Learn sharp openings with Fritz 18

by Matthias Wüllenweber
11/24/2021 – After 30 years, chess programs are now gradually reaching a level at which one can reasonably play against them. With Fritz 18 you have an unprecedented opportunity to train and learn sharp openings, helping you master the tactical motifs that are otherwise invisible in the 'perfect play' of normal computer games. Fritz 18 will even help you set up tactical tricks and sacrifices for you to deliver!

ChessBase 18 - Mega package ChessBase 18 - Mega package

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

More...

In every game, you will be guided through its subtle tips, and learn to become a strong player able to more easily refute your opponent's mistakes. You will experience the typical problems of the defender, have great fun learning openings, and experience the joy of playing brilliant games.

Does it make sense to memorize reams of theoretical variations that rarely appear on the board? What you really need is to feel so at home in certain position types that you master common motifs in your sleep. Unfortunately, the typical tactical elements and traps of sharp systems rarely appear in GM games, because the opening variations they play represent optimal play from both sides. However, theoretical variations are only the tip of the iceberg of what lies in a sharper position.

When a strong player is up against a weak player, typical attacking ideas and tactical motifs become much more visible, and that's exactly what happens when you play against Fritz 18. You are given the opportunity to conduct attacks that will often end in fireworks in your favor. 

In order to illustrate this, consider the example of four famous sharp systems. All games below were played using the "strong club player" level. 

1. The Marshall Attack

In the Spanish Marshall Attack, there are many opportunities that White can miss. Fritz always falls for a motif that appears in a surprising number of variations: As soon as the black rook comes to e6, sacrifices for minor pieces on f4 are in the air. For example, White has an unprotected rook e1, or the opening of the g-file allows the deadly Re6-g6.

The starting position for the training games is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Be3:

 

And here are two examples of the winning motif ...Nf4:

 
Pinning the pawn on g3
18... Nxf4!
 
Pinning the Be3
20... Nf4!

Example games:

(The games have brief comments, generated by Fritz while the game is being played).

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Be3 Play from here Bg4 16.Qd3 Bf5 17.Qe2 Bg4 18.f3 Bxg3! Super 19.Bxd5 Bxe1 20.Be4 Rae8! Sharp 21.Bxc6 Re6 22.Bd5 Rg6! Hot move 23.Qxe1 Bxf3+ 24.Bg5 Qg2# 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Strong Club Player (Fritz)-Human-0–12021C89Fritz 18 Easy Game

2. Exchange sacrifice in the Grünfeld Exchange Variation

In the classic main system of the Grünfeld Exchange Variation, White can give up the rook on a1 for the bishop on g7, and weaken Black's king position. This is then torn open with e4-e5 (against Black's f7-f6) or h4-h5. This frequently works when Black is imprecise. Alternately, White forms a very strong d-passed pawn.

Starting position: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Bg4 11.f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 16.Bh6 Re8

 

The simplest trick: build up pressure on g6 and then play the breakthrough on e5. The bishop sacrifice on g6 then follows:

 
21.Bxg6!

The attack with the undermining f6, to threaten mate on g7, is also typical:

 
23.Rd6!! Qe7 24.e5!

Game examples:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Bg4 11.f3 Na5 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 16.Bh6 Re8 Play from here 17.Qd4 a6 18.Rb1 Bf7 19.h3 e6 20.Rb6 Rc8 21.Kh1 g5 22.h4! Cool g4
23.Rd6‼ Excellent Qe7 24.e5 gxf3 25.exf6! Hot move Qxd6 26.Qg4+ Bg6 27.Bxg6 hxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kh8 29.Qg7#
1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021D89Fritz 18 Easy Game

3. Najdorf Poisoned Pawn Variation

The Poisoned Pawn Variation in the Sicilian Najdorf is a nightmare for Fritz 18, and there is no other way to put it. The king is so exposed in the middle that some kind of attacking setup always comes through. White can sacrifice comfortably. The standard threats then pile up in such a way that Fritz is virtually guaranteed to miss something.

