARCS 9.6 chess engine for Macintosh OS X

Contains the HIARCS 9.6 chess engine only. You will already need the Sigma Chess GUI or another UCI capable Macintosh GUI to use this chess engine. Sigma Chess HIARCS owners simply need to copy Hiarcs9.6 archive to their HIARCS folder and open the archive. Full installation details are found in the Mac HIARCS FAQ.

Download HIARCS 9.6 chess engine (177Kb)

Please read and agree to the HIARCS License.txt license agreement before using the software.
Last updated: 11th December 2005. 

Large Openings Book

Contains a large openings book for even stronger play with the Macintosh HIARCS product. It is recommended that strong players update the standard book which came in the Sigma Chess HIARCS 9.6 Pro download in order to get wider and deeper opening variations. This book has been expanded by thousands of moves and improved. Offers 123,156 positions and 38,049 variations. This book is a superset of the medium book delivered in the standard download.

Download LargeBook.zip (755Kb).

Please read the ReadMe.txt file in the archive as this explains how to install new opening books.
Last updated: 16th January 2005

Massive Tournament Openings Book

Contains a massive tournament openings book for strongest opening play with the Macintosh HIARCS product. This huge book offers 377,379 positions and 73,065 variations. This book is a superset of the large opening book.

Download HugeBook.zip (2,339Kb).

Please read the ReadMe.txt file in the archive as this explains how to install new opening books.
Last updated: 16th January 2005

 

 

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"generally I use HIARCS." - Five time World Chess Champion Vishy Anand, in a recent interview when asked what chess program he uses to analyse with
 
"HIARCS is much better positionally than Deep Blue." - Garry Kasparov 1997 (after game 5 of the rematch)

World Chess Champion, Vishy Anand, used "Powerful" HIARCS machine in preparations for his 2010 & 2012 world title matches

"This level of service is one other big reason to buy HIARCS." - John Jackson

† Highest performance reached depends on computer used. Computer Chess Software with world class chess engine playing strength.
HIARCS is designed and developed by Mark Uniacke in England.

*VAT and local sales tax may be applicable. Prices given in GBP, USD and EUR are subject to change without notice.
Other currencies are subject to conversion rates from GBP.

HIARCS is a trademark of Applied Computer Concepts Ltd. All other product trademarks acknowledged.
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