Chess Rally 2.5

With ChessRally, you can play chess, chat, make new friends, and get expert instruction from live tutors in online Rally rooms. You also can play chess against a friend over a direct network connection (via the Internet or a local network), play a game of correspondence chess via e-mail, or play several challenging computer opponents.

For beginners and masters alike, the application offers robust graphics and sounds, fun characters, a customizable interface with free downloadable themes (skins, chess sets, and sounds), smooth animation, a complete user's guide, and free support. ChessRally also contains full support for rated games, timed games, internationally accepted rules, computer-move suggestions, an experimenting mode, and an interactive move-history window.

This program offers just about everything a chess fan needs. If you're already a seasoned player, you won't have any trouble starting a game in just moments, but if you need some help with your moves, the game offers modest tutorial options, such as an indication of risk factors and move suggestions. The game offers a number of customization options, allowing you to choose piece style, board color, and sound effects, and which buttons to display. Our major complaint is that even when you maximize the main window, the board doesn't get any larger. This program gives you a variety of gameplay options, letting you take on a number of computer opponents or humans in person, via e-mail or in online forums. ChessRally definitely doles out a challenge to players of all skill levels. Even on its easiest difficulty setting, we had a hard time vanquishing our computerized opponent. Though it might not be an ideal way for first-timers to learn chess, all other fans of the game will find plenty to like here.

Download a free trail: CNet or buy the game for $20.00