The legitimate way:
1. Go to Chessbase.com. (Bring money, preferably plastic!)
2. Swipe aforementioned plastic.
2. Wait for the CD in the mail.
Though I'd advise you to try their Chessbase light and see if you enjoy it first. That's free!
I got it. It is pretty good!!
software is oldschool.
I've been using this for a while now. The actual program gives you info about games and players too, not sure if this one does. I like it... pure positions can hurt your brain, it let's you think about other stuff. Chessbase MegaDatabase is amazing, I've got games 4.5million games up to 2009 and you can sort through ancient to modern WChamps... and tactics trainer or wherever you can find tactics (books, other sites) there are some huge databases of tactics out there for the taking ranging from 5 sec average solution time to 10 minutes... good stuff.
How do you use it if you have a basic account?
I know it's not well liked compared to Shredder and Fritz but I use Chessmaster X. I D/L PGNs from many sites containing Masters and WCs and D/L games from members here, so it helps more than usual.
I know it's not well liked compared to Shredder and Fritz but I use Chessmaster X. I D/L PGNs from many sites containing Masters and WCs and D/L games from members here, so it helps more than usual.
Do you like the database features of CM X?
I don't like the tiny board, nor the poor intergration of the database with the rest of the program. I started with Chessmaster's database, becoming a proficient and active user of the database for study with CM 5000 or thereabouts, but started using ChessBase Light 9-10 years ago and found it vastly superior except for the size limits. I upgraded to CB 8 and in 2003 and have found no use or patience for CM since. Even so, for the price of $10-$20, CM X is a terrific program. I just wish they would get back to letting chess professionals design the system instead of juvenile gamers.
While I like the interface of Fritz12 better, I find the versatility of Chess Assistant 10 with Rybka3 much better. The best program in my mind would be combining the features of both of these platforms.
Ziryab,
I have the board set to a pretty good size and it's easy for me to see everything. The database is not bad, it serves my purpose well. I D/Ld all the PGNs from every WC tournament since 1886 and I watch the games, analyze them, take notes etc. It's a useful program and even though it's not as good as Fritz or Shredder I'm very happy with it.
I like Chessmaster quite a bit, and am comfortable knowing that it will be a long, long time before the extra strength of a "real" chess engine will be needed for me to be challenged. (I suspect this is true for most people, but it's not often you hear it. ;) )To me, the analysis Chessmaster offers after each game is worth the price of admission alone.
I agree on the analysis. I just won a rated game on CM and the analysis was spot on. I just missed a checkmate and the game went on another 10 minutes than it should've. I looked back on the analysis and I could not believed I missed it. Oh well a win is a win.
I agree on the analysis. I just won a rated game on CM and the analysis was spot on. I just missed a checkmate and the game went on another 10 minutes than it should've. I looked back on the analysis and I could not believed I missed it. Oh well a win is a win.
The first time I used it and found I missed four mates it was quite the eye opener.
I disagree that Chessmaster's analysis is helpful: see my "Chessmaster versus Fritz Analysis" at http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2009/12/chessmaster-versus-fritz-analysis.html. The crux of CM's failure is that it will identify a forced move that has no bearing on the result as the player's worst move because at that point its search horizon begins to notice that the game is hopelessly, irretrievably lost. In truth, that was the case before, but now CM sees the checkmate. When you are constantly directed away from your most significant error by software that purports to identify your most significant error, the result is retarding of your skill development.
Everyone above 1400 has reached the point where they need a "real" chess engine. Actually, The King is an okay engine, but it resides and functions only in a substandard interface.
I seem to be an advocate of Chessmaster but it's ok. Over my years, between that and the program "Kasparov's Gambit" way back when, but CM is high in my books, that is until I get to where I want to be in chess, then I'll go to Fritz or Shredder
I don't get what the other program in fritz is.
The Fritz playing program consists of the Fritz interface (GUI) and Fritz engine. It usually comes packaged with other engines, such as Crafty and Comet. Other playing programs sold by ChessBase include the Fritz interface. For example, Hiarcs 12 contains the engine Hiarcs and the Fritz 11 GUI. The Fritz interface also supports UCI engines (Universal Chess Interface), making it possible to install hundreds of engines within the program.
Chessmaster is similar: the GUI is called Chessmaster; the engine is The King. Chessmaster fails to support other engines. The King is the only one that works within its GUI.
Folks that run engine tournaments to determine the relative strength of different engines must use a modified UCI compatible version of The King so the engine can run in Fritz, Arena, or any of several other GUIs that facilitate engine-engine matches.
Oh