Author: allan johnson
Date: 23:08:51 03/11/99
Go up one level in this thread
On March 11, 1999 at 08:10:10, Fernando Villegas wrote: >On March 11, 1999 at 01:45:13, Oliver Y. wrote: > >>On March 11, 1999 at 00:30:01, Richard VonMau wrote: >> >>>Hi, I'm looking to buy my first (professional) chess program. I established a >>>1493 rating 8 years ago and have not concentrated on playing until 6 months ago. >>>I'm studying some books like "How to Reassess Your Chess", "Endgame Lab", >>>"Comprehesive Chess Course" and "My Best Games 1908-1937 Alekhine" and using >>>some shareware programs to play. >>> I'll be joining a chess club next month because my night shift changes to >>>dayshift (after 17 years I finally have enough seniority!) and I'll be able to >>>attend the meetings. >>> Anyway, my budget is no more than $100 (single income with 3 small children). >>>I want the most helpful program for the buck. >>> -Rebel 10 sounds good. Within budget, $60 >>> -Hiarsc 7.0 sounds good too, at $100 limit. Is it twice as good as others? >>> -Nimzo 99 is another nice one and within budget, $50. >>> -Fritz 5.32 sounds great, right price at $50, could this be the one? >>>There are others but ... well dont know if they're worth the cost. >>>Which leads to another question: >>> -ChessBase 7.0 looks good, really good but is well out of budget, $220. >>> Should I save my money until I can afford CB7 basic (or even CB7 Mega $400+) >>>and continue with the CB light, Rebel Decade, Arasan shareware/freeware's? >>> Or get one of the above programs that is within budget now? >>> Can someone with experience with chess programs give me some guidance? >>>Thanks for the help, in advance. Richard >> >>Honest answer? >>Don't buy any programs. Just teach your youngsters chess, even if they are >>about 5 years old. You'll get a far better return, and so will your kids. >> >>Seriously! No club dues for a few years, a happier wife...stimulated kids, a >>solid family. >> >>Oliver > > > >Hui Richard: >Oliver's is a sound advice, probably the very best, BUT if you insist in >purchasing a program, I would recomend Fritz because it has all, including some >levels where you play an oponnnet that from time to time commit mistakes for you >to use against him. Besides Fritz has some database youi can make good use of >it. But still, the very best thing is not to purchase nothing and even best, to >forget again chess. Is a bloody intelectual trap, a machine to lose time, a >brain cracker for nothing, a kind of alcoholic adiction without the benefices of >alcohol. >fernando Fernando while I can see your point about the traps in playing chess I think you're being a little too negative.Chess teaches discipline and finding a sac or beautiful combination can bring great pleasure.I teach at a school where many of the the boys lack direction and are attracted to drugs. I set up a chess club there a couple of years ago and was delighted when a lot of the problem kids came to my room to play chess at lunch time rather than going to the toilets to smoke or take drugs.The kids lost their hostile attitude while in the room and quite a few demonstated intellectual skills they didn't show off in the school's mainstream subjects. Off course you need to exercise commonsense in relation to how much time you spend playing chess because reading,writing,communicating with other people,going to the movies et cetera are also important in achieving intellectual and spiritual satisfaction.So Fernando while it might be that you were simply being tongue in cheek when you railed against chess I still thought I'd throw my 10 cents worth in and defend a game that over 45 years has brought me great pleasure. Allan
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