Product Description

More than ever, Chessmater® 10th Edition delivers on its promise to make you a better chess player. The program will improve your game regardless of your level of experience. This landmark edition provides the largest upgrade ever to the features and graphics of the franchise. Whether you are new to Chess or a tournament-level player, Chessmaster 10th Edition allows you to master history's greatest game.

Features:

• The new Chessmaster Academy.At the Academy, International Master Josh Waitzkin will personally walk players through the basics of chess, plus introduce a variety of simple strategies for dominating your opponent. The Academy also features the best attacking moves as taught by noted chess champion, Larry Christiansen.
• A totally revised interface.Clean, clear and easy-to-navigate, this all new interface represents the biggest upgrade to the look and feel of Chessmaster in over seven years.
• Full-featured online chess module.More than just a place to play chess live with other players, Chessmaster online allows players to establish rankings, create tournaments, utilize teaching tools, and join a thriving chess community.
• More fun for the whole family.Features such as, animated chess sets, a variety of whimsical 3D sets, and simple and efficient learning tools, makes chess more fun than ever. Younger players and chess beginners will appreciate the specialized section just for them. As players improve, the game suggests an appropriate AI opponent.
• A comprehensive chess engine.Wise enough to teach an absolute beginner and powerful enough to defeat a grandmaster, experience the all-new edition of the King engine - the brains behind the best-selling brand in chess.
• Intermediate and advanced player options.Seasoned chess players can test their skills against ranked AI opponents, set up tournaments and simultaneous exhibitions, and survey ... Read more

  Features

  • Intermediate and advanced player options; for ages 6 and older
  • Chess teacher, mentor, and ultimate opponent with intuitive user interface
  • Chessmaster Academy teaches the basics, plus a variety of simple strategies
  • Animated chess sets; whimsical 3D sets; simple and efficient learning tools
  • Full-featured online chess module; comprehensive chess engine

  Reviews (50)

  I concure with my fellow chessmates.
  Although this game is STILL better than most other chess games, the "little things" is what brings the quality down...such as: installing the cd in the disk drive every freakin ....freaking time that you want to play the game..Too many features..buttons and screens to choose from. and ...I am not the most computer savy person...So, they would need to take that into consideration......also, why is it that the lower players are so freakin strong all of a sudden!!! (Little josh w..and a few other players around his strength level are a joke)......Finally, my advice is to wait about 2 or 3 years to buy it....or wait until it shows up at a pawn shop!!
  

  UBISoft messed up on this one
  I have owned every version of this product since Chessmaster 5000. Sure Fritz is stronger and has a better reputation but for ease of use and flexibility, you couldn't do better than Chessmaster. At least that's what I thought until I laid my mitts on the piece of #&$@# that is the 10th edition.
  Boy, did UBISoft miss the boat. First they stop you from playing the game without the CD. Come on! What's up with that? The old mode of refreshing your installation every 10 games or so was inconvenient enough. And now I absolutely must have the CD in my drive to enjoy a game of chess? UBISoft should pay attention to the competition. The makers of Fritz know better.
  But the major annoyance is that this program is as buggy as hell. It crashes all the time and there is no consistency in gameplay. One minute the program is absolutely slaughtering you, the next minute it makes the dumbest move possible. After a couple of months fiddling with the damn thing, I uninstalled it and went back to playing the 9000 version and Fritz.
  I'm giving UBISoft one more chance. If the next version they turn out is as crappy as this one, then they have lost me as a customer permanently.

  Be VERY careful!
  All of the warnings here are completely accurate, the "security" features on this thing are AWFUL.There is a good chance, esecially if you have a newer machine (which you need for the enormous amounts of memory this thing takes), that you won't be able to get the game to run at all.I was only able to get this product to work after reading the helpful reviews on this site--luckily, I do have a non-writable DVD drive I was able to install with.If you don't have a non-writable drive, you're completely out of luck.I also went through the supposedly optional registration process that appears to be not-so-optional.
  
  I cannot tell you how frustrating it was trying to get Chessmaster to run--the "support" line is utterly useless.The guy I talked to didn't seem to know anything about the security device probelms this product has and didn't even hint that a writable drive or lack of on-line registration might be the problem.
  
  I did eventually have success getting Chessmaster X working, and to be honest, I have been enjoying it.I have found one thing that really bothers, me, though: the 'personalites' play MUCH stronger chess in rated games than in training games.Really, really, REALLY, stronger.Personalities I'm beating with no problem (and no help from blunder alert, or chessmaster hints, or taking back moves) kick my butt soundly and quickly in rated games.

  S-U-C-K-S
  All the bad things other reviewers have said about this excremental fraud are true.Some of the good things said are true, too.But does the good outweigh the bad?Let me put it this way: If customers were allowed to test-drive this loser-program before paying for it, Ubisoft would be bankrupt in no time flat.
  
