ChessBase 11 (Tutorial)
ChessBase 11 Video Tutorials
Mark Crowther - Thursday 25th August 2011
ChessBase 11 has had quite a makeover from previous versions. Here is now a detailed series of short videos going through all the features of the program. I use ChessBase in conjunction with the PGN files I generate and then do such things as search for novelties, create assessments of the positions using chess engines. A database progam adds so much to following the many chess events that are on the internet. ChessBase 11 has a download games function which automatically updates the program with up to the last four issues of TWIC depending on how frequently you use this function. Nick Murphy is a chess player, actor and also has extensive experience in providing support for ChessBase products. You can also find all these videos on the London Chess Centre YouTube Page.
Nick Murphy whose voice you hear on the Tutorials. Photo © | http://www.chess.co.uk/twic
INTRODUCTION
Introduction (1 min)
An introduction to a series of videos on ChessBase 11 by Nick "The Geek" Murphy who has extensive experience at providing technical support for Chessbase products.
Installation 1 (5m 20s)
Installing ChessBase 11 Pt 1. A run through the installation of ChessBase 11 on an XP machine in real time and some tips to avoid problems. 5 minutes 21 seconds
Installation 2 (4m 26s)
Installing ChessBase 11 Pt 2. When installation has finished. Installing databases and player info. Registering filetypes. Activation key. 4 minutes 27 seconds
INTERFACE
Interface (1m 47)
An introduction to the new ChessBase 11 layout which is similar to the new Microsoft Office layout.
Layout (4m 6s)
Customising the appearance, adding and removing windows and resizing. Separating out parts of ChessBase.
Database Window (2m 12s)
How to use the Databases.
TRAINING FUNCTIONS
Dossier (6m 4s)
Creating a Dossier on a player. Looking at what happens when you create one for Magnus Carlsen from MegaBase. Whilst it does take a little while (around a minute) a huge amount of information is made available.
Graphical Commentary (3m 10s)
A run through the graphical commentary with arrows, how to start it up, it illustrates tactical points. It is one of the features that Nick gets the most questions about.
Novelty Annotation (1m 53s)
The novelty annotation feature, where the players came out of book.
Online Database (5m 35s)
Accessing the online database created by ChessBase which is up to date and has over 5 million games. An example is shown.
Opening Report (4m 54s)
Creating a report on a certain opening. A summary of the games, history, list of games, statistics, plans and recommendations based upon results.
Reference Database (2m 08s)
One of the most important things you need to do is to set a very large database for ChessBase 11 to carry out theoretical searches.
Search (5m 39s)
The filter list search function with an example on an updated MegaBase database of 4.5 million games. With so many games you will need to be able to narrow them down to what you are looking for. A brief introduction
Search Player Encyclopedia (2m 40s)
Searching through the player encyclopedia. Over 250,000 player names, gives information about the players and if there any photos they scroll through this information. Rating profile etc.
Theoretical Weight (2m 12s)
A new feature of ChessBase 11 has a Theoretical Weight feature. ChessBase 11 assess how theoretically important games might be and indicates with increasingly dark circles as to how important it thinks they might be.
ENGINES
Engine Basics (3m 35s)
The basics of using chess engines. Setting a default engine, options for the engine, avoiding slowing down your computer,
Engine Advanced (5m 24s)
More advanced use of Chess Engines. More or less lines,
DATABASE MANAGEMENT
Backups (3m 07s)
Backing up your databases, this is especially important for your own games.
Crosstables (1m 08s)
Generate a cross table from the game data.
Database Update Service (6m 7s)
Database Reference service. Keeps your database up to date. You'll need either Mega of Big Databases of 2008, 2009 or 2010 (or later). Click news games alongside Mega-Update. You need to register as a new user if this is the first time you have used the service. The registration code that came with your database.
History (1m 39s)
The history function remembers the work you were doing, saves your annotations every 10 minutes limiting the damage from a systems crash. Day by day breakdown of what you were looking at on what day. Very handy if you can't remember how to find something interesting you looked at in the past.
Saving & Loading (5m 08s)
Saving and loading games, entering moves by hand.
OTHER PRODUCTS
Install Player Encyclopedia (2m 31s)
Installing the Player Base list of all conceivable players which aids preparing against these opponents.
Big/Mega Install (4 min)
Installing a Mega 2010 Database. It is quicker and easier to have the database on the hard-drive rather than retaining it on the DVD.
Goto (1m 20s)
You can pass games between different ChessBase products, say you were looking at a game in ChessBase 11 you can pass it on to Fritz 12. Here is how.
