ChessBase Big Database

I have this coming in the mail.  Am I going to be able to search different ECO openings?  Now I need an engine and GUI board?  Can I create my own databases also?  Any info would be helpful for this chess computer software novice.  Thanks.

Hello donblonde22. Do you have a chess program so you can open your Big Database? If not you need that. ChessBase 13 is the best but it costs about 100 $. I think there is a stripped down free version available as well. Then there is Fritz 15. ChessBase big database is made in the ChessBase propiarty file format, so you can't open it with any chess program. If you have the ChessBase program you can also create your own databases from games or game fragments.

Do you have a link for a free version of something to read the Big Database?  I think Fritz 13 is selling for a lot less now, will that read it?  No, I wasn't aware you needed a special reader; i thought it was in some PGN or FEN format that you read fairly easily.  I took a step on faith and trying to avoid a huge outlay for the big ChessBase program costing hundreds; i hope i haven't messed up.  Although it seems a bit late, it looks like I need some guidance here.

I had seen a webpage where ChessBase seemed to cost about 279 euros, but if 13 only costs a hundred -- ?

Hi! You should get this one, for 179 euros (if you're in the u.s., just 159 euros as you needn't pay VAT)

https://shop.chessbase.com/en/products/chessbase13_starter_package_engl

This is the best investment I've made in my life. You get more than your money's worth for chessbase, including creating your own databases, white and black repetoire, being able to deeply annotate any game, being able to look up any of the 6 mil games included in the "Big Database" (which comes with this program). However, I believe the following advert says it best (and I second everything said in it, sans the part where it claims ChessBase "prints in high quality" - printing quality is rubbish, actually).

"WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH CHESSBASE:

Retrieve games according to openings, players and tournaments; generate tournament cross tables and full graphic statistics of players or openings; “Similarity search” shows all games with similar pawn structures, sacrifice patterns, endgame positions etc.; “Let’s check”*: access the world’s largest database of in-depth analysis (more than 200 million positions); Cloud analysis: analysis of a single position with several engines from different computers running in parallel; “Deep analysis”: generates an analysis tree that changes dynamically as with time weaker variations are dropped. One click annotates your game with the “Theoretical Novelty”; merge games on-the-fly into an opening tree; generate a player’s dossier containing all available information from the database; generate a comprehensive openings report with main and critical lines, plans and most important games; Single click publishing of games on the Internet; print games in superb quality with diagrams and multiple columns; automatic update of your local reference database with the weekly install- ments of games (only with the current Mega Database); access to the ChessBase online database with over 7 million games**."

I really hope this helps. You can also get the 100 euro version of ChessBase, but that is just barebones and it's better to not waste those 100 euros.

Lastly, you could try out the free ChessBaseReader, but this is highly inadvisable.

Well, thank you but I deal in dollars.  The reason I mentioned it is because it seemed like about $300.  If I already have the database coming, I wouldn't need the starter ChessBase that also comes with the database.  Maybe I could return it, but let's see what help/suggestions other people have, if they would be so kind.

Actually, if you already have the Big Database, then all you need for now is the 100 $ barebone ChessBase program. The Starter Package at 179 € is basically the ChessBase program + the Big Data Base (which you already have). If you have the 100 $ ChessBase program you can later purchase other data bases or e-books in ChessBase format as you like. It's of course a matter of "financial resources", but if you can afford it, you'll never regret it.

It looks like Fritz 13 is $50 on eBay.  Does anyone know a free ChessBase reader?  I can try ChessBaseReader once I get the database -- what are the drawbacks as Tasmanian Tiger above says it would be "inadvisable" to use?

When I used the free reader, it could only open small databases (~15,000 games). Don't know if that's changed.

If Big Database has the games in pgn format, then any free db program, such as SCID, should provide access. If not, then you need to send it back and buy the starter package.

I've been using ChessBase database software daily since 2004. That's pennies per day.

Per Andersgen above, ChessBase is in proprietary format which sounds correct.  Fritz is used on the ChessBase website.  Andersgen suggests Fritz 15 which is $90.  I think Fritz 13 will work off eBay for $50.  ChessBase Starter is $220 from USCF store.  Thank you for the insight about the Reader, Ziryab.

Thank you, Stephenson2.  Glad to hear ChessBase Lite will handle the ChessBase Big Database and I do need to get Stockfish.  Sounds like a good package.  I'm emailing ChessBase now to ask if Fritz 13 will work for the Big Database.  I also asked if ChessBase Lite can handle the Big Database.  May take a day or 2 for their answer.

ChessBase replied I can use Fritz 13 or ChessBase Lite for the Big Database, that they can "handle it", though Fritz will allow me to add my own games and create my own analyses.  So, I am awaiting the arrival of the Big Database.  If you might know, in your opinion what are the benefits of the Big Database over free databases like on chessgames.com?

Are you paying for the convenience of no dupes and just having one big database? 

The Big Database with 6 million games contains practically every game in every important tournament through all times. But the games are not annotated. There are smaller data bases on the market with annotated games, which i personally appreciate much. It's whether you prefer quantity or quality. A mix of both suits me the best. My favourite data base is the Paramount database from Chess Informant, which include about 100 000 games annotated in "Informant symbol style". But it's not very cheap, you have to cash up about 200 $.

Guten tag, danke.  Fritz 15, the latest version, has 6 months of premium CG services which I value at 6 x $5/month, though that is not the direction I will be going.  Fritz 15 has a new designer and the game adjusts to your level, which sounds interesting.  I can search eBay for earlier Fritz versions; no guaranteed availability buying 2nd-hand.  Will probably miss having some anotated games but perhaps chess books I have will have games I can find in the Big Database.  Part of this is to avoid setting up the chess pieces all the time and part is to learn openings, strategy and tactics.  For tactics, I just saw the Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations with PGN on DVD for $40, a timesaver rather than to piece out the PGN for great tactics from the games.

I have CBReader, not CBLite, and it does support the full database. When I used CBLite in 2000-2002, it was limited to databases of 15,000 games. I don't use CBReader because I have the full database program. I downloaded it when someone needed advice on using it.

Yep. Use it nearly every day. I won it in a contest on Informant's Facebook page.

Email reply from ChessBase

Dear chess friend

Yes, you can load the Big 2016 with both programs.

With Fritz 13 you also have the chance to store your own analysis to it, or add new games.

Kind regards

Steffen Giehring

 Gesendet: Sonntag, 13. Dezember 2015 06:51
An: Steffen Giehring <steffen.giehring@chessbase.com>
Betreff: Question about Chessbase Big Database

I have another question -- i just sent one email.  I forgot to ask :  Will the ChessBase Lite reader as well as Fritz 13 be able to handle working with the Big Database?

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Maybe he is confused about Reader vs. Lite.  You must know better than I what you're referring to about a 1 GB attachment.  I'm just trying to get something to read the database I've ordered.

I use the free chessDB software, and i then download the weekly games from theweekinchess.com.  Total cost = $0.00