Focalors is a graphical chess engine and learning application designed to work entirely offline. It combines local play against a computer opponent with post-game review, understandable explanations, personalised puzzles and locally stored statistics.
The application uses two different evaluation systems. An NNUE network provides the evaluation used during chess engine search, while a separate hand-crafted evaluation runs alongside it when Focalors needs to explain what is happening in a position. This lets the program describe identifiable chess concepts rather than relying solely on a numerical engine score.
For example, the explanatory evaluation can identify issues such as hanging pieces, weakening king safety and deterioration of pawn structure. This is intended to make computer-assisted analysis more useful to players who want to understand why a move caused problems rather than simply discover which move the engine preferred.
Focalors can also generate training puzzles from mistakes made in the user’s own games. Positions that caused difficulties during normal play can therefore be turned into material for later practice. Games, progress and statistics are stored locally in a small SQLite database.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Plays chess locally against the included engine.
- Provides post-game reviews with human-readable explanations.
- Creates personalised puzzles from mistakes in previous games.
- Stores games, statistics and progress locally in SQLite.
- Provides a standard UCI engine mode for use with other chess applications.
Website: github.com/Inuway/Focalors
Support:
Developer: Inuway
License: GNU General Public License v3.0
Focalors is written in Rust. Learn Rust with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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