Fritz 21 is here!

by ChessBase
5/20/2026 – It has gained 40 Elo points, and now stands at 3,620 Elo. It can show you the best moves, the most promising lines. But it concentrates on teaching. It will play practice games against you, at your level of play, and imitate the style of famous players if you wish. It has AI-supported training with subtle hints, and will train tactics and endgames with you. It even teaches you Freestyle Chess. It practically forces you to become a stronger player.
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. 

  

  

FRITZ 21

Your Personal Chess Trainer

FRITZ is more than just a chess engine — it's a training revolution!

Whether you are taking your first steps into tournament chess or already competing at a high level: with FRITZ you train more efficiently, more intelligently and more individually than ever before.

Stronger. Better Looking. More Direct.

The multiple Computer Chess World Champion has gained another 40 Elo points and now reaches an incredible 3,620 Elo! At the same time, FRITZ 21 presents itself with a modernized, freshly polished interface for an even more direct playing experience.

✓ +40 Elo points — now 3,620 Elo
✓ Modernized, freshly polished interface
✓ Even more direct playing experience

Play Against Legends:

Challenge the greatest chess legends in history: Lasker, Tal, Uhlmann, Fischer and Karpov — with Elo ratings adjusted to your playing strength while preserving their authentic style of play.

The unique style engine now simulates their human playing styles more realistically than ever before. Your rivals appear as animated video personalities and comment live on your moves. Chess training has never been this entertaining and immersive.

Better Calculations — Even Under Time Pressure!

Perfect your calculation skills with the further improved calculation training mode and its brand-new evaluation system. Or sharpen your reflexes in Bullet Training Mode and learn how to keep your nerves under pressure!

✓ Improved rating system for variation calculation
✓ Bullet training mode for rapid chess reflexes
✓ Systematic training under realistic time pressure

Style Simulation at the Highest Level

Train in a realistic and practical way: choose whether FRITZ should play aggressively, take risks, focus on positional play, or be willing to make exchanges.

✓ Aggressive, positional, exchange-happy — you choose the style
✓ Risk-taking or solid — the playing style adapts to you
✓ Practical training against realistic playing styles

Feature Overview

Style Engine: Train in a realistic and practical way: choose whether FRITZ should play aggressively, take risks, focus on positional play, or be willing to make exchanges.

Animated Opponents: Master legends and animal opponents appear as animated personalities in video and comment on your moves.

Calculation Training: Improved variation training with a new rating system. See&Click exercises in 60 seconds for measurable progress.

Bullet Training: Train your reflexes and learn to keep your nerve under pressure. “Blitz & Train” generates worksheets from your blitz games.

Opening Book: One million theory moves with statistical evaluation (frequency, win rate, player Elo). Live-Book with a weekly updated database.

“Evolving Genius!”: AI-supported training with subtle hints. FRITZ gently guides you to the best move without giving away the solution.

Opponent Types: Train against typical player personalities: Attacker, Coward, Swindler, Endgame Wizard — each with their own playing style and character.

Positional Analysis: Positional analysis with evaluation of king safety, open lines and wing activity. Let's Check: 200 million analyzed positions.

Tactics Training: Generated exercises in attack, defense and checkmate. Tactical analysis directly from your own games.

Endgame Training: 27 categorized typical endgame positions for targeted training of the most important endgame techniques.

3D Boards: Stunning 3D board designs with real-time raytracing for a visual playing experience of the highest class.

Full information on Fritz 21 is available here

FRITZ 21

Including three Months Premium: ChessBase Premium Account included: play online at playchess.com, training apps and access to all premium features.

Buy for €69.90 – One-time purchase · No subscription
Update from Fritz 18, 19, 20: €49.90

Note: You can get Fritz 21 at a 25% reduced rate on Discount Day, Thursday, May 21, 2026

<< Super Chess Classic Romania: Caruana beats Firouzja in postponed encounter
Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

FIDE elections 2026 announced

5/18/2026 – FIDE has confirmed that its 2026 Congress will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 20 to 27 September, with the General Assembly and elections scheduled for the final two days. The announcement sets out the application deadlines and endorsement requirements for candidates seeking the positions of President and Deputy President, elected Vice President and Zonal President, while also reminding applicants of the rules governing campaigning during the electoral period.
More...
 2

See also

Super Chess Classic Romania: Keymer beats MVL's Najdorf, leads

5/18/2026 – Vincent Keymer took the sole lead at the Super Chess Classic Romania in Bucharest after defeating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in round four, while the other completed games were drawn. Fabiano Caruana v. Alireza Firouzja was postponed after Firouzja was unable to play for medical reasons. Keymer now stands half a point ahead of the field, though Caruana still has a game in hand. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
More...
 6

Video

60m English Anti-Bayonet

King’s Indian fans who choose the Mar del Plata attack (7...Nc6) against White’s classical system (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0) usually aim for a complex position with mutual attacks on open wings, requiring long-term strategic planning and tactical sharpness in critical moments. Computers often do not know how to handle the arising complex strategic positions, which suits players who like to think on their own instead of memorizing long variations. However, the fashionable Bayonet Attack (9.b4) interferes with Black’s ideas. After Black’s main move 9...Nh5 the positions opens, the lines get forced and computer analysis is important again. But this DVD offers an antidote against White’s Bayonet Attack, namely 9...a5! This move leads to sound positions with very few concrete lines, in which the focus is on strategy not on tactics. Objectively chances are equal but if Black knows what to do things might quickly become dangerous for White.