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 Use of the game database or other game bases
Since I'm a member of the WWLR club, I've read some advices about the game DB and other game bases (like chessgame.com, for example) which give only games played by masters and are, one can suppose more reliable
Personnaly I use those Chessgame.com to learn new openings but not during my games on GK.
I also use the GK DB but this time during my games, without sticking to it but more to look at some of the possible consequences of my moves. I do not allways choose the most played move in the DB but the one which suits me better, depending on my plan or my taste. (if there is little to fear, I choose the most attacking move). Furthermore it's also for me a way to learn possible variations in the openings I play.
For me it's a tool, among others and why not use it ?
Advices from masters and others about the subject ?
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I Don't
Unfortunately, I do not use the Game DB, and here's why. In the past, the database has caused a lot of problems, in my past games. One example was a team game. In a previous team game, before I even became a co-captain, let alone captain, I relied on the Game DB, after a coach suggested it. However, I lost a that game, due to my dependence on it. In fact, this was my second worst chess game ever, and the worst one on this site. I actually lost that game, in only four moves. For a while, I stopped using it, then some commentators in the annotation said that I only had problems because I did not read it careful enough. After that, however, IM shamash recommended that I stop using it, at once. Nowadays, I just remember Jack Stockel's advice for specific openings and to get through the chess games. Of course, I also follow most of the mentors and coaches advice for my games. In fact, that is one reason that my rating is well above 1100, as opposed to sub 1000.
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In fact, that horrible game is shown in the annotation below. gameknot.com
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database
personally i like to use chessgames.com as my database. But i also use another that costs more, but has more updated info on any recent innovations that have come to light. I do not trust the 'gameknot' database, but the gameknot 'world' database can be a useful reference sometimes. But all these databases are useless in the end, unless you go over the Master games yourself.
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I always at least look at the gameknot database to see what my opponent might do, if I make a certain move, so I can try to trick them into sub-par moves, if they use it. Mostly I don't use a database just because I think it stunts your chess playing relying on something like that. Like brigadecommander said the GM's understand why they make their moves, if you're not willing to study their games, and see their ideas; it's just not as useful. Plus, GM databases won't account for just dumb moves.
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I use Chessbase Powerbooks_strong ! Only Players rated over 2600 are shown
This database shows number of games, performance, win and loss and strangeness of the opponents.
I think one of the best databases at moment.
Another very good database is the chessbase online database, but this is only for paying members of chessbase !
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I've used the GK database quite a bit because I haven't yet got round to reading my book on chess openings, I know the very basic ones like the Ruy Lopez and standard sicilian, but thats it. I have been guilty of overusing once or twice it and making a mistake just because I followed what was in the database.
I do try to think about what moves I like the look of before referring to it though, so use it as a confirmation of my moves rather than to get ideas from in the first place. I think that's the important thing when you're trying to improve, make sure you have a good reasoning for making a move, don't just blindly follow something you've been shown.
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rarely & limited
If I look at the database, its for the following reason .....to discover the name of the opening played, to see how far was played before leaving the accepted main lines of such opening, and to find out which player made the "mistake".
Databases aren't allowed in OTB USCF tournaments, and I am here to improve my game, not my gameknot rating. Although, it has been probably 15+ years since playing a USCF sanctioned tournament. This thread reads as if I an putting myself at a disadvantage here.
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rarely & limited #2
My usage is even less extensive than that of theanalogkid. I only use the GK general database, and mostly in cases of unfamiliar openings in order to get a hunch of the moves made. The nicest feature of the GK database is that it stores your own earlier matches (if you've remembered to update it).
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For a limited time only
I used to use it when it first came out then realized it was quite bogus. So I went back to my own personal database built from my own personal games OTB and online over several years which is cross references from Chessok's elite database of 5 million plus games.
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own DB
Following Elyhim advice, I have began to quickly annotate each of the games I played with my actual opening and give them a code name to be able to consult them. I suppose, one needs quite a lot of games, before it really get usefull. I'll tell you anyway about the experience...
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