wrote:
Patrick wrote:
I was impressed with Fritz's 250K-game database when I first installed
it. Then, after loading a couple games and looking at them, I suddenly
realized I had no use for all that.

A game database is helpful for learning about an opening.

For example, yesterday I played a game that went 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6
3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4. This is the English Opening / Four Knights.

I played 5.Qc2, but noted 5.Nd5 looked strong. After the game, I opened
my database to check. I found that 5.Qc2 is the mainline and wins 50.5%
while 5.Nd5 wins only 46.5%.

So 5.Qc2 may be better, but why? I follow a few games. After 5.Nd5 e4!
6.Ng1 White has to undevelop his knight, which looks rather ugly. After
5.Qc2 Bxc3 Qxc3 development is equal... so now I know why 5.Qc2 is
better and will play it in future games.

Quickly playing through some GM-level games in those lines would also
help me get a feel for the typical continuations, middlegame plans, and
endgames in that line.

The actual game, at 2 minutes + 12 seconds time controls. At fast time
controls, humans sometimes press an attack too hard, hoping to exhaust
their opponent's clock.

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Bb4 5. Qc2 e4? 6. Nxe4 O-O 7. a3
Nxe4 8. axb4 Re8 9. b5 Nb4 10. Qb3 c5 11. bxc6 a5 12. cxb7 Bxb7 13. d3
Nc5 14. Qc3 Bc6 15. d4 Na4 16. Qd2 Be4? 17. Rxa4 Bb1 18. Rxb4! axb4 19.
Bd3 b3? 20. Bxb1 Ra1 21. Bd3 1-0