Rebel XP was the first version no longer distributed on cdrom but via the Internet only and it was a free download for those who bought the previous version. The Rebel author was in the process finishing his career. Rebel XP was advertised as 33 ELO stronger than its predecessor Rebel Century 4.0 and as a feature the thinking process of the engine was further visualized.
From the Rebel XP page:
Added is a small analysis board that will allow you to scroll through the mainline during (or after) the thinking process using the 3 browser buttons (back, home, forward).
The "move-button" has another function, it will launch a rotating information system with 10 different windows of informations, a few examples:
Read further....
A funny cartoon appeared on the Internet which gave us a good laugh. In reality the Windows version was already in development and was released the next year as REBEL 12 for Windows in cooperation with Lokasoft, see its contents.
This is the long awaited windows version of Ed Schröders Rebel program. Rebel 12 comes with the ChessPartner interface. The chess engine is programmed using the so called Winboard Protocol, this makes it possible to use the engine under other interfaces although it works best under the ChessPartner interface.
Unfortunately the SSDF rating list guys never tested this last DOS version that was intended to be a playing strength improvement against other computers.
This leaves Rebel Century 4.0 of 2001 as the last rated version after Ed announced to retire from active competition.
It was a good time to stop, after 22 years REBEL still belonged to the top-5, not counting double authors.
THE SSDF RATING LIST 2002-02-15 84193 games played by 235 computers Rating + - Games Won Oppo ------ --- --- ----- --- ---- 1 Shredder 6.0 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 2715 46 -43 264 65% 2604 2 Chess Tiger 14.0 CB 256MB Athlon 1200 2712 35 -34 431 64% 2610 3 Deep Fritz 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 2708 34 -33 447 63% 2616 4 Gambit Tiger 2.0 256MB Athlon 1200 2706 38 -37 361 62% 2619 5 Junior 7.0 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 2682 35 -34 407 58% 2624 6 Rebel Century 4.0 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 2675 50 -46 225 65% 2563 7 Shredder 5.32 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 2661 32 -31 497 56% 2618 8 Deep Fritz 128MB K6-2 450 MHz 2657 25 -24 820 63% 2564 9 Gandalf 4.32h 256MB Athlon 1200 MHz 2648 34 -33 430 54% 2620 10 Gambit Tiger 2.0 128MB K6-2 450 MHz 2643 30 -29 592 66% 2524
Download Rebel XP and install it under D-Fend Reloaded, a Windows environment to run old DOS games smoothly and user friendly.