Rybka 3

OK I think I will not be getting Chessbase 10 for a while, but I am really tempted to buy the new Rybka 3 engine. For the first time, this engine will be sold for the Chessbase interface. I've been using Fritz 8 for years now, so I think I can justify an upgrade, sort of. This thing looks like a monster :)

Chessbase 10

Damn you Chessbase! Why do you have to tempt me?

The folks from Germany just came out with a brand-spankin' new version of everybody's favorite toy. The article lists a bunch of new features in Chessbase 10:

• New integrated online database with millions of games, kept topical and up-to-date by ChessBase;
• split-second online search results (DSL);
• automatic update of your local reference database (Big or Mega) with the weekly instalments of games;
• display of games and moves with statistics in tree style;
• optional restriction to quality games in all searches;
• openings references include an overview of common variations;
• new search booster for super-fast results;
• openings books with instantaneous display of replies;
• fast-and-easy preparation for any specific players, with tree display and games;
• player dossier with improved openings references;
• direct access to the ICCF server for correspondence chess games;
• new engine functions, e.g. display of discarded lines;
• new functions for the chess server: e.g. online database accessible for kibitzers, ECO codes in the games lists, tactics training, full Chess 960 support.
• In addition: new look with high-resolution pieces, improved window management.

Must... resist...

Power Play

Sweet. Last night I received Daniel King’s Power Play volumes 1, 2, 5, and 6. I already owned part 3 which I think is excellent. I am not interested in part 4 as it deals with openings – not a priority for me right now. Daniel King is a great presenter with a wonderful sense of humor. His lectures keep me glued to my computer.

I know what I’ll be doing this weekend :-)

I'd provide a review of the DVD's but Grandpatzer already did a fine job here and here. Then again, he only reviewed volumes 1-3 so I might give an extensive review of volumes 5 and 6 when I'm through with them.

Biting The Bullet

So I finally decided to order Chessbase 9. I went with the Mega package. It’s expensive, but hey, I gotta get rid of all that loose change I find in my couch somehow…

Now I’m all excited, feels like Christmas all over…can’t wait for the package to come. I was told that since the package ships with the Mega Database 2007, it will also include a voucher to upgrade to the newly released Mega Database 2008. Not quite sure yet whether I’ll have to send the voucher all the way to the Chessbase folks in Germany and wait for them to mail me the disc… I hope their US distributor will accept the voucher. Anybody have any experience with that?

Anyways, I’m sure this software will make me a GM in no time. It just has to…

On a more realistic note, I really look forward to working with it. My expectation is that it will bring more discipline to the process of annotating my own games, and that it will be super useful in many other areas. Can’t wait to work with the opening reports. Maybe I’ll even start to get more serious about correspondence chess?

I’m also excited about the Nalimov tablebases that come with the package. Although I’ll have to install them on my external hard drive because they take up 43GB of space… I hope with a firewire connection access times won’t be much of a problem.

Ahhh life’s good… now all I need is more spare time.

To Base, Or Not To Base

I am trying to decide whether or not to buy Chessbase 9.0. Given the price tag, I want to be sure it’s not just an impulse purchase…

I own Fritz 8 which I am perfectly happy with as far as analyzing games. But more and more I feel like Chessbase would be a really good addition for researching/studying/annotating/organizing etc. On the other hand, I think part of me wants Chessbase purely out of gadget lust - Chessbase could be my shiny new toy that I could spend lots of time with, or as Gollum from Lord of the Rings would say, my precioussss :)

But in all seriousness, it’s kind of the Gold Standard out there, no? So my question to those of you that own Chessbase: would you recommend getting it? Do you think owning both Fritz and Chessbase is overkill, or are they really complementary products? What do you mostly use Chessbase for?

Also, there’s the question of whether to buy the Starter Package or the Mega Package. There’s quite a bit of a price difference between the two, and I’m not sure whether I need all the bells and whistles that come with the Mega Package.

Last but not least, there’s the question of where to buy the software. Seems like wholesalechess.com has the best price, but I’ve never bought anything there. Does anybody reading this have any experience with wholesalechess.com?

If anybody has any thoughts on all of this, your feedback will be much appreciated.