“Mind Challenges”
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Chess
- Associations & Groups :
- Australian Chess Federation
The peak body for chess in this country. Lots of good material. - Chess Guide FIDE
About the International Chess Federation. It also includes the rules of the game, chess problems, information about ratings, ratings lists and more. - Internet Chess Club
‘With over 25,000 paying members from all over the world, the Internet Chess Club is the longest running and most vibrant chess community on the internet.’ - World Chess Federation
The World Chess Federation with sections covering all aspects of chess from games to a shop for chess resources. - Chess Software
Wherever possible, we have included Freeware programs unless indicated. - 100% Free Chess
‘Embrace the challenge of mastering this timeless strategy game today. Vivid graphics enhance game play across five skill levels.’ - AlphaChess
‘[A] fully functional chess game that allows you to challenge your computer or another player in a local game.’ Customizable. - Arasan Chess
Downloadable, chess game. Move pieces with the mouse, timers, moves listed and much more. - BabasChess
‘A new revolutionary Internet Chess Client for Windows. It combines ease of use with powerful features for advanced users; integrates a fast and customizable playing environment with a powerful PGN viewer/editor, chess engines support for analyzing positions and amusing chat features.’ - Battle Master
Multiple options with this downloadable game. - Bookup 2000 Express
[Chess Opening by Bookup]
‘Chess Openings software from Bookup. The Bookup 2000 Express program for Windows will teach you about chess openings and train you with its sample ebooks. This software will get you to constantly improve your opening preparation and theoretical knowledge.’ - Brutal Chess
‘The rules and gameplay are as in any other Chess game except here you can choose some pretty cool chess piece designs and the 3D graphics make it look great.’ - Championship Chess
‘This game will help you get better while you benefit from the intellectual exercise Chess has provided players with for centuries !’ - Chess - GNU Project
- Chess Mafia
‘Easy to use and provides realistic visualizations with multiplayer options.’ Freeware. - Chessmaster 8000
Information on the most popular chess game you can buy.
Not Freeware. - ChessOK
‘2 program versions are available for playing from PC.’ - Chess Squared
‘Regular Chess is played on an 8x8 board. Chess Squared is played on an 8x8x8 board. That’s the equivalent of eight chess boards ! These boards are stacked vertically, allowing a player to make any valid chess move [with the exceptions of castling and en-passant] on any plane. That is, you can move your piece normally, on to a board above or below, or on the horizontal plane. ’ Requires Java Runtime Environment. - ChessV
‘ChessV is an open-source Universal Chess program with graphical user-interface, sophisticated AI, support for opening books, and other features of traditional Chess programs. Currently, over 50 chess variants are supported.’ - Dioag Transfer
‘The simplest way to copy chess diagrams from one program or web page to another quickly and easily.’ - DreamChess
‘An open source chess game. Our primary target platforms are Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. DreamChess features 3D OpenGL graphics and provides various chess board sets, ranging from classic wooden to flat figurines. A moderately strong chess engine is included : Dreamer.’ - Flash Chess
‘Flash chess is a program that allows you to play chess against your computer. There are two difficulty levels, shallow and deep. Keep in mind this program is for beginner players.’ - Gambitsoft [now iBoogie]
Freeware and shareware games links. Games from DOS level through. Also a Mac page and some for Linux. - Hell Chess
This version is for Pocket PCs. - I-Chess
Suitable for all levels and playable both on and off-line. - José
Multi-optioned chess activity. - Lord of The Chess
‘A game that lets you play chess against the computer or with a friend in different levels. This game has a easy and clean interface and is recommended for beginners and also for professional players’. - Maniac
Graphical interface, multiple variants, even a tutorial on how to play Maniac chess. - Mayura Chess Board
‘Attractive graphics combined with a powerful chess engine makes Mayura Chess Board one of the best programs for playing chess on Windows PCs. Beginner, intermediate and expert levels of play are supported.’ Requires MS Net 2.0.
we use and recommend this - Nagaskaki Chess
‘A Free, fully functional chess program for Windows 98, NT and XP.’
