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Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chessterx$23.99
    (80 reviews)
Best Price: $29.99 $23.99
Learn to Play Chess With Fritz & Chesster lets you be king for a day in a world where chess rules!
MPN: 00113 - UPC: 838639001132
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Customer Reviews
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The Best Tool to Introduce Chess to Kids      By A12AVK1ZQDSOUZ on 2003-08-12
When it comes to introducing children to the game of chess, this is the best program on the market available to English speaking community. If your child already knows the moves and plays occasionally, this program is Fun, but not as useful. Combination of Arcade-type games & well designed steps introducing chess work real well with children. I have tried this program with several students and it was great in generating their interest and keeping their attention. Of course, for parents who either have no skills, or time, or both, using this program is a must first step in teaching their kids to play chess. Graphics are great, games are fun and teaching approach is good. The program can be improved somewhat: · Pacman-type game doesn't seem to relate very well to the Rook intro, · Pinball-type toilet crushing with the ball moving diagonally, is a strange way to introduce the Bishop, · Emphasizing so much an issue of Opposition, isn't a best for teaching kids about the importance and value of the King, · Also, there are many conversation, some with humor, but you can't skip them if you wish. Some jokes might be a little offensive. · Focus on checkmates when introducing pieces as oppose to more common approach - such as visiting squares, attacking and taking pieces. On the positive side: · All arcade games are very captivating and will keep your child interested in exploring the game, thus indirectly learning chess, · Arcade games introducing Queen &, especially, Pawn are very chess related, · Ability to play a complete games with limited number of pieces is very helpful, · This is the ONLY tool on the market employing such a unique methodology that will definitely appeal to children. Bottom line - this is a must buy for families with young kids who DO NOT know the rules. For others, consider this game as well as the latest ChessMaster on the market. Good luck! Copyrighted by me
Wonderful!      By A23CPJK68TW1UK on 2003-07-22
My daughter is 8 and I recently bought this for her. She's never played chess before and her attention span can be somewhat limited at times. I played this game for a little while before letting her play (she had chores to finish and so I could see if it was something she'd be able to do). At first I was a little worried, some of the arcade games seemed to me to be too hard and not have enough instructions. At any rate I loaded it up and let her play, and she spent over 6 hours in one weekend totally absorbed and loving every minute of it. Some of the arcade games were too hard so she just skipped those, I don't know if it will have any negative effect on her later game play, but so far so good! Anything that is educational and can keep a child absorbed for so long is well worth the money. I hope she finishes the game so she and I can play chess together!
Excellent game for young players      By A3GL6M5WSI7W6S on 2003-07-27
We have had this game for less than a week, and like a previous review, my 8 year-old daughter absolutely loves it. The school my daughter is attending this fall requires all of the children to play chess for 30 minutes or so prior to instruction. I was a little nervous of how to possibly teach her, since I have only played sparingly throughout my life. I know the basic moves, and not much more. Not ever touching a chess piece before, she learned all of the basics of the game in less than 2 days. She played for several hours at a time, and it was hard to get her off the computer.I think the key to games success is that it instructs the player on the pieces, moves and object of the game without seeming like it is teaching. There are multiple mini-games within the actual game that slowly build to a point where the player knows all the moves of an actual game of chess. I will have to update my review after I play through the game myself, because on the first game I played with my daughter, she constantly corrected me.
Wonderful teaching tool      By on 2003-11-25
My daughter is 8 and she's wanted to learn to play chess for a while. So, I got out the board and attempted to teach her. But it is just one of those things -- I can play better than I can teach. Needless to say, we didn't get far that way. Several weeks ago I was looking at something online and noticed a review on another site for this game. I investigated more and couldn't find a single negative review of it on any site. Think how rare that is! So I purchased it for my daughter. After she installed it, she played it almost non-stop for hours. This went on for a few days. Since I didn't spend a lot of time looking over her shoulder I asked her how she felt about the game. She thinks this game is a winner. The way they break down the game so you become intimate with the characteristics of each piece is wonderful. They also spend time getting a child to be able to understand certain strategies and I think they do it well. Their mini-games are just right, in my opinion. She's now playing chess against the game and winning some and losing some, depending on the level she plays. But she feels good having learned the game and I think it actually helped her confidence a bit, too. I guess it feels good to be 8 and able to say, "Why yes, I play chess."
