Chess - Hiarcs 15q Openings Book Includes Ctg And...
Run the CTG book alongside Hiarcs 15q set to Multi-Variation = 5. The book will output a score and a “performance rating” for each candidate move. Moves with a performance rating 100 points above your opponent’s estimated Elo are highlighted in green.
Most commercial chess products include a generic opening book aggregated from millions of online blitz games. The Hiarcs 15q book is different. It is:
When the product description proudly states that the Chess Hiarcs 15q Openings Book includes Ctg and other modern formats, it means you are getting a tournament-ready repertoire that avoids computer-like “dull draws” in favor of positions where a human can outplay an opponent.
The Hiarcs 15q Openings Book is a premier chess opening repertoire database, meticulously crafted by the legendary Hiarcs team. Known for powering one of the strongest chess engines in history, Hiarcs has now distilled decades of grandmaster-level opening theory, correspondence chess novelties, and engine-assisted analysis into a single, highly optimized opening book. Chess Hiarcs 15q Openings Book Includes Ctg And...
This package includes the book in multiple formats – most notably .CTG (for ChessBase/Fritz GUI) and .ABK (for Arena/WinBoard) – ensuring compatibility with virtually every major chess interface. Whether you are an online blitz player, a correspondence specialist, an engine user preparing analysis, or a club player looking to sharpen your repertoire, the Hiarcs 15q book delivers immediate, reliable, and aggressive opening guidance.
If you are serious about chess openings – whether you are a National Master prepping for a weekend tournament, an online blitz player tired of being surprised on move 6, or a correspondence player hunting for theoretical novelties – the Chess Hiarcs 15q Openings Book is a must-have acquisition.
The fact that it includes Ctg and Polyglot BIN formats means you are not locked into one ecosystem. It respects your choice of interface while delivering elite-level preparation. Run the CTG book alongside Hiarcs 15q set
Moreover, when paired with the Hiarcs 15q engine itself, the synergy is palpable. The engine understands the resulting middlegames because the same human grandmasters who built the book also tuned the evaluation function. That is a level of integration that pure database aggregators cannot match.
Where to Purchase: Available directly from the Hiarcs official website or major chess software retailers (ChessBase Shop, Amazon EU). Ensure you download the “Hiarcs 15q Complete Package” – not just the standalone engine – to receive the full CTG book, BIN book, and PGN master file.
Before diving into the openings book, it is critical to understand the pedigree. Hiarcs (originally an acronym for "Higher Intelligence Applied to Reasoning in Chess Systems") has been a dominant force since the 1990s. Unlike “stock” engines that rely purely on raw calculation, Hiarcs has always excelled at positional squeezing and long-term strategic planning. When the product description proudly states that the
Hiarcs 15q represents a quantum leap. The “q” suffix denotes a refined neural evaluation function combined with traditional search heuristics. However, the crown jewel of the package is its opening book.
If you are serious about opening preparation – whether for engine wars, correspondence chess, or online rapid – the Chess Hiarcs 15q Openings Book is a must-have. The inclusion of both .CTG and .ABK formats alone justifies the price (typically $30–$50 USD). It bridges the gap between free, shallow books and expensive professional databases.
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7/5)
Best for: Players and engine users who want a practical, high-strength opening book without spending $100+.