Professional Databases

To get right to the point: I've been around chess (dabbling on and off) for about a year or so and have in the last few months gotten ridiculously into the game and am playing competitively already. I'm using the Game Database and Opening Database on ChessTempo along with Stockfish plugged into it, to explore openings and play through games. For just a few bucks a month, it's been invaluable to say the least.

If I did however want to invest some money in something that goes beyond this, where would I look? I'm relatively new to chess software although I'm learning it extremely quickly and I'm also very experienced in computers, programming, and software in general. I could learn anything with relative ease. Would we be talking about a program like Houdini or Komodo's latest offering combined with the database that they come with? I see most of the top software packages today come with a GUI and I already understand using those so I'm more or less wondering what additional benefits I would get from a program or upgrade like this that goes beyond what ChessTempo's database + engines currently do.

Someone here already turned me onto LucasChess and I'm using it extensively so I'm wondering what other gems this forum has to offer in that regard.

Thanks

Ummm, A Diamond membership for nearly a month and you haven't played a single game here? Try actually playing a person. That might just help.

?? You do realize there are other venues to play chess in other than Chess.com, don't you? I play USCF OTB, in the ICC Team 45/45 League, and unrated against people OTB, as well.

So - Did you realize people play chess outside of Chess.com or is this news to you?

Then I check out your profile and of course, you're a terribad.

Can someone who actually plays chess competitively help me out here? Thanks.

I'm no expert but I have several different programs, and I think it all depends on what you want to do.  You might know all of this, but there are different GUI's of varying quality and price, then there are engines (the free ones are strong enough IMO), then there are database programs (I use chessbase), and then there are the databases of games and subscription services to add new games to your database.

I use the Fritz 13 GUI because I like some of the training features in it, and I have the latest free komodo, houdini, and stockfish engines.  I also use chessbase (10 I think?), and an older version of the mega database.  I used to update my database regularly with TWIC, but they changed their service.

What is wrong with you guys? What do you care? I don't play here because when I do play online I play on ICC and I spend most of my time playing OTB. I'm by no means alone. I use the Diamond for access to the study material (mainly ChessMentor) on this site. You do realize that you should be primarily studying the game at your level, right? I'm pretty sure you don't.

I mean, you can't say anything about another site on here without having kiddies come and defend the site like they're attached to it physically.

Thank you for a legitimate response.

Let me ask you: What is it about ChessBase that everyone likes? You aren't the first I've come across who feels comfortable with it. Is it free?

Ole asiallinen, avulias ja ystävällinen! Kiitos!

I have two chessbase products -- the database management software, and then the actual (mega) database of games.

I like ChessBase's database management software because it is intuitive to use, but more importantly because of its search features.  You can search by the obvious ratings parameters, but you can also search by specific pawn structures, and by material values.  And it is very fast.

If you're asking about the database of games, I'm sure there are others out there but I think i got mine for a discount with the database software.

There is Chessbase reader, which is free. You must pay for full Chessbase program. www.chessbase.com

I even took the time to do a google search to find out whatever on earth this means and ...it doesn't appear to mean anything important. Care to translate?

I see. Yeah I was familiar with the Chessbase line of products already. I'll look into the pay version of them. Thanks.

Cool. Thanks again for the help.

Here is some alternatives to the Chessbase:   http://alternativeto.net/software/chessbase/

You gessed it! Lucas chess maybe is the only compact chess software that is not so confusing.

I love it so far. The only thing that I haven't been able to figure out is how to play against engines using time controls. Time controls that the engine plays realistically. I found the Tournament Elo mode which is basically you against club players and they'll use realistic time per move and actually blunder, etc but I wanted to say play against Komodo8 in a 30+30 where Komodo actually takes the amount of time that it should for the elo I set it to. Can the program do this and I'm just not seeing where?

Chess base lets you filter, sort, combine, merge games, to create custom sub data bases, custom opening tree reportoires, and an almost endless list of features. Many functions can be done on the fly so if you want to check out a player, opening, or other info, in a few seconds you can create a custom opening database of Kramnik playing D4, for example. If you play online, you can do the same with your games, and quickly filter and create your own custom reportoires, etc. If money is no object, get the deluxe version with the mega data base, Fritz power book disc and the subscription to Chess Base magazine in disc and download format, which features annotated games, training videos, interviews, etc, it's awesome.

http://shop.chessbase.com/en/products/chessbase13_mega_package_engl

Basically, this? I see it listed only in English pounds. I can purchase it relatively easily from the US?

And yeah...it looks like exactly what I had in mind.

yeah, that's it.  It includes the database management software and the database itself.  That's what I got, and yes you can easily purchase and download it in the US.

Thanks again, guys. Really appreciate the help this morning