Very nice!      By on 2003-07-06
My daughter is going to be 5 next month and she loves chess a lot. We started with Chessmaster's training but it frequently required a lot of assistance from us to sit with her as Chessmaster's UI (9000) is buggy in a lot of respects (So adults can figure around some of them but kids may have difficulty). A week or so back, I got this one (when it was released) and since then, my daughter has already done a number of the puzzles in it and really enjoys it. If you want your child to do chess, I would definitely recommend it.
- Great Chess Instruction, Clever, Funny and addictive!
     By on 2004-01-24
My 5 year old wanted to learn how to play chess. I taught him, but I knew having reinforcement would help....furthermore, I didn't/don't know ALL there is to know about chess so I really wanted the help. I did a search and ran into this gem of a program...and I couldn't be happier. With a story line, arcade like games, mazes, mini chess lessons and Chester the rat (who happens to be a chess master and your mentor) it doesn't get any better than this....Yes, there are flaws, but none worth mentioning, because they don't take away from the beauty and value of this program. My son has already applied much of what he's learned...and he hasn't even finished his "training" with Chester yet! Moreover, the games you play with Chester (in preparation to face the evil king) can be set at vairious levels of difficulty. And that means it's going to take a while to grow out of this program (it'll challenge mom and dad easily!) Truly a parents dream when it comes to software. I played it first to check it out, and I really didn't have to. This is a purchase you won't regret.
- Fun for a 5 year old
     By A1O0SG2GTGDBIS on 2004-11-16
In our homeschool group, this program came highly recommended. It's obvious as to why. My 5 year old son played this game the first week for hours each day. We limit the time spent now, but it's difficult when you know it's educational and so much fun!
It's a blast listening to him recite the rules taught by Chesster. "A Knight on the Rim is Ugly and Dim". "At first, the Rook hangs about. But at the end, he knocks the King out." When the puppy annoys him, he now hollers, "Checkmate!" at her. Absolutely cracks us up.
Now that it's been a few weeks, he's been playing real games against his father - and winning! (Granted, Daddy hasn't played in 20 years or so.)
I did not learn how to play chess until we purchased this game. I'm enjoying it thoroughly as an adult. Naturally, I progressed through the lessons faster, and now love getting in a quick game in the morning before the kids wake up.
Note: There were no problems with installation on a laptop running XP.
- AWESOME tool to help teach your child CHESS!
     By on 2003-12-28
I have a five year old and my husband is teaching him how to play chess. We bought this game because he LOVES to play on the computer. This game is AWESOME! He played it for hours straight. It is a really fun way to learn the moves and strategies of the game. My husband even learned a few things he didn't know. I think it is one of those games that is definitely worth the money!
- Learn to Play Chess!
     By A2Z60PVKWFO3SW on 2005-10-22
I really like this computer game because it uses parts-to-whole instruction - it introduces each chess piece separately with an interesting strategy game that teaches how it moves.
Kids have to master the strategy games for each piece before they are given a chance to play with a full board.
But more important than MY impressions are those of my kids - 6 and 8, boy and girl, - who just LOVE this game and cheer each other on. I am thrilled to have them captivated by a "thinking" game. They have generalized their interest in chess to a real board too - they do not just play the game on the computer.
Another note - while I personally enjoy the graphics, they are not sophisticated or realistic, but more like illustrations in a children's book.
Definitely worth the money.
- Disappointing chess product
     By A3K80RQFZQ78J7 on 2006-07-13
I was extremely disappointed with this chess software. With my newest PC I bought this year, the program is buggy when it comes to sound and music, which they do acknowledge in their manual.
The product also lacks knowledge of what keeps a child's interest. For an adult or child, the dialog and some exercises were lengthy, and uninteresting.
There were a couple of fun exercises, but really not worth the price as a whole.
If your a chess player, I suggest you teach your kid yourself, or
find another chess program.
There's got to be something better than this.
