Rating: 
Summary: A Great Bargain For Serious And Casual Players
Review: After reading (and largely agreeing with) the other positive reviews, I wanted only to add two points that were important to me (I am a Class A USCF player): 1) CM7000's continuing inability to seriously analyse a game (for example, that game you played at the club last night)still is a MAJOR drawback. Annotation consists of more than just identifying the opening and repeating the moves! Try Fritz6 if you like strong and easy-to-use analysis features. 2) Although there is really a lot of unnecessary "eye candy," CM7000's chess engine has been rated in the 2500+ category (and you can adjust that strength downward) and will challenge and humble you.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent program
Review: All levels of chess players can find something to appreciate about this program. It has a very user-friendly menu system and interface, customizable layouts and boards, tutorials by Josh Waitzkin (in which he analyzes some of his games) and Bruce Pandolfini (more of the lesson type, e.g. rook and pawn endgames, etc.), a special kids section (new to 7000), an increased number of personalities to play against (including many grandmaster personalities), a very large database of games, solve for mate puzzles, a large opening book (including a "practice openings" feature) and a rating system (not USCF). I use this program frequently, and it offers new challenges as I improve. I hesitate to give this program a perfect review, however, because, as stated by a previous reviewer, the annotation is weak, and for all intents and purposes, the difference between this version and the previous one is minimal (an increased number of games in the database, the kids section, more fictional personalities to play against, and the Pandolfini section are the major improvements). So if you already have the 5500 version or higher, you won't gain much by upgrading, unless you like a snappier layout, or you are an omnivorous studier of games. However, if you do not have a chess program yet, buying this one is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Very User-friendly Menus
Review: Chess is a very beautiful game and it's my inner 'world-model'.It's ancient origins and how it survives throughout our history is enough to speak that chess is indeed a many splendoured thing.I love this game! ChessMaster7000 has by far,of all chess software I've seen,it has the most user-friendly and intuitive interface.It has a strong engine too.Though I heard that Fritz6 has a stronger engine.But Fritz6 has very poor User-interface compared to CM7000.I told myself,"okey,I'll beat ChessMaster7000 first then I go to Fritz6 after that happens!".But I doubt if I could ever do that within this year!CM7000 is very strong player.Again,I like the menus and stuff UI.Good to anyone who wants to become NM,IM etc.CM7000 is a well-balanced product which considers the customer's needs and intuitive ease-of-use.Fritz6 on the other hand has this constant 'busy' mouse cursor every move and it greatly disturbes your focus.ANd certain buttons in fritz6 (the clock for example) constantly freezes-up then refresh when Fritz tries to crunch-up some deep level analysis during a game in each move.Much like you're talking to a weird eccentric scientist in front of you...you just can't understand his expression! THough,no doubt and I admit..Fritz6 is a very, very, very strong player.But again, I still have to beat CM7000 first..but I don't think I could ever do that within one year.I highly recommend ChessMaster7000...
Rating:
Summary: Even better than 6000
Review: Continuing from the wonderful Chessmaster 6000, this version has some good new features. There's a couple more voice-annotated games from IM Josh Waitzkin, and there's a much better variety of computer personalities on offer. The teaching facilities have been vastly expanded, with speed drills, puzzles, and extra coaching from Bruce Pandolfini. Children will also have much more fun than with 6000, because of the new "Kids Room" and the colourful layouts. My only problem with this software is cosmetic...I liked the black background of 6000, but I couldn't see a way to get that back. But I still think it's a worthy successor to 6000.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for players at any level
Review: I am somewhat of a chess nut and I have owned the most recent version of Chessmaster since its inception. Chessmaster 7000 is an excellent chess partner/teacher for players of any level. It is versatile and can provide opponents that will challenge but not overwhelm players at skill levels from beginner to master. The tutorials for beginners and children are particularly good. There are a number of exercises for intermediate players, but the real value is Chessmaster's ability to analyze games and recommend moves. The opening book database is vast and the database of games of Grand Masters is very useful, especially for intermediate and advanced players who want to improve their games. Chessmaster 7000 is not the strongest chess program available, but it will beat 99.9% of players and it cannot be matched for versatility and teaching. If you are not an international grand master and you are looking for a good chess partner or teacher, you can't go wrong with Chessmaster.
