Frequently Asked Questions
From the list below choose one of our FAQs topics, then select an FAQ to read. If you have a question which is not in this section, please contact us.

Is OpeningMaster Rybka3-Aquarium friendly?
Questions : Opening Master general
Yes, as a matter of fact the OM TOP and OM 2300 have been successfully migrated to Rybka3 Aquarium environment. You can now test your database under the new world hit chess engine program. Please go to the download section to get compressed ''dsn'' files.
 
Do you offer also shipping of Opening Master?
Questions : Opening Master general
Yes, we do as a matter of fact. You can review our simple shipping program under : http://www.openingmaster.com/index.php?/Paypal.html
There are currently two programs : One witthin European Union and second international. The prices are flat fee (for simplicity) and include shipping and handling, packging, DVD and latest release of the Opening Master database(s). In order to be qualified for the shipping program you must be successfully registered either under Gold Plan or Platinum Plan.
 
What is ''transposition database''?
Questions : Opening Master general
A 'transposition' in the chess is a method of confusing the opponent with exchanging of the classical opening moves order. For example if you begin with Reti Opening or Symetric English and end up in Sicilian Defense-Maroczy Bind Variation which you studied well, the opponent is not clear what is your destination opening and next move. He prepares for something totally different or his resources are maybe finished where given move order doesn't exist in his supporting materials or doesn't know how to answer it. It is a powerful weapon. The transposition database is composed positionally. It's element of storing data is a position not a game. Only therefore it easily detects such juggles.
 
What is a ''Novelty''?
Questions : Opening Master general
A novelty is a game which has not been played before. A good quality analysis shall precede before one can call a novelty. Sometimes players move differently (against theory) and win the game, however next time they don't repeat it, thefore only good statistical method can claim the move was a ''novelty'' and can be inserted later on into the ECO tables.
 
Will OM increase my chess skills and my ELO?
Questions : Opening Master general
Definitely YES, therefore we are doing it.
 
Do you cooperate with Chess Base?
Questions : Opening Master general
No we don't cooperate. It is similar to say, if program which runs under Windows should cooperate with Microsoft. The Opening Master uses the platform of Chess Base which similar to Windows is most widely used platform for chess databases.
 
Will you get independent from Chess Base, i.e. will you run under your own free environment?
Questions : Opening Master general

ChessBase is changing its pricing policy as well - it will be less expensive in the future. It is not a cheap product due to its research and development of the software as such. At the moment we are not considering to develop our own environment because we are focusing more on analytical methods of openings, which is more content subject than technical.

 
Which database should I use if I am beginner - intermediate - or advance player?
Questions : Opening Master general

For beginners we recommend to use the most valuable OM Database - OM TOP. It is composed of games from players with the highest rankings (ELO 2500 and higher) and therefore you shall never get a bad answer. The advanced players can use any database from smaller to the largest one, becasue many times they are looking for a game which they haven't seen yet played and therefore the largest collection you have the better prepared you are.

 
How do you add new games into the OM database?
Questions : Opening Master general

Adding a single new game or series of games into the database is easy - open ChessBase program, open your game or selection of games and drag-and-drop into the database OpeningMaster. After clicking ok, both files merge. After this, you need to de-duplicate the database so you can eliminate the double games which is mentioned in the CB manual or in OM tutorials. The process lasts according to the number of games but sometimes it takes too long if you have databases like Opening Master ;-)

 
What is de-duplication?
Questions : Opening Master general

The de-duplication is searching of twins in information database. The double (twin) is known where one same body of the game has more records of header, name, tournament etc..This is due to several parties recording the same game but recording it with different headers (e.g. one will write ''Kasparov'' and other will write ''G.Kasparov''). The presence of doubles in the database distort statistical outputs and valuation of positions. The perfect database has zero doubles which is very difficult when organizing 5.1 millions of games. However Opening Master team can proudly say, the database is de-duplicated to 0.

 
Why Opening Master opens only in Chess Base?
Questions : Opening Master general

Becasue ChessBase is a database software program which is most widely used among chess players of the world. Therefore for easy to use we have chosen the format  every body else uses. The files can be however also tranformed to Chess Assistant through usage of PGN format (slower in big files). On the other hand  "transpositions" are best studied under Bookup (now Chess Opening Wizard) where authors consider this envirnoment as well.

 
Under which environment OM functions?
Questions : Opening Master general

Opening Master functions under Windows (all) where also chess database programs like ChessBase, Chess Assistant and Bookup are.

 
What is Opening Master?
Questions : Opening Master general

Opening Master is a name which best describes idea of knowing the chess openings which are basis for the next so called middle game. Who knows well the secrets of the chess openings is the Opening Master. So it is a process of self-learning of the chess player who wants to become an Opening Master.

 
When did OM start officially?
Questions : Opening Master general
Opening Master is registered trademark in Slovakia and European Union since 2004 but the idea and development can be dated few years before this date.
 
Who is behind Opening Master?
Questions : Opening Master general

Behind Opening Master is group of correspondence and practical chess players from Slovakia and Czech Republic and other nearby countries who are in contact. Read more in ''About us''

 
How should I use ChessBase I don't know this environment at all.
Questions : Technical Issues
First as in every other software, read the manual. You can also visit ChessBase web site, they have great tutorials explaining things. Also Tutorials in Opening Master web site can help you working with a special database functions.
 
A connection was broken during my download, what should I do?
Questions : Technical Issues
Since you registered for annual membership, you may download as many things as you want. Therefore please try again the process again. If you still cannot download, please let us know and we can send you the hard copy DVD.
 
PayPal doesn't work, how can I pay?
Questions : Technical Issues
This is most likely temporary problem on PayPal web site and should be announced there. If you believe everything is ok, and you still cannot pay, please let us know.
 