- Don't buy this worthless game unless you love to be frustrated
     By AGFDMU1I6869V on 2006-09-03
I was looking for an intructional CD to help my daughter to learn chess. I read the reviews and endorsements and thought that this was what I was looking for. WRONG!
First of all, the CD comes with no instruction book and you're left to try and figure out what you're supposed to do by yourself (good luck). I've spent over 2 hours on this thing so far and I still haven't seen one thing that would help my daughter to learn to play chess.
I've emailed their 'help line' hoping to get some answers and never heard back from them.
Save your money and your sanity and don't buy this CD.
- Don't buy this sexist game
     By A1D3ZI24RYYYGW on 2007-01-06
The game is called Fritz and Chesster. Fritz is the boy. Chester is a rat. That girl you see in the picture, her name is Bianca. She never actually plays. She just says things like "Well done, brave knight!" and asks stupid questions. At one point poor Bianca points out that the queen is the strongest piece, and Fritz makes a comment about his mother chewing out his father. The tone and context are extremely anti-woman, in my opinion. He also counters by saying that boys are smarter.
It seems like the makers of this game were really threatened by the fact that you have to call the most powerful piece "she". To take the queen down a notch, they refer to a group or queens as a harem. To demonstrate how this powerful piece moves they have the queen run around picking flowers as fast as she can. A male voice says, "Off you go," in a tone which one can only assume is meant to accompany a little pat on her behind.
- Best program to teach kids (or anyone) chess!
     By A3TTSOJM3X1U8S on 2004-06-29
Purchased this for an energetic 5-year old known as my son!To summarize: King White is feeling a little tired and disinterested (a mysterious malaise that can best be described as boredom or maybe even depression - seriously! Maybe something gets lost in translation, as this game is made by Chessbase, a German company, but marketed here by Viva Media. Maybe he is a victim of "ennui?"), so his queen suggests that they go on vacation. They put their son Fritz in charge for the duration of their absence, and as soon as the king and queen are out the door, Fritz is challenged to a chess duel by the nasty looking King Black. PROBLEM: Fritz doesn't know how to play chess!! Follow Fritz and his cousin Bianca across the kingdom as they play a variety of games in order to learn chess basics. Learn how the pieces move, and learn basic tactics like pins, etc. Piece valuation, how to win, etc. are other topics that are taught. The cool thing is that my son doesn't realize that he is learning! The games are so fun and arcade-like, that he learns how the pieces move without even knowing it. Examples of the games: 1. Sumo wrestlers on a circular board to teach about the king and the concept of "opposition." 2. A Pac-man-like game to teach the horizontal and vertical movement of the rook. 3. A Pong-like game of smashing toilets (no joke!) to get across the concept of the bishop's diagonal movement. After going through all the training sessions, my son was ready to take on King Black. He still gets mostly crushed, but that is because he doesn't spend much time thinking before he makes a move. He has managed wins on the lower setting, but that's because the chess engine plays some of the most horrible moves, like leaving a queen hanging, etc. Highly recommended for youngsters! My son may leave it alone for 3 or 4 weeks at a time, but he always comes back to play the games and to try his hand vs. King Black. Money well spent to teach kids a wonderful game.
- Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster
     By A3GYEK8CS3O7QT on 2005-10-25
I wanted a game that helped my 6 year old advance his interest in chess and this did the trick. He learned about how the pieces moved, their names, how to write the codes for the moves and had a great time doing it. If you never played chess or just want a game to learn more about strategies and technique - this is it.
- Love it!
     By A21OT19SYDCOVQ on 2004-05-12
I bought this game from a software club on a whim. My 7 and 8 year old boys were sort of interested in chess, and my husband's name is Fritz. So I thought if I was lucky, the software could help them learn some of the basics of chess. It has FAR surpassed my expectations. They love it, and have spent HOURS playing it. They know how all the pieces move, have learned some of the finer points such as "castling", and still keep playing. I hear them repeating the little rhymes that the program uses to help them remember different strategies...."a knight on the rim is ugly and dim"...."pawns are afraid of nothing; they move straight ahead", etc. In just a couple of weeks, they know WAY more than I know about chess. I would love to have this program in my middle school classroom, as I think my students there would enjoy it, as well.
