If you’re into chess and want to analyze games, practice against a super-strong opponent, or just geek out on computer chess, Quanticade is a fantastic free tool.
Quanticade is an open-source chess engine that’s UCI-compatible (Universal Chess Interface), meaning it works with most chess programs. Developed in C since late 2023, it uses a neural network (NNUE) trained on data from Leela Chess Zero (Lc0), making it incredibly smart.
As of late 2025, its latest version, Cronus 3.0, ranks in the top 15 worldwide with a CCRL Blitz rating around 3685 — stronger than most grandmasters!
Don’t worry if you’re new to this. I’ll walk you through everything step by step. No coding required for basic use.
We’ll cover:
- Downloading Quanticade
- Setting it up in a free GUI
- Running it from the command line
- Playing against it online
By the end, you’ll be crushing puzzles with Quanticade’s help.
Step 1: Download Quanticade
First, grab the files from the official GitHub page:
https://github.com/Quanticade/Quanticade
How to download
- Go to the Releases section
- Download the latest version (Cronus 3.0 as of December 2025)
Look for binaries like:
- Quanticade-Cronus-3.0-win-x86-64-avx2.exe (Windows)
- Quanticade-Cronus-3.0-linux-x86-64-avx2 (Linux)
Choose the right build
- AVX2 or BMI2 → most modern PCs (post-2013)
- AVX512 → high-end CPUs only
NNUE Network File (Important)
You’ll also need the NNUE network file (the “brain” of the engine).
Releases like Chimera mention files such as:
mimir.nnue
Place the NNUE file in the same folder as the Quanticade executable.
Check the repo root for files like:
hati.nnueor similar
Alternative download sources
Chess engine sites often host pre-built versions:
Folder setup
Unzip everything into a folder such as:
- Windows:
C:\Chess\Quanticade - Linux/Mac:
~/chess/quanticade
Step 2: Get a Free Chess GUI (Graphical User Interface)
Quanticade is a headless engine, meaning it needs a GUI to display the board and manage moves.
Recommended GUI: Arena (Windows)
Arena is free and very beginner-friendly.
- Download Arena from:
https://www.rdsicompany.com/arena - Install and open Arena
Install Quanticade in Arena
- Go to Engines → Manage
- Click New Engine
- Fill in:
- Name: Quanticade Cronus 3.0
- Command: Browse to
Quanticade.exe - Protocol: UCI
- Click OK
Recommended Engine Options
Right-click the engine → Engine Options
- Hash: 2048 (2GB RAM, increase if possible)
- Threads: 4–8 (match CPU cores)
- EvalFile: select
mimir.nnue(or your NNUE file) - MoveOverhead: 100
Other Free GUIs
- CuteChess (Windows / Linux / Mac)
https://open-chess.org
Great for engine tournaments - LucasChess (cross-platform)
Beginner-friendly with training modes
Step 3: Play and Analyze with Quanticade in Arena
Load a game
- File → New or open a PGN file
Analyze
- Engines tab → double-click Quanticade
- Click Infinite Analysis (glasses icon)
- View:
- Best moves
- Evaluations (e.g. +1.2 = White advantage)
- Principal variation lines
Play against Quanticade
- Engines → Play vs Engine
- Adjust time controls as desired
Run engine tournaments
- Use Tournaments menu
- Pit Quanticade vs Stockfish or other engines
Pro Tip:
If your PC is older, start with:
- 512MB hash
- 1 thread
Quanticade shines with longer thinking time — give it 10+ seconds per move.
Step 4: Command Line Usage (For Power Users)
Windows (Command Prompt)
cd C:\Chess\Quanticade
Quanticade.exe
Linux / Mac (Terminal)
cd ~/chess/quanticade
./Quanticade-avx2
Common UCI Commands
uci
isready
setoption name Hash 2048
setoption name Threads 4
setoption name EvalFile mimir.nnue
ucinewgame
position startpos
go movetime 5000
quit
Quanticade will output moves like:
bestmove e2e4
You can also pipe PGN files for batch analysis.
Step 5: Compile from Source (Optional – Developers)
Quanticade is open-source (GPL-3).
Build instructions
- Install GCC
- Windows: MinGW
- Linux: gcc
- Clone the repo:
git clone https://github.com/Quanticade/Quanticade
cd Quanticade
- Compile:
make profile=AVX2
Other profiles include:
- BASELINE
- BMI2
Add NNUE file and run.
Step 6: Play Online – No Download Needed
You can challenge Quanticade directly on Lichess:
👉 https://lichess.org/@/Quanticade
Details:
- Runs on a Ryzen 9 7950X
- 16 threads, 4GB hash
- ~3735 CCRL strength
Just click Play and choose a time control — perfect for quick games.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- Slow performance?
Increase hash and threads, close other apps - Crashes on startup?
Use AVX2 binary and confirm NNUE file is next to the executable - Analysis strength:
Pairs well with Stockfish for dual-engine analysis - Updates:
Watch GitHub releases — Cronus 3.0 is ~90 Elo stronger than the previous version
FAQ – Quanticade Chess Engine
1. What is Quanticade?
Quanticade is a free, open-source chess engine designed for analysis, training, and playing strong computer chess opponents. It is UCI-compatible and works with most chess GUIs.
2. How strong is Quanticade compared to human players?
The latest version, Cronus 3.0, is ranked in the global top 15 engines and is significantly stronger than even top human grandmasters.
3. Do I need programming skills to use Quanticade?
No. Basic usage does not require any coding. You can easily run Quanticade through a graphical interface like Arena or play against it online.
4. What is the NNUE file and why is it required?
The NNUE file is the neural network that powers Quanticade’s evaluation. Without it, the engine will not function correctly, so it must be placed in the same folder as the engine.
5. Which chess GUI works best with Quanticade?
Arena is highly recommended for beginners on Windows, but Quanticade also works well with CuteChess and LucasChess on multiple platforms.
6. Can I play against Quanticade without installing anything?
Yes. You can play directly against Quanticade on Lichess through its official bot account, with no download or setup required.
I’m a passionate board game enthusiast and a skilled player in chess, xiangqi and Go. Words for Attacking Chess since 2023. Ping me at Lichess for a game or chat.