Playing the Fat Fritz 2 bot with a DGT Smartboard

• YouTube video; length 1:14

https://youtu.be/BUt2B3koJUY

Example #2 with a table revision, the monitor mounted and better lighting.

https://youtu.be/wWAWT9zKd14

I mounted a 10" touchscreen monitor in back of the board (Window 10 OS) for a visual reference and integrated audio. It's a duplicate display of my larger monitor, but is right in front of me and easily accessible.

Fat Fritz 2 is widely discussed as of late and is somewhat controversial, "reportedly" running Stockfish 13. Essentially, an upgraded version of Fritz 17 that doesn't require a high end graphics card and plays more like a human opponent. I have it set at a lower, second level (Hobby Player) in this example and the software is using 4 cores of an 8 core CPU.

If you watch the animated character (yellow, bottom right), you can see it light up when I stick the knight in front of its queen (0:42). So basically, the bot taunts me. However, it also tells me which color is winning and by how much (based on position and not just material advantage), so I tolerate its "joy" in beating me. However, (pic#2) sometimes I wipe the smile off its face if I play well. In this case my estimated Elo rating was 1780 and it gave up and Pic#1 is #.

Cost? I have about $1,000 USD (842 Euros) invested in the pictured setup including the FF2 software. As hobbies go, this is a relatively cheap one :-) I've since upgraded my chess pieces to the Royal (rosewood) set (pic#3); so add about $287 to the above cost. Note: Three days from  placing the order to my door via Slovenia (borders Italy), if you select the expedited shipping (extra $12) on Amazon. Pieces received were flawless and each piece was individually wrapped to protect it. 

Great writeup Marc. I think you have dialed this in more than most people in terms of how to effectively practice and improve.