English Chess Forum

I don't think it is really that helpful tbh. I don't use software for opening prep against specific opponents not least because I never know in league matches who I'll play and their games won't be on there even if I did. I play around with Hiarcs Chess Explorer to explore openings but tbh I could u...

It's a long time since I used Chessbase. I do wonder how popular their software still is. The quotes about it being essential software for the serious chess player don't ring true to me anymore. I tend to use lichess studies for storing my own games or openings, with the latter also stored on chesst...

Obviously personal preferences are key but for me I find: 1. chess.com is best for correspondence tournaments 2. lichess is best for playing against others and for its studies (latter particularly good when used by our team captain in conjunction with Zoom to review all our 4NCL online games once th...

Brilliant. Thanks

I think that OTB 4NCL matches requries silver membership as they are FIDE rated. I assume 4NCL online matches can be completed with bronze membership. I've had a look at the 4NCL site and can't see anything there

Can anyone advise please?

Thanks

Thanks Mick

I have emailed the ECF. I just wondered if anyone here knew off the top of their head. Looks like it'll be around the 14th then

Thanks

Thanks. I am updated there. Just on the grading database it shows me as not being a member

https://www.ecfrating.org.uk/v2/new/pla ... de=255376E

Hi After a very long absence I renewed my membership yesterday so I can play some ECF rated online games. How long is it before my membership will show up on the grading database? Currently it shows me as not being a member and I don't know how long it is before the database gets updated. Is there a...

One option could be to play unrated correspondence games as, if unrated, I believe it would be permissible to discuss the game as it developed (need to check that on the sites rules first). 'Lichess' is one good server. There may be good players on here willing to play you at correspondence and high...

Personally I prefer it when people have the courtesy to play 2. Bf4, since they are usually declaring their intent to play a London whilst if 2. Nf3, they might be intending 3. c4 or 3. Nc3 after 2. .. e6 or 2. ..g6 I've never thought the purpose of playing chess was to help your opponent know what...

Database program: Scid vs PC does a lot of what chessbase does but it isn't quite as user friendly. Albeit it's extremely good for a free program. You don't get the Chessbase Let's check functionality which I find useful which includes the ability to get your entire game analysed via distributed com...

Create a new pgn database. Then copy the game from the chessbase database into the pgn database

Not tried this one but it is weaker still I think. 1600 elo ish?

http://sourceforge.net/projects/cassand ... cassandre/

If you want a competitive game, simply download one of the free engines that are significantly weaker and nearer your ELO (has the advantage that they don't play like Kasparov for 99% of the time with the odd blunder thrown in) List of engines here: http://www.computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/4040/ Here's ...

Do you need an app? there are sites like chess microbase (http://www.chessmicrobase.com) if you just want to store your own games. This site has an inbuilt chess engine (2700 elo ish) for basic analysis also If you want to search a database of master games, you can access chessbase on line via the W...