Now also available as a portable program - Scid
‘With Scid you can maintain a database of chess games, search games by many criteria, view graphical trends, and produce printable reports on players and openings. There are many more features as well.’ Available in multiple languages and is Free. - ‘Think Like a King’
[SchoolChess.com’s School Chess Software System]
For those looking for a usable, quality system to help develop chess this commercial site may be very useful. The program has been designated Official Scholastic Software through the American Chess Association and is used in a range of countries including Australia. - Zango Chess
‘For beginners and experts. Play solo or challenge your friends.’ Downloadable games. - News & Information :
- Bill Wall’s Chess Links
[For 2007]
A vast listing of links, done alphabetically, covering every aspect of chess you could think about. - Chess About
The latest news, information on famous players, a variety of links and much more. - Chess Corner
A range of assistance, software information, tutorials, information on chess openings, chess ecards, books, columns and much more at this site. - Chess.net, Welcome to
News, events and tournaments, photo gallery of players, competitions, links and other material. - FICS - Free Internet Chess Server
Information, news, news about variants and much more. - Online Chess
The following provide access to online chess games. - Blubbie Chess Server
‘A Free chess server where beginners can challenge the computer online while reading the latest news in their own language. The computer thinks only 2 half moves ahead, so give it a go and try to beat it. It’s possible to change the settings to suit stronger players.’ You can also try their Daily Chess Problem. - Brain Games Network
Register to play online irrespective of your level. Also has tutorials, instruction guide and you can even play against a computer. - ChessHere
‘An online chess server where you can play online chess against chess players from across the globe. Games are rated according to the ELO System. Completed games are saved, and you can access games at any time. Message and chat features are available.’ - Chess Online
- ChessWorldOnline
Free to register. - CyberChessCafé
Dutch site. Register from the site, play online. - GameKnot
Java based interactive games. - Thinking Chess
‘Play chess against a transparent intelligence, its evolving thought process visible on the board before you.’ - Webchess v1.5b
A Free chess game online. You need to register. - Tutorials
These cover not only general tutorials, but also tutorials on specific aspects of the game. - Chess Corner
‘This chess site was created by a chess enthusiast for chess enthusiasts, especially those new to this fascinating game. Please explore the sections on the left frame. I hope you will find something of interest and will call again soon. If you are new to chess don’t miss our interactive Learn to Play Chess Ebook.’ - Chess Dominion
A Thinkquest site. Information including how pieces move, strategies, history, famous chess player biographies, stamps showing chess, how to teach chess and more. - Chess is Fun
‘Want to learn how to play chess ? Want to learn how to play a bit better ? Here are some fairly easy lessons. Those relatively new to chess should play though the introduction to chess and the section on chess strategy.’ Masses of help here. - Chesskids
Learning tutorials, access to information and news, connections to clubs and a range of resources to allow clubs, including school chess clubs, to be run effectively. Well worth a visit. Also try Chesskids [Aust.] [Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania] for help in this area. Check re costs. - Chess Openings
It is always good for a game if you start strongly. This site gives you clues on how to do this. - Chess Visualisation Training
‘One of the most important advances in your chess life is to master the art of visualisation. That’s why there is this website.’ Develop this using the training provided at this site. - F.I.D.E. Laws Of Chess, The
If you want to know about the laws of chess from the simplest information to the most complex, this is definitely worth a visit. - Free Chess
Tutorials for players from beginners upwards, links, clubs & organisations, news, tournaments, books for all levels, games, and much more. Also try Internet Chess Page. - Logical Chess
Use the resources available, gain information about the game of chess and even buy chess books. - Unusual Aspects
Includes things like fonts, graphics, special forms and more. - Braille Chess.Net
Even people with limited/no vision will be able to enjoy the game of chess. Visit and find out the details. - Chess Fonts
If you are looking to find chess fonts, you could do a lot worse than visit here. - Chess Graphics
If you are looking for graphics or cartoons then this is the place. While no longer being developed it still has a considerable supply. - Chess Variant Pages, The
‘Today, the game of chess as we know it, has remarkable differences from the original game. At the same time, in different parts of this world, different chess games are played. Additionally, these games and ‘Western’ chess have many variants. These pages want to describe such variants, and give pointers to places that contain more material on them.’ - Jungle Chess
Interested in different chess, then download this animated game for Free.
