So, I’ve been posting chess-related reviews to Chess.com or a while now.  Before I get started, and in case you haven’t seen them, I’ll give a list of my reviews for your perusal:

McChess: Chessmaster 9000
McChess: Shredder Chess

Book Review: Play Winning Chess
Book Review: Winning Chess Tactics
Book Review: Winning Chess Strategies
Book Review: Winning Chess Openings
Book Review: Winning Chess Endings
Book Review: Modern Ideas

Video Review: PRO CHESS

Chess Gear: Wooden Chess Game

Now that we’ve got that squared away, I’ll get to the point.  I plan to continue posting reviews, and I certainly have plenty of material to work with already, and I have a bit of a to-do list of things that I would like to pursue in aid of my chess education.  I’ll continue to post reviews of whatever stuff I feel is relevant.  However, I may have my myopic little gaze focused a bit too tightly for my own good, and I’d like to broaden my horizons a bit.  Not just that, but I’d also like some idea of what y’all would like reviewed in the future.

Before you start making suggestions, I’d like to point out a few things.

First, some of you may have noticed that although my reviews contain complaints about the products under review, they are generally positive.  This is true, but it’s not because I’m some sort of paid shill.  I don’t want to waste my time using products that suck, so I try to do my homework before I make any purchases.  And in the cases where I don’t have to purchase anything (borrowing material from friends or the library) I don’t want to waste my time, whatever dubious amount that is worth.

So, when I get a suggestion for review, I’ll probably do a bit of homework to see if it’s worth my time to evaluate.  If it turns out that all pointers to the aforementioned product indicate that said product is a metric ton of dung, I probably won’t bother with it.  Don’t hesitate to make suggestions because you are unsure of the product’s quality, I’m just being up-front about my method of pruning suggestions.

Having said all that, if I decide to review something and it turns out that it is a steaming load, I won’t hesitate to fill you in on my extensive ire.

Second, I’d like to point out that I’m a chess novice, so product suggestions should be made with that in mind.  This doesn’t mean that learning material should be geared specifically at beginners, but it should be at least accessible by beginners.  I think many of us newbs would like to know what we have ahead of us and, seeing as how I’m a beginner myself, I’m in the perfect position to evaluate such things.  These reviews are all about making information available to beginners in a manner which they can digest.  So, as long as whatever is under review isn’t just complete Grandmaster Goobledegook, I think I can manage to convey some useful information in the hope that it saves others some perspiration when choosing new Chess Stuff.

Third, I’d like to address the types of products I’m willing to check out.  Well, pretty much anything goes as far as I’m concerned.  Books, software, chess computers, chess sets, whatever, as long as it’s chess related.  Hell, I’ll even have a go at Chess Stuff targeted at kids.  Not being a parent myself, however, I might not be the best person for the job in that case.  But hey, quality is quality and I’m willing to separate the wheat from the chaff as best I can manage.

One last little bit before I go.  If your suggested product is something in which I’m particularly interested and it isn’t too expensive, it’s more likely to get reviewed in the short term because I’m more likely to just rush out and buy it myself if the manufacturer/publisher won’t give up a lender or a freebie for me to review.  I’ve never tried this before, so I don’t really know how well I’ll be received by the companies that make Chess Stuff.  It should make for a bit of excitement in my life, no doubt!

So there it is, folks.  Come one, come all and post your product suggestions or anything else that you feel I might find helpful.  And, as always, I’m Stick, and I’ll see y’all out there on the gridiron!

