I 100% agree that using local files has many advantages over only using Lichess studies. But Chessbase is expensive, Windows only, and the UI is still rocking 1999.
HIARCS is very similar to chessbase in function, but cheaper and with a more modern UI; it runs on both macOS and Windows. There is also another popular chess database program called "Scid vs PC"; it works on Linux, macOS, and Windows; it is free, but may be difficult to setup for a non-technical user. I use HIARCS because it displays the PGN in a much more readable format than Lichess or chesscom; also it was cheaper than Chessbase and runs natively on macOS; it can go head to head with Chessbase in a feature checklist competition and do quite well.
I'd be interested hearing about the key Chessbase features that you found important. That may be a good topic for some future post.
I would definitely give the program "Chess Position Trainer" a look. It's not what it sounds like. It is a modern version of "Bookup" which means it's a position database, not a game database. When I switched to playing 1...e5 against 1.e4, I found so many transpositions that it was hard to keep the straight. CPT let's you enter an opening with notes for individual positions, which show up if the move order changes. I have thevPro version, and I export to Chessbase, look things up and import back all the time. If I find something about a position in a book or course, or whatever, I enter the ideas in as comments. After every rapid or blitz game I look up my opening in CPT and see how close I was to the ideas. It has some "Chessable" like features for spaced repetitive, but it's easier to export from CPT and make private courses on Chessable. I wouldn't manage my opening rep any other way that using this program.
The biggest life saver for me was ChessTempo Opening Training. I create my repertoires on Lichess where the engine and database are most accessible but Lichess has a MAJOR issue: it’s based on moves, not positions. So it doesn’t tell you when you have transposed to some position in your repertoire or even in the opening in that same study. And it’s a nightmare to constantly check if you’ve covered that move already. That’s where ChessTempo comes in: you import the PGN from Lichess and then fix it up wherever it tells you there are transpositions. Also: I used to use private courses on Chessable where I used to study my personal repertoire but I switched to ChessTempo and it’s SO MUCH BETTER. All the spaced repetition settings are highly personalizable and it’s so easy to edit (unlike Chessable which is a pain in the butt to edit lines). I’m just saying you should all try out ChessTempo opening trainer: it’s free, smooth and really easy to use
Have you tried SCID ? I'm seriously considering switching from ChessBase as I've had so many issues since buying ChessBase 17 with the software's instability.
I 100% agree that using local files has many advantages over only using Lichess studies. But Chessbase is expensive, Windows only, and the UI is still rocking 1999.
HIARCS is very similar to chessbase in function, but cheaper and with a more modern UI; it runs on both macOS and Windows. There is also another popular chess database program called "Scid vs PC"; it works on Linux, macOS, and Windows; it is free, but may be difficult to setup for a non-technical user. I use HIARCS because it displays the PGN in a much more readable format than Lichess or chesscom; also it was cheaper than Chessbase and runs natively on macOS; it can go head to head with Chessbase in a feature checklist competition and do quite well.
I'd be interested hearing about the key Chessbase features that you found important. That may be a good topic for some future post.
I would definitely give the program "Chess Position Trainer" a look. It's not what it sounds like. It is a modern version of "Bookup" which means it's a position database, not a game database. When I switched to playing 1...e5 against 1.e4, I found so many transpositions that it was hard to keep the straight. CPT let's you enter an opening with notes for individual positions, which show up if the move order changes. I have thevPro version, and I export to Chessbase, look things up and import back all the time. If I find something about a position in a book or course, or whatever, I enter the ideas in as comments. After every rapid or blitz game I look up my opening in CPT and see how close I was to the ideas. It has some "Chessable" like features for spaced repetitive, but it's easier to export from CPT and make private courses on Chessable. I wouldn't manage my opening rep any other way that using this program.
The biggest life saver for me was ChessTempo Opening Training. I create my repertoires on Lichess where the engine and database are most accessible but Lichess has a MAJOR issue: it’s based on moves, not positions. So it doesn’t tell you when you have transposed to some position in your repertoire or even in the opening in that same study. And it’s a nightmare to constantly check if you’ve covered that move already. That’s where ChessTempo comes in: you import the PGN from Lichess and then fix it up wherever it tells you there are transpositions. Also: I used to use private courses on Chessable where I used to study my personal repertoire but I switched to ChessTempo and it’s SO MUCH BETTER. All the spaced repetition settings are highly personalizable and it’s so easy to edit (unlike Chessable which is a pain in the butt to edit lines). I’m just saying you should all try out ChessTempo opening trainer: it’s free, smooth and really easy to use
Have you tried SCID ? I'm seriously considering switching from ChessBase as I've had so many issues since buying ChessBase 17 with the software's instability.