Crosswords
- Crosswords :
- All About Crosswords
A wide range of puzzles for all levels, crossword history, making a puzzle, links to other puzzle sites, and other types of puzzles. - AskOxford
In addition to other worthwhile material, there is also a link for some crosswords. - Australian Crossword Club, The
‘Aims to provide enjoyment and stimulation to the devotees of the crossword puzzle. The Club’s monthly magazine Crozworld is filled with prize crosswords of all types together with lively discussion’. News, e-CrOZwords and more. - Best Crosswords
A range of crosswords for you to puzzle over, enjoy, pull your hair out over or just look at, as the mood takes you. - Crossword Central at Thinks.com
Access a wide range of crosswords from various sources through this site. - Crossword Links
News, learning about crosswords, playing crosswords and crossword resources, game dictionary. Done through a series of directories/sub-directories. - Crossword Puzzles
A significant range of crosswords listed under a variety of headings. - Crossword Resources
An extensive listing of links to crosswords of all kinds, as well as some other crossword resources. - Dictionary.com
A dictionary and thesaurus as well as crosswords. - Kid’s Crosswords
If you are a ‘kid’ and interested in crosswords, then this site will suit you. - Lovatt’s Crosswords & Puzzles
- Online Crosswords
A wide range of puzzles for all levels and in a number of languages. Even lets you add a crossword to your web page. - Puzzler’s Cave
‘Find a never-ending supply of Free crosswords for you to play all supplied by our members. All the crosswords are completely Free and require no subscription, and remember whilst you’re here, you don’t just have to play crosswords, you can also create them.’ - Crossword Software :
- Puzzler’s Cave Crossword Compiler
‘Specifically designed to make creating crosswords as simple and quick as possible. You will be amazed at how quickly you will be able to design and build your own crosswords.’ Freeware. - Puzzle Workshop
‘Puzzle Workshop is a program for the automated compiling of crosswords. It comes in two flavours.’ Some limitations with the Free version. - Wordplay
‘WordPlay is a “must-have” for those interested in crosswords or other word puzzles. It can find words that fit a specified pattern, anagrams, solve word ladders’ and more. - Crossword Solvers :
- Allwords Crossword Solver
Not sure of the answer ? This site will help you find appropriate words to fit the spaces - including any letters you may already have. You can also get a daily puzzle and find information in several languages. - Crossword Dictionary
‘Online Tool For Solving Crossword Puzzles ! Our database contains over 235 000 entries, including expressions, movie titles, names, etc. ! ’ - Jumble and Crossword Solver
‘Search times are dependent on the number of letters, the size of the particular dictionary file being used and current server load. Please be patient. The database contains approximately 250 000 words.’
Sudoku
- Advanced Sudoku
‘Advanced Sudoku is a logic-based placement puzzle. It is complex version of Traditional Sudoku. AvexLab Advanced Sudoku is game for experienced players. The object is to fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 4x4 box contains the digits 1 to 16.’ Freeware. - Blubbie Sudoku
Work the puzzle that shows, print several puzzles, get hints and more from this site. - Cudoku
‘Cudoku is a simple Sudoku solver, creator and teacher. It can be used to create and print Sudoku puzzles. Game boards in any stage can be printed or saved into a vector format file. You may solve puzzles generated by [the] program, or created manually. Three hint levels are available.’ - Daily SuDoku
The day’s sudoku ‘is shown on the right. Click the grid to download a printable version of the puzzle. Visit the archive for previous daily puzzles and solutions. Play online, print a Sudoku, solve and get hints using the new improved Draw/Play function.’ - Dan Rice’s Sudoku Blog
‘Tips on solving and generating Sudoku number puzzles’. Done through a Blog. - Ideafarms Sudoku
Download the program and play. Create your own games. Freeware. - Pure Sudoku
A Free program with approximately 20 000 puzzles, multiple levels of difficulty, different backgrounds, auto save mechanism, shows duplicate numbers. Worth considering. - Solving Sudoku
