Fritz And Chesster
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''Fritz and Chesster'' () is a series of educational programs about
chess Chess is a board game for two players. It is an abstract strategy game that involves Perfect information, no hidden information and no elements of game of chance, chance. It is played on a square chessboard, board consisting of 64 squares arran ...
for children. In each of the four PC games, Fritz White and his cousin Bianca learn chess with the help of the anthropomorphic rat Chesster. In the first three games, they learn various elements of chess before competing against King Black in a chess game; the fourth game is set on an alien planet. The first game teaches the rules of the game, along with some basic checkmates and strategy. The next games teach opening theory, tactics, middlegame analysis and endgames, along with checkmate patterns. Other games feature chess variants, chess puzzles or timed games with highscore boards. The programs were produced in Germany for Terzio and
Chessbase ChessBase is a German company that develops and sells chess software, maintains a chess news site, and operates an internet chess server for online chess. Founded in 1986, it maintains and sells large-scale databases containing the moves of recor ...
between 2003 and 2009; they have been translated into 17 languages. Reviewers found the first two games entertaining and commented on the lengthiness of the storylines. Chess puzzle books and workbooks featuring the characters have been produced.


Gameplay


Part 1

While his parents are on holiday, Fritz White—controlled by the player—is challenged to a game of chess by King Black. Working with his cousin Bianca, and his parents' friend King Kaleidoscope, they travel across the countryside while engaging in a series of minigames, which demonstrate chess piece movements, such as a '' Ms. Pac-Man''-style game demonstrating the rook's horizontal and vertical movements, and a sumo wrestling game based on the concept of king
opposition Opposition may refer to: Arts and media * ''Opposition'' (Altars EP), 2011 EP by Christian metalcore band Altars * The Opposition (band), a London post-punk band * ''The Opposition with Jordan Klepper'', a late-night television series on Comedy ...
. Fritz and Bianca arrive at the IntelliGym, where they meet a talking rat named Chesster. With Chesster, they progress through the three stages of the gym, which contain various equipment corresponding to different aspects of chess. When reaching each piece of equipment, a
cutscene A cutscene or event scene (sometimes in-game cinematic or in-game movie) is a sequence in a video game that is not interactive, interrupting the gameplay. Such scenes are used to show conversations between characters, set the mood, reward the ...
shows Chesster explaining the games to Fritz and Bianca and then the player has the opportunity to play. Some puzzles are untimed and the player has to complete a certain number to progress, whereas others are timed with a highscore board and the player must reach a certain score. The lightweight section formally describes the movement of the chess pieces. The middleweight section describes the initial chessboard layout, castling,
stalemate Stalemate is a situation in chess where the player whose turn it is to move is not in check and has no legal move. Stalemate results in a draw. During the endgame, stalemate is a resource that can enable the player with the inferior position ...
,
checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...
with two rooks or one rook. The heavyweight section explains relative piece values and other strategy. After completing every exercise, Fritz plays chess against King Black. A television segment is played depending on the game's outcome. The player can then play the weak King Kaleidoscope, the strong King Black or Chesster—who has different difficulty levels—with options to receive hints during the game or switch sides, particularly if the opponent is winning.


