Chess software

Does anyone know of an inexpensive chess program that will allow a person to play both sides for experimenting with different moves. Preferably it would have a mentor program attached or inbedded.

r-mcintire

I'd look for an older version of chessmaster -  you should be able to get chessmaster 10 in the clearance/budget section of shops now (amazon.com has it for $20), and it comes with nearly all of the lessons and features you get in the brand new version.  The chess academy part of chessmaster is a very well done tutorial through tactics, then onto end games and then annotated games - $20 is a bargain for it.

Playing wise, it'll let you play against different levels of computer opponents, or play both sides for yourself, as well as move suggestions etc.

In Fritz there is the option "infinite analysis" which allows you to enter a game, so all the moves from both Black and White. It is of course possible to play a game against yourself that way. It's just not possible to play with the clock that way.

I expect there is something similar in Chessmaster. Or you could let it do its move, then take back, and make a move yourself. The only thing is then that you have seen his move and that will influence your way of thinking.

 I'm not really sure what the problem is that you're describing. I also have Chessmaster 10th Edition, and all you have to do to play against yourself is just select yourself as the opponent on both sides when you set up a new game, and that's it! If Chessmaster makes a counter move after your opening move then you must have set up another personality as your opponent and not yourself. Double check it.