The need for Database and Software programs?
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frostader
Jan 22, 2018
0
#1
I'd like some opinions on the need for buying chess software for amateur and club players. Do we REALLY need them? It's nice to input a game into a program and have it evaluate it in a short period of time. But what do we learn if we do that? Is there any club player here that is wondering why they should pay, or even download for free, chess database programs?
Jan 22, 2018
0
#2
Lyudmil Tsvetkov, the author of “Stockfish is Blind” will definitely say that engines are weak. He arbitrarily rates himself around 3500, just from beating a lot of engines. He’ll tell you to buy his book, “The Secret of Chess” instead. I’m not saying you should trust him tho. He hasn’t played a human in 12 years😉
The argument in favor of databases is to optimize the efficiency of learning... If you decide upon consistently playing a relatively narrow opening repertoire in your games (often recommended by stronger players to amateurs), reference a good database for the variety of moves played in a given position, and study those moves/variations/deviations, then over time you will learn more about the structures, themes, and plans that arise in your games and learn more from the deviations (yours or your opponents’) with the repetition and build-up that occurs with regularly referencing the database as a tool for analysis (e.g., looking up better moves and seeing how inferior moves were punished by stronger players). That might be the longest sentence I have ever written.
I wondered about this too. I think it applies to more seasoned players who's (1) developed the discipline to notation his games, (2) konws that she's committed to chess for the long term, and (3) who wants to climb the ratings ladder more efficiently.
For the new/weaker chess players, a database is nearly useless because (1) I don't usually bother to notate my games so not much will be iside that DB, (2) I don't know how long I'll be so dedicated to chess which means the DB (if I somehow spend the effort to keep one) may not get used after a year or two; and (3) I'm not focused on rating very much (chess isn't my profession; beating similar-strength players is equally fun no matter his or her rating. (4) It may even be information overload for a new player (I already have books that I want to read, training videos that I want to watch, and so many other stuff that can benefit a new player more than a DB : )
Jan 22, 2018
0
#5
You don't need to buy anything. You can get a free database program, engine and download decent databases.
I think one of the best uses, as a amateur player is using them to find out when you leave book, to see what the normal plans are in the openings you normally play, and to point out missed tactical ideas or mates that you didn't in your game. For me, it's the stronger player to try and help me find my blind spots.
