Terry Terry wrote:
For me to study a opening line, I have to first set up the board. I
then have to make a move, look at the book, make a move, look at the
book.

Sure. I've not seen anyone have a problem with that. (I'm not trying
to criticize you; just to point out why I'm finding it a bit tricky to
figure out your needs.)


Computers should show each move instead of the notation. Am I
missing something or does one not need to actually need to make the
moves on the chessboard to understand the notation? I sure do.

With practice, it becomes more natural. I would find it very hard to
follow a whole game just from the notation but I can follow five or
six moves without too much difficulty. I still prefer to make the
moves on the board but I don't have to think about it: if I see
something like `Nd5', I immediately know which move to make; I don't
need to work out which square is d5 and which knight is supposed to be
moving there.


BTW I never said I was a beginner.

I know. I was just saying that you already understand a reasonable
amount about what is a pretty complex game. I find it a bit
surprising that you have such a problem with the notation, given the
difficulty of what you've already grasped.


Having a game explained move by move would seem to be more
information and less work.

I am sure there are sites out there. I was asking where they are.

I don't know of any tutorial sites. If you want to look through some
master games, which is an excellent way to learn, go to

http://www.chessgames.com/

You can choose a game from a database of thousands (millions?) and use
a java applet to go through the moves without needing to read any
notation. I'd recommend starting with Morphy's games and then
whichever of Capablanca and Alekhine is more to your taste. However,
without annotations, you're not really getting the full picture.
Maybe the best thing to do would be to get a book of games (say,
Chernev's _The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played_ or a
collection of Capablanca's or Alekhine's games) and use chessgames.com
to go through the moves, rather than a board?


I am not really interested in learning more about notation.

OK. I think that'll hold you back a bit but the important thing is
that you enjoy the game.


Dave.

--
David Richerby Technicolor Perforated Clock (TM):
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ it's like a clock but it's full of
holes and in realistic colour!