Chess Tactics for Beginners
by Convekta
(Click here)
Product Summary
Brand: Chess AssistantFormat: CD
Platform: Windows 98, Windows XP
Publisher: Convekta
Product features:
- Includes more than 1,300 tactical problems, challenging the student to find the best moves in comples games
- Receive a rating and generate statistics on performance, in easy-to-read bar graphs - watch your progress!
- Built-in playing engine, Dragon can be called upon to analyze the problem and show alternate lines of play
- Friendly interface comes with a manual, plus receive extensive built-in help files for each language
- Learn from Practice and Test exercises designed to reinforce the tactical chess knowledge just gained
Video Game Reviews of Chess Tactics for Beginners
Customer Review: does the job
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this software for my daughter, but solve a nubmer of problem on my own, too.
first, the program does serve its purpose - to help beginners improving their tactical skills.
However
1) the problems are classified according to the "task" (win a rook, win a bishop) rather than by tactical or geometrical motive, and I find the latter more suitable (to everybody, including beginners).
Another (very significant) problem with the content: too many positions with several equal ways to win, yet the pogram marks only one of them as a right move. This is particularly visible in the endgame section. For example, in the middle of one of the excerizes we get the following position:
W: Kb5, p: b2; B: Ka6. Here, 1. b2-b3 is considered a wrong move (sic!) Even more stunning example: W: Kb4, p c6. B. Ka7. Of course you want to play 1. Kc5 Kb8 2. Kd6 Kc8 3. c7 +-. Nup, you get a penalty for that. The "correct" move is 1. Ka5?! and after 1... Ka8 you still need to find 2. Ka6! (the only winng move here, indeed). This applies to many middlegame problems too. I spotted only one apparent mistake though (wrong move given as the correct answer).
2) interface: fair to poor. You need to know a thing or two about Windows Vista before you install this soft. The simplest way is to create a separate folder OUTSIDE YOUR "PROGRAM FILES" and install the program there. Convekta recommends turning UAC off, but there is no need to do it whatsoever. Another problem: by default, pieces move too slow, and the program often ignores your attepmts to change the speed.
3) This product vs other options: I do not remember books on beginner tactics, as they are a way too simle to me, and I am "recovering" after a 25-year break. If you are already familiar with simplest motives, try Konotop's "Tests in chess tacticsd for beginners" (600 excersizes divided into 50 1-hour "tests"). The book is in Russian, but the language of chess algebraic notation is familiar to every player, and there is NOTHING beyond that in these book and program. If you cannot find it, download the djvu. then go to tests for class D players, and so on.... If you are unfamiliar with tactical motives (pin-fork-discover check, distraction-decoy-....) get a book organized in this manner. Much better way yo improve your tactics.
hope this helps
AV
Description of Chess Tactics for Beginners
Have loads fun while learning chess with Chess Tactics for Beginners - the testing and training program intended for all beginners, both children and adults. Each course in this interactive CD contains exercises for both Practice and Test. The program includes positions from practical games, endgame studies, and other carefully developed training examples. Among the topics covered you'll find mate in one, mate in two, win a Rook, win a piece, draw, etc. The many exercises are arranged in five self-contained courses, grouped according to their increasing difficulty. While learning about chess tactics the student receives a rating based on the difficulty of the problems, the time taken, and so forth. The original rating is adjusted up or down after each exercise, so that results can be monitored - see your improvement immediately! An excellent introduction to how pieces work together in the world of chess tactics. English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish versions availableComputer and Video Games
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