You'll definitely want to check out the premier chess programming site:
http://64.68.157.89/forum/index.php
Particularly the Programming and Technical Discussion Forum. Regulars include World Chess Programming Champions and top competitors, and just amateurs, as well.
If you want to see how your chess program is (or is not) making progress, there are sites dedicated to testing amateur chess programs in tournaments, if they are stable enough to run well. Tom's Simple Chess Program (early versions), called just TSCP, used to be a standard program to test your own, against. Be warned though - Tom got a bit tired of his program being such a door mat for testing, and put in some strength in the later versions.
Have fun!