  No, no, don't believe me....--Go ahead.Buy it.Join the rest of us suckers.Misery loves company.
  
  :)

  Dont even waste your time
  I wonder what the hell UBI was thinking.
  
  First of all you always need the cd in your drive to play...retarded. what if you have a tablet? are you going to carry that external cd drive with you everywhere just because you want to play chess? what if your running on battery power? are you gonna drain your laptop battery just cause you want to play chess?
  
  secondly forget about even trying to backup this cd. the amount of copy protection on it ...
  
  and upon all this the engine is faulty! a lot of times my opponent makes moves that are obviously wrong and that any chess amateur could see.. even when the ratings are in the 2000+ ration. This software is a total waste of time.
  
  dont even bother to use the only gameplay... have to enter a 16 digit cd key everytime you login. get fritz instead!!!! ... Read more

Features

• Explore the kingdom and discover 7 arcade-style games
• Explanations on everything from chess basics to master strategies
• Experience the Intelligym, a training ground for future chess pros
• Designed with highly-rated chess software
• Suitable for players of all levels

Product Description

Experience a brand-new chess engine and play at the Grandmaster level! It delivers the most advanced opponent available on a home computer. An ideal introduction for the chess newcomer or a worthy challenge for the aspiring Grandmaster! ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Biggest bargain for quality chess program
Got CM8000 for the absolute bargain of $9.95 Australian (approx US$6) as bargain priced "NEW" software. Nothing for even five or ten times the price remotely compares.

Also have chessmaster 10th edition (V10) which runs on my better 256 Mb computer. But CM8000 will even run on my dinosaur Win95 Dell with only 96MbRam and 200MHz chip.

The look and feel of CM 8000 in my view is much better than than the "trying too hard to be modern" look in V10. You can immediately choose lots of skins and boards in CM8000 which have a classical beauty about them. (V10 by comparison has fewer 2D skins but more resource hungry 3D skins and you must "obey chess fuhrer's orders without question" and play a minimum number of games before you are allowed to choose a new one.)

You can also play CM8000 without inserting a disc after installation. (V10 is a bit of a pain in requiring you to insert disc 1 every time you play but most software companies seem to be doing this these days.)

Other reviewer have said how good CM8000 is. In truth it does have some minor flaws as some reviewers have pointed out but on balance I believe its pros far outweigh its cons especially at its bargain price. It is probably as good as anything else on the market (other than a later Chessmaster) under $100. So if you are a kid with a limited budget,have an old computer, or are just starting out in chess as a casual hobby then CM8000 will give you the most bang for your buck.

XP compatible, Won't be dissappointed
If you have a lot of hard drive space and lots of RAM, do the full install(about 900 MB total), you'll love it.

Chessmaster 8000 has at least 2 bugs...
a) The program is biased against white side:
It gives white a more PLUS score in a SYMMETRICAL position. Indirectly it FORCES white to play for the WIN at some extra COST.

After 1 e4 e5, it took 1.29 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 2 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 Nf3 with the score of .21. (Where 1.00 point is equivalent to 1 pawn.)

After 1 e3 e5 2 e4, it took 1.45 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 2.3 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 ... Nf6 with the score of .21.

After 1 d4 d5, it took 3.35 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 3.7 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 Bf4 with the score of .20.

After 1 d3 d5 2 d4, it took 2.55 min and searched to a depth of 5 moves (10 plies), evaluated for 3.4 millions positions, then it selected the move 2 ... Bf5 with the score of .20.

B) Search-depth extension has some bug:
Which causes the program fail to give correct or good positional evaluation.

--------------BK
----------BPBP--
----BB--BP----BP
--------WP------
------WPWP------
--BR------WKWPWP
----WBBQ--------
--WQ------------

In the above position, black just captured white rook at b3. It is white's turn to move.

After 1.31 minutes, search to a depth of 10 plies, and evaluated for 3 millions positions, it selected the move (white)Qxb3 with the score 0.98.

After 5.18 minutes, search to a depth of 11 plies, and evaluated for 11 millions positions, it selected the move (white)Qxb3 with the score -1.01.

First, the evaluation at 1 ply DIFFERENCE (from 10 to 11) caused a point-swing of 2 pawns! I EXPECTED a reasonable point-swing of 1/3 to 1/2 of a pawn. 1 point (or pawn) swing is too much, and 2 point swing is unreasonable. The search EXTENSION was supposed to extend when there is a LARGE point swing in an unclear position.

Second, at the standard rate of 3 minutes per move, the program could not detect this miscalculation. The positional evaluation is incorrect.

For this brief moment, white is up a pawn, but his king is exposed, while black king is secured. The harmony between black pieces wins the game, however is undetectable at a shallow search.

