For many years now Fritz Chess has fascinated the chess world, beating World Champion Vladimir Kramnik 4-2 in Bonn Germany in 2006. Millions of fans follow these amazing duels between man and machine that produces world class games...

Chess is chess, right? If you've got one chess game you've got them all. Wrong. Fritz Chess has, for sometime, set the benchmark for others to follow.

The beauty of Fritz is that it can be used at beginners' level or to help you hold your own against a Grandmaster. It explains moves and positions using its sophisticated and numerous coaching functions and it will adjust its playing strength to exactly match the opponent. There are also training modules and handicap levels.

The latest version of Fritz Chess incorporates a range of new features. These include an improved chess engine (which is around 80 Elo points stronger); upgraded database with over one million games - from 1625 to 2007; improved openings book; new training function to practice the calculation of variations; new section on the chess server with tactical puzzle solving competitions; "The Magic Eye" which scans the 3D board making the search visible for the user.

Another feature is the Chess Media System, bringing the world's greatest chess players into your living room. You can benefit from instruction from famous chess teachers in subjects such as opening traps, middlegame strategy and endgame skills. There are over 14 hours of full high-resolution video and sound featuring the likes of Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, Viktor Korchnoi and many others. Also included is three months free subscription to www.playcess.com, a one-click connection to the largest chess community in the world.

So, the big question: If you already own a previous Fritz game should you buy version 11? The answer depends very much on the individual. Personally, I would buy this. But, if you are not so passionate about the great game, then you might like to pick up Fritz Chess 10 when stores start to reduce the price to make way for Fritz 11.

If you are serious about chess then you really need to be keeping up with this incredible gaming series.

9

NIck Smithson