11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Mainly for ChessBase users, January 14, 2004
This review is from: Chess Software User's Guide: Making the Most of Your Software (Paperback)
I've changed my opinion on this book after looking at it more closely.
Although the book concentrates on ChessBase products, ChessAssistant is given a fair mention, along with some freely available products.
This is not a bad book. Its advice on using databases for self-improvement is sound and reasonable. It might be useful to somebody who has no idea whatsoever how to use a Chess database.
I think there are better, easier, cheaper ways to learn. On the other hand, a database can be expensive. This is a small additional price to help you make the most of your investment.
Why only 2 stars? There is too much fluff and filler. A book on chess software should not have so many single-position diagrams for study. Those diagrams might have been more useful if we knew the games they came from. Then we could pull them up in our handy-dandy database.
The authors completely overlook what is by far the most valuable training software, from Convekta. In fact, tactics training is given short shrift, even though it is arguably the best reason for using a computer to study chess.
Most of what is in this book is fairly obvious. The advice is available in paragraphs -- and sometimes full chapters -- in many other chess books. I would expect a full-length book to be detailed and comprehensive. There are definitely things I could learn about using chess databases, but not here.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
For the Expert and Up.....mostly, January 6, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Chess Software User's Guide: Making the Most of Your Software (Paperback)
as a 1600-1700 player, I found most of the advise here a bit elevated for my use. Be advised that virtually all the information is targeted to those who own and use ChessBase and Fritz, the book speaks to no other programs. Most players under 2000, I believe, will get more use from spending the money you would use for this book to buy other training software or books targeted to combination practice or strategy etc. To make a long story short, for a very strong player with a lot of time for study, this is probably full of good advise. For the average tournament player I think there are better uses for your money.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
software and chess player, February 1, 2009
This review is from: Chess Software User's Guide: Making the Most of Your Software (Paperback)
I appreciated very much Byron Jacob'b books, since it allows to chess player how to use chess sotware program.If you do what advise to to you you can benefit a lot. You can realize a remarkable progress.
Besides I would like to talk about an important subject: Byron Jacobs has published a book whose name is "Analyse to Win". This book is excellent! What I hope from Byron Jacob is to publish such a book again, richer than the first one in context, at least 250 exercise and considering different stage of a chess game.
Personally I benefit a lot from these two books my personal chess play development.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
