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September 29, 2008

Making sense of database chess software

In response to:

I have Chessmaster but see that all the pros use ChessBase. I looked at your software section and got overwhelmed with options. I'm not sure what Fritz is or Shredder and I'm not sure which version of Chessbase I should look into. Can you assist this novice?

To help you make sense of all this software, I will explain a few of them.

Chessmaster is a common first program. It offers a variety of ways to play and learn.

ChessBase 10, released in the summer of 2008, comes in three versions. ChessBase is not only the name of the company producing many different chess training products, but the name of their flagship product, centrally a database tool. The idea behind a chess database is to store, enter, query, and generally manipulate a database of chess games so you can compare advantages, disadvantages, different moves, opening lines, frequency of positions, and a whole gamut of analytical tools that can help you understand chess positions.

The Database will have playing engines driving it's analysis, so at any time you can assess the relative positive or negative strengths of any position. The database of course lets you create your own databases for your own games, or search any of many thousands of other games for specific positions, players, locations, etc.

ChessBase 10 chess database comes in three product levels.

1. ChessBase 10 Starter which is the main product, plus a limited number of add-ons.

2. ChessBase 10 MEGA is the core product, plus lots of extras, including

- Player encyclopedia with over 29,000 pictures

- ChessBase Mega Database 2008 with 3,75 Mio. games + automatic update until 31 December 2008

- DVD Fritz Endgameturbo 3 (9 DVDs)

- ChessBase CORR 2009

- ChessBase Magazine subscription for one year

3. ChessBase 10 Upgrade, for owners of chessbase 9 or earlier to bring you up to version 10.

http://www.chesshouse.com/chess_database_s/119.htm

ChessBase as a software company also produces other software, such as Fritz, Shredder, Junior, Hiarcs, Rybka. All of them are like ChessMaster except more powerful and robust. ChessMaster is the "gamers" version of a chess program. I highly respect it, yet dedicated chess players usually invest in specialized playing programs such as the ones I just mentioned.

These playing programs will play against you, let you play online (most of them), and give you a ton of great things surrounding a playing environment.

Rybka is the latest playing program - and indisputably now one of the best. It's very powerful and represents quite a leap in playing power from many other recent program releases. You can find both Rybka and Deep Rybka here: http://www.chesshouse.com/chess_playing_software_s/60.htm

Posted on September 29, 2008 at 03:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

September 05, 2008

Chess is more than a game. It's an experience.

My bride and I first met in Colorado a few years ago among friends. During that time, we had spare time for hiking, skiing... excuse me, snowboarding, and the like.

Looking back a couple years with fondest of memories, more than a few times we've reminded each other... "remember that first game of chess we played a few days after we first met?"

I remember being a little surprised(what was i thinking) that Joanna knew how to play chess. Yes... ok, I know what you want to ask... "did you let her win?"

"Somehow" she learned I liked chess and had small chess set with me. So of course she begged to play a game!

(It reminds of our first long distance date... she knew about my passion for aviation, so what does she have booked when I arrived? Tickets to Kalamazoo Air Museum of course.)

I fetched the chess set from my room and we went of to the corner of this game room and sat on the floor. I have no idea why. But that's what you do. As we set up the pieces, I wondered how good she was at chess. That question she asked about the knights and bishops on the right starting squares could be a bluff right?

What I remember best is that we talked a lot over this game of chess. She asked me questions about her moves and I played casually. She asked for some tips. Even though we didn't finish the game, we totally enjoyed chatting and getting to know each other. Neither of us we're really out to win - in this setting :)

For so many that's what the game of chess offers. We explored and learned together. And it's amazing how much you can read and learn about someone by playing chess.

Now at home together she's totally thrilled about various electronic chess computers I bring home for her to try. I started with the simpler ones - and moved up to an autosensory wood chess computer. Now she's spoiled and doesn't like the simpler cheap ones any more. So we keep this one at home. And we both like playing it.

Life is not about chess. But chess is about life.

Let me tell you about a customer named Anthony who shared some interesting insights with his story.

"Chess to me is not really a game, it's an experience.

When I engage someone in a chess game , I feel a mental connection with my opponent , i.e. aggressive, defensive, if they are cautious, how far they may think ahead, what pieces are their favorites, do they back up their men, make the most of every piece care about their pawns, do they have a backup assault plan, etc. I can pretty much feel or see their mindset, and the person I am playing usually lives life the way he or she plays chess. I am saying that the better people play, the better people are in adapting mentally to struggles in life (according to their experience and age of course). For instance someone who will surrender a game instead of looking for a stalemate, will probably do the same in a life situation such as arguing their rights or case (like asking the auto mechanic why it cost more then the original quote). I really think chess can be a great psychological tool. Chess exercises patience, tenacity, boldness, and a lot more. No two games are ever the same. Just one note I would like to make about the way people play chess, people always have their good days and bad days and it shows up in a few rounds of chess. and sometimes they just make a mistake but then again isn't making a mistake like not paying attention? or maybe outwitted. Definitely people who play need a chess clock so the opponent doesn't have any advantage like more time or just trying to make you lose interest by taking forever to move. Well that's about all I have to say for now because you know thousands of books have been written just entirely devoted to chess."

Jo and I like chess and she's now getting some tools and dvds from ChessHouse to learn more :) Chess is a way for us to meet people and make a difference.

-Raphael

Posted on September 05, 2008 at 08:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

September 2008

September 29, 2008

Making sense of database chess software

September 05, 2008

Chess is more than a game. It's an experience.

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