ChessBase’26: Expand Your Chess Horizon!

by ChessBase
11/11/2025 – On November 11, 2025, the time has come: ChessBase’26 will be released and available in the ChessBase Shop. Don’t miss out — get ChessBase’26 with its many exciting new features! Look forward to the latest edition of your chess database software and order it from tomorrow in our shop. Then you can start enjoying all the new features right away.
Your personal chess trainer. Your toughest opponent. Your strongest ally.
FRITZ 20 is more than just a chess engine – it is a training revolution for ambitious players and professionals. Whether you are taking your first steps into the world of serious chess training, or already playing at tournament level, FRITZ 20 will help you train more efficiently, intelligently and individually than ever before. 

Better prepared for higher rating with ChessBase’26!

  


   

New in ChessBase´26:

More targeted preparation

Club players need different statistics than top grandmasters. Prepare for your level, not for the World Champion. The ChessBase’26 opening books reflect mainstream theory and often suggest lines that are not easy for the opponent you are preparing for to play.

New tools and improved functions

  • Top players immediately recognize the latest trends and the statistics for different move orders. With ChessBase’26, you too can understand the typical variations along with their strategic themes and common plans.
  • Train by reviewing selected instructive games. 
  • Solve the typical tactical motifs – this is revolutionary for opening training and great fun.

  • New reference filters
  • Instant preparation: simply enter the name.
  • Filter out blitz and rapid games with one click.
  • New detection of duplicate games.
  • Ten times faster and much more precise. Database maintenance has never been so easy.
  • Monte-Carlo analysis
    A single engine evaluation is just one number. Monte Carlo provides additional insights into a position: practical chances, move variety, typical manoeuvres.
  • AI description of plans
    Explains a position to you like a good personal trainer.
    (Valuable insights, but be aware that hallucinations are still possible.)
  • Real-time ray tracing
    The ray-traced 3D boards have become ultra-fast and reach high resolution within seconds.

Of course also still included:

• Access to over 7 Billion Lichess games, extremely fast via the ChessBase database server.

• Download Chess.Com games through the built-in API, quickly and conveniently!

• Players preparation by matching with Lichess games: Identifying Lichess accounts through statistical matching provides deep insights for opponent preparation!

• Built-in Clout engine: Use cloud power on the go with your notebook or Surface, rent the engine you need and save your battery at the same time! Includes a flat-rate for premium users*

• ChessBase Mobile: The app for on the go – access your cloud databases, opening preparation and the ChessBase online database with over 12 million games!*

• Printing of QR codes for games and positions.

Minimum system requirements: PC/notebook with Windows 10/11 and 8 GB RAM

*) Only in combination with a ChessBase Premium Account, which is included for one year with the purchase of ChessBase’26. This also applies to ChessBase’26 access to the ChessBase Online Database.

ChessBase’26 – Expand Your Chess Horizon!
Available from November 11, 2025 

<< Matthias Wuellenweber on all new functions for ChessBase 26
ChessBase 26 - The interview with Matthias Wuellenweber >>
Topics: chessbase, ChessBase’26
Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

The millennial journey of chess along the Silk Road

9/22/2025 – The development of chess is deeply entwined with the history of human civilisation, and its journey along the Silk Road helped transform it into a cultural treasure that transcends borders. From its early forms in India and China to its adaptations in Persia, the Islamic world and medieval Europe, chess evolved as a mirror of thought and philosophy. This account retraces its millennial path, highlighting how every move carries memory, creativity and a universal human legacy.
More...
 29

See also

Becoming a Chess Genius in 30 Days? - Here is the Masterplan!

2/19/2024 – The experiment of preparing to win a tournament as the lowest rated player in just 30 days is running, and the first week started. ChessBase content manager Arne has to start somewhere. But where? By writing a Masterplan! With this, he can concentrate on tactics, openings, middlegames, and endgames for the upcoming weeks. Furthermore, Arne chooses 40 Fritztrainers, fools around with ChessBase 17, and the Mega Database, to study all of his opponents in the tournament!
More...
 8

Video

60m English The Elephant Gambit

The Elephant Gambit (1.e4.e5 2.Nf3 d5!?) has never really been given the attention it deserves. It is a very useful surprise weapon. Let us list the advantages of playing this particular opening: 1) Shock value 2) It is very aggressive. Black can take over the initiative early. 3) Many tricky lines 4) Unorthodox. Black is basically taking the game to the opponent as early as move two. Not many openings do that! It's a perfect opening for young players and club players to adopt. Let Andrew Martin select a repertoire for you on this 60 mins, which, if used with discretion, will rack up the points. I am sure that you will enjoy this unusual tour of the Elephant Gambit.