Disappointed about CD Version of "Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations"

I think this is the first time ECC is available on CD, so I figured I'd get it, because I like software like CT-ART and chess.com's Tactics Trainer.  I think my expectations were misplaced on this one, but I couldn't really find a video review on youtube, showing the interface.  I was expecting something a little more like the abovementioned programs, but the ECC is set up more like PGN fragments.  Of the combinations I've looked through, the practice mode only allows you to guess one move before showing you the answer, which is annoying, because it's sometimes harder to find the follow-up moves.

Overall, I don't think the product is well put together.  You enter the PGNs through a pdf with listings for the combinations under themes.  I think most CS majors could put together something quite a bit better than this.

Anyways, I wanted to throw the impression out there, in case anyone was trying to decide between the book and the CD.  While I prefer programs in most cases, because they are streamlined and don't require fumbling about to find solutions in the back of a book, I think I'll stick with the book version on this one.

Thanks for your comments & review.! It will save players from wasting their money.

The Anthology of Chess Combinations, which is the third edition of the ECC has a CD version. I have it and use it. It lacks the features of CT-ART. Even so, I have found it useful. I don't have the print edition of the Anthology. I went with the print version of the fifth edition, which has several hundred new problems since the 3rd ed., and a modified classification system.

It is my understanding that they developed the electronic edition to work within ChessBase. Is that how you have used it?

I reviewed the Anthology three years ago: http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2012/12/anthology-of-chess-combinations.html

Yep.

That's certainly not true of the electronic edition of the Anthology, but it was designed as stand alone software. It's too bad, really, because the tools within ChessBase for creating training exercises are quite powerful.

You are not the first person I have heard this from.  I know someone who creates all his own chess exercises in ChessBase, as he collects them from books, magazines, software, etc.

A few years ago there was a terrific chess megasite with hundreds of specialized pgn downloads. It was put together by Gunther Ossimitz and hosted by his employer. Alas, Ossimitz died and the website is no more, although parts of it can be accessed via the WayBack machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20120924035622/http://wwwu.uni-klu.ac.at/gossimit/c/book.htm

While it was up, I downloaded several sets of training exercises that others put together.

The site also had pgn files of all of the games of several books, some of which I've used extensively. When I was reading Logical Chess: Move by Move, I had the pgn file of the games from Ossimitz's site. I made my own study of each game before reading Chernev's comments.

 Thank you so much Ziryab for giving Such as Tremendous Site

I presume that the ECC is a diferent thing to Convekta's "Chess Combinations Encyclopedia" which is in the CT Art format and is very good? One or two dodgy solutions but generally excellent over 4000 excercises. 

Yes, it is different.

Not even a diamond membership at chess.com?

I agree, but results are definitely better from non-book sources, when the content is available in a digital format.  Sad but true.  This is why I take every opportunity to purchase books that aren't in digital format.  

By the way, I sent you a friend request before readint your about page.  Feel free to decline it.  

Update with the ECC: It can be a highly effective tool in digital format, despite the review I gave it above.  Here's what you can do: put the PGNs or just the FEN into YATT (Yet Another Tactics Trainer, which is available online for free) or ChessHero (available for free, also), and then work through them.  It took some time before I made this product usable to me.

The results my chess club is getting from digit training sources is unreal.  The Boylston Chess Club is cranking out top youth players as if some mass production is going on there, but the major difference I've seen there compared to other clubs, aside from good coaching is lots and lots of digital training tools used, and used with great frequency.  Some of them are already migrating to chessable.  Video games seem to speak to youths, and given the high level of efficiency of digital tools, I think they are a game-changer.  How much time is spent in setting up positions to analyze, move pieces, reset positions, etc.?  Just in that respect, digital tools have a time efficiency that adds up.  I don't necessarily like it, but that's reality.

  Happy New Year!  Cheers!

Good to know!  Thanks!  And Happy New Year to you as well!

Here's to cracking 2000 in early 2018!