Chinook is a historic, world-champion computer checkers program developed at the University of Alberta between 1989 and 2007, culminating in the formal solution of the game (proving it is a draw with perfect play)
. It is not a modern "app" but a foundational piece of artificial intelligence research.
Below is a guide to accessing Chinook, its databases, and the top modern software that uses its knowledge. 1. Official Chinook Software and Databases
The original Chinook program and its endgame databases can be accessed via the University of Alberta’s archived project page. Play Chinook Online
You can play directly against the Chinook AI engine on their website. It allows you to select from Novice, Amateur, or Intermediate levels. Endgame Databases Download
You can download the 2- through 8-piece endgame databases, which provide perfect information for checkers positions with 8 or fewer pieces on the board.
Note: These databases are large, totaling roughly 2.7 GB for downloads and 5.6 GB when unzipped. 2. Top Modern Checkers Software Using Chinook Data
Because Chinook is an older research program, most players now use modern, faster engines that incorporate Chinook's data for enhanced play. CheckerBoard
This is a popular graphical user interface (GUI) for Windows that supports multiple checkers engines.
Considered one of the strongest checkers engines available, KingsRow can use the 2- through 8-piece Chinook databases. 3. Best Checkers Apps & Programs (2026)
If you are looking for top-rated, modern checker software with AI opponents for casual to advanced play: Checkers (by Gamma Play)
Top-rated Android app featuring advanced AI opponents and a clean user interface. Checkers (by Optime Software) Highly popular mobile app with multiple skill levels. Chinese Checkers (Windows) Available on the Microsoft Store for desktop play. Summary Table: Chinook Checkers Access Access Method Play Chinook University of Alberta Casual play vs Historic AI Endgame DBs Data Files University of Alberta Researchers/Engines CheckerBoard PC Program Advanced analysis Strongest AI play Important Information Play Chinook - World Man- Machine Checkers Champion
Chinook Checkers: The Ultimate Software Guide and History Chinook is the world's most famous checkers (draughts) software, historically significant for being the first computer program to win a human world championship in 1994. Developed at the University of Alberta between 1989 and 2007, Chinook eventually "solved" the game of checkers, proving that perfect play from both sides always results in a draw. Top Ways to Experience Chinook Today
While the original Chinook was designed for UNIX workstations, modern users can still access its power through web-based versions or by downloading its massive data engines for use in other software. chinook checkers software download top
Play Chinook Online (University of Alberta): The official site offers a version of Chinook for browser play. To give humans a sporting chance, this version is often "reduced in strength," though it remains a formidable opponent.
Chinook Endgame Databases Download: Serious players and developers can download the actual "brain" of the program. The Endgame Databases include perfect information for all positions with 8 or fewer pieces, totaling over 2.7 GB of data.
KingsRow Engine for Windows: For a high-end desktop experience, many experts recommend using the KingsRow engine within the CheckerBoard interface. Modern versions of KingsRow are designed to use the Chinook 8-piece endgame databases to provide world-class analysis. Key Features of Chinook Software
The software’s dominance is built on three main pillars of computer science:
Opening Book: A massive library of opening moves curated from games played by human grandmasters.
Deep Search Algorithms: High-performance "brute-force" search that allows the program to look many moves ahead.
Endgame Databases: A collection of precomputed data that tells the program the definitive outcome (win, loss, or draw) for any position with 8 pieces or fewer. Historical Significance: Solving the Game (PDF) Reviving the game of checkers - Academia.edu
Chinook is a world-renowned checkers-playing program developed at the University of Alberta. While it is best known as the first computer program to win a human world championship (1994) and for "solving" checkers in 2007, it is primarily available through web interfaces rather than a standard standalone software download. Key Features of Chinook
Solved Game Knowledge: Proves that perfect play by both sides in checkers always results in a draw.
Comprehensive Opening Book: Includes a library of opening moves based on games played by grandmasters.
