Games Collections for Books

by Tuirgin on Mar.31, 2009, under Chess

I was dutifully going through my databases collecting games for books I’m working through. I like to load up the game and move through it with the text, checking out the variations, testing ideas I have, finding out why what the author suggests is better, seeing what’s wrong with my ideas. Unfortunately I found that my copy of ChessOK’s Huge Database didn’t have a few of the games I needed, so ChessBase’s online database to the rescue…except, they didn’t have everything, either. So off to search the ’ol “interwebs”. What I found was Gambit Chess’s collection of “DB Books”. (Ok, I’ll admit it—when I first saw the URL I read it as “game bitches…”) They have a rather large collection of PGN and CBV files to accompany a wide range of chess books. These game collections are not annotated. They are, by the descriptions on the site, strictly the moves from the games in the books. But if that is the case why does the site have a note about certain publishers requiring the removal of game collections matching their books? What’s the status of copyright and game collections? Who owns the documentation of a game? If individual games are in the public domain, does copyright law apply to a specific selection and order of games? I’m a little puzzled. I’ll also note that at the site there are a selection of “free” games, while others are zipped in a password protected zip archive—to get the password, you have to submit a collection of games from a book that isn’t already available on the site. I guess I’m just wondering if these collections of games are legit or if they are somehow legally questionable. It would be a shame if that were the case—having a PGN to accompany any given book would be a nice treat.

Are there other good resources for collections of games corresponding to popular chess books?

:chess resources

8 Comments for this entry

tommyg
March 31st, 2009 on 9:08 pm
Hi,

Chessgames.com is pretty good to find pgn files, but alas you do have to pay to be able to download the games. But I have found it to be very worthwhile! I have used it to download pgn files of MANY MANY MANY games! Virtually all the great players are represented, so it is very likely you will the find the game especially if it is well known. Plus you can search by subsets, IE: By an opening, A world championship match, certain player, they even have an openings explorer and a cool Guess the Move game.

As a side note Dan Heisman recommends playing through annotated games on an actual board. I purchased a cheap magnetic set on Amazon (to avoid sabotage runs from my cat). It is really fun and I believe advantageous to play them on a board.

Reply
- Tuirgin
  March 31st, 2009 on 9:34 pm
  I’ve used Chessgames.com a little bit. It’s a nice site. I already have most games I ever look for thanks to having purchased Chess Assistant w/ Convekta’s Huge Database a couple years ago. So far between Huge Database, ChessBase’s online database, and ChessGames.com I have been able to find everything I’ve needed. Good resources.
  
  That’s probably really good advice re: playing through on an actual board. I’ll probably be asking for one for my birthday. I’ve got cats and kids to worry about, so I know what you mean about the sabotage runs! What do you think the benefit is—an aid to developing chess “vision”?
  
  Thanks for the comments!
  
  Reply
tommyg
March 31st, 2009 on 10:34 pm
I think the benefits are many and not always tangible.

I think that actually moving the pieces helps to build a stronger connection to the information being ingested at that time. I also think it does help with board visualization and the “dance” of the pieces if you will.

I also think that playing through the games on a real board helps to create a real affinity and affection for the beauty of the game itself. I do occasionally study a game in chessbase, but it is never as aesthetically thrilling as when I am moving the pieces while reading through it!! I feel more involved in the game I am playing through. It is exactly this appreciation for the beauty of the game that I believe can help one avoid chess burn out!! Even if I am insanely busy or burnt out on tactics, I can always find 15 minutes to sit down with a cup of tea and play through a beautiful game by Fischer, Petrosion, Tal, Botvinnik, or Capablanca. Then I fall in love all over again with the game itself. It can be like putting on your favorite record and letting it take you to your favorite place in your mind or reading a great book by Tolstoy, Steinbeck, Irving etc. etc.

Playing through the annotated (or unannotated) games of the masters with a real board reminds us that Chess is indeed an art form!

Reply
- Tuirgin
  March 31st, 2009 on 10:46 pm
  You express it beautifully—there is definitely a tactile and aesthetic aspect of the game that is missing when playing electronically.
  
  Thanks for your thoughts. They’re quite inspiring!
  
  Reply
CMoB
April 1st, 2009 on 7:22 pm
You should try this link.

Reply
- Tuirgin
  April 1st, 2009 on 7:56 pm
  Thank you!
  
  Reply
chesstiger
April 2nd, 2009 on 5:20 am
In regards of the copywrite issue, i remember from talks in the past that moves are public domain but the annotations are private and so it’s on those annotations that the copywrite is.

Reply
- Tuirgin
  April 2nd, 2009 on 8:15 am
  That would certainly make sense—I wonder why, then, Gambit Publications make a big deal about people putting out PGN collections to go along with their books. I’d think it’d be a welcome addition, aiding the use of their publications. Maybe they’re stuck in an old mentality about intellectual property? Who knows.
  
  Reply