30 Mar 06
http://www.personalchesstrainer.com/
I was wondering has anyone ever used "Personal Chess trainer 2"...
is it any good?
I downloaded the trial version and it seemed rather easy, none of the puzzles took me more than 10 secounds to work out...which makes me wonder if the program is aimed at beginers, rather than intermediates (which is what I consider myself)
so the question is, (for those that have used it) is it worth my monney or would it be better spent on something else....a chess book for example....??
30 Mar 06
Originally posted by ShinidokiI have it, and I like it so far. It starts out really easy (1 move mates) and slowly works its way up to more difficult problems with lots and lots of repetition along the way. Right now I am on Tactics 1 (of 6) - Unit 17 (of 51) and I'm doing 3 move mates. So I have a long way to go and I'm sure it will get much much harder. I have not really worked on the strategy or endgame portion of the program yet so I can't say anything about those.
http://www.personalchesstrainer.com/
I was wondering has anyone ever used "Personal Chess trainer 2"...
is it any good?
I downloaded the trial version and it seemed rather easy, none of the puzzles took me more than 10 secounds to work out...which makes me wonder if the program is aimed at beginers, rather than intermediates (which is what I consi ...[text shortened]... orth my monney or would it be better spent on something else....a chess book for example....??
30 Mar 06
3 edits
Originally posted by o0obruceleeo0osounds really good ... i followed something like that about a decade ago ... and my skills spiked up ...
I have it, and I like it so far. It starts out really easy (1 move mates) and slowly works its way up to more difficult problems with lots and lots of repetition along the way. Right now I am on Tactics 1 (of 6) - Unit 17 (of 51) and I'm doing 3 move mates. So I have a long way to go and I'm sure it will get much much harder. I have not really wor ...[text shortened]... ed on the strategy or endgame portion of the program yet so I can't say anything about those.
then they dropped back again when my energy dropped ...
it seems i am destined to be this side of 2000 in the long run ... i guess i will hit 0 after i die.
30 Mar 06
Originally posted by o0obruceleeo0oAh! helpful to know it gets harder....
I have it, and I like it so far. It starts out really easy (1 move mates) and slowly works its way up to more difficult problems with lots and lots of repetition along the way. Right now I am on Tactics 1 (of 6) - Unit 17 (of 51) and I'm doing 3 move mates. So I have a long way to go and I'm sure it will get much much harder. I have not really wor ...[text shortened]... ed on the strategy or endgame portion of the program yet so I can't say anything about those.
put I have a few followup questions...
1....does it ever have any tactical puzzles which are not checkmate themes?? --
and 2) if the Puzzles get harder does it ever explain the correct moves...??
i.e a little message saying "hey!, QXd5 is good becuase..."??.
31 Mar 06
Originally posted by Shinidoki1.)Yes, but it doesn't tell you whether you are trying to checkmate or win material, it just says "What is white's/black's best move?"
Ah! helpful to know it gets harder....
put I have a few followup questions...
1....does it ever have any tactical puzzles which are not checkmate themes?? --
and 2) if the Puzzles get harder does it ever explain the correct moves...??
i.e a little message saying "hey!, QXd5 is good becuase..."??.
2.)Nope it never explains why the move is best in words, it just shows you the right move if you try a few different moves and they all fail.
31 Mar 06
Originally posted by exigentskywell yes....
Actually, for strategy, there are also explanations. But for tactics and endgames it is usually self-evident why a move is considered best.
Mate in 1 really doesn't require much explanation at all....
but as it gets more tricky it may be hard to understand "why" the moves works and/or why black must defend this "way" ....
if I don't understand the 3rd move of sequence what are the chances of me playing the next 3 moves correctly?
**actually looks at stratgedy and endgame **
ah ha! finally some explanations!