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Highly recommended

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: May 29, 2005
Author: Amazon User

My kids (6 and 8) were somewhat resistant to the idea of learning chess until I purchased this software. They loved the computer game, and now they love playing chess. They have learned the basic rules and are now learning strategy. The game is entertaining enough that, even when they were not winning, they continued to play. Now, they win some and are thrilled. I bought a second copy for the second grade classroom in the hopes that other kids would be similarly inspired.

There are so many completely mindless computer games out there -- this one is not!

Playing and Having Fun -- That's the Best Kind of Teaching/Learning!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: October 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

As of the time of writing of this review, I have 3 children aged 5 and 3/4, 4 1/3, and 2.5 years old. ALL THREE fully enjoy the game (my youngest, though, keeps on saying "I want to play 'Chesster the Rat!'").

For the 2.5 year old, I would say it's only good if you have a LARGE monitor (and for playing chess on a chessboard, a LARGE board). I think kids still need to develop hand-eye coordination and the like -- they can't seem to make diagonals straight, nor even the straights where the Rook traverses. My two older ones, though, have no problem.

As one of the reviews here said, some games look questionable in teaching the movements of the pieces (the pac-man type game to show Rooks), and the smashing of toilet bowls. I didn't quite get it. HOWEVER, I'm not an expert, so maybe there is an underlying subliminal type of teaching.

One great thing is about this title is the GRAPHICS. It's very simple, cartoony, and not one of those ultra-eye-candy type that abound in video games. If you're a parent, kinda like comparing the nice pastel-type and uncluttered cartoon of Pooh/Heffalump with a great story that keeps you hook vis-a-vis something that has gratuitous eye candy to hold a youngster's attention (something I think doesn't help brain development...).

BUT... HERE'S THE BOTTOMLINE: MY 5 year old knows practically ALL THE RULES of chess (including castling and en passant). The problem when we play on an analog playing surface (a.k.a. a real chess board), however, is sometimes he doesn't see that he's in check -- the computer has no problem telling you that move isn't allowed, though.

Another complaint I have is that Fritz (the main character) is a BOY, and my 2nd child is a girl. Fritz's companion, his cousin, BIANCA is a girl, and they do make a big fuss about how great girls are (i.e., the QUEEN). It's a small complaint, though.

What's really important is that my son now knows how to play chess. The focus on this title is learning chess. There are a few mating lessons (K vs K+R+R and K vs K+Q and K vs K+R), but mastery of even these simple mates could have done with a few more explanations/drills.

I can't wait to see what Fritz and Chesster 2 can do to build on the foundations of this one.

Overall, if you want someone young to learn chess painlessly, no... scrap that... if you want someone to learn chess JOYOUSLY, get this title.

I hope this review was helpful!

Don't buy this worthless game unless you love to be frustrated

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 16 / 27
Date: September 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I was looking for an intructional CD to help my daughter to learn chess. I read the reviews and endorsements and thought that this was what I was looking for. WRONG!

First of all, the CD comes with no instruction book and you're left to try and figure out what you're supposed to do by yourself (good luck). I've spent over 2 hours on this thing so far and I still haven't seen one thing that would help my daughter to learn to play chess.

I've emailed their 'help line' hoping to get some answers and never heard back from them.

Save your money and your sanity and don't buy this CD.

Excellent for all ages of kids

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 14
Date: April 24, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is an excellent chess tutorial for all ages of kids. It works as a game, a story, and as a chess lesson.

The really nice part about it is the order of presentation of the material, it combines how the pieces move with what they can do. A more natural choice would be to separate them (e.g., here's how a bishop moves, then later, here's how a bishop can checkmate), but the combination of the two gives kids a concrete goal, rather than rote memorization.

Those reviews that say "What do these arcade games have to do with chess?" have not played far enough into the game, because only when you get to the Intelligym, at the end of the path, does the program make the direct connection between the arcade games and chess then.

My 4 year old is entranced with it, and is now seeing three move checkmates on the board.

My only complaint with the program is that when someone does something incorrect, the criticism can be a bit too blunt, rather than encouraging, but it only makes my son more determined to get it right the next time.

I'm impressed

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 14
Date: June 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have one child on the autism spectrum, and one with ADHD. They were 7 when they got this, and they did indeed learn to play chess. It looks confusing and disorganized to me, as an adult, but it reached my special needs children and taught them. Now they play us. I would recommend it ias a gift also.

Review from EdutainingKids.com

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 15
Date: June 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Children's software really needed a title like this one. Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster is a tad slow-moving at times, but its system is quite effective and the story very charming. Slowly but surely, kids learn the basics of the game of chess as they follow Fritz and his cousin Bianca through the castle grounds. The story is that Fritz's parents, the King and Queen, have decided to take a vacation, leaving Fritz and Bianca as stand-in royalty. The conniving King Black jumps on the opportunity to challenge the "king" to a duel--a chess duel! Fritz will need to brush up on his chess skills before he takes up the challenge, and that's where kids step in.

As Fritz and Bianca make their way through the kingdom toward the Intelligym, they encounter a series of mini-games that help acquaint players with simple moves and strategies involved in the game. For example, the acceptable moves of the king piece are compared to sumo wrestlers!

Once they arrive at the Intelligym, kids begin a series of interactive lessons before they can "duel" with King Black. Piece by piece, kids learn acceptable moves and plays, and they practice what they learn.

What sets this title apart is its story line. Children don't just jump in and learn chess. Instead, they follow an animated adventure. Also, the mini-games and lessons are strong and, oftentimes, quite clever. Playing chess requires a fair amount of patience, and it exercises logical thinking skills. Kids need to plan ahead as they play. This game offers kids opportunities to pick up the basics as well as a few strategies that will help them along the way.

Fun Way to Learn the Rules of Chess

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This software is focused on learning the rules of the game. Movement of different pieces and pawns is demonstrated through an assortment of arcade-type games. There are some decent books for learning chess for beginners, but learning through a computer game program makes it much easier and more fun.

The program doesn't contain any instructions,so some people may find it frustrating figuring out what to do in the beginning. However, there is a symbol in the top right corner, clicking on which brings down the menu at which point navigating becomes a piece of cake.

Just knowing the rules of the game enables one to play chess, but not exactly to win, so the second CD in this series (Learn to Play Chess 2) continues where the first one left off and goes into different tactics and strategies.

The software is recommended for 8 year-old children and older - kids at heart may have fun learning chess with this program also.

The best computer chess game for kids

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: February 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

We bought it 1 month ago to help my almost 6 year's old sun to learn how to play because I didn't know how to play and I couldn't teach him. As a result of this purchase

1) My sun fall in love with chess and become so good player that I couldn't imagine

2) I (his mom) learned how to play too.
It is so much fun to learn it that I would recommend it to anybody. It worth it every penny I spent. I like everything about this game. Kids will love it 100%.

Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: February 24, 2006
Author: Amazon User

My 7-year old nephew loves it. Would play it all day long if allowed to.

Don't waste your money on this

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 10 / 18
Date: February 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I bought this for my son and we found out we got misled by other reviews. This software is more like a cartoon than a real chess lesson. It is very distracting.

If you just want to learn some basic rules and want your kids have some fun, it is ok to buy it. But if you want your kids learn some strageties, DON'T waste your money on this. Go for "chessmater".

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