Fritz and Chesster facts for kids

Fritz and Chesster (German: Fritz und Fertig) is a fun series of computer games that teach kids how to play chess. In these four games, a boy named Fritz White and his cousin Bianca learn all about chess. They get help from a talking rat named Chesster.

In the first three games, Fritz and Bianca learn different parts of chess. Then, they play a big game against King Black. The fourth game takes place on an alien planet! The first game teaches you the basic rules of chess, like how pieces move. It also shows you some simple ways to win (called checkmate) and basic strategies. The later games teach you how to start a game (openings), clever moves (tactics), how to play in the middle of the game, and how to finish a game (endgames). They also teach more checkmate patterns. Other games in the series include different types of chess, chess puzzles, or fast-paced games where you try to get a high score.

These games were made in Germany by Terzio and Chessbase between 2003 and 2009. They have been translated into 17 different languages! People who reviewed the first two games thought they were fun. They also said the stories in the games were quite long. You can also find chess puzzle books and workbooks with the characters from the games.

Gameplay

Part 1: Learning the Basics

In the first game, you play as Fritz White. While his parents are away, King Black challenges Fritz to a chess game. Fritz teams up with his cousin Bianca and his parents' friend, King Kaleidoscope. They travel through the countryside, playing mini-games that teach them how chess pieces move. For example, one game is like Ms. Pac-Man and shows how the rook moves straight. Another game is like sumo wrestling and teaches about king opposition, which is when kings block each other.

Fritz and Bianca eventually reach a place called the IntelliGym. Here, they meet a talking rat named Chesster. With Chesster's help, they go through three levels of the gym. Each level has different equipment that teaches a part of chess. When they get to a new piece of equipment, a short video shows Chesster explaining the games to Fritz and Bianca. Then, you get to play! Some puzzles don't have a time limit, and you just need to finish a certain number to move on. Others are timed, and you try to get a high score.

The first section of the gym teaches you how each chess piece moves. The second section explains how the board is set up at the start. It also teaches you about castling, stalemate, and how to checkmate with two rooks or one rook. The last section explains how much each chess piece is worth (their relative value) and other strategies.

After you finish all the exercises, Fritz plays chess against King Black. A TV segment plays depending on if you win or lose. Then, you can play against King Kaleidoscope (who is not very strong), King Black (who is strong), or Chesster. Chesster has different skill levels. You can also get hints during the game or switch sides if your opponent is winning.

Part 2: Deeper Strategies

In the second game, you go to the Pleasantville Village Olympics. Here, you play timed games that involve moves like a knight fork (when a knight attacks two pieces at once) and a bishop skewer (when a bishop attacks two pieces in a line). Then, Fritz and Chesster fall down a chute into King Black's castle basement, and Chesster gets kidnapped! King Black tells them they are trapped.

To escape, they use King Black's chess training machines. As they get better, they collect "ELO" creatures. They need enough of these creatures for a sensor in the elevator to let them go up. On the lower floor, they play a timed game about giving check. They also play a game about figuring out who wins when pieces are exchanged. They learn the basic rules for starting a chess game (called opening development). They also learn about discovered check and double check and play a game similar to Space Invaders about rat traps.

On the middle and upper floors, they learn about long algebraic notation (a way to write down chess moves). They also learn about key squares for pawn promotion and a trick to see if a pawn can reach the end before a king. They also learn about deflection, which is making an opponent's piece move away. A puppet quizzes them about opening strategy. They also play blindfold games (where you don't see the board) and odds games (where one player starts with fewer pieces). They also play a game where they memorize pieces from a sample game. They even see famous quick checkmates like Fool's mate and Scholar's mate.

After finishing these mini-games, they use pieces of paper they found to solve a chess puzzle where they have to checkmate in seven moves. They then challenge King Black to a duel. A TV segment plays depending on if you win or lose. After that, you can play against King Kaleidoscope, King Purple, a computer, King Black, or Chesster at different skill levels.

Part 3: Advanced Challenges

At the Pleasantville fairground, King Black has won "Chess Chubbies" (plush toys) from 16 kings in chess games. Fritz and Bianca, with Chesster, try to win 16 of these toys to give back to the kings. They also play Chesster's flea circus game, where you have to place a piece on the board to checkmate black under time pressure.

The 16 games teach you moves like undermining, interference, and decoy. One game helps you choose the best move, while another asks you to remember lines you choose that start with the Ruy Lopez opening. There's also a game similar to Breakout. Another game involves luring chicks into a trap. There's even a chess game with random effects, like all pieces being removed from a certain file. You also learn about chess clocks and losing chess (a game where you try to lose all your pieces). You're asked to find checkmate after seeing a blindfold chess opening. Other games focus on checkmates, including Anastasia's mate and Morphy's mate. You also learn how to checkmate with two bishops and with a bishop and a knight without reaching a draw. Chesster teaches you when a lone king can or can't force a draw against a king and a rook pawn. He also teaches you how to win or draw in the rook and pawn versus rook endgame.

After all this, you play against King Black in a chess game with a time limit of ten minutes for each player. Then, you can play against Chesster at different skill levels, King Kaleidoscope, King Black, or a team made of the Chess Chubbies.

Part 4: Alien Adventures

The fourth game takes place on an alien planet. Here, Fritz and Bianca learn even more tactics and strategies. They learn about the Queen's Gambit opening, blockades, more checkmate patterns, passed pawns (pawns that have no opponent pawns in front of them), and the ideas of space and tempo (how fast you make moves). They also learn drawing strategies and different types of chess, like dice chess.

Production

The games were written by German author and illustrator Jörg Hilbert and headteacher and chess trainer Bjorn Lengwenus. They were made by Terzio's Quinto and ChessBase working together.

Release

Part 1 was first released on a CD-ROM and worked on Windows 95 and newer Windows computers. In 2018, it also came out as an iOS app for Apple devices. The game has been translated into 17 languages. It is described as being good for children aged eight and older. Chess puzzle books and workbooks that feature the characters from the series were also made.