do any of you play the Chess games on PC?

[Navaros]

recently i've been thinking of taking up Chess

of course i know "how" to play, but i'd like to elevate my game and play with an educated basis instead of just "winging it"

the thing is, i don't know if Chessmaster 10th Edition is better than Fritz 8th Edition for the purpose of teaching skill at Chess

do any of you play these games?

the things i've read elsewhere seems to suggest that Fritz is the better overall program

any comments from you guys who've played Chessmaster and/or Fritz?

[Uesugi Kenshin]

I play chess, it is great fun especially when you get someone with whom you can smack talk. Yes smack talk and chess, strange isn't it?

Chessmaster 10th edition seems to be very good, I have a demo and the opponent I get to play Bobby Fischer, rating 2950 or something is impossible to beat, 60-80 losses in a row 0 victories. In the full game there are more difficulties, and it has a teaching section.

[Kraellin]

you might also ask Puzz3d here on this forum. he's a chess guy.

K.

[spacecadet]

I played online at this place for a little while:
http://www.redhotpawn.com/

Its pretty good, especially when your at work where the firewall stops a lot of stuff, plus its free. Ive found its easier to learn from just playing people.
Also played at the Yahoo site for a while which is good too. Certainly cheaper than buying a chess program and more fun than playing the computer

[King Edward]

Im not a fan of computer chess, Im a reasonable player (played for Guernsey jnrs when i was 11) but i find that reading peoples reactions and just watching eye movement helps you in forming plans, you dont get that with a PC version

[Red Harvest]

If you want to learn how to play decent chess, you should do some searching for some beginners books. I would not start with the PC as a teacher. Modern PC chess software can be frustrating for a begginer because they can be so strong. It will make a decent opponent as you study. What you really need is to study the basics. Don't be fooled by me referring to "beginner" books, this doesn't mean simple books for a child, much of the mainstream chess literature is very, very deep written more for expert or master level.

Look for books that describe and have examples to work out of the various tactics (pins, skewers, forks, discovered attacks, etc.) as well as combinations. A good beginners book should also have some basic opening theory, discussions of strategic issues such as open and closed positions, and endgame study. You will probably want to get a decent book on openings as well. Once you learn how to properly deploy and counter you will find your play is much better.

I play best with a board in front of me. I can visualize things better that way. I haven't played tournament chess in years though, when I did it was mostly correspondence and was eating up too many hours each week.