No, each informant comes with a handy legend/bookmark. The legend has explanations in multiple languages for all the symbols used.
That was true last time I bought one, anyway.
p.s. Don't worry about the ECO codes, knowing these won't make you play any better.
p.p.s. Informant is rather expensive and really dry. At your rating it will quickly become a doorstop, get something else.
thank you doggy_style
you just helped me before i wasted money and time!
love that boston terrier!!
ECO codes are available for free online. Just google Chess ECO.
In addition to the ECO code, you will need to learn the international language of chess. Each Informant has a legend of symbols, as Doggy_Style pointed out. You can also find this legend of chess symbols online.
Chess Informants are only as dry as the games they contain. In other words, Chess Informants are not dry at all. However, they generally focus on extremely concrete analysis. This was true in the days before computers and even more true now.
In order to succeed at chess, one must be able to analyse concrete variations. It's not sufficient to just wave your hands and say "well, I may be wrong, but I like this." If you study Chess Informants, you will quickly learn to focus on forcing moves and concrete variations.
Study the old Informants and see if you can follow along. Anthologies of the Best of Informants are often considered some of the best chess books ever published!
hello group
could somebody help me with this- if you looked at chess informant there are codes for openings
do i need eco to understand informant?
thank you