The Chess House - Chess Sets Boards Giant Chess Pieces and Equipment

September 02, 2009

What is the best chess software to learn chess?

The best chess software to learn chess depends on the learner’s level of knowledge. But there is some straightforward advice to make a good choice on what chess software to use.

If you are new to chess, start with a carefully chosen chess software program for the beginner which will cover all the rules, basic strategies and tactics. There are plenty of good programs to choose from later that will help you build in this initial knowledge.

You should have chess software that

1. Teaches you all the rules and much more.

2. Let’s you play against the computer and practice what you learn

Surprisingly it’s hard to find a chess software program that does both well. So it’s usually best to find two separate programs that complement each other. This way you’ll maximize your learning experience as well as your playing experience.

A clever combination of training and playing softwarewill yield the best results. Here’s some advice… [full article here]

Posted on September 02, 2009 at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

August 11, 2009

Sophisticated Chess Set Pieces

Now here's a set to brag about. Hand crafted by Italian master craftsmen of solid Brass and specially processed wood these chess set pieces are finished in Brass 24kt Gold and Silver. Wood composed of a hundred colorful layers for a unique finish.

Posted on August 11, 2009 at 07:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 09, 2009

Chess kit helps kids learn with chess set and DVD

Parents, especially homeschoolers are turning to games that invest in their kid's minds while they are young and impressionable. With all the video and PC games out there creating such short attention spans, there has to be a balance.

Heather Gneco, wife and mom to four wonderful kids, chose the Home Chess Learning Kit to help her kids learn chess and get involved in a game that was not only classic and fun, but would help them in their learning ability.

Heather who writes on homeschool education writes.

As a homeschooling mom of four kids, I am always on the look-out for quality educational products that are affordable and really work. When I received our Home Chess Learning Kit in the mail, I was definitely not disappointed. Although the program is geared for any age, I was quite surprised how quickly my five-year-old daughter picked up the game. After watching the first few segments, she could easily move the pieces around the board correctly. The DVD totally engaged her and was informative for even me - to the point that I found some errors in the way I’ve been playing, and I’ve been playing for years!

Besides the solid, educational chess DVD in the chess kit, is a long lasting, durable, and club chess set.

Now parents that school their kids in public, private school, or home, are able to give their children a meaningful gift that sharpens their mind with chess learning, and the all purpose chess set they can play with their friends, at school, or the family at home.

Posted on July 09, 2009 at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 30, 2009

Bellevue chess champs: kids play NASA astronaut

Stevenson's school chess club in Bellevue Washington is no ordinary chess team: The kids are the reigning national champions of the elementary chess circuit - so good that they were selected last year to play a much-publicized, virtual game of chess with NASA astronaut Gregory Chamitoff, which began while he was in orbit on the international space station. Read the full article published in the Seattle Times.

Posted on April 30, 2009 at 03:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 01, 2009

Northwest Washington Scholastic Chess

Scholastic chess in Northwest Washington is a popular family activity. Watch this video, shot during a local scholastic event at the fairgrounds, showing the fun, value, and excitement for kids and parents.

Randy Keach is a respected, local chess facilitator and organizer dedicating a lot of his time to helping kids enjoy chess. In fact he organized the first tournament I EVER played in when I was about 8 years old.

Watch Randy, kids, and parents during this event talk about why they love the game. Randy's very helpful website Northwest Washington Scholastic Chess has very helpful information about scholastic chess

Checkmate! from ENW with Deb Slater on Vimeo.

Posted on April 01, 2009 at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

February 12, 2009

Review of Pocket Shredder for windows mobile users

Pocket Shredder is great for Windows Mobile users that want a great chess playing, and chess puzzle solving experience. On the Windows mobile playform, the chess experience is far superior to most dedicated chess handhelds, because it's simply software you install on your already powerful Windows phone.

Pocket Shredder is now also available for all mobile devices with Windows Mobile 5 or 6 and for Pocket PC 2003SE.

