The ChessBase 9.

0 - Reader
The ChessBase 9 Reader is based on the database program ChessBase 9.0. With the help of this program all current chess database formats can be read. Please check whether you have on your program CD/DVD the text file (readme.doc or liesmich.txt) with the latest notes. You can access these notes with any text editor.

System requirements
The reader runs on computers with a Pentium- AMD Processor at 300Mhz or higher. You need to have at least 64 MB RAM and Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows XP Pro. To install, according to which product you have, you will need either a CD drive or a DVD drive. A fast graphics card is necessary to achieve optimal performance and smooth animation of the 3D-board. To obtain the best from the program, we recommend a system with 1 GHz, 256 MB RAM and Windows XP. To use Chess Media System, Windows Media Player 9.0 or better must be installed.
Note: the reader does not work with Windows 95 or Windows NT.

Program Installation
The CB9-Reader cannot be started directly from the CD/DVD. You must first install the program on your computers hard disk. To install the reader, proceed as follows: switch on your computer, start Windows and put the product CD/DVD in the CD/DVD drive of your computer. the installation program starts automatically. Should it not do so, click in the taskbar on START and choose from the menu Run. Type into the box: d:setup (if need be replace d: by whatever is the letter designating your CD/DVD drive) and click OK. in the dialog box, click on the button Install in order to copy the reader on to your computers hard disk. the installation program offers you the chance to choose between versions in various languages. Choose the language you wish and continue the installation with a single click on the Next button.. the installation will then begin. The program first asks for a pathway. If you do not wish to follow the suggestion of the installation program, you may choose a userdefined path. Click on the button Browse in order to install your user-defined path and then on Next. We do suggest that you install the program on the recommended standard path. Click on Next to finish installing your program.

Uninstalling the program

In conformity to Windows procedures, the reader can be uninstalled at any time by: Start -> Settings -> Control panel -> Software -> Remove.

1 Opening databases
After the reader has been installed on to your system, the database on the CD/DVD is automatically opened on Start . In the case of older CD/DVDs, the program loads the largest CBH-database from the root directory of the CD/DVD. You can open databases from anywhere on your computer by using from the menu File Open or Ctrl-O. Databases in ChessBase format have the file extension *.CBH. Note: After opening a database, in the menus in the list window you will find a series of index tabs. The tabs offer different ways of accessing the contents of the database. A single click on Games will load the games list, Players opens the index of players or Text loads the introductory text for the database.

In all list views, you can do a user-defined sort and fix of the columns with the mouse. A click on the column header sorts the information in that column and a second click on the column header reverses it. Example: a click on White sorts the column alphabetically, and a second click reverses the process.
Tip: a right click on the column header calls up a context menu. With it you, the user, define the display of the column.

1.1 Database texts The data format allows you to save texts. When a database is opened, a Database text is automatically opened. In it you will find information and notes concerning the contents of the database. Within the text there are links to games and positions, which are printed in green. You will certainly know the principle from your Internet browser. You call up the relevant games or positions by clicking on the link. For simple navigation through the database, you have at the bottom of the screen three buttons at your disposal.

Using the buttons Back and Forward, you can scroll through the text, or restart texts you have already loaded. Start allows you to return to the introductory text for the database.
Tip: as well as its introductory text, a database may contain several texts. In the games list (click on Games) all texts are shown as entries in the list. A click on the column header Result will bring the texts together in the list.

