Learning Tools for Learning

I was reading through this blog post on the Stanford, which is rather thorough and thought that while it is very helpful for learning the Stanford, it's also a great example of how to go through an opening to figure it out. 

Being a nube I can't visualize all of these yet, even enough to make notes and such, but I found two software packages in the OpenSource area which are helping a great deal. The first is called ChessX. It's a tool chest.  

Databases are PGN files with pgn files inside of them. Those pgn files are called 'games'. If you want to play the engine, start a new game, make the opening moves you want to learn from, make sure your side is on the bottom and then click on the PLAY ENGINE button.

But if you're learning new methods and tactics and openings, then the next one Lucas Chess R , written in Python is quite a package. It doesn't look like much but I like setting up the openings and running through them from memory with the compy watching and guiding as needed. It has really helped with the memory area. 

I haven't checked yet because of the Rabbit hole I always fall down, if there are any add-ons for this package. Since it is written in Python, there are likely many available, and more coming. I'll post something about those when I have time to chase the Rabbit.