Yahoo
Yahoo is the big online Web site that started in the 1990s as a directory and now offers a little of everything, including online games. Its online rooms for chess play are especially popular with casual players. Yahoo has a 'one size fits all' approach that works using your Web browser. Although it offers two different user interfaces, the preferred interface is only an evolution of an older interface. There are few options to tailor it to a player's preferences.
FICS
FICS, which stands for Free Internet Chess Server, has been in operation since 1995. As the name implies, it specializes in online chess play and attracts keen club players. FICS also offers a 'one size fits all' user interface based on your Web browser, but its real strength is a large number of graphical interfaces that bypass the browser completely.
Yahoo or FICS?
The chart at the top of the page summarizes what we think are the main characteristics of the two services. Yahoo is a good service for beginning or intermediate players regardless of their computer experience. FICS is a good service for players with more chess experience. Moreover, it offers a path for more experienced computer users to overcome the built-in limitations of using a Web browser to play chess.
