ChessBase Complete: Chess in the Digital Age

This book has been a long time coming for those of use who aren't fluent in all the uses of Chessbase, a very powerful database for chess players. I don't think I really tried to learn Chessbase until version 12, which came out in the last couple of years. I figured out a few basic functions, but a lot of the handier features were too arcane for me to learn. (there is a manual, and a lot of stuff is in there, but it's written very much like a technical software manual) Mr. Edwards has taken 14 general features (labeled as 'scenarios'), such position searches, opening preparation, training and teaching, playing on the Playchess server using Chessbase, etc, and explained very clearly how to use Chessbase as a tool to accomplish these activities. The book is full of screenshots, which are most helpful, and he does not make assumptions of the reader. Every function is spelled out. I found his sections on setting up databases and manipulating them among the most helpful. I can speak from my own experience, it is easy to get confused and frustrated when trying to learn these things just from the manual. Chessbase is a powerful and fairly complicated piece of software. I'm sure Edwards could easily write a book twice as long explaining many of the useful features. But this is indispensable for the new or confused user. Chessbase is a fairly expensive product as is (especially if you also purchase one of the large databases), it seems to me that buying this book to assist in your learning is a no brainer.

Thank you, Jon Edwards, for writing this book! I'm still working through it and will update this review later, but I want to share my initial impressions. The book is loaded with information on how to use ChessBase 12. The program is covered in complete detail. Every question I've had for years has finally been answered. But given how dense the information is, I'm not sure that the text is organized as well as it could be. Instead of chapters, Edwards organized the book into Scenarios for which ChessBase 12 might be used. But the Scenarios aren't in the best order. For example, Scenario 6 and 13 are about Playchess.com and really should be back-to-back as Scenarios 13 and 14. I think Scenario 3, Working well with ChessBase, should be Scenario 1. But I'm so thrilled to have this book, I'm going to say that I'm just nitpicking. I'd love to see Jon Edwards write a similar book explaining ChessBase's Deep Fritz GUI and how to use it to maximum effectiveness. (Hey Amazon - this should be a verified purchase! I bought the book from you!)

I agree with another reviewer that something similar to this should have been included with the ChessBase package as a manual. But ChessBase hasn't included it and hence the need for this book, particularly for novice users. If you're using ChessBase 12 (soon to be reincarnated as ChessBase 13) and want a slick explanation of how various features of ChessBase 12 can be used for searching, training, annotating, publishing, and playing purposes, then this book's for you. It's not a great book but it's an essential one. ChessBase is what Edwards used to write that phenomenal book, "Sacking the Citadel." Come to think of it, "Sacking the Citadel" provides an extended example of how to use the search features of ChessBase. Postscript: I should add that this book is not a reference manual. The author explains how he uses the various features of ChessBase for his purposes (training, teaching, searching, etc.). Thus, various key features of ChessBase are often mentioned en passant, in perfunctory form. For instance, Steve Lopez has online notes on how to use the training feature that is more in-depth than what Edwards gives.The title of the book ("ChessBase Complete") is thus a bit of a misnomer. The book is directed more towards novices than power users.

This book explains how the ChessBase programs have changed how one gathers and uses chess information in the modern data age. If you are a serious chess player, this book should be required reading. This book is well written with a lot of up to date and useful chess related information. Although the book was written with Chessbase 12 in mind, it still works with the latest release of Chessbase 13.

Jon Edwards' book is easy to read, and it is thorough. Until now, I had avoided buying ChessBase for fear of its complexity. I ordered it yesterday, and am happily awaiting its arrival at my doorstep.

El libro está bien. Es curioso que para ser un libro en Inglés, supuestamente impreso en EE.UU. se les ha colado una palabra en Español "aficionados", última palabra del segundo párrafo de la página 111.

Der Preis ist ziemlich happig für ein ebook. ( die Ausgabe für 8,23€ ist leider vollkommen unbrauchbar ) Habe grad Chessbase gekauft und dieses Buch ist eine enorme Hilfe. Gut illustriert, verständliche Beispiele, so sollten Software Handbücher sein

A must have for any chessbase user ! Plenty of tips and explanations. I m currently using it for chessbase 14 and all the informations works fine so far (written for chessbase 12)

Excellent coverage of the program. Hope I've got the patience and resolve to read and ingest it all.

Un livre qui ne tombe pas à pic ... Chessbase 13 va sortir trois mois après la publication de ce livre consacré à la 12e version. Et les copies-écrans sont lamentables. A part cela, le texte répond vraiment aux attentes, on apprend beaucoup du logiciel mythique, qui n'a pas de concurrent sérieux depuis sa création en 1985.