Most titles give you opportunity to connect directly to a pre-arranged player or to find an available player through available message boards.

Peer-to-Peer software may likely become dominant chess software in future and replace chess servers as preferred method of playing chess on computer.

Chess Software Database

Chess software databases are like holding sub total of world's chess knowledge on your local PC. Most programs offer thousands of past grandmaster games for you to review either in text or video format. There are endless opening, middlegame, and endgame strategies. You can read annotations and some titles even have photos of world's grandmasters.

Some chess software databases come with built-in chess software that lets you play out games that are in database and even allow database to analyze your game.

Prices are low and chess software databases make a great learning and analytical tool.

Computer vs. Computer Chess Software

These chess software programs pit computers against computers using an Internet or LAN connection. They are good learning tools in some ways but you shouldn't read too much into their strategies. These chess software programs can't actually "think" like humans do. Theirs is a mathematical world where moves are calculated according to a set of formulas that allow it to determine "best" move based upon all possible moves at moment.

In spite of their "non-thinking" processing, chess software has evolved to become a formidable opponent even for grandmasters.

In my opinion nothing beats a head-to-head game with a living breathing opponent who is seated a few feet away from you on other side of a real chessboard. However, I realize that today's lifestyle does not always allow us luxury of pre-planned leisure time and they have to pick up a game whenever and wherever we can. With that it mind, you should pick yourself up some chess software for those times when a human in he same room is not an option.

1. Find a large tree branch that when held on its end, looks like a small tree.

2. Fill a garbage bag with soil, enough to support weight of branch when inserted. Insert branch and pack soil around it so it stands upright. Tie bag securely around bottom of branch. Shape bag of soil so it looks like root ball when you buy a new tree from nursery.

*Note-it will be heavy so work fairly close to where you want your final project so you don’t have too far to move it.

3. Spray entire tree with gold spray paint and let it dry.

4. Wrap “root ball” in gold fabric and secure with gold cording.

5. String with white lights.

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Since creating my golden Christmas trees I have seen a similar project where tree was spray painted white and “root ball” was covered with colorful holiday fabric. Either way, it makes a festive holiday display. Enjoy holidays!