chess software for analyzing and learning

Hello everybody,

i am looking for a chess software for playing and analyzing chess games simultaneously. The best i have is Fritz 10, but i think it is far not good enough (except that it is a strong engine).

The software should do following:

• let me play against an engine at various levels of difficulties (like the handicap mode in Fritz)
• show me a short description of the best (and the worst) moves with relative variations, like Fritz do if i activate the window for explaining every move.
• IF I CLICK ON SUCH A VARIATION I SHOULD SEE IT IN ANOTHER CHESS BOARD WINDOW; WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF NAVIGATING ALL THE VARIATIONS OR PLAYING AGAINST THE ENGINE THIS VARIANTIONS IN SEPARATE BOARDS. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANTO POINT.
• it should be possible to visualize what peaces are under attack and if they are defended (like in Fritz with the green squares for well defended pieces, whit the yellow square for pieces defended just sufficiently and the red squares for pieces under attack not defended sufficiently)
• the last point should be possible for empty squares too (not possible in Fritz)
• it should be easy to navigate variations, whit folding or collapsing them
• of couse full support to pgn files is needed

The MOST IMPORTANT point is the possibility to visualize variations in separate chess board windows (during the game against the engine too), to click through all the variations and/or to play the variations in separate windows.

During a play against the engine, i would like to receive a real time analysis, with all the variations (and the ratings of the positions) beeing displayed and - on click - to see (and to play) this variations in SEPARATE chess boards windows while seeing the main game on the main board window.

Is this possible whit some sofware or is this utopic ?

Thank you !

While I see your guys' point, I must disagree.  Chess is pattern recognition.  The alternative lines are simply the refutations without the element of human error, which is quite high when you are not a super-GM.  

When you are learning, you need to see the correct answer even if "it won't be there when I take the test".  This works with any subject.     

That's why people who have played chess for years since childhood are far superior to the rest of us...they have seen so many patterns and their own erroneous patterns have been "refuted" by their coaches, OTB in tournaments, by themselves with their home "preparation", and yes even by the computer and they in turn have absorbed these patterns.  

Silman says to just blast through thousands of games to "subconsciously" absorb patterns...one doesn't say "well if I look at Kasparov's games, I will never come up with this stuff on my own during a game, so I better just ignore his chess work'"  

De la Maza improved by blitzing through tactics...the answers and alternative lines of play were available to him on CT Art 3.0 and he recommends playing through them.  Seeing alternative best lines of play is likely no different, other than these are longer move sequences and would take longer to fully absorb and learn at a higher level compared to shorter sequence tactics.

That being said, I don't know what engines do what alexparov wants, but I'd like to know if such exists.  I know Deep Rybka 3 will analyze a game and give you for instance the top 4 lines of analysis, but I don't remember it opening up in a separate window.

I have found the FREE software

Arena 3.0

http://www.playwitharena.com/?Download:Arena_3.0

(choose the setup exe for windows)

it is not bad and permits an analysis of the current position showing a list of variants that can be viewed separately in the analysis board window. Select Ctrl+F12 for the analysis of variations board after clicking on the button analyze.

You can also view the pieces under thread (well defended, just defended or not defended on green yellow and red squares) right clicking on the main board and selecting the first option in the dialog.

You can copy the whole game in the clipbourd and of course full pgn files are supported.

I have found chess ebooks in pgn format too. Look at

http://www.schwachspieler.de/

-> elektronische Bücher

and download the pgn chess ebooks (german or english). You can than read the book and see a position or a variation simply clicking on the move in the pgn files (whit all the options you choose for visualisation).

IS THERE SOMETHING BETTER AND EVEN MORE FLEXIBLE ?

are there more .pgn FULL (modern) chess e-books ?

Is ther a program for visualizing ever controlled squares too, like i can visualize pieces under attack (with green-yellow-red marked squares)... ?

or for having even more flexible analysis and the possibilities of navigating them in SEPARATE windows and clicking between this windows copying and pasting positions ??

But overall Arena 3.0 from Martin Blume is not a bad free chess software. It is in fact a good program.

Any other hints ?

I think using this instruments for learning is not bad. But of course you have to think by yourself, and perhaps learn to play good BLINDFOLD chess AND read books AND learn to visualize and to calculate and to analize yourself AND read books playong the position on the board, and on and on

A book theaches you concepts that are important, but often it lists long variations whit only poor comments. So analyzing whit software like Arena is not so different from reading some books and perhaps you analyze more and faster and visualize more patterns in a shorter time whit less effort. Maybe you will leran faster or easier, if this is thinkable.

Thanks for any advice.

ChessFlare.com

Looking to streamline tasks efficiently? Checklist Software for Digital Checklist helps you organize, track, and manage workflows seamlessly. Whether for business or personal use, this tool enhances productivity and ensures nothing gets overlooked. Upgrade your efficiency with the perfect digital checklist solution today!