19 Jan 08
Do they have chess programs for PC that tutor you? For instance, will analyze my moves to tell me which the better would be, or discuss the reasoning behind making certain moves? I'm definitely a novice and have had no formal training in chess. If any programs like this exist, I'd be all over them...
Thanks
19 Jan 08
Try the previous version of Chessmaster. You can get in very cheap (in Sweden) and it seems to have all the functionallity that you're looking for.
The most recent Chessmaster version is of course also good but I do not think that the new stuff added is quite enough to compensate for the higher price.
19 Jan 08
Originally posted by atdavischess programs do tutor you and even explain moves to some extent, but possibly not to the level you require when playing at novice level. I agree that Chessmaster (version 9 onwards) are probably the best learning tool as far as chess software goes since it includes some nice training material. The blunder checking is also quite handy, but I don't believe having software tell you that you are blundering is the best way not to make blunders. Ultimately, with over-the-board play, you wont have this and I think if you really want to improve playing against human opponents there is nothing like good old playing time with some puzzles and theory to back it up (mind you, not a lot is needed... just understand the basics like material, time, opening principles etc at first and grow from there). Personally, I also find that playing against software can be frustrating. Even when you change the personalities to suit your playing strength, there is always something oddly artificial... maybe it is simply the fact that you know thre isnt someone on the other side of the board getting worried when you start an attack or gloating when you overlook something.
Do they have chess programs for PC that tutor you? For instance, will analyze my moves to tell me which the better would be, or discuss the reasoning behind making certain moves? I'm definitely a novice and have had no formal training in chess. If any programs like this exist, I'd be all over them...
Thanks
One other thing - don't expect too much from software along the lines of telling you why a move was good or bad. Once you get past the level of blatant material advantage gains or losses, the usefulness of Chessmaster's analysis gets blurry. It will tell you things like "this creates a passed pawn on the e-file, and lowers black's king safety." Once you have read a good chess book or two, this stuff becomes obvious and you kind of think "oh gee thanks for stating the obvious, Mr expensive software package".
All in all, though, Chessmaster is a good buy (especially version 9 or 10 with their recent price drop) for the training and puzzles and the fact that it's set of out-of-the-box personalities is better than just switching on other software like Fritz and telling it "play at my level". If you want to spend the extra money on version 11 it's a great buy too, I think Ubisoft would have addressed most of the bugs it had at release time which I saw people complain about.
19 Jan 08
1 edit
Originally posted by atdavisif you either have a lot of money -or [cough] a lot of 'internet experience' [cough]-, you may try chess mentor, which is actually a whole lot of positions annotated to depth, where you pick the best moves. it often tells you why a bad move is bad too. it seems to suit more for your specific question (ideas behind moves). however, as an overall tutor, chessmaster is the best I think.
Do they have chess programs for PC that tutor you? For instance, will analyze my moves to tell me which the better would be, or discuss the reasoning behind making certain moves? I'm definitely a novice and have had no formal training in chess. If any programs like this exist, I'd be all over them...
Thanks
19 Jan 08
1 edit
Originally posted by atdavisLogical Move by Move is a good first book to tell you why some moves are made and to explain to you the ideas behind chess openings. And I guess that the ChessMaster tutorials are a nice complement to it.
Do they have chess programs for PC that tutor you? For instance, will analyze my moves to tell me which the better would be, or discuss the reasoning behind making certain moves? I'm definitely a novice and have had no formal training in chess. If any programs like this exist, I'd be all over them...
Thanks
And this threa seems to be good too if the idea goes as planned. Thread 85336
19 Jan 08
1 edit
Originally posted by adam warlockDefinetly Chessmaster ! Whatever someone might say, those tutorials are amazing, systematic and unbelievable fun. Whoever says is it basic and easy, solve in decent way 50 puzzles collected by John Nunn (some of them unbelievable hard), Rating exam, endgame test or "Match with masters" section.
Logical Move by Move is a good first book to tell you why some moves are made and to explain to you the ideas behind chess openings. And I guess that the ChessMaster tutorials are a nice complement to it.
And this threa seems to be good too if the idea goes as planned. Thread 85336
Josh Waitzkin rules too, start with his tutorial!!!
After Chessmaster tutorials, when you get used to algebraic notation take the suggested Logical chess, move by move ! (Irnev Chernev)