Are you a novice player who wants to learn chess...? then play Chessmaster 9000.
Are you an amateur player - like me - who wants to explore the strategies and secrets of the game...? then play Chessmaster 9000.
Hell! Are you a professional who wants to train before a tournament...? Guess what, play Chessmaster 9000.
The customisation of this game is just amazing. You can choose from a variety of players, chessboards, pieces... You can see in the course of the game how computer thinks, you can see an analysis of the game and of your moves you have already played, you can take advices from the mentor and do a lot of other thinks according to your level of needs.
Also the data base of Chessmaster 9000 is huge. It has recorded chess games from 1619(!) until 2002 (the year Chessmaster 9000 publiced) and you can watch the games "live" on the chessboard.
Last but not least special reference must be done to the great "classroom" of the game. Every amateur player should take the cources and you will undestand who little you still know about chess;).