Starting position: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 Nc6 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.e5 dxe5 14.Bxf6 gxf6

 

The well-known piece sacrifice on f6 is very effective (15.Ne4 Be7 16.Be2 h5 17. Rb3 Qa4 18.Nxf6 + Bxf6), in which the black king is wedged between the open d- and f-file. Then there are multiple decoy motives in order to open up deadly break-in squares for the white queen.

 
23.Bg6+! Kd7 24.Rd1 Bd6 25.Qc5!
 
After 24.Rxf6! White has invested a full rook, but gets it back in the attack.

Game examples:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 Nc6 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.e5 dxe5 14.Bxf6 gxf6 Play from here 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Be2 h5 17.Rb3 Qa4 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.c4 h4 20.0-0 Be7 21.Bd3 Rg8 22.Qf2 Rg7
23.Bg6+ Kd7 24.Rd1+ Bd6 25.Qc5 Ke7 26.Qxd6+ Kf6 27.Bc2 Rg6 28.Qd8+ Kg7 29.Rb7+‼ Discovered Attack, Deflection Bxb7 30.Rd7+ Kh6 31.Qxh4#
1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021B97Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021B97Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021B97Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021B97Fritz 18 Easy Game

4. Old Najdorf main line with 6.Bg5

In the classical Najdorf White attacks e6 with f4-f5. The path of precise defense is then solid but narrow. Fritz 18 deviates inconspicuously, but reliably, from the right path. Just like your opponent in a blitz game, things then explode, most often on e6.

Starting position: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12. g5 Nd7 13.f5 Bxg5+

 

Two motifs with Nxe6:

 
The undefended Bg5 allows 15.Nxe6! Bxe6 16.fxe6 b4 17.Bb5+!
 
Very similar but different move order: 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bb5+! Nd7 20.e5!

Game examples:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 Bxg5+ Play from here 14.Kb1 Ne5 15.Qh5 Qd8 16.h4 Bf4
17.Nxe6 Bxe6 18.fxe6 g6 19.exf7+ Kxf7 20.Qe2 Kg7 21.h5 Ra7 22.h6+! Quite well played. Kg8 23.Qf2 Rf7 24.Bh3 Qe8 25.Rxd6 Ng4 26.Bxg4! Defying gravity Bxd6 27.Qb6 Qe5 28.Rd1 Rf6 29.Qb7 Be7 30.Qc8+ Bf8 31.Nd5 Kf7 32.Nxf6 Kxf6 33.Qd8+ Be7 34.Qxh8+ Kg5 35.Qxe5+ Kxg4 36.Rg1+ Kf3 37.Rf1+
1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021B99Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021B99Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021B99Fritz 18 Easy Game
Human-Strong Club Player (Fritz)-1–02021B99Fritz 18 Easy Game

If you analyze the training games for these four openings soberly with a "normal" engine, you naturally ask yourself: isn't Black sometimes playing a little recklessly? Well, if that seems too easy for you, just play a winning position with no tips to the end. That will help brings you down to earth.

Instructions for attack training with Fritz18

In the Fritz 18 start screen, click on "Easy Game" to enter the spectacular game mode. Select the level "Club Player" or "Strong Club Player", depending on your taste. On the “Club Player” level, Fritz sometimes overlooks an easier mate when he can take a piece away.

You now have various options to reach the starting position: You can, for example, “Switch Off Engine” (above under steps) and simply enter the moves. Then turn the engine back on and simply start playing for the side you want to play. This starts the game.

Likewise, you can copy a game from another program and insert it here with "Paste Game", or click on the trains in the LiveBook. Finally, you can fetch your repertoire using the standard Copy (Ctrl-C) and Paste (Ctrl-V) from the notation tab "My moves" and start playing from any point.

Games against Fritz 18 contain more tactics than you typically experience against human opponents, and with a halfway sensible game, there is at least one winning trick in every game. This is because Fritz 18 is secretly helping out. If there is a way to tactically go wrong with a move that is halfway plausible at first glance, then he will play it too. In this way, even losing positions can often be saved through stubborn resistance.

Speaking of which, don't forget that after the game you can use the numerous training tools in Fritz such as "Full analysis" or "Blunder Check" to see what opportunities you may have missed.

Have fun with this completely new form of training!


Matthias Wüllenweber, CEO of ChessBase

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.