About
Chess Engines Diary is a long-running enthusiast blog focused entirely on chess engine software — the AI programs that play chess at superhuman levels. The site publishes regular updates on new engine releases, head-to-head tournament results, and the proprietary CEDR (Chess Engines Diary Rating) list, which benchmarks and ranks engines such as Stockfish, Dragon, Lc0, PlentyChess, Caissa, and dozens of others by Elo-style ratings. The blog acts as a central hub for the chess engine community, offering free downloads of engines via MEGA Drive, links to external testing suites, and coverage of independent testers like Jörn Gronemann. It also reviews commercial products such as Fritz 20 and discusses opening books like Perfect 2021 in multiple formats (abk, bin, bkt, ctg). The site features dedicated pages for Android and macOS engine downloads, making it accessible to users on multiple platforms. It is maintained by a single dedicated author who accepts community donations to sustain the operation. Chess Engines Diary is particularly valuable for competitive correspondence players, engine developers, and AI researchers who want to track the rapidly evolving landscape of chess-playing AI without relying on commercial sources.
Key Features
- CEDR Rating List: A regularly updated Elo-style ranking of hundreds of chess engines, enabling direct strength comparisons across the ecosystem.
- Engine Tournament Coverage: Detailed results from engine-vs-engine tournaments run by independent testers, showcasing new releases and version improvements.
- Free Engine Downloads: Curated MEGA Drive library with dozens of chess engine binaries available for free download, updated frequently with new releases.
- Multi-Platform Support: Dedicated sections and download links for Android and macOS users alongside standard Windows/Linux engines.
- Engine & Software Reviews: In-depth reviews of commercial and open-source chess software, including Fritz, Dragon NNUE, and new opening book formats.
Use Cases
- Tracking the latest chess engine strength rankings to identify the strongest available engines for analysis or play.
- Downloading free chess engines for use in GUI software like Arena, Cute Chess, or Fritz on Windows, macOS, or Android.
- Following engine tournament results to evaluate new engine releases before integrating them into a workflow.
- Researching historical engine performance data and rating progressions for academic or competitive purposes.
- Staying informed about commercial chess software releases and new AI chess technologies like NNUE networks.
Pros
- Comprehensive & Frequently Updated: The CEDR list and tournament news are updated multiple times per month, keeping readers current with the fast-moving chess engine world.
- Completely Free: All content, rankings, and engine downloads are freely accessible with no paywall or registration required.
- Wide Engine Coverage: Covers both mainstream engines (Stockfish, Lc0) and niche or experimental engines that rarely get coverage elsewhere.
Cons
- Blog Format Limits Discoverability: Content is organized as a chronological blog, making it harder to search or filter engines by specific criteria or time period.
- Single Maintainer Dependency: The site relies on one author, meaning update frequency and longevity depend entirely on one person's availability.
- No Interactive Tools: There is no built-in engine comparison tool, search interface, or interactive rating explorer — it's purely informational.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CEDR rating list?
CEDR stands for Chess Engines Diary Rating. It is a regularly published Elo-style ranking list that rates chess engines based on tournament games played between them, allowing enthusiasts to compare engine strength objectively.
Can I download chess engines from this site for free?
Yes. Chess Engines Diary maintains a MEGA Drive repository with free downloads of dozens of chess engines, updated frequently. Separate download pages exist for Android and macOS versions.
What chess engines are covered?
The site covers a wide range of engines including top-tier ones like Stockfish, Lc0, Dragon, and PlentyChess, as well as many lesser-known experimental and community engines.
Is Chess Engines Diary affiliated with any commercial chess company?
No, it is an independent enthusiast blog run by a single author. The site is supported by voluntary donations from readers.
How often is the site updated?
The blog is updated multiple times per month, with new posts covering engine releases, tournament results, and CEDR rating list refreshes typically published every few weeks.