I have chessmaster 2000, 2100, 3000, 5000 and 8000. Their human interface are nice, more friendly than Fritz. But the two above BUGS cost chessmater 8000 one star.

Excellent
This chess software is superb.Josh Watzkin walking you through some of his classic chess encounters is one of my favorite parts of this game.You actually begin to understand what it takes to play chess at an elevated level.One part of this chess program I did have a problem with was playing computer players.Each computer player is rated and they play exactly at that level.What the computer cannot do, unlike a human can is make bad moves.The computer playing at a 1550 rated level plays it perfectly, unlike a player at rated at the 1550 level.A player at rated at the 1550 level may make a few moves at an 1800 level and then make a terrible move that a 1200 level rated player wouldn't even make.Humans make mistakes, whereas the Chessmaster does not.Except for this and the occasional crash (I am running the game on win2000, which is not a gaming platform) this game is excellent.I would buy it again if I didn't already own it.

Fine program, but still a work in progress
I have owned every Chessmaster since Chessmaster 2100, a charming little toy that ran on my old XT with an engine that played like a "D" player with poor positional judgment(!).Today's Chessmaster plays like something close to a Grandmaster.

It is a fine program with some annoying bugs, suitable for a wide range of players from beginners to master-level players.It is not, however, the choice of professionals.They prefer the elegant German-made Fritz since some of CM's features for the average player are of no interest to them.Unless you are a Senior Master level player however, in my opinion, Chessmaster is a better choice because of its many features.

Nonetheless Chessmaster 8000 is not much of an improvement on Chessmaster 7000.(You might want to read my review of CM7000 because some of the same comments apply here).In some ways CM8000 is a regression.For example, you can't run the program at all without the disk in your CD drive.Ouch!In CM7000 you could at least run the program for 14 days or 28 sessions before being required to insert the CD.Another problem is that the sight and music show after CM8000 loads always plays and you have to hit a key to get to the program.This is also a regression from CM7000 which allowed you to turn off this it-gets-old-fast "feature."A new bug occurs when you play a game at a fast time limit.The verbal announcement of moves is truncated so that CM's move is not announced.This is a bug that CM is aware of but hasn't fixed yet.Another regressive change is you can no longer pick the exact color of the chessboard.That feature has been eliminated, why I don't know.

The Think Lines window, though, has been improved.Now you can play over a game and see how Chessmaster evaluates the game without toggling between the Chessmaster mode and the player mode as in CM7000 and previous editions.Just click Chessmaster in the window and CM's thinking is always there.

The "mate in one" opening puzzle has been "improved" to offer avoid mate and find the pin and find the fork.This is still not anywhere near what it should be.At least a mate in two would improve, or even better, critical positions from master games could be featured so that the user could compare his or her choice with what was actually played.

The personality ratings are still a little high.One personality rated around 2200 on my machine often sac's a piece for two united pawns in the opening.Other personalities routinely give up a pawn and then some, but are also rated at around master-level."Natalie," rated 2296 on my machine, gives up at least a pawn in the opening and in general plays the opening like a "D" player, yet plays afterwards like a master.Not realistic!But as someone at CM pointed out, one of the interesting things about the personalities is that they have weaknesses that a human can discover and take advantage of.I think a little more creativity in creating the personalities would improve the program.I like eccentrics like "Vlad" who always answers almost instantly because he just doesn't search any further than about three ply.

The only player stats kept are those in rated games.Stats reflecting performance in EVERY game should be kept.It would required just the slightest effort on the part of the programmers to offer such a feature.And such a feature would be very revealing (and perhaps sobering) for the player.Every game should be counted as (1) Incomplete with CM's score given at the time of abandonment; (2) Won, lost or drawn.

An annoyance is that CM doesn't remember your place in the scroll windows.In other words, if you are playing through a long list of games it would be nice when you click "Load" for the window to open where you left off so you can just click the next game on the list.However what CM does is make you start all over again because it always opens the window to the first game on the list.

Another silly annoyance is when you're going from one mode to the other, the program ought to recall and use the chessboard and set that you have chosen.Instead CM uses its default and you have to choose all over again.

Here's what I think would be a significant improvement: Add some code that would assess a player's strength based on an analysis of every move played, so that a rating could be established with just a couple of games.To illustrate what I mean, consider that in any given position there are "x" number of moves.Of those moves, a certain number lose outright (let's say lose the equivalent of two pawns or more, all the way to possibly allowing checkmate).Some others give away somewhere between the equivalent of half a pawn to a pawn and a half.Still others keep the chances about the same, while others might result in an advantage.Since the program keeps a running "score" of the game, it could simply compare each of the human player's moves with a change in the running score and easily construct a hierarchy of achievement or lack thereof which could be converted into ratings.This could be turned into a feature that would assess a player's strength for just the current session.After all, we all have days when we are "on" and other days when we don't play so well.

