I'm looking to give my uncle a gift. He's in the 1300-1400 range, and looking to improve his chess skills. What do you recommend for the PC, between $0-$100?
2007-02-19 13:51:29 · 5 answers · asked by a link to the past 1 in Games & Recreation ➔ Board Games
I recommend the ChessBase 9 Starter Package. Although it's around $150 retail you can find it on eBay that's in your price range.
2007-02-20 01:27:41 · answer #1 · answered by MarkPharaoh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fritz 10 ($54 from Chessbase.com) is a very good program and geared towards the more advanced players. I am particularly impressed with the online features that come with it. You can watch the grandmasters play live online, and also there are many grandmaster tutorials online with this package.
Shredder is another of the more advanced programs. If you Google search it you will find a free demo download.
You are very thoughtful to be doing this for your uncle. Good luck! I hope this helps!
2007-02-19 15:34:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chessmaster probably has better basic tutorials that Fritz. However, it sounds like your uncle is on the upper edge, rating wise, to benefit from Chessmaster's tutorials.
It sounds like either Fritz/Shredder or Chessmaster 10th edition will be of use to him. Certainly in the long run, Fritz/Shredder would probably be better. The engine is quite a bit stronger than Chessmaster...however, Chessmaster is plenty strong enough to give your uncle good games for a long time to come...both engines play at grandmaster levels when set to their strongest settings. Chessmaster can be set to play much weaker (by selecting weaker opponents/personalities to play against).
You probably couldn't go wrong either way. In terms of analysis, Chessmaster will talk you through it's analysis, but Fritz will give you many more variations in its analysis. Chessmaster is good to catch tactics that you missed, Fritz will often show you multiple variations that are superior to the line that you played in the game.
2007-02-20 15:27:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chess master is the best, it has tons of tutorials, openings, puzzles etc.
2007-02-19 16:59:38 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. Sly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.playingchess.net
Useful to play online, rules and strategy (free).
2007-02-19 22:31:35 · answer #5 · answered by Margarita 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