You can play against Pocket Shredder, analyse with it, solve chess puzzles and use the various training features. It offers the usual Shredder standard to go.

Installation took me barely 5 minutes to download and install. I downloaded the demo from the Shredder chess website . It will let you play for 3 days, and try out 10 of the 1000 chess puzzles.

You can read the full review here

Posted on February 12, 2009 at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

February 09, 2009

Pocket Fritz 3 for Windows Mobile. Play anywhere.

The new Pocket Fritz 3 is amazing. If you own a phone or pda with Windows Mobile you can get the most robust and powerful chess software to play, train, and study with you wherever you go.

Pocket Fritz 3 will be available at ChessHouse.com very soon. You can read about its features and view more screen shots of Pocket Fritz 3 on the ChessBase.com website.

Posted on February 09, 2009 at 06:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

January 28, 2009

Straight Up Chess

When playing a casual game of chess over several days, finding a place to leave the board displayed and accessible can often be a challenge.

Straight Up Chess has found a way to combine beauty and functionality with exquisitely framed chess boards that hang on the wall. Clear acrylic shelving holds the chess pieces, much like a high end demonstration board.

Customers “build” their boards by choosing from an array of fine woods such as cherry, walnut and black maple, and adding a frame such as antique bronze or black flake. They can use their own pieces or choose from the excellent assortment provided.

Time clocks are not an issue when you play on a Straight Up Chess Board. As you pass by you make your move, mark it with the “last move” marker and continue on your way. Later, your opponent passes by, makes their move and marks it as “last move”. Playing vertically can be a bit of a challenge in the beginning, but it only takes 5 or 6 moves to get used to the new angles.

The Straight Up Chess Boards can be used effectively at home, the office or even at school, providing both eye-catching art and a fun distraction during the day.

For more information visit www.straightupchess.com

Posted on January 28, 2009 at 04:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 19, 2009

Stone Outdoor Chess Tables

Bring a little New York City into your backyard with a concrete chess table from Concrete Classics. A welcome feature of New York City parks for over 60 years, these tables are built by skilled artisans to withstand the elements.

Sitting 32" tall, the tables have a 16"x16" chessboard within a 32"x32" tabletop. The chessboard is made with green and white terrazzo tiles held together by a brass inlaid border.

Originally designed with a fixed base for the New York City parks department, the tables are now also available in a freestanding version, ideal for any outdoor space. You can also purchase concrete stools to make the chess table transition easily from gaming surface to picnic table.

For pricing and further information, visit http://concrete-classics.com

Posted on January 19, 2009 at 02:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 10, 2008

User-friendly PC chess playing software Rybka 3 now strongest in the world

Rybka 3 is today's top chess software with an ELO rating of well over 3000. Known for it's human-like playing characteristics. Friendly ChessBase style chess playing interface makes it fun for all chess players.

It leads easily in all computer rating lists. Now it is available in the dramatically improved version 3.0 and under the ChessBase-Fritz interface. It includes exciting new analysis functions you will not find in other programs. Great visuals. PC only.

The author of Rybka, Czech/American International Master Vasik Rajlich, has implemented an extraordinary understanding of dynamic factors into his program. This often results in long-term pawn or exchange sacrifices and an active positional playing style resembling human chess. Rybka scores well in all types of situations but dominates especially in asymmetric positions which arise for example in Sicilian Defences. The success of the program stems from dedicated team work: IM Iweta Rajlich is the main tester; Jeroen Noomen contributes opening theory and tournament preparation; IM Larry Kaufmann develops positional evaluation algorithms.

Today the main use of chess software is in interactive analysis. Rybka’s superior playing strength helps you to quickly assess a position. But analysis with Rybka 3 is much more than evaluations and best moves. In the user interface designed by ChessBase, Rybka 3 introduces several ground-breaking new analysis features: Rybka 3 with ChessBase Interface

This is what the program will look like. It's very user friendly.

You can customize many appearance options to 3D, etc as well.

Learn more about Rybke 3 ChessBase version here

Posted on December 10, 2008 at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)