I just downloaded it and it seems pretty neat but I'm lost.
I asked RHP to email me a bunch of games that I played recently which they did. I now have that email open.
How do I put those games into scid?? I've never used a personal database before... I've only ever browsed masters games on sites like redhotpawn.com/gamesexplorer.
Here's how I use it, mostly:
Get a big games database. (There's a 200,000 game and a 3 million game version on icofy.net.) Import it (if not already in Scid format). Now load that database, say in slot 1. Open the tree window (ctrl+T), and click the 'Lock' button so the tree stays locked to your reference database.
Now go over to the clipbase (ctrl+9). Get the PGN of one of your games that's still in the opening from the Game History window. Copy it (ctrl+A ctrl+C), then import it into the clipbase (Tools / Import One PGN Game). Now you can check out what opening moves are viable from that position.
When you finish a game, save it to your own database and use the analysis tool. A good command to know here is Ctrl+Space (there's also an icon for it), which lets you try out moves on the board without changing the game or adding a variation. There's a mode where it annotates the whole game for you, but I pretty much just step through it in the infinite analysis mode (I use Fritz if I want a full annotation).
Originally posted by incandenzaA great explanation. But that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what SCID is capable of.
Here's how I use it, mostly:
Get a big games database. (There's a 200,000 game and a 3 million game version on icofy.net.) Import it (if not already in Scid format). Now load that database, say in slot 1. Open the tree window (ctrl+T), and click the 'Lock' button so the tree stays locked to your reference database.
Now go over to the clipbase (c step through it in the infinite analysis mode (I use Fritz if I want a full annotation).
One of the most useful windows is the Comment Editor, which you should be able to access via CONTROL-E (at least that's what it is in Linux, though I'd bet it's probably the same in Windows). Use this to write down your own annotations (or ones from books, which is what I do when I go through a game in a book... eventually, I have the entire book in my database and have no need of the physical copy).
You can enter moves either by clicking on the squares and pieces, or by directly typing in the moves via algebraic notation (descriptive notation may work too, but I've never tried it).
When you make a move where there's already an existing move, SCID will give you the option of making it in to a variation, which is very, very useful. You can also delete variations from the Edit menu.
You can use the arrow keys to move back and forth through a game, and the "z" key to jump out of the current variation. Press CONTROL-L for a list of games in your database. That's a window you should get to know well. Right click on one of the games to get a menu of what you can do with it.
Another useful feature is the Opening Report, which you should be able to get via CONTROL-SHIFT-O, or via the Tools menu. It will give you lots of useful stats on that particular position and the moves that follow it from your database.
You can also use the analysis engines to either play against or analyse any position.
With one of the newer SCIDs you can practice openings and tactics... you can get statistics on players in your database, and how you did with black or white... there're also some flexible search functions, and much much more.
I recommend playing around with every item in every menu, and reading the user manual if you don't understand how something works... or just ask here.
Have fun!