Fritz 18: Evolving Genius

Instead of just increasing its playing strength – like adding 30 Elo points to its stratospheric rating, which we have actually done! – we decided to also create a new training tool for ambitious chess player. One that will teach you how to find brilliancies in your games. And it is a training tool that can be used by amateurs all the way to the World Champion, because Fritz 18 actually adjusts its playing strength, and the tactical opportunities it offers, to the proficiency of the opponent.

Fritz has fascinated the chess world for 30 (!) years: victories over world champions Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik, innovative training methods for amateurs and professionals, 20 years of Internet chess on the Fritz server, 10 integrated WebApps for mobile training:

Fritz offers you everything you will need as a dedicated chess enthusiast.

Evolving Genius – The new path to playing brilliancies

Fritz shows you what you are capable of being: an attacking player who can conjure up magnificent brilliancies over the board! The new AI-based training method leads you to brilliant sacrificial combinations via clever variant selection and discreet hints.

Also new in FRITZ 18:

Intelligent tips: Fritz provides subtle hints in difficult positions
Visual evaluation: pawn structure, king safety, piece activity and sharpness of the position
New chess board in Direct2D technology with a fresh look and improved animation
New engine analysis: Interesting threats, appealing ideas and the game continuation
Animated engine variations: Intuitive visual display of the best continuation
Improved calculation training to give your Elo a quick boost.
Stronger Fritz 18 engine by Frank Schneider, optimised for short time controls.

The main playing area of Fritz 18 (click to enlarge), with the trainer and brilliancy assistant

Here are a couple of examples of a 1950 rated amateur (the programmer himself) playing against a the 3500-rated program Fritz 18 set to "club level" training. It offers him the opportunity to excel! One is always on the lookout for opportunities to execute a brilliancy.

There are many other interesting features to help you understand chess strategy better.

You can ask of hints, or spoken commentary. On the right the program tells you which pieces are well-placed or in danger, how volatile the position is, etc. Fritz 18 helps understand the position, tactically and strategically, without simply suggesting moves to play.

Stay tuned – we will describe the other exciting features for you in detail in the coming days.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum: PC Intel i3 or i5 or Ryzen 3, 4 GB RAM, Windows 8.1 (32- or 64-Bit), DirectX11, graphic card with 512 MB RAM, DVD-ROM drive, Windows Media Player and internet access.

Recommended: PC Intel i7, i9 or Ryzen 7/9, 8 GB RAM, Windows 11 with 64-Bit, Windows Media Player, graphic card with 1 GB RAM, RTX graphic card for real time Raytrace board, DVD-ROM drive and internet access.

For ChessBase ACCOUNT: Internet access and up-to-date browser, e.g. Chrome, Safari. Runs on Windows, OS X, iOS, Android and Linux.

Watch Sagar Shah of ChessBase India try a first experimental game, together with his viewers, against a Fritz 18, making use of the new hint and commentary functions: