TechMate Chess

About

TechMate Chess is a 1986 Atari ST chess title developed by Alexander and Barbara Szabo through their Szabo Software label. It offers standard chess gameplay with a focus on accessibility, letting players input moves via mouse instead of keyboard. The interface features a dedicated 2D board with simple graphics and a menu system for settings or challenges. While the AI and match options are straightforward, the game’s appeal lies in its smooth, intuitive controls for its era. The Szabos self-published the game but partnered with distributors like Microdeal and MichTron to reach wider audiences. Its mouse-driven design was a rare convenience on 1980s PCs, where most chess games required text-based move entry. Though basic by modern standards, TechMate Chess remains a small but functional relic of early GUI experimentation on the Atari ST.