- This is what kids software is meant to be!
     By APW772M1N37QL on 2004-08-18
This is amazing software. It starts simple, is fun without being irrelevant, and covers the very core of chess. I knew my 5 year old loved it, and played it for ages (up to an hour), and I knew that the software had infinite patience, unlike me when he chose to do things wrong over and over again. But when I heard him explaining the en-passant rule and why "a knight on the rim is ugly and dim" I realized just how good the software was!
After a few months of him playing this game a lot - but just when he felt like it - we are able to have a full game of chess together, me with only half of the pieces. I play as hard as I can and he regularly mates me with this set up, so I'll have to start adding some pieces back soon.
I did read that there is a correlation between playing chess and all sorts of mental and emotional development (unlike other games and activities), so I am very happy with this state of affairs.
Reader Rabbit is fine, and Winnie the Pooh etc, but they really just cover things that pre-school / kindergarten / reading to your child and just observing the world will handle. Software that can (over time) fully engage a very young child in chess is something else all together.
- A Fabulous Chess Teaching Tool! Highest Recommendations!
     By A1RECBDKHVOJMW on 2005-05-07
Chess in not an easy game to teach, to learn or to play well. But it is a terrific game for children because it is fun, and it teaches logic and reasoning. My cousin's seven year-old recently expressed an interest in chess, and was fascinated as I introduced the pieces to him, explained their functions and took him through some basic moves. I was so enthused by his enthusiasm, that I bought the "Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster" software, by Viva Media, which came highly recommended. His mother has been complaining ever since, that she cannot drag him away from the PC. He is addicted and I cannot figure out if this is a plus or a minus. Anyway, I have been challenged to a game next weekend, and I had better brush up.
This is excellent software for true beginners. The player, (or two), is engaged from the outset with an animated adventure storyline and simple, but entertaining, arcade games which introduce chess basics before moving on to a more advanced level. The plot features the wise King White and his Queen, who go to the seashore for a brief holiday. Their son, Prince Fritz, and his cousin Bianca, stand-in for the monarchs. Evil King Black seizes this opportunity to challenge the boy to a duel while his parents are away. Children put Fritz and Bianca through their paces at the Intelligym while they train their brains for the upcoming confrontation.
First, however, six training games must be mastered. These games teach the move concepts for all of the chess pieces. After basic training, the player goes through three additional levels of chess activities using each of the pieces. When mastery of these levels is achieved, the player can move on to simulated games.
Individual players are able to continue at their own pace. It is possible to move back, practice activities and brush-up on skills, although you cannot move forward without successfully completing each level.
All games, even serious ones like chess, should be fun. The powerful "brain" behind all this entertainment is the well known Fritz chess engine, used by grandmasters to train for tournaments. Winner of the 2003 Bologna New Media Prize, the program is very easy to install and navigate and is perfect for all ages, especially age 7 and up, (depending on the child).
The software program comes with free access to the (...) Website, where players can participate in games for one year.
This has been a most rewarding purchase. Not only is a little boy I love learning to play an extraordinary game, but I have gained another chess partner.
JANA
- Don't waste your money on this
     By A3O406Z4YPBAX9 on 2006-02-22
I bought this for my son and we found out we got misled by other reviews. This software is more like a cartoon than a real chess lesson. It is very distracting.
If you just want to learn some basic rules and want your kids have some fun, it is ok to buy it. But if you want your kids learn some strageties, DON'T waste your money on this. Go for "chessmater".
- Great Games
     By A3NTB7E889BZD on 2006-03-16
PROS:
My kids loved it. I believe they now know how to play chess.
Kids had a lot of fun learning the game.
It puts the "Fun" back into playing chess
Easy to follow - even my seven year old llearned on his own.
CONS:
It seems to be addictive, because I can't stop my kids from playing it.
I not sure if this game has multiplayer mode, because my kids are always fighting over it.....
- Excellent for all ages of kids
     By AXHXJ41ZJZUGZ on 2006-04-24
This is an excellent chess tutorial for all ages of kids. It works as a game, a story, and as a chess lesson.