Endgame Databases: Features complete knowledge for all board positions with 8 pieces or fewer, totaling billions of possible positions.
Handcrafted Evaluation: Unlike modern AI that learns through experience, Chinook's knowledge was programmed by its creators to evaluate factors like piece count, king count, and "runaway" checkers.
Adjustable Difficulty: The online interface allows players to choose between novice, amateur, or intermediate levels. Where to Access or Download Is Chinook Still a “Top” Choice in 2025+
Play Online: You can play against a slightly reduced-strength version of the champion engine directly on the University of Alberta Chinook page.
Endgame Databases: For developers or enthusiasts, the official Chinook Endgame Databases are available for download in various sizes (2- through 8-piece sets).
Alternative Engines: Since the original Chinook software is not a standard consumer download, many players use powerful alternatives like KingsRow or Cake, which are compatible with popular checkers GUI software. Play Chinook - World Man- Machine Checkers Champion
Chinook is the first computer program to win a human world championship in any game, achieving the World Man-Machine Checkers Champion title in 1994. While the original competition software isn't available as a standalone commercial download today, you can still access its core components through the University of Alberta's official project site. 📥 Download and Access
The Chinook project has pivoted from a competitive engine to a research archive. You can access its components as follows:
Play Online: A reduced-strength version is playable directly in your browser.
Endgame Databases: The massive 8-piece endgame databases (approx. 2.7 GB compressed) are available for free download.
Compatible Engines: Modern checkers software like KingsRow can load and use Chinook’s 2- through 8-piece databases to achieve "perfect" play in endgames. 🏆 Key Features
Solved Logic: In 2007, Chinook proved that perfect play from both sides guarantees a draw.
Massive Databases: It contains perfect information for over 443 billion board positions.
Handcrafted Evaluation: Unlike modern AI that "learns" from scratch, Chinook uses expert-programmed rules for piece count, king mobility, and "runaway" checkers.
Deep Search: It typically searches 19 to 21 moves deep (ply) and can often determine a game's outcome within the first 10 moves. 📖 Historical Milestones Chinook: The World Man‐Machine Checkers Champion
is a world-famous computer program that plays checkers (English draughts), developed at the University of Alberta. It is historic for being the first computer program to win a world champion title against humans in any game and for "solving" checkers in 2007, proving that perfect play by both sides leads to a draw. How to Access Chinook 2. Aurora Borealis (Free)
While the original project has concluded, you can still interact with the software or its engine in the following ways: Online Play : The most common way to experience Chinook is through the University of Alberta's official website
, where you can play against the engine directly in your browser. Source Code and Data
: For developers or researchers, the University provides access to the Chinook project archives
, including the 10nd-piece endgame databases that were used to solve the game. Cake / CheckerBoard : Many modern checkers interfaces (like CheckerBoard
) allow you to "plug in" different engines. While the full Chinook codebase is complex, enthusiasts often use engines inspired by or utilizing Chinook's endgame databases. Key Facts about Chinook The Creator Jonathan Schaeffer
, the team worked on the program from 1989 until it was officially "solved" in 2007. Man vs. Machine : Chinook famously played against the legendary Marion Tinsley
, widely considered the greatest checkers player of all time. The "Solution" : Researchers calculated
positions to prove that checkers always ends in a draw if no mistakes are made. specific version for a certain operating system, or are you looking for other top-tier checkers engines like KingsRow?
Yes — but with caveats.
| Strength | Chinook | Modern engines (e.g., KingsRow, Cake) | |----------|---------|----------------------------------------| | Playing level | Grandmaster+ | Super-grandmaster (stronger) | | Interface | Text / basic GUI | Modern Windows/Linux GUI | | Endgame DB | Partial (8-piece) | 10-piece+ | | Portability | Windows only | Cross-platform |
Chinook is still top for:
But if you want the absolute strongest engine today, consider KingsRow or Aurora Borealis.