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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.
Hi dear ChessBase readers, I am grandmaster Iniyan Panneerselvam. It's been quite some time since my last writing a review, and it seems like the best time to do so again with the new ChessBase 18. I have been using ChessBase as my primary chess software for the last 15 years, starting with ChessBase 08 and progressing through nearly all the subsequent updates up to ChessBase 17. Each new version has brought significant improvements over its predecessor. Every time I think there can't possibly be any more enhancements, the next version proves me wrong. So, when I learned that ChessBase 18 (CB18) was being released, I was very excited to try it out!
I received ChessBase 18 along with the Mega Database 2025 a few days before participating in the Singapore Open. Below are my comments and reviews based on my personal experience after using CB18 for one month. I will divide my review into several segments.
The first segment covers the 'User Interface', which discusses the stylistic and layout changes in CB18 compared to previous versions. CB18 is designed for chess players to prepare, and this preparation can take two forms: opponent preparation and general preparation. Therefore, the next two segments will focus on 'Player Preparation' and 'General Preparation'. While this review mainly focuses on CB18, it also relates to the Mega Database 2025. The following segment will highlight the new additions in the 'Mega Database 2025'. Finally, I will conclude with a section on 'bonus' features that are not included in either of these products. On a small note, I would only be covering what the upgrades are from CB17 to CB18, therefore what is mentioned here is only the tip of the iceberg of the whole CB features.
Let's start the review with the…
Upon opening the CB18, the first thing I noticed was the difference in the style of the icons. Compared to previous versions, the CB18 features a much more minimalistic design.
Instead of using multiple colors, there is a monochromatic theme. However, I discovered that customization is possible, which wasn't the case before. With four different layers of colors available, you can create the icons to suit your preferences. I personally prefer simple colors, so I chose blue. But if you like a more vibrant style, feel free to experiment with colors!
I also noticed a small addition in the Folders section called 'Video'. This section provides access to all the training videos, assuming you have access. There’s no longer a need to visit the website and search for the videos; everything is now just one click away!
These are the major changes I noticed in the interface, and after having a glance at this, I went into the new features made for the Player Preparation.
Getting ready to face an opponent is something every chess player can relate to! We all want to avoid mistakes and have an edge in our games, so we put in the effort to learn about the players we might compete against. It can be a bit time-consuming, but with CB18, the preparation gets a whole lot easier and faster!
A Repertoire against the Queen's Gambit Declined with 4.Bg5
This repertoire provides White with ideas against any of the Black options after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3.
Welcome… to the fascinating realm of chess enriched by the power of statistical insights! If I were to choose one feature that stands out as my favorite in CB18, it would undoubtedly be the Style Report and Error Report. This ingenious innovation from ChessBase brings a fresh perspective to our understanding of the game. While statistical analysis has long been utilized in various sports, its application to chess opens up a whole new dimension for players!
Style Report of the young GM Savva Vetokhin who won the Sunway Sitges Open
Let's delve into an example: the Style Report of Savva Vetokhin, an exceptionally gifted young player who recently triumphed at a prestigious International Open in Spain. Through a meticulous examination of his games, CB18 reveals intriguing patterns in Savva's play. The data clearly illustrates that he has a strong affinity for positional and endgame strategies, often preferring a solid, risk-averse approach to the game.
This analysis of play styles provides invaluable insights into the tendencies of our opponents. Each chess player is unique, with their own preferences that shape their gameplay. By understanding these nuances in strengths and weaknesses, we can strategically direct the flow of the game to suit our own style and goals.
Accompanying the statistics, the observations shed light on essential details about players' styles. However, while these insights are incredibly helpful, it’s important to remember that they are not absolute. Each situation presents a fresh challenge, and players may respond differently depending on the circumstances. Therefore, it's wise to use this information as a guideline rather than a strict rule.
We can use this for example, if we discover that our opponent has an aversion to exchanging queens, we can tactically offer trades and guide the game towards an endgame scenario that might create discomfort for them. Even the smallest advantages, such as these, have the potential to accumulate into significant victories over time.
Furthermore, beneath the analytical observations lies list of games categorized by specific themes, including attack, defense, sacrifices, and counter-play. Exploring these themed games can enhance our understanding of our opponent's tendencies, enabling us to make more informed decisions as we navigate the chessboard. By drawing on these insights, players can choose the ideal strategies to outwit the opponents.
Next comes the error report…
Lets take a look at the error report of GM Lu Shanglei, who won the Singapore International Open 2024 recently.
The Error report of the strong GM Lu Shanglei
The error report is a great tool for understanding how a player performs in their games, helping to identify the frequency, context, and magnitude of their mistakes. When you open an error report, the first thing you'll notice is the 'Blunder Elo', which shows the player's rating based on their errors according to ChessBase (CB). Below that, you'll find some summary observations that highlight key points in a few simple phrases. For instance, the example above illustrates that this player generally plays more accurately in tough or unfavourable situations and against stronger opponents. However, they tend to make more mistakes when they’re in better or winning positions and when facing weaker players. It's important to focus on the word "comparatively" here. While this player does make more mistakes against lower-rated opponents or in advantageous scenarios, it’s all relative to the high standards that he usually maintains. Even the mistakes he makes are of a significantly higher quality than what you might see from the average player, so keep this kind of context in mind as you look through the observations.
The report also shows how the magnitude of errors tends to increase as the complexity of the position rises. The blue dotted line represents the average Grandmaster (GM), while the green line represents the player’s performance. The closer the green line is to the blue line, or the lower it is in comparison, the better the player is at handling complicated situations.
A Repertoire against the Queen's Gambit Declined with 4.Bg5
This repertoire provides White with ideas against any of the Black options after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3.
Lastly, understanding the context of blunders gives you more information about where mistakes happen—whether during the opening, middlegame, or endgame; when the player is attacking or defending; and whether they're facing opponents who are stronger, equal, or weaker than themselves. This deeper insight can really help you figure out where your chances lie!
There are also a few more statistics inside the error report. However, it is these that I personally find the most important.
Combining the Style Report and Error report together, gives you a very good picture of your adversaries strength and weakness. Please note that the Style report is practically instantaneous, whereas the Error Report takes a bit of time depending on the size of data.
I believe there are a few ways that the Style Report and Error Report can be used:
Lichess and Chess.com are two of the most popular online chess platforms, where countless players play millions of games. This provides some important insights. CB18 makes it super easy to identify players and download their games from these sites.
If you're curious about who a particular online player is but can't seem to find the info, don’t worry! Just click on "Identify Player" and enter their username from Lichess or Chess.com. You'll be able to see which player in the Mega Database matches that username the closest!
For example, when I entered my official chess.com account into the CB18 tool, I discovered a few matches, with my name sitting at the top and a 68% match rate! This feature is super handy if you ever have a feeling about the identity of an anonymous player; this feature boosts your chances of figuring out who they might be.
Just a quick note: the more data you have, the better your chances of a successful match.
Another really cool feature is the 'Load Online Player' option. If you know your opponent's online ID, CB18 makes it super easy to access and download their games from chess.com or Lichess. No more searching around different websites — this saves you a ton of time and energy!
Check out Iniyan joining GM Karsten Müller on the Endgame Magic show...
Coming soon: part two of this review on 3. GENERAL PREPARATION.
Order ChessBase 18 in the ChessBase Shop now
A Repertoire against the Queen's Gambit Declined with 4.Bg5
This repertoire provides White with ideas against any of the Black options after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3.
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