Extensive advice from beginners to advanced players. Both text and graphics assist you. - SourGumdrop
‘SourGumdrop is a Sudoku playing program that can help players learn new techniques for solving puzzles. Beginners can benefit from its quick and simple user interface and its range of helpful options. Experienced solvers can use its automatic filtering techniques to allow themselves time to concentrate on the more interesting and challenging components of puzzles. Beginners and experienced players alike can take advantage of the program’s range of hint options.’ - Sudoku [1]
‘Check out the tips on how to solve Sudoku puzzles, browse the forums for more tips, or check the solutions to the Sudokus you see in print.’ - Sudoku ! [2]
Sudoku for children. Explanations and puzzles. - Sudoku Blues
‘Solve the puzzle yourself. Get hints & other assistance. Save your games to continue later on. Download new puzzles. Plus more and more extra features !’ Freeware. - SuDoKu-Cracker
‘The SuDoKu-Cracker is fast, efficient and returns accurate solutions for all SuDoKu problems’. You can also create 9 x 9 puzzles. - Sudoku Place
Downloadable [.pdf] daily puzzle, archive of puzzles, links to other sources and the rest of the Sudoku Web Ring. - Sudoku Portable
‘The entertaining and addictive Sudoku puzzle game packaged as a portable app, so you can play on the go. You can place it on your USB flash drive, iPod, portable hard drive or a CD and use it on any computer, without leaving any personal information behind.’ - Sudoku Puzzles [1]
‘Here you find lots of Free Sudoku puzzles. The puzzles can be played online, printed out and even exported as PDF Files.’ Help with how to do sudoku as well. - Sudoku Puzzles [2]
Australian site. Work the puzzles online, visit the archive, check the solving techniques, link to other sites. - Sudoku Puzzles For Beginners
Multiple levels of difficulty, solutions provided, game rules and how they can be solved. - Sudoku-San
Daily puzzles, Sudoku for Kids, Sudoku Assistant to help you when you need it and a vault full of puzzles if you are after more. - Sudoku Solver
Information on its use and options are provided. - Sudoku [Wikipedia]
Information on the rules, history of the puzzle, solution methods, variants of the puzzle, construction, external links and more. - Websudoku
‘Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces.’ Play online.
Word Puzzles
- ClueWord
‘Welcome to Free and fun word puzzles and games in many languages for you to enjoy online.’ Includes crosswords, jumblewords, codewords, WordFind, fill-in and more. - Cricklers
‘Cricklers are a new type of word puzzle. We set out to totally re-invent the crossword puzzle for the computer age.’ Download a Freeware program for Cricklers here. - Interactive WordPlays
A collection of games including crosswords, Boggler, Words in a Word, Word Morph and Scrabble. As well, there is a collection of puzzle solving tools available to help you. Registration is Free. - Internet Park
‘The site for Word Game lovers.’ 20 day Free Trial, then subscription required. - MooT
‘MooT is the etymology, semantics, and grammar game.’ Access all the puzzles and also read questions asked about the format. - Pyramid
A game in which the original three letter word appears in every successive word. A clue is given for each word. Advice on how to play. - Rebus Puzzle Brainteasers
[Word Picture Puzzles]
‘A Rebus is a picture representation of a name, work, or phrase. Each "rebus" puzzle box [below] portrays a common word or phrase. Can you guess what it is ?’ - Rootonym®
‘With more than 400 recognizable Latin and Greek roots at their disposal, they’ve [the authors] created this online root-word-association game that takes less than 3 minutes to solve.’ - Wordsplay
Advice on how to play and access to the game itself. An online version based on Boggle.
The successor to the Weboggle site. - Word Puzzles
‘The best web sites for acrostics, cryptograms, riddles, word searches and other word puzzles.’ Annotated links take you to each of these and more. - Word Games
Different games each day, with access to other word games and a daily crossword. - Wordies on the Web
‘The object is to translate the arrangement of letters, numbers and/or symbols into a familiar phrase, saying or cliché.’
