which is better for learning: chess books or chess electronics

I don't know what to study more with, books or electronics. I want to learn as much as I can, but it would be hard if I don't know what to study with! Please help.

Software is great in putting to the test the knowledge you have gained from reading books.

And on a soft ware, is it best to do tactics.

I am a firm believer in using everything at your disposal. So, in studying, I use a combination of books, periodicals, e-books, Chessbase, i-pad apps, computer engines, videos, and human consultation. These are only tools and not that helpful without dedication, discipline, diligence, hard work, and a lot of thought about what, how and why.

I don't understand Houdini, it just opens to a black box. I also have Tarrasch, it works. What am I doing wrong

It probably depends on what you want to be good at, OTB or online.

Definently OTB.

Train using a chess set and men work interactively on your game like Fischer did if you want to be a real player don't become a drone too dependant and fixiated on chess software and computers like alot of players today.

I agree, even when I'm working with the computer I almost always use the DGT board interface. I have a much harder time 'seeing' the position on a computer screen.

I'm old and lazy so of course I prefer digital presentations.  Even if I'm working an annotated collection from a book, I almost always boot the game up from a database as well as using a full size set to play it through.  That way if I get lost in a variation, it's easy to figure out where to start again.  Quite often I'll have a 12" magnetic set (duct taped permanently open) next to the computer or in my lap as I work through some digital presentation.  I too find it easier to see and physically moving the pieces seems to help me "get" the lesson.

Exactly, you need help! It can't come from books and electronics. They never can understand you.

Hi Book, Electronics! Tell me what I need!. Hello! Do you hear me?!

You need a mentor(s), who can teach and understand you! They can give you feed back right away.

Talk to books or electronics, they never talk back too you!

my books always talk to me.

they say things like buy a gun, walk on a tower and stuff like that...

lol

Depends on your learning style. If you are auditory, the vocal instructions work best. if you are visual, then some kind of electronics would work. if you are kinesthetic(learn by doing) then some form of hand on learning works. Reading draws on the auditory synapses of the brain.

That's best. GL.

I had the same problem when I tried to download houdini, just a black box that wont let me proceed. Does anyone know how to get past it and get it to work?

I like software training that shows diagram along with some comment on each move, so I can look at diagram while I am reading comment. I found that the book is not too effective for learning, especially when it does not show chess diagram. Some chess book, it does not show diagram. It only lists some move. It is time consuming and hard to keep up the reading.

I find that I improve most after studying using books.

I did better after using an electronic study program. I found the books too dry and didn't make it very far into them. The interactive electronic format was more user friendly for me.

However, I am not very good, so I am fairly sure you'd have to use books to get better than me.