Searching for game continuations.

Date: 02 Mar 2008 02:12:17
From: Paul Stivers
Subject: Searching for game continuations.

Is there a good way to search on the internet for game continuations
from a certain position? Ideally played out by GMs, but I'd look at
anything :)

Some way to search by continuation from a FEN or from a PGN move
sequence?

I've seen occasionally where someone will reference one or more games,
from chessgames.com for example, that were won from a certain position,
and I've wondered how they found the games.

Thanks for any help.

Paul

Date: 04 Mar 2008 23:45:18
From: roadkill
Subject: Re: Searching for game continuations.

On 2, 9:12 pm, Paul Stivers <[email protected] >
wrote:
> Is there a good way to search on the internet for game continuations
> from a certain position? Ideally played out by GMs, but I'd look at
> anything :)
>
> Some way to search by continuation from a FEN or from a PGN move
> sequence?
>
> I've seen occasionally where someone will reference one or more games,
> from chessgames.com for example, that were won from a certain position,
> and I've wondered how they found the games.
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> Paul

http://www.chesslive.de/

Date: 06 Mar 2008 21:42:03
From: Paul Stivers
Subject: Re: Searching for game continuations.

Thanks! I had someone on chess.com recommend that site, also. I
couldn't find a way to paste in the PGN, but dragging the pieces works.

roadkill wrote:

> http://www.chesslive.de/

Date: 02 Mar 2008 10:28:17
From: Mike Murray
Subject: Re: Searching for game continuations.

On Sun, 02 2008 02:12:17 -0600, Paul Stivers
<[email protected] > wrote:

>I've seen occasionally where someone will reference one or more games,
>from chessgames.com for example, that were won from a certain position,
>and I've wondered how they found the games.

Several programs let you search a game database for all games from a
specific position. I use Fritz most of the time for this. I think
the free version of ChessBase lets you do that too. Probably many
others.

Date: 02 Mar 2008 16:18:49
From: Paul Stivers
Subject: Re: Searching for game continuations.

Thanks for the pointer. I have Fritz 9. I looked in help and found
out how to filter games for a db search. In the db window, ctrl-F.
Position tab. Radio button 'Look for' board. When I click ok, I
don't come up with any games, though, even when filtering on just
1.e4. I have some very limited chessbase DBs on my hard drive, just
from some cbv of some text books, and some games I entered by hand.
Any pointers from here on how to get the search to come up with some
games?

Is there a way to get Fritz to search on the internet?

Also, if you have extensive DBs on hard drive, where do you typically
get them? Just years of collections from downloads, purchasing DVDs,
and such?

I should have included that I'm very new at chess, but eager to
learn.

Paul

Mike Murray wrote:

>
> Several programs let you search a game database for all games from
> a specific position. I use Fritz most of the time for this. I
> think the free version of ChessBase lets you do that too.
> Probably many others.
>

Date: 02 Mar 2008 17:06:40
From: Mike Murray
Subject: Re: Searching for game continuations.

On Sun, 02 2008 16:18:49 -0600, Paul Stivers
<[email protected] > wrote:

>Thanks for the pointer. I have Fritz 9. I looked in help and found
>out how to filter games for a db search. In the db window, ctrl-F.
>Position tab. Radio button 'Look for' board. When I click ok, I
>don't come up with any games, though, even when filtering on just
>1.e4. I have some very limited chessbase DBs on my hard drive, just
>from some cbv of some text books, and some games I entered by hand.
>Any pointers from here on how to get the search to come up with some
>games?

(A) First, open a database (File -- > Open --> Database)

This will bring up the last database you happened to work with. Here's
where it might seem a bit confusing. To open a different database, on
the screen that the above command invoked,

(B) Open a database file (File-- > Open --> Database). At first
glance, it might appear you're doing the same operation, but it's not.
The second "Open" (on the database panel) actually invokes Windows
Explorer and lets you select a *File* which contains a database.

Now with your database open, return to the main Fritz window, shut off
the engine (Engine -- > Switch Off Engine), start a new game and get to
the position of interest. Then

(C) (Edit -- > Find position) will bring up your database window. You
will get a small window in which you select which game to start
searching (normally 1) and Fritz should bring up a list of games where
the position occurred.

>Is there a way to get Fritz to search on the internet?

I do the searching outside of Fritz, bring back the file (many are
zipped and you have to uncompress them), and store it in some
reasonable location on the hard drive.

>Also, if you have extensive DBs on hard drive, where do you typically
>get them? Just years of collections from downloads, purchasing DVDs,
>and such?

Yup. Here's a good source: http://www.chessopolis.com/chessfiles/

Date: 02 Mar 2008 20:42:06
From: Paul Stivers
Subject: Re: Searching for game continuations.

Mike, great directions in your last post. Works! I was thinking
Fritz might search all the DBs in my chessbase directory, but it
looks like I have to have the DB open and search one DB at a time. I
might have to learn how to merge databases for this purpose :)

Now, is there a way to narrow down the search on the internet for a
DB that might contain the position that I'm interested in? For
example, the one I'm interested in at the moment:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Bd7
6. Be3 Nf6 7. Qd2 e6 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 e5 10. Qd2 a6

r2qkb1r/1p1b1ppp/p2p1n2/4p3/4P3/2N1B3/PPPQ1PPP/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 11

In fritz if I manually create this game, in the PGN window I see,
"A45: Trompowski Attack," and in the database window when I save the
game I see, "B54" which I think is the ECO code. Also I know the
position is one that may be found in the Richter-Rauzer variation of
the Sicilian. With this information is there a way to narrow my
search, or do I just have to download all the games I can get my
hands on and start building big DBs on my hard drive?

I did try googling combinations of words, "chess games database
B54," but haven't gotten anywhere useful yet.

Thanks for any additional pointers. This is exciting!

Paul

Mike Murray wrote:

> I do the searching outside of Fritz, bring back the file (many are
> zipped and you have to uncompress them), and store it in some
> reasonable location on the hard drive.
>
> Yup. Here's a good source: http://www.chessopolis.com/chessfiles/

Date: 02 Mar 2008 21:34:05
From: Paul Stivers
Subject: Re: Searching for game continuations.

It has occured to me that, because this is a position reached by a
beginner (me), it may likely not be found among games between GMs.
On the other hand, maybe I'm not too far out of book yet. In terms
of full disclosure, this is from a game I'm playing by turn based
internet correspondence. Live advice and chess engines are not
allowed until the game is over, so please don't kibitz the game.

Books are allowed. My oponent is much stronger than me, but I'm
enjoying the journey and using every legal learning device at my
disposal; analysis board, books, archived games. This is my first
time playing the Sicilian (an indication of how new I am at chess.)
I'm white. Again, no kibitzing on the game.

Paul

Paul Stivers wrote:

> Now, is there a way to narrow down the search on the internet for
> a DB that might contain the position that I'm interested in? For
> example, the one I'm interested in at the moment:
>
> 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Bd7
> 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Qd2 e6 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 e5 10. Qd2 a6
>
> r2qkb1r/1p1b1ppp/p2p1n2/4p3/4P3/2N1B3/PPPQ1PPP/2KR1B1R w kq - 0 11