Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
I have been a ChessBase customer, living in the USA. I am also a very busy
professional who teaches, who sees patients clinically, who researches, and
publishes manuscripts and books academically. I love chess, but my career
imposes upon my chess study time. I understand a good chess player cannot "dabble"
in chess - the games requires full time study to acquire expertise at my age.
Many of your ChessBase products have been very useful to me in my
limited participation in the game. However, I purchased Chess Opening Tutorials,
volumes 1 and 2, and I am very impressed. For the "average" club player, these
DVD's provide an excellent overview for any club player who is a career oriented
person who does not have the time to study opening variations. If you know the
basics, these first two volumes provide excellent reviews of the major themes,
ideas, and variations - this is excellent, though brief, review material -
essential for the person who hopes to improve but who simply cannot afford to
spend time on attempting to acquire an in-depth knowledge of subtle theoretical
variations.
There is enough material in these volumes so that if you
understand opening theory, you can refresh ideas and attempt to steer clear of
variations that are very complicated, allowing you to obtain a "comfortable"
position. After reviewing these relatively short DVDs, you should have enough
knowledge to find your way when playing openings that are not your favorites or
"cup of tea." In addition, these DVDs refer you to relevant games, data bases,
and other ChessBase DVDs to enhance and develop your knowledge. These materials
offer substantial information - I own many of these discs - each and every one
is a well done "book" on a CD disc.
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From the booklet of ChessBase Tutorials #01 |
In short, these first two volumes provide an excellent review of the
major openings - I have every intention of purchasing the next 3 DVD
installments and I expect a similar reaction. The presenters are superb -
clear in their thinking and presentation, very logical in presenting ideas,
telling you how to avoid unfavorable positions - granted, not presenting a
full examination of every opening theory, but giving you enough information
to survive by making good decisions in over-the-board play. I must
compliment ChessBase for this excellent series which addresses the needs of
the chessplayer I have described.
This endorsement should not be
taken as a "shortcut" to avoid study through books and the purchase of other
ChessBase material which are essentially books and exercises on DVD. These
materials are also essential. However, the point here is that the ChessBase
team has discovered a methodology of presenting material to help players
significantly improve their game - from opening, to middlegame, to tactics,
to endgame - I might add, I have nothing but accolades to add to the Mueller
Endgame series. Absolutely superb.
I only wish I could retire to have
the time to study and apply this information to improve to the fullest. Time
for a professional person who dabbles in chess is a major issue - but, I
fully believe that the material offered through ChessBase, combined with
study and both computer and across-the-board chess-play, can easily lead to
very satisfying levels of improvement for any chessplayer.
ChessBase
has no rival - in teaching and instruction, in application over the board,
and in practical results.
My compliments to the ChessBase team and
their efforts.