I love the Chessmaster program perhaps because I am used to it and perhaps because when I was a young chess player there were no programs at all.It is a fine program, but it is still a work in progress. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Fritz 8 is nice.
I guess Fritz 8 is stronger than chessmaster 8000 (GOOD). I have almost the whole family of chessmaster xxxx (from 2000 to 8000). Fritz 8 human interface is not very friendly or intuitive, maybe I spent too much time with the chessmaster series. I could not find the self-play mode in Fritz. The analysis of Fritz is very professional, it even uses the international symbols to grade the position. However I'd like to see another mode to give numeric values at each position like chessmaster, the symbol =/+ , +/=, etc. are not specific enough (at least to a detail player like me.) The user manual is hard to follow.
OK, 4 1/2 stars.

Worst User Interface Ever Designed!!
This program has a lot of features, however, it's pretty close to impossible to figure out how to get the features to work. I've never in my life seen a program with such a non-discoverable, non-intuitive, obscure interface.What is truly amazing about this program, is you can read the manual and still not figure out how to use the features!I've just spent 2 hours (including studying the manual) trying to figure out how to load a PGN file of some games that I've played to use the analysis features of the program and I still have no clue how to do it. Unbelievable.I've used several other chess programs and never had to even open the manual.I've used 100's of windows programs and this is clearly the worst interface I've ever seen.

Many Features combined with easy gameplay!
I don't know why someone would complain about bugs in this game because I have yet to find one! My guess is that the person complaing about them is using a pirated version of the software and thus his problems were created.

Anyhow, the game is definitly loaded with features (most of which are already explained by other reviews) but the one thing I wanted to emphasize is that this game actually helped better my game play tremendously!

Un buen juego de Ajedrez
La verdad, resulta sorprendente lo facil que resulta jugar.
Saludos Cordiales!
España

This Beast is Best
I have most of the top commercial chess programs in the world (Shredder, Fritz, Junior, Hiarcs, Chess Tiger, Deep Sjeng, Ruffian 2, Rebel and Chessmaster), and Fritz is my favorite program.I don't even use Chessmaster anymore.Fritz is a Chessbase product, so it is state-of-the art in all respects.I can't imagine why some of the other reviewers had some problems with it.Myself and my chess-playing friends have had none.

For those who are saavy about chess programs, yes, I admit that Fritz is the second-strongest program ... Shredder 8 (also a Chessbase product) is definitely stronger than Fritz, but if you aren't Gary Kasparov, who knows the difference?Besides, in my view Shredder suffers from several defects ... its principal variation (PV) in analysis can be complete rubbish (ie: hanging a queen for no compensation), although it's first move of the PV is always first-rate.Also, Shredder's playing style is "dryer" and more technical (e.g. boring) than Fritz.If you want a tip-top program that plays like a boring machine, grinding out wins, then get Shredder.If you want a program that will come at you like a doberman, then get Junior, Hiarcs or Chess Tiger.But if you want the best of both of these worlds, then get Fritz!

Hey, let's face it ... unless you are a Grandmaster, any of the top programs I named, on their top level, will tear you to tiny little pieces every time, especially when you're playing blitz.However, Fritz has many modes (like Friend, Sparring and "personalities") that can lead it to playing like you!There are dozens of ways to change or "dummy down" Fritz's play, and you can have fun with all of them.You can also use Fritz's GUI to play the many FREE winboard or UCI engines freely available on the Internet (I have about 3 dozen, but many more are available).So, it's like having a whole chess club at your disposal, and you can even have the various engines and personalities play each other in matches or tournaments, or help you play against Fritz.(I don't know about you, but I need help against the silicon beasts.)

One observation ... which program does Gary Kasparov (and other top players like Anand, Kramnik, Leko, etc) use and analyze with?Fritz.Did Chessmaster get a match with Gary Kasparov or Vladimir Kramnik?Nope ... only Fritz and Junior did.If Kasparov says Fritz analyzes the best, that's good enough for me!

Fritz's database is also very useful and it's GUI and many features are top-notch.Also, if you are a serious chess player and want to get the top chess database program, Chessbase, then Fritz will fit in seamlessly.How can you go wrong, especially at this discounted price?(Don't hold your breath looking for a discount at Chessbase...ha, ha.)

So the bottom line?Fritz is #1.Get it from Amazon!I did, and don't regret it a bit. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Years of Entertainment And Instruction
Danish International Master Jacob Aagaard has already written several highly regarded chess books (Excelling at Chess, Excelling at Positional Chess, etc.) and he's shown that he can explain chess ideas quite clearly for well-read beginners and intermediate chess players.