1.2 Loading and replaying games A single click on the tab Games loads the game list for the database. Games are loaded into the board window by a double click on an entry in the games list. There are various ways to replay the game:

1.2.1 Playing through a game with keyboard commands The arrow keys (right, left, up and down) move the cursor through the game score. At the same time the board displays the corresponding position. 1.2.2 Playing through a game with the buttons under the board Right click on the board -> Board design opens a dialogue which allows you to choose your settings. Start the option Replay arrows below board. The toolbar (reached via Board window -> View -> Toolbars) contains seven buttons with arrows for the purpose of moving around the game. The buttons have the following meanings: go to the start of the game go back one move take back the last move and overwrite it without query, when a new move is entered go forward one move go to the end of the game / variation

The two green arrows on the left and right allow you to call up the games you have loaded up till then. This option is immensely useful. During a working session, you can very quickly change from one game to another without losing the game you have just loaded or entered. The principle works along the lines of an Internet browser, where you can also navigate between the latest and earlier pages by pressing a button.

2 Important tabs in the start screen

2.1 Game list The Game list contains a list of all texts, games or parts of games with entries (insofar as they are available) for: players (title for a text), tournament, ECO openings code, date, result, number of moves, etc. A Right click in the list window -> List Format gives you the option of setting up your own user-defined version of the list window.
Tip: If you pause for a moment or two with the mouse over an entry in the list, a tool-tip will appear with useful extra information..

Within a game list, there are other optional designations: e.g. the abbreviation P stands for position, meaning that the list entry is a position, not a full game. 2.2 Players The Player index lists all the players represented in the database, including their games. Under the player list there is an Entry line. As soon as you enter the first letters, you move to that position in the list. In the right hand pane, there is a list of all that players games and tournaments. Right click on the players name in the left hand pane -> Search white games etc. sorts the games in the list. A click on the column header sorts, e.g. by name, number of games, Elo score, photo, etc. 2.3 Tournaments The Tournament index functions in the same way as the player index. By using the entry line, you can quickly access the desired tournament. All column headings can be reconfigured as you wish and are used to sort the information in the columns. The button Edit starts the
3

process of editing tournament data. All the games in the index will have their data entries appropriately changed. 2.4 Annotator Contains the index of the Annotators. Using the entry line quickly takes you to the commentator you were looking for and the right hand pane lists the games annotated. All column headings can be reconfigured as you wish and are used to sort the information in the columns. In the Source index, the games are listed according to where they came from. 2.5 Teams Lists all entries of information about teams, including players and games. 2.6 Openings The openings index is similar to Windows-Explorer. ChessBase databases are generally speaking already classified according to a key. A click on an entry opens the openings key and shows the contents of the level below it. In the bottom part of the window, a game list appears with those games played in the specified variation. 2.7 Themes, Tactic, Strategy, Endgames Indexes for the classification of various chess criteria. Using the predefined classification, you can rapidly access specific games whenever a key is present.

3 Functions in lists
Right click with the mouse -> List Format opens a menu which allows various options in the games lists. Column sorting offers lots of extra information. Right clicking a column header calls up a context menu allowing you to configure the columns in a list. Individual headings can be moved to a different position within a list with the mouse. Within the lists Tool-tips give all sorts of extra information.

4 The board window

In the board window, you can replay games you have loaded on the graphical chessboard. To the right of the board window is the notation window showing the game score. The Notation window has at the top five tabs, by means of which you can switch between various forms of notation, an openings book and the reference pane: Notation: the normal chess notation in running text. Suited for the display of unannotated or normally annotated games. Table: notation of a branching variation in table form. Helpful in gaining an overview of branching variations, a tree of different games or a very fully annotated game with variations. Training: notation for training purposes, this shows only the last move which was played. Score sheet: switches to the form of a traditional score sheet, well known to you from tournaments and team matches. Openings book: this pane shows a book. A book is a database with information about numerous games and statistics for all the variations. An openings book has the file extension *.CTG. Openings books are often present when special opening systems are under discussion.
4

Tip: the font size for notation and book can be set separately and independently. Right click in Notation window -> Choose Font calls up the dialogue for setting the font. Tip: Tools -> Options -> Notation opens a dialogue for setting the notation. It allows you to choose between various forms of notation..