The really nice part about it is the order of presentation of the material, it combines how the pieces move with what they can do. A more natural choice would be to separate them (e.g., here's how a bishop moves, then later, here's how a bishop can checkmate), but the combination of the two gives kids a concrete goal, rather than rote memorization.
Those reviews that say "What do these arcade games have to do with chess?" have not played far enough into the game, because only when you get to the Intelligym, at the end of the path, does the program make the direct connection between the arcade games and chess then.
My 4 year old is entranced with it, and is now seeing three move checkmates on the board.
My only complaint with the program is that when someone does something incorrect, the criticism can be a bit too blunt, rather than encouraging, but it only makes my son more determined to get it right the next time.
- I'm impressed
     By A1FRNPJPET30XV on 2006-06-13
I have one child on the autism spectrum, and one with ADHD. They were 7 when they got this, and they did indeed learn to play chess. It looks confusing and disorganized to me, as an adult, but it reached my special needs children and taught them. Now they play us. I would recommend it ias a gift also.
- Review from EdutainingKids.com
     By A1I1N6CYYW5QFV on 2006-06-14
Children's software really needed a title like this one. Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster is a tad slow-moving at times, but its system is quite effective and the story very charming. Slowly but surely, kids learn the basics of the game of chess as they follow Fritz and his cousin Bianca through the castle grounds. The story is that Fritz's parents, the King and Queen, have decided to take a vacation, leaving Fritz and Bianca as stand-in royalty. The conniving King Black jumps on the opportunity to challenge the "king" to a duel--a chess duel! Fritz will need to brush up on his chess skills before he takes up the challenge, and that's where kids step in.
As Fritz and Bianca make their way through the kingdom toward the Intelligym, they encounter a series of mini-games that help acquaint players with simple moves and strategies involved in the game. For example, the acceptable moves of the king piece are compared to sumo wrestlers!
Once they arrive at the Intelligym, kids begin a series of interactive lessons before they can "duel" with King Black. Piece by piece, kids learn acceptable moves and plays, and they practice what they learn.
What sets this title apart is its story line. Children don't just jump in and learn chess. Instead, they follow an animated adventure. Also, the mini-games and lessons are strong and, oftentimes, quite clever. Playing chess requires a fair amount of patience, and it exercises logical thinking skills. Kids need to plan ahead as they play. This game offers kids opportunities to pick up the basics as well as a few strategies that will help them along the way.
- Better then playing X-Box
     By AMUKXJR6ONKIT on 2005-05-10
My 6 year old son learned to play chess so well using this game that he is challenging me. He says it is more fun than playing a video game on X-Box. This CD uses "games" to teach how each of the pieces move. The kids don't even realize they are learning to play chess! There is a grading system, and when the kids are ready, they can play a real game against the computer using the "characters" they just learned to move. You can adjust the skill level so anyone from beginner to advanced will enjoy it. I even like playing it!
- Great for Beginners, Intermediate and Experts
     By A1D1W4A0WRFOXY on 2005-08-06
This was a great game for my 6 year old son. He's been playing chess for about 6 months and knows the basics. I wanted him to start to learn and understand strategy. This software reinforced the basic principles of the game, plus taught him some things that the book we checked out of the library didn't tell him. When he and I started playing regular games on his chess board, I was amazed at the strategies he was employing and the moves he was making based on what he learned from this computer game. Even my husband, who is a very good chess player, enjoyed playing the computer game and it gave father and son yet another fun activity to share. I highly recommend this product for young children at any level.
- Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster
     By A3FSJU17V2G0GA on 2006-03-09
an excellent chess program for all ages. My 5 yo loves it. Shipping was fast and exactly as advertised.
- "Daddy, can I play Fritz and Chesster! And Bianca!"
     By A32IULGIM0QZKQ on 2004-01-17
Fritz and Chesster was the holiday hit at our house. It lives up to all the reviews. I was a little nervous about unleashing a five year old on it, but my daughter is hooked on the game and has worked her way up the levels of challenge with an intensity that I haven't seen her put into other things. And Bianca, Fritz's queen, gives it a feminist angle.What I found most interesting was her ability (and interest) in going back to replay parts she hadn't quite mastered conceptually even though she understood what she was challenged to do. The learning approach is very thought out, and previous criticism of the game is accurate. It is clearly a "must buy" if you think your child might be interested in chess.
