Only Chess
09 Sep 06
09 Sep 06
Originally posted by thargExplain what you mean by
NO! Not for "alien assistance". Please don't post if you are going to rant about people using software in RHP games.
I'm looking for recommendations on reasonable priced software that has:
- a chess trainer
- updatable database of openings
- analysis of positions
- import games
A) chess trainer
B) db of open....
you see, I would suggest Fritz 8 at the moment, that does have interesting training/help features, but i'm not sure if this is waht you are actually looking for.
09 Sep 06
Originally posted by ShinidokiA) chess trainer
Explain what you mean by
A) chess trainer
B) db of open....
you see, I would suggest Fritz 8 at the moment, that does have interesting training/help features, but i'm not sure if this is waht you are actually looking for.
B) db of open....
A) I'm not sure what i want here, something to help me improve
B) ECO openings with explanations, updatable if possible
A combo of A and B would be good. Fritz and Shredder are two of the big names. TBH, i just want to hear personal experiences with software.
Anytime i've played software in the past 've found that i get bored quickly (usually because i get hammered without knowing why)
09 Sep 06
Originally posted by thargI find chessica to be good teachingsoftware.It's dutch but includes the english language.
NO! Not for "alien assistance". Please don't post if you are going to rant about people using software in RHP games.
I'm looking for recommendations on reasonable priced software that has:
- a chess trainer
- updatable database of openings
- analysis of positions
- import games
http://www.chess4less.com/2-tasc.htm
09 Sep 06
Well I if you buy fritz 8....
1) it has several features that could be "considered" training.
explain all moves.
spy mode - (tell you what the computer is planing to play)
the Coach - (gives you tips during a game)
guess the move - (fritz asks what's the best move?)
sparring mode - (if fritz finds a "clever blunder" it will play that move)
hanidcap mode- (allows you to tweak the computers playing style)
learn moves -- ( help to memorise some opening lines)
[i]endgame practice -- (set of basic endgames to play against the engine)
**note, all these features are rather basic.
as for openings, well, in the database menu you can search games by ECO code, and, if you install a big key and look throught the databse that comes with it (500,000 games) you can find all the games that started with 1.e5 a4 2.Qh4 or whatever your looking at.
09 Oct 06
Originally posted by thargYou might look at Chess Assistant. CA Light is free, so you can get an idea whether the full package is worth the money. ChessBase 9 is excellent as well, and ChessBase light is free.
NO! Not for "alien assistance". Please don't post if you are going to rant about people using software in RHP games.
I'm looking for recommendations on reasonable priced software that has:
- a chess trainer
- updatable database of openings
- analysis of positions
- import games
You need to decide whether you are looking more for database software or a playing and analysis program. Fritz and CB database software ahare many of the same features and integrate well.
09 Oct 06
Originally posted by ColonelCustardActually, I'm still using CB 8. But CB 9 allegedly improves existing features and adds a few new ones.
Wulebgr:
What do you find useful about CB 9?
I've given up trying to do anything useful with it but perhaps my needs are different from yours.
It's provides the quickest and easiest access to millions of games--historical, recent GM, mine, and some of my potential opponent's. I use it to find similar games to those I'm playing, for creating opening trees and specialized books, and I have some tactical training databases installed for practice.
I use Fritz to analyze my games after they end, and play through them, study the analysis, and add my own in CB.
I've also used it to assist in creating webpages.
10 Oct 06
Originally posted by WulebgrThanks.
Actually, I'm still using CB 8. But CB 9 allegedly improves existing features and adds a few new ones.
It's provides the quickest and easiest access to millions of games--historical, recent GM, mine, and some of my potential opponent's. I use it to find similar games to those I'm playing, for creating opening trees and specialized books, and I have some t ...[text shortened]... dy the analysis, and add my own in CB.
I've also used it to assist in creating webpages.
Yes. I've read elsewhere that CB 8 works.
I bought Fritz 9, CB 9 & the CB Opening Encyclopedia a few months ago.
CB 9 is bugged to death. Inconsistent game header data, an exceptionally poor interface, & a collection of games the overall quality of which leaves a lot to be desired, almost caused me to give up within a few hours of installing it.
The final straw came when I tried to create a 'Big Key' for another collection of games which simply produced a tree of ECO codes with no games. Also, ECO codes appear & disappear at random while browsing the tree.
An extremely unreliable duplicate game facility together with no automated facilities to normalise header data means I can't even use it to manage lists of games.
After this experience I wasn't surprised to find an absent uninstall program so I had to remove the CB files manually. However, my machine was never right after installing CB & I eventually had to re-install Windows etc from scratch to get performance & reliability back to where it was before installation.
Fritz 9 was little better. It basically works but it refused to store my preferred game settings so I had to manually set them everytime I started a new session & manually check them everytime I started a new game.
The Fritz 9 interface is best described as 'idiosyncratic' & takes a lot of effort to use.
The analysis score graph has no labels which renders it meaningless.
I didn't even get as far as using the Opening Encyclopedia. I reasoned, given my experience with CB, that much of its contents probably had little value & I simply didn't want to spend the time to find out. I'd simply had enough.
Some of CB 9's features work, of course, such as listing off professional games, tournaments & player histories so I guess that would prove useful to a professional like you but to an amateur like me those features are largely irrelevant except for interests sake.
I should add, in case you ever consider buying this, that I don't think the position finder works properly either but I didn't test it extensively enough to be 100% certain of this.
Personally, I lost a lot of time from attempting to use these products. I will certainly never buy another single Chessbase product ever again.
10 Oct 06
I've found that Fritz 9 works fine. Indeed, the only problem I've had with it was also present in Fritz 8 beginning with the internet update that came out about the same time as Fritz 9: during full analysis it often fails due to a memory error. Uninstalling both programs, and reinstalling, but then refusing the update seems to prevent this.
The refusal to install the update, however, may be the cause of being unable to tune-in to Seirawan's commentary on the WCC on my main box, forcing me to use my notebook (which has weaker speakers).
10 Oct 06
Originally posted by WulebgrAre you running an oldish version of windows? I've found that resources under 98SE run very low with these programs. Particulary CB.
... Fritz 9: during full analysis it often fails due to a memory error. Uninstalling both programs, and reinstalling, but then refusing the update seems to prevent this.
No problems of that nature when I tested CB under XP though.
10 Oct 06
1 edit
Originally posted by ColonelCustardNope. XP home on the desktop and XP pro on the notebook.
Are you running an oldish version of windows? I've found that resources under 98SE run very low with these programs. Particulary CB.
No problems of that nature when I tested CB under XP though.
I've wondered lately, however, if my dual processor is the problem, or if anti-spyware or anti-virus programs are causing the interference.