The following will also add-up in case you miss when browsing on the links already mentioned:
1. For customized engine packages, opening books, one-on-one games, you can try visiting this site. You may need a good translator to navigate within the site and get the files you want.
http://www.chesspraga.cz/download.htm -the engine page
http://www.chesspraga.cz/spikebook.htm - for the books
http://rubinus.mylivepage.com/ -mirror page of author
2. If you know the Arena GUI, you can download the new Arena 1.99beta5 GUI and look at the engine links as well:
http://playwitharena.com/ - main page
http://playwitharena.com/directory/engines.htm -engine link page
3. If you want fast compiles of some open-source engines, visit Jim Ablett's webpage. You can also send him a note if you want to learn compiling. I owe all the learning to this nice guy. Another compiling guru Bryan Hoffman, who compiles Crafty, Crafty-Cito, Toga, GambitFruit, Glaurung, etc. is found here:
http://cito.atspace.com . But he closed his site for personal reasons.
Anyway, here's Jim's page:
http://homepages.tesco.net/henry.ablett/jims.htmlIf you want special builds compatible for your hardware and/or old pc, just pm me or through email!
4. Lastly, if you really want to be updated on computerchess news, and updates, join or visit these forums. Though some are active and some are not, news is still knowledge especially for beginners.
Talkchess/CCC forum:
http://64.68.157.89/forum/Winboard Forum:
http://wbforum.vpittlik.org/WBEC Forum:
http://f27.parsimony.net/forum67828/index.htmCCRL Forum:
http://kirr.homeunix.org/chess/discussi ... 044a25a33cCheck-out the latest ratinglist at CCRL, CEGT, RWBC, Chesswar, etc.. It's already there in the links when you visit them.
Try to discover other forums as well. It all depends in your enthusiasm to learn.