Review of: Learning to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster (Viva Media)

Normally, I like to explore and test every part of a computer game before writing the review. Unfortunately, this time I've been stuck in stalemate. Or is it checkmate? Whichever it is, I've also been smashing toilets, jumping hurdles, and dodging spiders among other things.

Just what in the name of the Queen have I been doing? My almost eight year old son and I have been learning to play chess, step by step, slowly and carefully, with a red-haired prince and a rat wearing shorts.

We have been playing "Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster" by Viva Media (used to be Tivola). My son is a budding chess enthusiast, and I know I learned to play it sometime long ago in my youth. But now I'm rusty, very rusty.

Whether you are young or old, "Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster" is a fun way to learn the basics, brush up on skills, and even discover a few insider secrets of chess.

Along with his feisty cousin, Bianca, young Fritz takes over when his father, King White, goes on vacation. King Black takes advantage of the situation and challenges Fritz to a duel. Fritz must go into training to prepare for this duel.

On his way to the Intelligym, Fritz and Bianca must complete six games. Each of these games correlates with a specific chess skill to be learned later in the Intelligym. The first game requires you to shove the opposing sumo wrestler off the mat in twenty or less moves. This demonstrates the concept of check and checkmate. In the second game, the goal is to move Tremblina Saveapenny through a maze to collect coins, while avoiding spiders. This teaches how rooks move. Next, use a block to bounce a ball back and forth to smash toilets in King Black's factory. This teaches how bishops move. Queen Kaleidoscope teaches how queens move, while you try to pick ten flowers before they wilt. By helping horses jump hurdles, you learn the way knights move. The Peasant Pawns of Pleasantville are a challenging bunch. You have to get your pawn to the other side, before he makes it to yours. You can't just zip through these games. You have to show sufficient mastery of each before being allowed in the Intelligym.

In the Intelligym there are three different rooms, one each for lightweights, middle weights, and heavyweights. This is where you meet Chesster, the rat. You must complete one level before moving on to the next. When you complete the all three levels you may challenge King Black to a Duel.

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