Which Chess Database?

[Will Durant]

Not actually thinking of getting either one (what would be the point - first I have to stop being a patzer), just curious what people think.

[rekrap]

Has anyone heard of or used Bookup (http://www.bookup.com)?

I have a friend who uses it extensively and is happy with it. He spends times entering in games from actual expert's "books" and his games to create 1. e4 or 1. d4 or 1. Nf3 books.

I said other, because even though I don't use a database program, I would probably choose Bookup, since he would lend me access to his books (many of his games are against me, so they are my games, too). :grin:

[RedSoxFan]

Has anyone heard of or used Bookup (http://www.bookup.com)?

I have a friend who uses it extensively and is happy with it. He spends times entering in games from actual expert's "books" and his games to create 1. e4 or 1. d4 or 1. Nf3 books.

I said other, because even though I don't use a database program, I would probably choose Bookup, since he would lend me access to his books (many of his games are against me, so they are my games, too). :grin:

:wave:

It is very handy for memorizing openings. They have a free trial version you can look at, and the basic paid version isn't all that expensive.

It's not really a database. It just remembers your opening lines. Say you start with a blank book. Then you move e4, then e5, then Nf3. Then you back up and at the e4 e5 position, you play f4. Any time at the e4 e5 position, you will see the eligible moves displayed as Nf3 and f4. As you go down a branch, you can either make the moves on the board (and it will record that move if it's a new move) or click on the move in the area that lists the moves.

The best part is that you can test yourself. It's best if you have a separate book for your white and your black openings. The program will play a move for the other side. Then you will have to play a move on the board that is in your book (the moves are hidden). If you don't play one of the moves, it tells you and has you try again. Then after you make your move, the computer will play one of the moves listed for the other side at random. And so on. So it is a good way to test how well you've memorized your openings.