Other Puzzles
- All Star Puzzles
‘These best-of-the-Web puzzles test even experienced logic solvers. Stars indicate level of difficulty, from Easy to Challenger.’ - Amazing Art
‘Amazing Art is the biggest collection of extraordinary images on the web. Optical illusions, impossible images, upside downs, search pictures, it’s all there - and there’s plenty of it …’ - Archimedes’ Laboratory
‘Puzzles : problems or toys that are designed to test a person’s knowledge or skill. … We believe that you came to this site because you love doing puzzles and brain teasers and that you enjoy wrestling with geometry problems we make up especially for you.’ Includes puzzles, optical illusions, curiosities and more. - Brain Food
‘Give your mind a work out on our devious collection of puzzles. There are hundreds, ranging from word games to logic problems to riddles.’ - Braingle
‘If you want to improve your brain, check out the Mentalrobics section. If you crave a brain teaser, mind puzzle, riddle or game, we are the place to get it. Increase your creativity, boost learning and become a better person at Braingle.’ - Brain Teasers
A listing of links to sites that pose a range of brain teasers for students at varying levels. Mixed puzzles are included. More suited to secondary levels and up. - Brainteasers, Puzzles, & Riddles
Brainteasers from Palindromes via Optical Illusions, What’s in a Name ? to Seashore Homonyms and much more. You can also learn about your brain by using this link. - new !BrainTrain
Yes, we know Lipton sponsors this site [we wonder how we can tell ?], but it does contain a range of brain teasers and puzzles from mind benders to optical puzzles. - Cluemaster
Requires registration to access the variety of Free puzzles which are available on the site. Includes crosswords and more. - Cognitive Labs
‘Dwell on improving your brain.’ Use the games, exercise in the brain gym, find about genes and memory and take some of the tests. - Cube Maniak
‘Cube Maniak lets you play Rubik’s cube on your PC in 3D environment. You can rotate the cube, rotate faces in all ways very freely. You can change the faces images to your own design.’ For a downloadable program allowing you to play Rubik’ Cube, try Rubiksim. - Curiouser
‘A selection of paradoxical puzzles, games, illusions, tricks, poems, quotations and ideas. It is hoped that viewers will find the experience both entertaining and thought provoking.’ - Eluzions
‘Online Games, Optical Illusions, and Puzzles.’ Also quizzes and more. - Free Puzzles
A range of different crosswords, word searches, brain busters and more. You can have crosswords sent to you [you select the areas you want included]. - Igowin
‘Igowin is a 9x9 Free version of Many Faces of Go. It keeps track of your record and playing strength and has an on-line manual with history of go, where to buy books and equipment, etc. It includes [a] Go Tutorial … , so it is a good program to give a beginning go player.’ - Kakuro-San
‘Think of Kakuro as a kind of Number Crossword and you won’t be far wrong. It’s even more addictive, even more evil, and if you liked Sudoku, you’re going to love Kakuro.’ - Logicville
‘A resource for anagrams, cryptograms, alphametics, word puzzles, logic problems, doublets, tangrams, chess, math quizzes, and more.’ - Nonogram Solver
‘This website provides information about Nonogram logic puzzles, and how to solve them. Nonograms are logic puzzles that originate in Japan. A Nonogram consists of a series of numbers that can be used to determine a picture. The puzzle comes from building this picture from the numbers.’ - Puzzle
For those who can remember the old slide puzzle [16 spaces, 15 tiles], this is the latest computer version. Free, small download. - Puzzle Choice
Crosswords and a wide range of puzzles - Kid’s Choice, quizzes, wordplays, online games and more, suitable for children and adults of all ages. - Puzzle Page, The
Includes Mathematics, Logic, Wordplay, Patterns, Crosswords, Cryptograms and more. - Quizland
Find quizzes, crosswords and much, much more. - SourGumdropK
‘SourGumdropK is a Kakuro/Cross sum playing program with a range of helpful options. It can be downloaded for Free. The Overview page gives a good idea of some of the program’s main features. Of course the only way to really know if you like a program is to try it …’ - Sourkoban
‘Sourkoban is one of very many versions of the game Sokoban. Why try this one ? Well today, it’s probably the newest. It also has [a wide range of] features.’ - The Logic Zone
A ‘world of online logic problems, logic puzzles, cryptograms and other puzzles too !’ - YouPlay
[Lovatts]
Not only a daily serving of crosswords but also a variety of other word puzzles.
[Previously The Puzzle Player.]