ChessBase is selling older Fritz Trainers alongside its new releases this summer, and the question is worth asking: do 20-year-old chess courses still matter?
Jochen Schwarz, a Bremen club player, tested the classic titles that are back in circulation. Daniel King's PowerPlay series and Karsten Müller's endgame instruction are among them. The practical question is whether they run on modern computers and whether their chess has aged well.
The answer appears to be yes on both counts. These trainers work fine on current systems. More importantly, the chess fundamentals they teach don't go out of date. King's analysis and Müller's endgame technique remain sound. The positions, principles, and explanations hold up because chess basics don't shift the way opening theory does.
The real value is in your learning goals. If you want sharp preparation in the latest variations, these won't help. If you're building your endgame foundation or understanding how a world-class player thinks through a complex middlegame, King and Müller are still excellent teachers. The production quality is dated, sure, but that's a minor issue compared to the instruction itself.
For club players tightening their game, the older Fritz Trainers offer solid chess at bargain prices. You're not paying for the flashiest interface. You're getting decades-old expertise that remains relevant.