Why do you use PayPal services instead of bank gateway?
Questions : Technical Issues
At the moment, Opening Master uses PayPal because of simplicity and clarity in the payment systems. The PayPal uses highest encryption and security measures to perform financial transaction, it is accepted worldwide and very easy to use both for merchant as well as for the customers. The interest rates are also affordable compared to the banks. To keep the mebership as low as possible, we partner with best services.
 
I don't have PayPal ID can I still pay?
Questions : Technical Issues
Yes, you may. You don't need to have PayPal user id to pay. Just follow on written instuctions on PayPal site and press ''next'' when asking for your user id.
 
I cannot pay for the membership, something is wrong.
Questions : Technical Issues
Opening Master web site accepts all major credit cards and uses PayPal secure system for the payment transactions. After successfull registration, you will be automatically transferred to secure PayPal site where you complete the transaction by giving your name, credit card number, expiration date etc... Once submitted you will be automatically re-directed back to OpeningMaster site confirming the registration process. If you decide during the payment process to cancel, you may do so, Opening Master will remember your user id and you can return to complete the payment process anytime, just log in with your user id and you will automatically transferred to paypal. However, if still something goes wrong (PayPal server down or other technical issues), please let us know and we will solve it differently.
 
I have great chess videos, how do I share them onto your site?
Questions : Technical Issues
First of all, the videos should be about chess (lecture, lesson, story), the best way is to upload them first to famous video servers like youTube. Afte then, go to our video site and press ''add video'' and copy and paste the video link (from youTube or others). The rest is automatic and easy.
 
I don't see a section or cannot download a file.
Questions : Technical Issues
Most likely this is a permission issue. You need to be successfully logged in and also registered with a annual membership. If you are correctly registered and logged in and still don't see which you believe should see, please let us know immediatelly.
 
What do I do after successful downloading?
Questions : Technical Issues

If you are downloading compressed parts (zip or rar) after unzipping all parts will add to each toher. Double click on the file and ChessBase automatically opens up. (of course you must have installed ChessBase on your computer). You can also go to ChessBase and open a file from there. More information can be seen in ChessBase manual or in our tutorials.

 
I paid for Gold Membership, can I upgrade to Platinum and pay only difference?
Questions : Technical Issues
Yes, you may. Please let us know and we will arrange it.
 
I paid for Gold membership, why I can't download Opening Master Full Database?
Questions : Technical Issues
There are three membership programs and each of them has special access control list assigned. With free membership you may dowload sample databases, full FIDE players database, Portal Database and others, with Gold Membership you may download Correspondence Chess Database 2008 edition, OM 2400 and OM 2300 databases, however you may not download the full Opening Master database as well as OM TOP (ELO 2500) Database which is for Platinum Members only. If you would like to upgrade your program from gold to platinum please let us know and we will arrange it.
 
I registered correctly but I cannot log in. Help.
Questions : Technical Issues
Most likely when asked for user id, you entered it incorrectly. Please check spelling, capslock on, numlock on, or language set on your keyboard. If you tried everything and still no success, please let us know and we will look on it. It is advised to use single names for 'username' field however spaces have been tested successfully as well.
 
I don't see a download button? Why?
Questions : Technical Issues
Most likely you forgot to log in. Another reason might be you haven't registered yet through our annual membership programs . Certain documents / databases can be seen (download button appears automatically) with Golden Membership and certain databases can be seen only with Platinum Memberships. Please refer to download section or OM Family List where you can see which sections contains what. If you registered correctly and logged in correctly and you still don't see a download button, please let us know immediatelly.
 
What is the vision of Opening Master?
Questions : Other issues
The vision of Opening Master is to build large enough community of chess players who would contribute to the opening strategy of the chess as we believe this part of the game is the most important when playing chess.
 
I annotate chess games professionally, can I offer my work to you for a reward?
Questions : Other issues

The database of annotated games will be organized by OM community free of charge. You can offer you work for free and as a reward you can download the entire annotated database.  

 
Does Opening Master offer affiliate program?
Questions : Other issues
At the moment not, but we might consider it later in the future.
 
Does Opening Master offer discounts?
Questions : Other issues
Yes, we do offer multiple licences for schools and chess clubs. Please contact us separately if you would like a mass licence.
 
Why is OM paid sevice, aren't the game free to distribute without any copyrights?
Questions : Other issues
The game as such does not have copyright, thefore it belongs to everybody. The game is considered as event and therefore people cannot claim copyrights for events which happened in the past. However the collection as such in form of the database, the quantitative methods, statistical measurments, and time spent on creation of this database this is copyrighted. It is paid service becasue  of the  associated costs  while producing  this database (internet connection, energy,  hardware used, time spent). The authors would like to build a great community around the chess openings, but would like to ask a symbolic price (20 or 40 EUR) to cover for the expenses incurred.

 
Do you offer also annotated database?
Questions : Other issues

The annotated databases are protected with copyrights, therefore we cannot offer others work without permission and licence. However, the team of authors will create first annotated free database for members (for non-members only samples). Anyone who can annotate games and have the necessary chess skills is free to enter and annotate their own games or master games for which they have copyright. We will not accept work which somebody can claim ownership. The base will be established by the Opening Master team the rest will be about the community. The plan is to have largest annotated database of the world offered in future for free.

 
I have my own database, can I offer it to you for reward?
Questions : Other issues

If you find something which is not included in the Opening Master, you may offer it. However, Opening Master database is so large, that there might be a reason why it is not included. The computer games, games with nick names, blitz games are not included and will not be included in the future either. If you still believe you have something unique, we would be more than happy to hear from you