- Highly recommended
     By A2C7P4MBY4LCFQ on 2005-05-29
My kids (6 and 8) were somewhat resistant to the idea of learning chess until I purchased this software. They loved the computer game, and now they love playing chess. They have learned the basic rules and are now learning strategy. The game is entertaining enough that, even when they were not winning, they continued to play. Now, they win some and are thrilled. I bought a second copy for the second grade classroom in the hopes that other kids would be similarly inspired.
There are so many completely mindless computer games out there -- this one is not!
- Playing and Having Fun -- That's the Best Kind of Teaching/Learning!!!
     By A2KIAFHSB85WQ1 on 2005-10-06
As of the time of writing of this review, I have 3 children aged 5 and 3/4, 4 1/3, and 2.5 years old. ALL THREE fully enjoy the game (my youngest, though, keeps on saying "I want to play 'Chesster the Rat!'").
For the 2.5 year old, I would say it's only good if you have a LARGE monitor (and for playing chess on a chessboard, a LARGE board). I think kids still need to develop hand-eye coordination and the like -- they can't seem to make diagonals straight, nor even the straights where the Rook traverses. My two older ones, though, have no problem.
As one of the reviews here said, some games look questionable in teaching the movements of the pieces (the pac-man type game to show Rooks), and the smashing of toilet bowls. I didn't quite get it. HOWEVER, I'm not an expert, so maybe there is an underlying subliminal type of teaching.
One great thing is about this title is the GRAPHICS. It's very simple, cartoony, and not one of those ultra-eye-candy type that abound in video games. If you're a parent, kinda like comparing the nice pastel-type and uncluttered cartoon of Pooh/Heffalump with a great story that keeps you hook vis-a-vis something that has gratuitous eye candy to hold a youngster's attention (something I think doesn't help brain development...).
BUT... HERE'S THE BOTTOMLINE: MY 5 year old knows practically ALL THE RULES of chess (including castling and en passant). The problem when we play on an analog playing surface (a.k.a. a real chess board), however, is sometimes he doesn't see that he's in check -- the computer has no problem telling you that move isn't allowed, though.
Another complaint I have is that Fritz (the main character) is a BOY, and my 2nd child is a girl. Fritz's companion, his cousin, BIANCA is a girl, and they do make a big fuss about how great girls are (i.e., the QUEEN). It's a small complaint, though.
What's really important is that my son now knows how to play chess. The focus on this title is learning chess. There are a few mating lessons (K vs K+R+R and K vs K+Q and K vs K+R), but mastery of even these simple mates could have done with a few more explanations/drills.
I can't wait to see what Fritz and Chesster 2 can do to build on the foundations of this one.
Overall, if you want someone young to learn chess painlessly, no... scrap that... if you want someone to learn chess JOYOUSLY, get this title.
I hope this review was helpful!
- Lennox Lewis-Former Boxer World Champion Plays Chess
     By on 2005-11-23
Learn the game of chess by using this simple to use chess program. Everything is fun and direct in its explanation.
In a couple of days you will know the pieces and how they are utilized on the board. Second, Lennox Lewis, former World boxing Champion is a chess player himself. This is the easiest way to learn this classic thinking game. You can't go wrong. Don't listen to the negative reviews on this board....anyone can learn how to play Chess. Learn to play Chess with Fritz and Chesster is worth it: Five stars
- Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster
     By A1WGHJHMYBD08I on 2006-02-24
My 7-year old nephew loves it. Would play it all day long if allowed to.
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Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster Accessories
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| Product Features |
- When the king and queen go on vacation, young Fritz is left in charge of the castle. As he explores his surroundings, he'll learn all about chess, from the basics to advanced strategies -- and so will you!
- Discover 7 great arcade-style games that introduce chess fundamentals and advanced concepts
- Fun characters like Fritz and Chesster make learning the game fun and interesting for children
- Also includes a one-year membership to playchess.com
- Is the item available or not, website issue confusing.
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