He does the same here using Fritz 8 Chess Media System to seamlessly integrate video commentary with a synchronized chess board illustrating the principles and practice of developing an attack in chess. There are several lessons demonstrating such themes as including all pieces in the attack, development and speed in the attack, creating and exploiting color weaknesses in (you guessed it) the attack.

The lectures total about 3.5 hours and I think will be useful and entertaining for ambitious beginning chess players as well as very strong intermediate players. I have an over-the-board USCF rating that ranges from 1850-1950 and I found all the ideas familiar from my reading but I'm sure that most players my rating or less would be acquainted with the strategic and tactical ideas that Aagaard incorporates into his lessons. In other words, if you've read about speedy development, basic planning, king safety, material equality and have studied the elements of tactics you're equipped to follow Aagaard's commentary.

I found the both Attacking Chess Volume 1 and Attacking Chess Volume 2 fascinating and instructive. The CDs are like having an International Master or Grandmaster always available for a lecture on the art of attack. I've paid a lot more at tournaments in Las Vegas or New York to hear Grandmaster lectures and this is far superior in terms of information, ease of use and practical application. I mean I can stop the CD and play out the position on my own and return when I want.

There are no "secrets" revealed here that aren't available in books on attacking chess (for example, Vukovic's Art of Attack) and certainly books can give dozens of examples but, if you're ready for a change of pace from going back and forth between a book and chess board ,then these CDs are excellent for allowing you to concentrate just on the position. I've listened to all the lessons three times so far - and it's probably the rare chess player who looks forward to rereading the book he's just finished laboring over - and it's never once felt like study. I think of these CDs as valuable supplements for books rather than as replacements. I will be reviewing these CDs for years!

On the technical side you need: a) Windows Media Player 9 ( WMP version 10 so far doesn't work with Fritz Chess Media System b) Older versions of Fritz 8 need to download a small patch (called "gui8.exe') from playchess.com or chessbase.com and c) remember this is NOT a standalone chess program you need to already own Fritz8 or Shredder8 or Junior8 or etc.

Have fun, play well.

Makes A Great Chess Partner
I recommend this for people who are refining their game before showing up at a noisy hall full of know it all brats, (know it all except how to be quiet!).High quality teacher. A+++++ ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great program for novice to expert
This is one of the better chess programs available for the Mac. The game play is quite intuitive, and the graphics are excellent. The playing strength is quite varied and offers a challenge to beginners and intermediates as well as masters. The historical games and built-in tutorial are superb. I highly recommend the game for those who want to have fun while significantly improving their skill. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

For more than 12 years, the Chessmaster series has been the leading force in computer-based instructional and competitive chess game play. With more than four million copies sold worldwide, it's not surprising that Mindscape, now part of The Learning Company, continues to update the venerable series to accommodate the cutting-edge technology of the times.

With Chessmaster 7000, the designers have created perhaps the most well-rounded chess game to date. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced chess player, you'll find something in Chessmaster 7000 to suit your style. If you're new to chess or wish to improve the fundamentals of your play, you can head into the classroom section and receive audio walk-throughs and visual game analysis from renowned chess master Josh Waitzkin, the subject of the hit movie Searching for Bobby Fischer.

When you're ready to move on to the tournament scene, Chessmaster 7000 offers 80 computer-controlled (yet very humanlike) opponents, each with a distinctive playing style. Furthermore, 35 grandmaster personalities are provided, including Kasparov and Fischer, when you're ready to challenge the best of the best.

Chessmaster 7000 includes so many excellent features that it's difficult to mention them all. A "kid's room" helps teach children 6-12 the basic fundamentals and strategies of chess. A complete game database with more than 500,000 classic grandmaster chess encounters can be viewed and analyzed. Also, Chessmaster 7000 includes multiplay over network, modem, or their Internet gaming service ChessmasterLive. An excellent package for any chess fan. --Doug Radcliffe ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Very Unsatisfied
I have never experienced so many defects in a computer program.Absolutely WORTHLESS!!!And no, I do not have a bootleg copy.This product is a joke.

Excellent application that could use some improvement
I've owned and used all the Chessmaster programs beginning with Chessmaster 2100 including Chessmaster 3000 for the Mac.The program has gradually become stronger and stronger, from perhaps something like a clueless class D player to something like a grandmaster.The engine in this program on today's fast machines can play five-minute chess as well as all but the top grandmasters, and at whatever time limit as well as an international master.However the ratings given for the various personalities need to be taken with a grain of salt and some understanding.I'll get to that in a bit.

First there are still in the program some annoying bugs and some plainly bad programming practices.Most annoying to me is the fact that the games are not automatically saved; worse yet, you are not even asked if you want to save the current game.This is contrary to standard practice in virtually all applications that I am familiar with, and I wish that Chessmaster would do something about it.Next, when you do save a game under a name you choose, should you need to save it again after some further moves, you are given as the default not the name you chose and are using, but the regular CM default (players and date).If you play two games on the same date with the same players and same colors, CM will suggest the name of the first game when you try to save the second game. If you don't intervene, you will overwrite the first game.Not good!

