I have been playing competitive chess for eight months now, and I think I would like to put more effort into it. I have been thinking about getting a chess software two weeks ago. But with all of the different brands of software, it is difficult to choose which one is the best. These are the requirements:

1. It must be able to analyze games with acceptable accuracy

2. It must have a database of 2000 games or more.

3. It would be nice if you can play against the computer.

4. Maybe some video lessons from strong GM's.

I have been thinking about getting the lastest version of Fritz: Fritz 12. But I would like to hear from players who already have chess software and would like to recommend it.

ummm i have 2 fritz sotfreware it has lots of difrent ways to lesrn but it dosent have grand master videoes

You can't go wrong with Fritz 12. I first had Chessmaster and I thought it was amazing but it's nothing compared to Fritz. It will take you some time to get used to it and know the features, but once you do, there is none better.

Fritz 12.

You get a strong chess engine, and the ability to add additional engines, should you wish to do so.

You get a variety of training and analysis tools; different playing modes (Sparring is brilliant); Calculation training, etc., etc.

You get the 1.4million game Chessbase database of games. You can easily add other databases.

You get access to Playchess.com for one year, with all the instructional films, internet chess, one-on-one GM instructions, etc. there.

And you can easily go through training DVDs from the by now extensive library of such tools, with GMs teaching you the ropes. Superb.

I have no other connection to the people behind Fritz 12 than having sent them money for the program. They have me hooked. It's brilliant. (I also recommend Fritz Chess for the iPhone.)

Definitely Fritz 12 I got it and its helped me although I have not figured it out yet.

Steinwitz, how do you use the calculation training?

Thanks.

Fritz 12 is beast and a must have, get it.

 Very useful function in Fritz. In the Training Pane, you find a Calculation Training function.
Hasn't changed significantly from Fritz 11. Very good:

http://www.chessbase.com/workshop2.asp?id=4509

Here's a link to some of the features in Fritz 12. Many of the links explaining details about Fritz 11 are also valid for functions in 12.

http://www.chessbase.com/download/index.asp

Here is my review of Shredder 12 for Linux, but of course they make it for Windows, too.  I love it.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2330314/shredder_12_for_linuxbased_systems.html?cat=15

I love the way Shredder plays, more human like than all other chess engines I have tried.  As far as a data base, there are tons of games for download on this site.  http://www.chessgamecollections.com/

AND pgnmentor.com!

SCID (no, not the disease) for free (free and excellent and fastest and imo best chess db management system), and download the Million Base and the ICOFY base for a couple million quality games fast (all easy to find with google).

best free engines, stockfish, fruit, toga, crafty, and their derivatives. google...

A good buy is probably something from the fritz series, i own fritz 8, making your own opening book and annotating games is quite pleasant with the chessbase software.

gm videos, in general, you are expected to pay...

Shredder 12 gets my vote, to. Its power scales down nicely; I usually play it at around 1600 Elo and it plays like a decent human player. It has a nice mixture of positional ability and tactical strength. It's just fun to play.

For $35 you can get Shredder Classic 4, which is a slightly weaker version but still very strong. I ran a tournament with the Classic 4 engine v. Junior 2010 and Robbolito and Shredder took the prize.

I have Shredder 12 and SCID, got those before I bought Fritz 12. I also have ICC and Playchess accounts.

Shredder 12 plays a very "human" game of chess. You can import games and game-collections, but the interaction with the program could be more sensibly set up. I only have experience with Shredder 12 for the Mac OSX and the iPhone. I feel the manner in which functions are split into sub-windows, and having to switch things on/off, etc., is cumbersome.
But among chess engines, Shredder 12 gets my vote for playing a believable simulation of a human opponent.

SCID is surprisingly strong in functions and capabilities, and if you take the time to delve deeply into what the program can do, you'll find it will cover analysis, database mgt and review and even play a decent game.

I still ended up with installing Windows in my Mac solely to be able to use Fritz 12 which covers the bases and then some.

But with some effort and by following various guides on the net, you can set yourself up with a comprehensive database, good open-source chess engines, etc., without having to buy commercial software.

On the other hand - chess GMs have to live, too. And I'm very pleased with the ease and interactivity of the Fritz Trainer DVDs, where I have leading GMs, IMs and chess coaches taking me through the ropes, in deep detail.

There are free alternatives. The best chessengine is at the moment Firebird 1.2 is free and it runs with every UCI-GUI. Chess Arena or Jose are free GUI's and would work.

Games you can find as much as you want in the net. Just type pgn in google or look at chessgames.com.

Chess Videos you can find with the phrase chess video at google, for good ones you have to pay usually.

Fritz 12 is ok, you may install better chessengines as Firebird but fritz is with no videos.