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.
One of my main practice partners is Amruta Mokal. Apart from being a strong chess player (four WIM norms) she is also my better half! We constantly have to exchange a lot of chess information and analysis with each other and hence we decided to make use of this cloud function.
Creating a database is pretty easy. You just have to click on the “Create Cloud Database” tab in the ribbon. As you can see I have named the database “Opening ideas with Amruta.” The format of the database is CBCLOUD-Format, which is made up of only four files (CBH databases are made up of 12 additional files). This makes the cloud databases a little less flexible, but the sort and delete functions are still available with it.
I assumed that Amruta is playing black tomorrow in a tournament game and made this small file asking her to be careful of Carlsen’s Qd3 idea in the Paulsen!
This is how the new database looks in my account
In order to share the database I can right click on it and choose the Database Sharing function. Alternatively I can select the database and then click on the “Database Sharing” tab in the ribbon.
Now there are two ways to share this information. If Amruta does not have her laptop with her (only has a cellphone or a tablet) or doesn’t have ChessBase 13 accessible, I can still send her my analysis. This is how I do it: First I write the description and then tick the “Make Public in Web” check box. Immediately, two links are generated. One is for the URL and other is for the PGN file. I click on the Open Web Site button….
Lo and behold! The file appears on the web browser with a unique URL (as shown at the top). She can view all the analysis using any Internet browser, and replay the moves and analysis there. All she needs it the URL. Also she can download the PGN. If you have the mobile ChessBase app you can view the PGN on a chess board!
The above technique of sharing the database through URLs can be used in cases of emergency. On a long-term basis you would like your practice partner/student to open the databases in ChessBase 13 itself. Here you need to know the username of the person whom you would like to send the database. After choosing the Database Sharing option, you can click on the “Add User” button and then enter the username of your partner.
You can even give the rights to the user with whom you are sharing the database. In the above scenario, I have only given Amruta the rights to load the database. She cannot save any of the changes she makes to it.
Once I have shared the database the cloud symbol turns into a green symbol
This is how Amruta’s computer looks like once I have shared the database with her.
She can immediately see a folder in her account named “Shared with me”.
She opened the folder, went over the moves and added some of her own analysis. When she used the replace function with Ctrl+R, she couldn’t save her additional analysis and the above message flashed on the screen. This was because I had only given her the rights to load and not to save.
From my account I now gave my practice partner not only the rights to load but also to save the changes in the database. And now she was able to make the changes which were immediately reflected in my computer also. A great way to share material and ideas!
As shown above there are two ways to share the databases with your playing partner/students/coach:
But just in case you couldn’t share the URL and the opposite person doesn’t have the ChessBase 13 software, do not despair…
All that your practise partner has to do is to go to www.cloud.chessbase.com from any web browser and enter the cloud username and password. And as you can see above, Amruta will find the database that I had sent her without even knowing the URL nor having ChessBase 13 at that moment!
For a player, one of the biggest advantages you will find with the Cloud Databases is never having to worry about losing your preparation. Even if your computer crashes or your laptop is stolen between an important tournament, you can find your databases safely sitting on the ChessBase Cloud and can access them from another computer.
Your work with the practice partners becomes so much easier. All that you have to do is share the database and every “save” or “replace” function will update the analysis in real time in your partners account.
As a coach you can send databases and homework to your students in a cloud database and get the live time update of how much work is done by the student every day. Also, prior to an important round in a tournament, you can send some important analysis and tips that can be quickly reviewed and worked upon by the student.
ChessBase 12 had the cloud engines and now ChessBase 13 has brought with it the cloud databases. Things in the ChessBase software are slowly and steadily moving towards the cCoud. It is an extremely important feature that will only keep getting better. In my opinion it is imperative for every chess player to get acquainted with this new technology, even when it is still young, and make the most out of it!
No more tears due to computer crashes! Shift to Cloud!
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ChessBase 13 Premium package
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ChessBase 13 Mega package
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ChessBase 13 Starter package
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ChessBase 13 - Upgrade from ChessBase 12
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