This app is only available on the App Store for iOS devices.
- HIARCS Mac Chess Explorer is a software download product. It is a complete chess application with Graphical User Interface, chess engines and chess games databases. The ultimate chess software for the Apple Macintosh. HIARCS Chess Explorer is designed and developed by Michal Rudolf and Mark Uniacke.
- On my Mac I have run a dual boot (mainly for chess) but final we have a high quality chess program for the Mac itself and it is really very good indeed. I was attracted to Hiarcs Explorer because it offered me the game analysis and book preparation facilities I was looking for.
HIARCS Mac Chess Explorer is a software download product. It is a complete chess application with world class Graphical User Interface, chess engines and chess games databases, opening books and endgame tablebases. The ultimate chess software for the Apple Macintosh. Price s from.: £41.60 / €4 9.95 / $54.95.
iPhone Screenshots
Description
HIARCS is a multiple World Championship winning chess program and the only handheld chess program in the world which has won matches and tournaments with Grandmasters. It twice won the Mercusor Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina ahead of Grandmasters with a performance of 2900 Elo, the best chess performance rating for any handheld device in history.
In 1997 the World's strongest ever human chess player, Garry Kasparov, said 'HIARCS is much better positionally than Deep Blue' and even the current World champion, Vishy Anand, in a recent interview when asked what chess program he uses to analyse with said 'generally I use HIARCS'.
This power enables your iPhone to play chess like a super Grandmaster, analyse games and chess problems with you, or play at whatever weakened chess strength you want from beginner to GM strength while offering numerous features to help you learn and improve as you play with HIARCS. An advanced set of coaching features helps players of all strengths improve their chess play.
HIARCS Chess has a full range of realistic weaker opponent strengths and playing styles catering for players of all abilities from absolute beginners to Grandmasters. On the weaker playing levels HIARCS will make human-like mistakes appropriate to the level of play and this together with the integrated coach advice, assessments and alerts allow you to learn and improve quickly. HIARCS also monitors your chess performance and provides you with an Elo chess rating which tracks your chess ability in every game. It can continuously adjust its playing strength to give you challenging but beatable opponents as you improve.
HIARCS Chess will save battery life by using much less energy on the weaker levels, allowing more playing time on long journeys etc.
HIARCS Chess supports PGN chess game databases and has all the games between Fischer & Spassky and Kasparov & Karpov for you to play through and enjoy.
HIARCS has a large tournament book which is up to date with chess theory with over 235,000 variations. The book moves are displayed on screen with chess symbols and the opening variations are named and ECO coded.
Key features:
+ Strongest chess program on iPhone and iPod Touch, genuine strong GM-level performance
+ Suitable for all players from absolute beginners to strong Grandmasters with many handicap levels and opponents styles and advanced coaching
+ Intuitive and friendly user interface with multiple high quality pieces set, colour schemes and icons including high res support for iPhone 4 and 5 retina displays
+ Multiple playing modes: play white, black, both sides in two player mode, continuous analysis and interactive replay
+ Fully adjustable Elo strengths, adaptive levels and multiple playing levels and opponents
+ All levels below maximum are low energy to increase battery life
+ Rates your chess play and gives you an Elo rating which is updated after each game
+ Advanced coach can provide move options, give hints, indicate move safety and quality highlights and watch your play and warn about mistakes
+ Transfer PGN databases to/from HIARCS chess via iTunes file sharing, email games and PGN DBs from HIARCS
+ Launch HIARCS from PGN email attachments
+ Load, save or delete games to/from PGN databases
+ Set up or edit a position to analyse or play from
+ Advanced game navigation with game move slider and VCR buttons for rapid and precise game navigation
+ Many selectable preset blitz, incremental and average time clock settings for timed play
+ Large HIARCS tournament opening book as used by the professionals!
+ Permanent brain for enhanced playing strength
+ Numerous chess display functions for showing chess moves, analysis, book moves, coach advice, move quality even legal moves, offer draws or resign
+ 8 Piece sets and 9 colour schemes
+ Integrated Html manual and help screens
A discount coupon is included with a $10 USD discount on other HIARCS products on Mac and PC from www.hiarcs.com.
What’s New
Ratings and Reviews
My Favorite Chess App
HIARCS is now my favorite app. I use an iPhone SE with iOS 12. HIARCS is beautifully intuitive to run, and it shows you it’s Elo rating right on the display based on the processing power of your device. I believe it actually recognizes your phone’s CPU power. It displays 3075 elo on my smartphone. As with most chess apps, the phone can get warm or hot but this just shows the power being used. It can be reduced by features on the app to reduce power used, or by setting the phone to low power mode, or both. Naturally this will reduce it’s playing strength. Very much worth the low price!
Raised the Bar!!
For those that are familiar with chess programs, Hiarcs needs no introduction. It comes with a strong pedigree and many championship awards. Needless to say, I was anxious to see that program in the app store.
There are many very good chess programs for the iphone now, but Hiarcs is just a cut above. It shares all of the features, except one, of the top programs. The one shortcoming is that you cannot download pgn games, and I hope that it is resolved in an upcoming update since that would make an already great game even better.
For me, it came down to Fritz and Hiarcs. Hiarcs wins from an engine strength standpoint, but how badly do I need to get smashed when I'm an average player (but even GM's will find it challenging!). The difference is in the extra features that make playing a game more enjoyable. Things like engine playing style, book styles, and adapting its strength to me. All of these features also aid my development for my improving game.
So, if you are looking for a strong program, features to make the game enjoyable to play and learn, and pleasing graphics and intuitive play, then look no further than Hiarcs Chess.
Nice app
I agree with one of the other reviewers that the strength might be overstated (including for humans; I won't tell you what Hiarcs rates me but there's no way I'm that good). However it's a fantastic training program and a handy opponent. I like it a lot and I've already recommended its training features to several people.
Information
Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Family Sharing
With Family Sharing set up, up to six family members can use this app.
Reinstall from macOS Recovery
macOS Recovery makes it easy to reinstall the Mac operating system, even if you need to erase your startup disk first. All you need is a connection to the Internet. If a wireless network is available, you can choose it from the Wi-Fi menu in the menu bar. This menu is also available in macOS Recovery.
1. Start up from macOS Recovery
To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following combinations on your keyboard. Command-R is generally recommended, especially if you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later.
Command (⌘)-R
Install the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.
Option-⌘-R
Upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
Shift-Option-⌘-R
Install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
Release the keys when you see the Apple logo, a spinning globe, or a prompt for a firmware password. When you see the Utilities window, you've started up from macOS Recovery.
Hiarcs Mac Manual Installation
2. Decide whether to erase (format) your disk
If you need to erase your disk before installing macOS, select Disk Utility from the Utilities window, then click Continue. You probably don't need to erase, unless you're selling or giving away your Mac or have an issue that requires you to erase. Learn more about when and how to erase.
3. Install macOS
After starting up from macOS Recovery, follow these steps to install macOS:
- Choose Reinstall macOS (or Reinstall OS X) from the Utilities window.
- Click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions to choose your disk and begin installation.
If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac. If it doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk. - Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. During installation, your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.
If your Mac restarts to a setup assistant, but you're selling or giving it away, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete setup.
If you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4
If macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later was never installed on your Mac, macOS Recovery works differently:
- Command-R is still the recommended way to start up from macOS Recovery. This combination makes sure that the installation isn't associated with your Apple ID, which is important if you're selling or giving away your Mac.
- Option-Command-R installs the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
- Shift-Option-Command-R isn't available.