4.1 Analysing with chess engines In the board window, chess engines may be used for analysis. Included in many training CDs is the engine Crafty by Prof. Robert Hyatt. The analysis engines calculate and evaluate either the current position or one you have entered previously. Board window -> Engine -> Add Kibitzer accesses the dialogue with the available analysis engines. The one you choose is loaded into the engine window. An even simpler way of calling up engines is by a mouse click on the icons at the top of the screen . A right click in the engine window allows the user to configure the analysis. 4.2 Show threats There is in fact a chess engine embedded in the board window. It points out threats in the current position by means of coloured markings on the board. This function is activated via Help -> Threat as arrow or Create threat as arrow. The current direct threat is shown on the board as an orange arrow. The option exists to show by means of a blue arrow the move which would cause the most unpleasant threat. This will not always be the strongest move, but it is helpful in better understanding tactical motifs.

5 Searches in databases
In a database, you can search for specific games. By using the search mask, you set the conditions for filtering and searching in the database. The options available in the search mask are extremely complex and cannot be presented in full in this introductory text. In the game list the search mask is started by Ctrl-F. Searches can be carried out according to information about the games (players, results, etc.) medals (special annotations) board position (position or elements of the position) annotations (evaluations, text commentary, special annotations) material (distributions of material) manoeuvres (single move or multiple move manoeuvre by pieces)

Note: the search criteria may be combined.. 5.1 Game data In searching for Player names under White or Black, use the correct spelling with a capital letter at the beginning. Inputting part of the name will also find the players. Accented letters such as ,, etc. are not supported and will not give you a result.
Tip: an entry in the entry line of the Player index also filters players whose name starts with a small letter.

5.2 Medals Finds games which have been awarded a medal. 5.3 Position A search for games with a specific position on the board, or on part of the board. The search mask distinguishes between Look for board pieces. Or board Exclude board which pieces. For exact criteria: which squares should be occupied by which For loose criteria. For exact criteria: which squares should not be occupied by

Tip: Whenever you start a new search, always begin by clicking on the button Reset in order to clear out any old search criteria.

5.4 Annotations This is the search mask used to find text (Text1, Text2), Symbols (!,?, +-, etc.), positions (parts of games, which do not commence at the opening position), deleted games (games which have been marked for deletion) and special annotations. 5.5 Material Search mask used to find specific distributions of material. 5.6 Manoeuvres Search mask used to find manoeuvres by pieces.

Note: Searches can also be carried out from the player or tournament index. A single click on the button Filter activates the search mask. Be aware, however, that in this case the search is only carried out on the contents which have been selected. That means that the search is limited to a part of the database.

6 Chess Media System

The reader supports the Chess Media System . The "Chess Media System " allows you to play within the program videos, in which chess lectures are embedded. What is special is that what happens on the graphical chessboard is absolutely synchronised with the video as it plays. This means that the program can be used to present chess lessons and chess training in the most realistic way possible. Chess Media files have the extension *.wmv and are loaded into the board window by File Open Chess Media File. You activate the Chess Media System in the board window via Window -> Panes -> Chess Media System. At the bottom of the Audio/Video window, there is small toolbar to enable you to control the system.

Open This is what you use to open files in the Windows Media Player format. The files have the file extension *.wmv. Play Plays a media file which you have loaded. Stop Stops a presentation on the Chess Media System. To start Returns to the beginning of the presentation.

By using the slider next to the toolbar you can move to any specific point within the presentation. What is happening on the graphical chessboard is automatically synchronised to the lecture. Clicking on Pause stops the lecture. A second click on Pause continues from where you left off.
Note: In order for the "Chess Media System" to work, it is necessary to have Windows Media Player 9.0 or higher installed.

7 Program settings
Under Tools -> Options there is the chance to configure the programs most important settings. Via the heading Engines you can set the default engine and activate/deactivate HEUMAS, which gives help when entering games via the board window. According to the chosen depth HEUMAS suggests moves while you are entering games. Language defines which languages are to be shown in text commentary.