Chess games between masters have the strongest moves, which makes them good to study for numerous obvious reasons.
But games between class level players are the more instructive in other ways, such as for understanding the learning process.
Mega Base from ChessBase.com has thousands of games between class level players. That sounds like a lot, but for some types of research it is not enough.
** Why do almost no American TDs of class level tournaments — submit a .PGN to ChessBase.com for inclusion in the next annual iteration of Mega Base?
I know a couple TDs who do have (incomplete but) large .PGN files from their class level tournaments.
One of these TDs told me his main reasons for Not submitting the .PGN to Mega DB were:
[1] He did not want to embarrass players by enabling the world to see that they make such bad moves.
[2] The typical player rated approx 1800-2199 does not want his future opponents to study his openings, and plan a refutation.
** What are the reasons that you TDs reading this do not submit .PGN files?
Actually, I’m of the opinion that ChessBase’s Mega database has an abundant number of non-master games. For example, I found two games with the following moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5 Nf6 4. Qxf7# On the other hand, I went searching for 1. e3 f5 2. Qh5+ g6 3. Be2 gxh5 4. Bxh5# and didn’t find a single example. Personally, I don’t see that ChessBase’s mega database needs more of these substandard games, a few are entertaining, more would be a waste of good space.
I actually have a special database where I filter out all the lower rated games. It has games of only 2400+…plus all the games prior to the start up of the rating system… I use that as my main reference database in Chess Base. All the other games (and I have some games in the Mega Base, so myself included ) just clutter things up in my opinion.
While I would agree with you that many games in ChessBase’s Mega-database could (or should) be cut out, you seem to go too far. At least by Chess Informant standards, an occasional game from someone rated below 2200 can be theoretically important.
Jeremy Silman has a some books that highlight amature games. Inside the Amature Mind is one of them.
I think a more instructive book, although the games are mostly taken from his own (2200 to 2400 level opponents), called “Reasses Your Chess” which is a very good book to read. Takes time to go through it, but its very instructive about the middle game. You’ll get a much better understanding of opening moves though, even if it doesn’t highlight the opening moves.
-The reason its good for opening play is that the book teaches you how to actually read a board, rather than just looking for tactical play.
My ability spiked after reading it, althought its been years. I don’t have any time to go through it nowadays, but maybe someday I"ll have time to go through it again.
We already amass enough karma organizing/directing the tournament .
On the serious side…I don’t see any advantage to requiring/collecting scoresheets from a weekend tournament unless it’s a state championship, a masters invitational, or like event. MonRois and DGT boards are not common enough to get downloads from the players. Sitting in front of ChessBase and decyphering the scoresheet scribbles doesn’t sound compelling.
) just clutter things up in my opinion.
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