The database is not as well constructed as it might be.You can only view the games directly in the database mode from the White side on a small board.Also there is a bug that sometimes skips a move when you hit the "forward a move" button.Nonetheless, a database of almost half a million games (with some repetitions) is an invaluable resource.By the way, I have played over many of the games and so far have found only a couple of obvious errors.There are others I'm missing of course.Some of the Fischer games that were adjourned I noticed are scored as not completed when in fact one of the players (usually not Fischer!) resigned without resuming play.

The rated games format allows one to adjourn a game and then later delete that game and thereby "cheat."If you are clearly lost in a rated game, you can adjourn it and then never call the game up again and avoid the rating point loss.You can even delete the file.(Just a tip to those who like to cheat at solitaire, and a warning to take anyone's rating against Chessmaster with a grain of salt.)The rated game feature might be better if no adjourned games were allowed, or if allowed, require that they be finished by some date (as in the old real world of chess) or rated as lost.

A nice improvement from earlier editions is that the Think Lines window shows the moves in figurine notation and they are numbered so it is much easier to read them.A further readability improvement would be to put commas in the number of positions that Chessmaster has considered.

The personalities (one of CM7000's best features) are still a work in progress.The ratings are derived from play against the machine and not against human players, which is why they are a little weird.Still, just because the personality makes weak moves on occasion, moves so bad logically and positionally that even a "C" player would never make them, doesn't mean that the personality isn't stronger than a "C" player or even an "A" player.This is because even though it makes silly moves it more than compensates by seldom making any tactically blunders.In fact, the "strangeness" of the personalities stems from the fact that CM has not really worked out how to weaken the personalities in a humanoid way.Most human players tend to overlook atwo-move tactical point from time to time. (Less than expert players probably do it on average at least once a game.)And few human players below the master level go through a game without making a tactical error somewhere along the way that loses at least the equivalent of a pawn.What the CM program needs to do is program their personalities to make human-like tactical errors and fewer positional monstrosities.

I also think that CM ought to allow a personality or even itselfto resign when it is clearly beaten.Chess programs typically do not resign, of course, no matter how bleak the outlook.Why?I'm not sure, but I think one reason is that it's impossible for the program to know when the situation really is hopeless.Since humans are always prone to error (even grandmasters have allowed mates in winning positions) and since the program never gets tired, why resign?But "resigns" is a gentlemanly way to end a game.Note that in games against grandmasters, the programmers resign for the program when it is hopeless.

One way to incorporate "resigns" into the CM's vocabulary would be to allow the user to set a criterium of futility, say two and a half pawns.(Complexity of position could also be considered.)Or CM could take into account the rating or previous play of the player and make an assessment.

Despite these suggestions for improvement, the bottom line as far as I am concerned is that CM7000 is a great application, a source of entertainment, competition and instruction that chess players just a few years ago could only dream about.

Good program, lousy compatibility
The program itself is quite good for an intermediate player like myself. However, it does not run on my Win2K machine at all. I loaded it on my Windows XP machine, but this isn't much better. The game runs, but has a habit of locking up the PC unexpectedly and randomly in the middle of games. I plan to ask for my money back.

Beginners Only
It is annoying that the hype says this is the "number one" chess computer game. It clearly is not, and the serious player should consider games such as those produced by Rebel (....)I find there is something amaturish about this game, and why does it STILL not run on windows 2000?

Not compatible with Windows 2000
Yes, CM7000 is pretty great. But, it works only poorly under Win2K. Lots of other programs that work on 98 and NT work just fine under Win2K, but not Chessmaster 7000. It pisses me off, because Chessmaster 8000 isn't supported on Windows 2000 either -- although the website says that it should work, it's just not supported. Also, beware the 1.0.6 update, available on the website; it took my installation of CM7000 from working poorly to not working at all.On the other hand, the games analyzed and *narrated* by Josh Waitzkin are fantastic. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very suitable for the novice
I'm not up to snuff when it comes to chess games--or chess for that matter--but I have found this version of Chessmaster more than suitable for my ability.One has the choice of playing a number of Grandmasters, and there are a slew of tutorials to assist the novice chess player, including one devoted to some 1000+ openings.But in the end, this is only a computer simulation, and to truly enjoy and understand the game, one has to play against other people. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Packed with features and graphics that add an exciting new dimension to your game. Choose from a library of unique computer opponents for all levels of play, from newcomers to past grand masters, or create your own. There are a multitude of options and settings with which to customize the game. There are four 2-D chessboards, giving you a bird's-eye view of the game, and seven 3-D boards. These boards are all rendered to imitate various ivory, marble, teak, and metallic designs. The 10 available chess sets are elaborately designed in SVGA detail, and range from a classic Staunton design to a dinosaur set. The other sets include Chinese, deco, mechanic, Napoleon, oceanic, alphabet, modern, and fantasy. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Test your ability against the grand masters of chess. This award-winning algorithm allows players to choose between skill levels that range from beginner all the way to world champion. On its crystal-clear display screen, players can view each move from different angles by focusing on three-dimensional models designed by Silicon Graphics. In real time, the algorithm shows the opening move in process, evaluates each position, and lets the player know the best move to make. Your chess skills will improve. The algorithm will show you how. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Whether you're a beginner or a master, Chess Advantage is the collection designed to improve your skills. Games included are Chessmaster 4000, Combat Chess, Grandmaster Chess Ultra, Maurice Ashley Teaches Chess, and Internet Chess Club.