Rating:
Summary: Toooooooooo gooooooooood !
Review: I bought this game for my dad a week back. I myself loved it a lot. I have seen the earlier versions of chessmaster also. The interface has been highly improved to make it all the more easy and friendly. I found that I can learn a lot from the way the chessmaster plays. U can make the system play like Anand, Kasparov, Spassky or whomever U want. I found the tutorials very interesting and the puzzle of the day is also a nice idea. Bottomline - a product worth buying for all those chess-fanatics out there.
Rating: 
Summary: Not compatible with Windows 2000
Review: I had not tried ChessMaster since about version 3000. I was able to get a version from an online auction for 10 dollars. It was really worth it. I really enjoy the games by Josh, and the way he describes what is going on in his own words. This is more enjoyable than reading a chess book or magazine for example and moving the pieces on your own. Many of the tutorials are really good too. The only drawback might be that some of the learning things are not as interactive as they could be, which might make the learning faster. There definetly are some technical glitches ranging from positions that have incorrect answers, to what looks like a serious memory leak. You must go to their website and get the patches. I sent them several e-mails, but got no response, which was annoying. But I would recommend the program to beginners and tournament players a like. There is something in there for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Makes learning fun
Review: I had not tried ChessMaster since about version 3000. I was able to get a version from an online auction for 10 dollars. It was really worth it. I really enjoy the games by Josh, and the way he describes what is going on in his own words. This is more enjoyable than reading a chess book or magazine for example and moving the pieces on your own. Many of the tutorials are really good too. The only drawback might be that some of the learning things are not as interactive as they could be, which might make the learning faster. There definetly are some technical glitches ranging from positions that have incorrect answers, to what looks like a serious memory leak. You must go to their website and get the patches. I sent them several e-mails, but got no response, which was annoying. But I would recommend the program to beginners and tournament players a like. There is something in there for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Tool & Toy for Beginners and Intermediates
Review: I thoroughly enjoy playing chess but am not what the User manual astutely terms a CHESS PLAYER. Reviews by apparent chess players are intimidating(and helpful)as The CHESSMASTER 7000 is fun and formidible. THE GAME ROOM is where the fun is. The CLASSROOM; KID's ROOM; LIBRARY and DATAbase ROOM are just some of the formidible learning tools this two disc application provides. CHESSMASTER has a battle-array of learning drills from definitions and practice in basic moves and stratagy; to explication of classic gambits and Grand Masters who perfected them. A player is allowed to "characterize" opponents he'll play as well as speed of play. You can also "cheat" by taking-back absurd moves and getting "quick hints" from CM data base. I've only had CHESSMASTER 7000 a few months; I bought it to replace another program which "cheated" (bogus Castling function and en passant move). I play at STRONG INTERMEDIATE level with fast speed. I have not beaten it yet.But I have won "in the world" and more importantly, drawn tough games against several rated-players who usually "blew me off the boards". I'm familiar with The Learning Companies ADVANTAGE programs for Middle and High School subjects. Because of their proven strength...along with DORLING KINDERSLEY graphics...I was confident CHESSMASTER would incorporate(under its MINDSCAPE Co.)similar, relevant components making it more than just a toy. It does.I highly recommend CHESSMASTER to anyone who wants to develop skills and mind-sets that will transform you from a person who plays chess,to a confident--opponent to be reckoned with--CHESS PLAYER...
Rating:
Summary: very helpful
Review: I'm not sure how this compares to other computer chess programs, but it sure beats my old electronic board. I could spend forever in the Game Room playing various openings and using the analysis function. A few quibbles: it crashed on me a few times (download the patch!); some of the lessons include too many steps, and you can't save in the middle; the 3-D boards are impractical and wear out their welcome fast.
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