Fritz 9: Play Chess

Fritz 9 is one of those games that I will keep installed on my computer for rainy days or relaxed downtime. I will never be so serious about chess that I get the most out of this title, but it is the best chess game I have played to date. Even if you already own the previous version, or some other game for that matter, you may want to seriously consider giving this one a go.

Perfectly competent chess game featuring online play that beats the heck out of Java based games like those on Pogo and Yahoo.

This is a great game, but more so if you don't have Fritz 8. I do not think there is enough variance in the upgrade to warrant running off and getting it.

Fritz 9 expands upon the excellent versions of the past two years with updated graphics, broader tutorials, helping tools and an expanded database. If you're going to buy one program, this is the one, especially since it includes a $35 value PlayChess.com membership.

A great chess program for helping and improving your chess game. This is not just a game to play chess with others or against a computer; it is a set of tools for teaching and improving your chess game.

If you are planning to buy Fritz 9 with the hopes of learning how to play Chess, run far, far away and don’t look back.

Chess-nerds, rejoice! The game that beat Gary Kasparov is back and it knows the game a whole lot better than you ever will!

The AI itself is quite charactersome, nattering incessantly to you throughout the match, sometimes making scathing remarks on your inability to play chess and sometimes just uttering random remarks, such as Mrs Doubtfire impersonations amongst many others. But even that exuberant façade cannot hide the fact that behind Fritz Chess 9 is very little new material besides engine updates.

The strengths of Fritz 9 will likely only appeal to the most advanced chess players.

Fritz 9 is ideal for players interested in seriously developing their chess games, but fails to do much for the casual player or players new to the game.