Which of these 3 downloadable chess tactics programs is best

[stwils]

Please tell me which of these three tactics programs is best:
1 Chess Tactics Server
2 Chess Tempo
3 Chessimo

All three can be downloaded. Chessimo gives you a short trial, but the full program costs over $40.
And Chess Tempo can be upgraded for about $20 a year but is all right like it is, I believe.

I need something that will help me be alert tactically, and also I need to learn how to set up a good fork in 2 or 3 moves.
It would be nice if there were also some strategy or planning part in these programs.

Have you used any or all of these?

I love my books but I would like to have a program I can use on the computer.

Thanks.
S.

[Nimzovik]

After stdying only my openings for 35+ years I only look for the kind of tactics that can occur in these systems..... for me to do otherwise is waste of time I think. This sounds heretical. Over time I have observed it is IMHO what works for me. Sorry. This does not answer your questions. I must think that there are tactics files available for download --probably at the Pit site or chessopolis.....

[stwils]

Alex, your reply was not quite what I was expecting. But thank you anyway.

Are there others on this forum who know anything about the three tactics progams I asked about? If so, please tell me how they compare.

Thanks.
S.

[AdminX]

Hi Susan,

I have used Chess Tactics Server before in the past, however I have not used it lately. It is okay however, for tactics I like using the Chessbase 10 / Fritz 11's "Tactics traing" feature. There are some articles by Steve Lopez on it at the Chess base website. Here are some links on them:

Calculation Training Part 1
Calculation Training Part 2
Calculation Training Part 3
Calculation Training Part 4

Here is a Video on it:

Calculation Training Video

I also like using Defli Trainer by Fabio Cavicchio. The purchase price is 20 euro or 31 US Dollars, or you can use the free version since you just want tactics training. You can find some Tactical Suites in EPD format for Delfi Trainer here at Arasan's Website.

[stwils]

Ted, thank you so much. All of the things you have written about may be just what I want. Give me a day or so to look into them. And I will post back to you.

I really appreciate your help.
S.

[james uselton]

I hope you will excuse my off topic question---but the guy in the video traning speaks very good English with a very strong accent. Where the devil is this guy from? I'm sure some of our experts who have travelled the globe can tell me in short order what this guys native tongue is.

Forgive my curiosity!

[AdminX]

Ted, thank you so much. All of the things you have written about may be just what I want. Give me a day or so to look into them. And I will post back to you.

I really appreciate your help.
S.

Fritz 11 /Rybka (Chessbase) does have some very good training features under the hood.

[Nimzovik]

Also if you want cheap keyword chess on youtube. There are some things of interest there....

[Dr. Axel Schumacher]

I hope you will excuse my off topic question---but the guy in the video traning speaks very good English with a very strong accent. Where the devil is this guy from? I'm sure some of our experts who have travelled the globe can tell me in short order what this guys native tongue is.

Forgive my curiosity!

He is German.