You get multimedia instruction for every skill level and hundreds of chess sets. Choose your match, setting, level of difficulty, and opponent from a host of options. Play against the computer, a friend, or people from around the world. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Ideal Software to start with
The chess advantage software package offered a fantastic selection of chess software for the begininer to intermediate chess player. I found Maurice Ashley teaches chess a fantastic way to learn the basic strategies and techniques of chess. Grand Master Chess also had some good audio/ written tutorials ( but I found the playing engines has some bugs in it). Chess Master 4000 was a excellent playing program. And the intro membership to ICC was great! Combat chess was fun to watch.. but of little value to helping you improve.

Great programs. Great price.
I ordered this pack simply to try out combat chess. It's a newer version of a very old game called battle chess. The pieces fight when they capture. Animation is good, and it makes the game humorous. The pack also includes Maurice Ashley Teaches Chess. This is probably my favorite because you get to watch actual chess games between Grandmasters! Maurice comments on the moves and explains why they were made. I find it fascinating to watch the 13-year-old Bobby Fischer outwit his opponent by thinking 10-13 moves ahead. This program is good for children or beginner players because the first few lessons explain in detail how each piece moves, how the game is played etc... It is also good for higher-level players because the advanced lessons are good memory and logic exercises.For you windows 2000 users, these are the only two programs that will run. That is unfortunate, but they are 2 very good programs, and I would have still purchased this product if I knew that ahead of time.

Excellent Starter Pack!
This pack includes several chess programs and a six month membership in the Internet Chess Club. The ICC membership alone is worth the price of the software. The pack includes Chessmaster 4000, an earlier version of thenoted chess software series, a solid program for beginning and intermediateplayers. Also it has Maurice Ashley Teaches Chess, an outstanding programfor children by America's newest Grandmaster. His narration makes chess funand exciting using solid graphics and lessons to get your child started theright way. These programs, plus Combat Chess and Grandmaster Chess Ultramake this package an tremendous value! ... Read more

Product Description

One Of The Strongest Chess Engines Available!

• Multiple Levels of DifficultyPerfect for Beginners or Masters
• Tutorial mode for Beginners
• Top of the line graphics and smooth animation
• Easy to use interface
• Fully Customizable!
• Over 14 board and piece sets Realistic, customizable PC opponents
• 2D and 3D Chess Boards
• Toggle displays for timers, characters and captured pieces.

Product Description

• For experts and beginners.
• 12 hours of audio commentary, help, and analysis.
• 26 core chess tutorials.
• Ask program what best moves are, and program answers you, with explanations.

Reviews (3)

laguy
This is (was) a great program.I used it for a few years and learned a great deal.However, I have experienced the same problem noted in another review.In November I bought a new Dell using Win XP.My old computer, which ran this program very well, had Win 98.It won't run on my new computer and I've since found out that it is not XP compatible, and the patches available at the Chessmaster website can't fix that problem.So today I ordered Chessmaster 8000, which apparently does run on Win XP.The newest version out is actually Chessmaster 9000, but that is selling at full price ($29) whereas the 8000 was less than $10, and there isn't much difference between the programs.

So the bottom line is this-- if you have a computer running old Win 98 or 95, you could purchase this program and it would run, but if I were you I'd pay a few bucks more for 8000, which is a substantially better program and will run on Win 98.Also, that way when you upgrade to a newer operating system, you won't have to toss your Chessmaster program.

Chess Master 5500
I enjoy this game very much, as do my three grandchildren, ages 7,8,and 9.

