Martin Brookes

This thread is terrific for anyone like me who was struggling to install Stockfish on HIARCS on a Mac. 👇 #chesspunks #chess

@jenesuispasdave.bsky.social showed me how to do it. I am so happy I now have Stockfish on HIARCS and can repeat this when the new version of HIARCS is released.

It works. Thank you! That is fantastic. Thank you so much.

Actually, maybe I need to download just the files at the Stockfish link you share and try from there. I will do that.

I can't get this to work. I have the Stockfish app on my Macbook and found the files in this app, including the one you mentioned. I copied these elsewhere and tried to add them as an engine to HIARCS and get this error message. This holds for whichever "Unix executable file" I try.

That is brilliant. Thank you. I will try it tonight and report back. Much appreciated.

Yea, but HIARCS isn’t and there is a new version coming imminently (apparently) and it is a nicer interface IMO. Plus it seems it is super easy to do in a Windows environment but not Mac OS.

I will have no hope then! Pity, as I like HIARCS. Thanks for replying.

I have once again failed to install Stockfish onto HIARCS on my Mac. I don't understand the homebrew method & can't get it to work ('cos I am not IT competent enough). The Homebrew site explains, but doesn't make sense to me. If anyone can help, I would be hugely grateful #chesspunks.

Ok. Sorry for the hassle in that case. Thanks for trying to help though.

Han, that is so kind of you. Thank you. Unfortunately, I have a Mac and I can't add the Stockfish app to HIARCS directly (this is the error I get). Stockfish says "If you want the engine only, you can get it through Homebrew: brew install stockfish". I can't work out how to do that though.

Does the new HIARCS come with Stockfish installed? I have struggled to work out how to install it on my existing HIARCS pro.

❤️🇫🇷 Well done, I am really pleased for you!

I am starting 2025 enjoying all 3 of Moskalenko’s books on the French, thanks to xmas presents. I only owned the 3rd initially, “The fully fledged French” (the dog chewed one). They are more similar than I expected, so all 3 was unnecessary. It is nice to have the set tho. 1…e6 💪❤️ #chess #chesspunks

Good luck!

I don’t mind learning a lot of theory, but the Winawer seemed the least ‘French’ of the French, and there was no need to take it on early, so I left it until later.

I don’t play the Winawer. I decided to leave it until later in 2025 (having taken up the French and OTB play this year only). As you say, the French is very flexible and gives you a lot of choices.

I haven’t seen that. Thanks for sharing it.

c5 now. I spent a fair amount of time learning Nf6 which is fun. But nowadays you usually end up facing f4, which is a pain. So play c5 and avoid this, albeit you can end up with an IQP. (I got horribly torn apart playing Nf6 recently and my coach suggested I switch permanently to c5.)

To be clearer, Perunovic doesn’t present the only interesting lines in the Exchange. He just shows nicely how it can be interesting and combative if handled the right way.

Go French. And if you want an interesting line in the Exchange, then watch Perunovic’s videos on YouTube (Butcher). And go for unbalanced positions, …Nc6 against Nf3; Ne7 against Nf3. It is only dull when symmetrical. The French offers huge variety, is endlessly fascinating, and still developing.

Is there a reason no-one mentions HIARCS for Macs? It is incredibly neglected in discussions about chess software, or so it seems to me. This always mystifies me.

This was from your club match, the moment I was watching, I think. I see the better move now, but only after a lot of staring. Do you think you might have spotted it OTB?

@drscull.bsky.social might have something useful to say that helps.

Moskalenko’s Fully Fledged French is a great book!

@boldmovebydan.bsky.social 👈

This is perhaps my busiest week on the year at work plus I have two OTB games. But still 🙋‍♂️

It is very easy to do on dot com. I use HIARCS on a Mac where the preloaded opening lines to play against are good. Obvs you can adjust too. I should do it more often. It is great to take you out of book and comfort zone.

Do you ever play particular openings against engines, to practice lines and get familiar with positions?

I have only a snippet of information for next week, which might prove unreliable. Mostly I have no idea.