1. Review the Chess.com Chess Mentor and Chess Tactics Trainer.

2. Review the Premium Membership.

menofsticks wrote:

So, I’ve been posting chess-related reviews to Chess.com or a while now.  Before I get started, and in case you haven’t seen them, I’ll give a list of my reviews for your perusal:

McChess: Chessmaster 9000
McChess: Shredder Chess

Book Review: Play Winning Chess
Book Review: Winning Chess Tactics
Book Review: Winning Chess Strategies
Book Review: Winning Chess Openings
Book Review: Winning Chess Endings
Book Review: Modern Ideas

Video Review: PRO CHESS

Chess Gear: Wooden Chess Game

Now that we’ve got that squared away, I’ll get to the point.  I plan to continue posting reviews, and I certainly have plenty of material to work with already, and I have a bit of a to-do list of things that I would like to pursue in aid of my chess education.  I’ll continue to post reviews of whatever stuff I feel is relevant.  However, I may have my myopic little gaze focused a bit too tightly for my own good, and I’d like to broaden my horizons a bit.  Not just that, but I’d also like some idea of what y’all would like reviewed in the future.

Before you start making suggestions, I’d like to point out a few things.

First, some of you may have noticed that although my reviews contain complaints about the products under review, they are generally positive.  This is true, but it’s not because I’m some sort of paid shill.  I don’t want to waste my time using products that suck, so I try to do my homework before I make any purchases.  And in the cases where I don’t have to purchase anything (borrowing material from friends or the library) I don’t want to waste my time, whatever dubious amount that is worth.

So, when I get a suggestion for review, I’ll probably do a bit of homework to see if it’s worth my time to evaluate.  If it turns out that all pointers to the aforementioned product indicate that said product is a metric ton of dung, I probably won’t bother with it.  Don’t hesitate to make suggestions because you are unsure of the product’s quality, I’m just being up-front about my method of pruning suggestions.

Having said all that, if I decide to review something and it turns out that it is a steaming load, I won’t hesitate to fill you in on my extensive ire.

Second, I’d like to point out that I’m a chess novice, so product suggestions should be made with that in mind.  This doesn’t mean that learning material should be geared specifically at beginners, but it should be at least accessible by beginners.  I think many of us newbs would like to know what we have ahead of us and, seeing as how I’m a beginner myself, I’m in the perfect position to evaluate such things.  These reviews are all about making information available to beginners in a manner which they can digest.  So, as long as whatever is under review isn’t just complete Grandmaster Goobledegook, I think I can manage to convey some useful information in the hope that it saves others some perspiration when choosing new Chess Stuff.

Third, I’d like to address the types of products I’m willing to check out.  Well, pretty much anything goes as far as I’m concerned.  Books, software, chess computers, chess sets, whatever, as long as it’s chess related.  Hell, I’ll even have a go at Chess Stuff targeted at kids.  Not being a parent myself, however, I might not be the best person for the job in that case.  But hey, quality is quality and I’m willing to separate the wheat from the chaff as best I can manage.

One last little bit before I go.  If your suggested product is something in which I’m particularly interested and it isn’t too expensive, it’s more likely to get reviewed in the short term because I’m more likely to just rush out and buy it myself if the manufacturer/publisher won’t give up a lender or a freebie for me to review.  I’ve never tried this before, so I don’t really know how well I’ll be received by the companies that make Chess Stuff.  It should make for a bit of excitement in my life, no doubt!

So there it is, folks.  Come one, come all and post your product suggestions or anything else that you feel I might find helpful.  And, as always, I’m Stick, and I’ll see y’all out there on the gridiron!

How about some pictures showing how various openings look like once complete. I have searched the internet for this but to no avail. This would be very helpful for me as I am a novice too. I dont have the enthusiasm to study each individual move so a picture of what a completed opening would look like would be a massive help. Thanks for your time "Men of". Barry

dwaxe wrote:

1. Review the Chess.com Chess Mentor and Chess Tactics Trainer.

2. Review the Premium Membership.

I hadn't considered that as a possibility, but it's a good idea.  Thanks for the suggestion.

I have chessmaster 9000 and really like it, I would also recommend chess mentor

@Dwaxe, love the 1st suggestion.

@whisler Have you tried game explorer here on chess.com.

Book reviews are always welcomed.... at least by some of us. I don't want to spend good money on a book that is inaccurate, or a waste of time, etc. Thank you for what you do!

                                               IrishMike