Is Yahoo Chess down as of March28 2009?

There are two different interfaces you can use to play Yahoo Chess. One is the newer Flash plug-in interface, and then there is the older pure Java programming interface. The message you were getting shows up in the Flash interface, and sometimes the reason for the message is as simple as not enough available memory to start the program. I'm not saying that you don't have enough total RAM on your computer, but just that over the course of your computing day(s) that small memory leaks can still take their toll and your computer may think it doesn't have enough memory available for the Flash chess program. This has happened to me a lot before. I try to start up the Flash chess, I choose a lounge, and the lounge will open up. For a moment I see the list of players, but no ratings yet. Then when the ratings start to download, that's when I get disconnected. If I restart my computer and try again, I always get in.

There is another solution, and it is one you might like better. Have you tried playing on the older Java interface? A lot of people definitely prefer it to the newer one. The Java interface has a larger chat box, 10 lines worth, so when conversation starts to come faster, the older lines don't scroll off the screen as quickly. When you open a table, it opens in a new window, so that means you can have your game going on at your table, but you can still see conversation in the main lounge at the same time. That's nice when your opponent is taking a long time to move.

So you should try the older Java interface no matter what just to see if you like it. The link to use this interface is often overlooked, but it's right below the button you push to enter the Flash game. On the main page where it says "The All-New Yahoo! Chess" and you see the yellow button that says "Play Now!", the button you push to start your Flash game? Just below that is the box that says "Looking for the standard Chess?" written in green letters. That's the link to click on!

Two things off the top of my head you should be aware of about the Java interface.

One, you won't be able to enter any rooms that have more than 100 people in it. For example, Alligator Tunnel in the social lounges always has more than 100 people in it (usually more than 200!) so you won't be able to enter that lounge unless there are fewer than 100. That's an old limitation from back in the day.

Two, some people have problems joining a table to watch a game, or creating their own table to play if they aren't using the "small tables" option. Some browsers simply won't open the larger tables. So if you ever use the Java interface, and you try to open/join a table and nothing happens, that is what is happening. Best thing to do is when you first enter a room, down in the lower left corner is a button that says OPTIONS. Click on that, and then put a check mark in the "small tables" option that appears in the pop-up box. You should be good to go. If you've already tried to open a table and nothing happened, and you say "Oh dang, I forgot to put on the small tables" you will have to exit the lounge you're in and come right back in before you can get the "small tables" option to work.

Third (bonus hint, lol): If you double click on a players id in the players list, and on the pop-up box that appears, you try to click on "profile", you will need to have your pop-ups enabled in order to open up the new window for the player's profile page.

Okay, that is a lot of info, I hope it helps. Be sure and give the the Java interface a try, you might really like it.

Good chess to you!!

Yahoo updated the games section. You now need a new updated game demo. Go to Tools,Internet Options,Browser history ,settings button,View objects. Right click and remove all yahoo games listed.When you go to play next time a new demo will pop up to download. OR if you don't use IE7 remove them by going to Start,My PC, C drive,Windows folder, Downloaded games folder. delete games there.

The new IE8 will not work with yahoo games! so revert back to 7 if you updated to it. Yahoo says this!

Please be aware that our games are not currently optimized for use with Internet Explorer 8. For the best experience playing our parlor games, we suggest not upgrading to the latest version of Internet Explorer for the time being

I think Yahoo Chess, real chess, not gimmick chess has been killed and buried.

If you were ejected for abuse of rules you would receive such a message.