Part 2

At the Pleasantville Village Olympics, the player takes part in timed games involving movements that resemble that of a knight
fork In cutlery or kitchenware, a fork (from 'pitchfork') is a utensil, now usually made of metal, whose long handle terminates in a head that branches into several narrow and often slightly curved tines with which one can spear foods either to h ...
and bishop
skewer A skewer is a thin metal or wood stick used to hold pieces of food together. The word may sometimes be used as a metonym, to refer to the entire food item served on a skewer, as in "chicken skewers". Skewers are used while grilling or roasting ...
. Fritz and Chesster then falls down a chute leading to the basement of King Black's castle, where Chesster has been kidnapped. King Black tells them that they are trapped. They begin to use his chess training machines and accumulate "ELO" creatures as their ability improves, which they need in order for a sensor in the elevator to allow them to journey upwards. On the lower floor, they take part in a timed game involving checking, a game involving calculating who wins from an
exchange Exchange or exchanged may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film and television * Exchange (film), or ''Deep Trap'', 2015 South Korean psychological thriller * Exchanged (film), 2019 Peruvian fantasy comedy * Exchange (TV program), 2021 Sou ...
and an explanation of the classical rules of opening development. They also learn about
discovered check In chess, a discovered attack is a direct attack revealed when one piece moves out of the way of another. Discovered attacks can be extremely powerful, as the piece moved can make a threat independently of the piece it reveals. Like many chess t ...
and
double check In chess and other related games, a double check is a check delivered by two pieces simultaneously. In chess notation, it is almost always represented the same way as a single check ("+"), but is sometimes symbolized by "++". (The symbol "++", ...
and play a game about rat traps similar to ''
Space Invaders is a 1978 shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Taito for Arcade video game, arcades. It was released in Japan in April 1978, with the game being released by Midway Manufacturing overseas. ''Space Invaders'' was the first fixed s ...
''. On the middle and upper floors, they learn about long algebraic notation, promotion
key square In chess, particularly in endgames, a key square (also known as a ''critical square'') is a square such that if a player's king can occupy it, he can force some gain such as the promotion of a pawn or the capture of an opponent's pawn. Key squ ...
s, a square rule for whether a pawn can outrun a king and
deflection Deflection or deflexion may refer to: Board games * Deflection (chess), a tactic that forces an opposing chess piece to leave a square * Khet (game), formerly ''Deflexion'', an Egyptian-themed chess-like game using lasers Mechanics * Deflection ...
. Additionally, a puppet quizzes them about opening strategy and they play
blindfold A blindfold (from Middle English ') is a garment, usually of cloth, tied to one's head to cover the eyes to disable the wearer's sight. While a properly fitted blindfold prevents sight even if the eyes are open, a poorly tied or trick blindfo ...
games,
odds In probability theory, odds provide a measure of the probability of a particular outcome. Odds are commonly used in gambling and statistics. For example for an event that is 40% probable, one could say that the odds are or When gambling, o ...
games, and a game involving memorising the pieces in a sample game. They also see
Fool's mate The Fool's mate is the fastest checkmate in chess delivered after the fewest possible moves from the game's starting position. It arises from the following moves (minor variations are possible): :1. f3 e6 :2. g4?? Qh4 The mate can be achie ...
and
Scholar's mate In chess, scholar's mate is the checkmate achieved by the following moves, or similar: :1. e4 e5 :2. Qh5 Nc6 :3. Bc4 Nf6 :4. Qxf7 The same mating pattern may be reached by various move orders. For example, White might play 2.Bc4. In a ...
. After completing these minigames, they use pieces of paper they found on the floor along the way to solve a chess puzzle of mate in seven. They challenge King Black to a duel and a television segment plays depending on whether the user wins or loses. They can then play against King Kaleidoscope, King Purple, a computer, King Black or Chesster at various difficulty levels.


Part 3

At the Pleasantville fairground, King Black has upset 16 kings by winning their "Chess Chubbies"—plush toys—in a chess game. Fritz and Bianca, accompanied by Chesster, aim to win 16 such toys to give to the kings. They also play Chesster's flea circus attraction, in which they have to place a piece on the board such that black is in checkmate under time pressure. The 16 games teach undermining,
interference Interference is the act of interfering, invading, or poaching. Interference may also refer to: Communications * Interference (communication), anything which alters, modifies, or disrupts a message * Adjacent-channel interference, caused by extra ...
and
decoy A decoy (derived from the Dutch ''de'' ''kooi'', literally "the cage" or possibly ''eenden kooi'', " duck cage") is usually a person, device, or event which resembles what an individual or a group might be looking for, but it is only meant to ...
moves. One covers strategy in choosing a move, while another asks the player to remember lines they choose that begin with the
Ruy Lopez The Ruy Lopez (; ), also called the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. e4 e5 :2. Nf3 Nc6 :3. Bb5 The Ruy Lopez remains one of the most popular chess openings, featuring many variations. In ...
. Additionally, one game is similar to the video game '' Breakout'', there is one in which chicks have to be lured into a trap, and another features a chess game with randomized effects at predetermined moments, such as all pieces being removed from the h-file. The player is also introduced to
chess clock A chess clock is a device that comprises two adjacent clocks with buttons to stop one clock while starting the other, so that the two clocks never run simultaneously. The clocks are used in games where the time is allocated between two parties. T ...
s and
losing chess Losing chess is one of the most popular chess variants. The objective of each player is to lose all of their pieces or be stalemated, that is, a misère version. In some variations, a player may also win by checkmating or by being checkmate ...
and asked to find checkmate after viewing a blindfold chess opening. Other games focus on checkmates, including Anastasia's mate, Morphy's mate, checkmate with two bishops and with a bishop and a knight—without reaching a draw by the 50 moves rule. Chesster teaches the players when a lone king can or can't force a draw against a king and a rook pawn, and how to win or force a draw in the
rook and pawn versus rook endgame The rook and pawn versus rook endgame is a fundamentally important, widely studied chess endgame. Precise play is usually required in these positions. With optimal play, some complicated wins require sixty moves to either checkmate, capture the ...
. The player then plays against King Black in a chess game with time control of ten minutes per side. They can then play against Chesster at various levels of difficulty, King Kaleidoscope, King Black, or a team consisting of the Chess Chubbies.