NEVER GOT IT TO RUN!
I cannot tell how great this item might have been...it certainly was presented as a great chess resource and game and I think it has a great reputation. Unfortunately, I could never get it to run on a brand new DELL computer or any other computer I tried to install it on... these computers were new computers with windows 2000 on them... maybe that is the problem since 5500 runs on win95/98. It would be reasonable to expect that it would also run on more current versions... but it does not... ... Read more

Features

• The intricate game mechanics of chess come to life on your PC monitor -- use your knight, rook or bishop to protect your King or suffer the consequences
• Advanced AI really test your skills, as the computer pulls out championship defensive moves
• Features a complete guide to the best moves and gameplay tips from champions
• Select from a variety of different table styles, to personalize your game
• Study your moves by viewing your complete Move History

Amazon.com Review

E-mail isn't just for letters anymore. With Hasbro Interactive'sEmail Games: Chess, Checkers & Backgammon you can use your e-mailaccount to send game moves to friends, colleagues, and family members.

You can still append a little text message to each turn you send, so you won'thave to follow up each move with a separate message. Of the three gamesincluded, chess is best suited for e-mail play, as it's nice to have a lot oftime to mull over your moves and plot a strategy. Checkers and backgammon canget really frustrating, especially when the person you're playing with doesn'tanswer e-mail often.

The best thing about the software is that only one person playing needs to ownit. You can buy a copy, initiate several games with a variety of people, and allthey have to do is install a free client program to participate. EmailGames is a good way to have fun and stay in touch at the same time, and thelow price only adds to the game's appeal. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Other players don't need to own the game to participate
• You can attach text messages to the game turns you send

• Waiting for someone to send back a checkers or backgammon turn requirespatience

Reviews (1)

Poor, as are all Hasbro interactive games.
Okay, call me a sucker. I own Scrabble emailby Hasbro and have had nothing but problems with it. First, it does not work as on the CD, but has a "patch" that is hard to install and use. Then, every move goes thru the Hasbro server, and they have lost more than one of my Scrabble games midgame.... so, sucker me, thinking Chess would be better, bought this game. It is horrible. I cannot even play at all, my opponent cannot even send back one simgle solitary move. We have a call out to Hasbro, and I can see it now, a software "patch" that I must download will soon be recommended.... this baby is going back to Amazon for credit. Yuck! ... Read more

Product Description

Challenge the Greatest Chess Player of All Time! Garry Kasparov has played against the strongest chess computers and the best players in the world. He defended his World Champion title for ten years without a single defeat! Kasparov Chessmate lets you learn and play with the greatest chess player of all time while enjoying the most complete multi-platform and online multiplayer chess experience around. Sync games easily from your PC to your PDA and back without losing your place in the game! Our revolutionary gaming concept puts the PC, the Palm, and the Pocket PC versions of Kasparov in the same box! Keep the challenge alive anywhere you go. Features: Challenging and realistic computer opponents, perfect for new and experienced chess players. Online play over a network. Complete game history lets players review their games. Improve your play with tutorials from Garry Kasparov. Learn from Kasparovs victories using the collection of historical games ... Read more

Features

• Challenge the Greatest Chess Player of All Time!
• Challenging and realistic computer opponents, perfect for new and experienced chess players
• Complete game history lets players review their games.
• Improve your play with tutorials from Garry Kasparov. Online play.
• PC, the Palm, and the Pocket PC versions included.

Features

• Tactics. Cunning & expertise. Do you have what it takes to be the victor?
• Clear easy to use interface. Displayed game clock
• Different game designs to choose from.
• Play against the computer, Internet or LAN opponent
• View your move history. (Windows 98/98SE/Me/XP)

Product Description

- ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Test your ability against the grand masters of chess. This award-winning algorithm allows players to choose between skill levels that range from beginner all the way to world champion. On its crystal-clear display screen, players can view each move from different angles by focusing on three-dimensional models designed by Silicon Graphics. In real time, the algorithm shows the opening move in process, evaluates each position, and lets the player know the best move to make. Your chess skills will improve. The algorithm will show you how. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Virtual Chess
Virtual Chess is a fun filled game.It has very good graphics.Compared to other Chess games I have played this is definently the best one!You will be playing this game for hours and never want to stop. You won't get bored of this game after a few days like some computer games.I recommend this game to anyone who just likes a good game of chess.

Virtual Chess
Virtual Chess is a fun filled game.It has very good graphics.Compared to other Chess games I have played this is definently the best one!You will be playing this game for hours and never want to stop. You won't get bored of this game after a few days like some computer games.I recommend this game to anyone who just likes a good game of chess.

Virtual Chess
Virtual Chess is a fun filled game.It has very good graphics.Compared to other Chess games I have played this is definently the bast one!You will be playing this game for hours and never want to stop.

Virtual Chess
Virtual Chess is a fun filled game.It has very good graphics.Compared to other Chess games I have played this is definently the bast one!You will be playing this game for hours and never want to stop.Virtual Chess is a game you would like for a long time.You don't get bored of it after a few days of playing it like some games! ... Read more