Part 4

The game takes place on an alien planet, in which Fritz and Bianca learn additional tactics and strategies. They learn about the
Queen's Gambit The Queen's Gambit is the chess opening that starts with the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 It is one of the oldest openings and is still commonly played today. It is traditionally described as a '' gambit'' because White appears to sacrifice the ...
,
blockades A blockade is the act of actively preventing a country or region from receiving or sending out food, Contraband, supplies, Materiel, weapons, or communications, and sometimes people, by military force. A blockade differs from an embargo or I ...
, additional checkmate patterns,
passed pawn In chess, a passed pawn is a pawn with no opposing pawns to prevent it from advancing to the eighth ; i.e. there are no opposing pawns in front of it on either the same or adjacent files. A passed pawn is sometimes colloquially called a passe ...
s, the concepts of
space Space is a three-dimensional continuum containing positions and directions. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions. Modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless ...
and
tempo In musical terminology, tempo (Italian for 'time'; plural 'tempos', or from the Italian plural), measured in beats per minute, is the speed or pace of a given musical composition, composition, and is often also an indication of the composition ...
, drawing strategies and variants including dice chess.


Production

The game was written by the German author and illustrator and the headteacher and chess trainer . It was created in collaboration between Terzio's imprint Quinto, and
ChessBase ChessBase is a German company that develops and sells chess software, maintains a chess news site, and operates an internet chess server for online chess. Founded in 1986, it maintains and sells large-scale databases containing the moves of recor ...
.


Release

* * * * Part 1 was released on a
CD-ROM A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains computer data storage, data computers can read, but not write or erase. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold b ...
and ran on
Windows 95 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented operating system developed by Microsoft and the first of its Windows 9x family of operating systems, released to manufacturing on July 14, 1995, and generally to retail on August 24, 1995. Windows 95 merged ...
and later Windows machines. In 2018, it was released as an
iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...
app. The game has been translated into 17 languages. Its description says that it is suitable for children aged eight and upwards. Chess puzzle books and workbooks featuring the characters in the series were also produced.


Reception

In 2009, the game won the
Deutscher Computerspielpreis The Deutscher Computerspielpreis (, also DPC) is a prize mainly aimed at the German games industry and has been awarded since 2009. The DCP is awarded by the Cabinet of Germany and the German Games Industry Association ''game''. In addition to awar ...
(German Computer Games Award) in the category Best Children's Game. Hope Katz Gibbs of ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'' praised Part 1 as a "clever teaching tool" which divides learning chess into "small, kid-friendly lessons". Brian Wilson of ''
School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, wi ...
'' wrote that Part 1 has "an overlong story, too much dialogue, and some confusing directions" but is "humorous" and "mostly successful" in teaching chess. ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' Charles Herold reviewed Part 2 positively, calling the graphics "appealing" and the dialogue "amusing", while finding that it was "the most entertaining way" he knew of to improve one's chess. Karen Yannacio of ''Parenting for High Potential'' said that she was "impressed with the training modules" of Part 2 and believed that its graphics were "incredibly appealing and fun". Yannacio also commented that the dialogue "can get long and can't be fast-forwarded".


References


Further reading

* {{cite magazine, magazine=
PC Magazine ''PC Magazine'' (shortened as ''PCMag'') is an American computer magazine published by Ziff Davis. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009. Publication of online editions started in late 1994 and continues . Overview ''PC Mag ...
, last=Moore, first=Sonya, title=Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster (Review), volume=22, issue=18, date=October 14, 2003


External links


Official website
(German) Chess software Children's educational video games IOS games Video games developed in Germany Windows games Video game franchises Video game franchises introduced in 2003