How to setup the Endgame Tablebases (EGTB) in Fritz or ChessBase ?

 Setting up the Endgame Tablebases (EGTB) in Fritz or ChessBase is a straightforward process that will significantly improve your chess engine’s ability to play perfect endgames. Endgame tablebases provide precomputed solutions for positions with a limited number of pieces, allowing the engine to access flawless endgame play when there are few pieces left on the board.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the tablebases in both Fritz and ChessBase:

1. Choose the Right Tablebases

First, decide which type of tablebases you want to install. The most commonly used tablebases for modern chess engines, including Fritz and ChessBase, are:

• Syzygy Tablebases: These are the most popular and efficient. They are available for 3-4-5 pieces, and for more advanced users, 6-piece and 7-piece tablebases are available.

• Nalimov Tablebases: These are older and larger but still supported by some users. However, Syzygy tablebases are recommended due to their smaller size and faster performance.

• Lomonosov Tablebases: For advanced analysis, Lomonosov 7-piece tablebases are an option, though they require a significant amount of storage and are generally used for highly detailed research.

For most users, Syzygy Tablebases are the best option due to their size and efficiency.

2. Download the Tablebases

• Syzygy Tablebases: You can download the 3-4-5 piece tablebases from various sources, such as the official Stockfish website or other trusted chess database repositories.

  For example, you can visit:

  • syzygy-tables.info or
  • chess.com Syzygy download links for links to download.

  For 6-piece and 7-piece Syzygy tablebases, you will need more storage space (6-piece requires about 150 GB, and 7-piece can take up over 1 TB).

Once downloaded, make sure the tablebases are saved in an accessible location on your computer, such as a dedicated folder on your hard drive (e.g., C:\Syzygy).

3. Install Tablebases in Fritz

Follow these steps to install and configure the Syzygy tablebases in Fritz:

1. Open Fritz: Launch the Fritz Chess program.

2. Go to the Engine Settings:

   • Click on File → Options → Tablebases.
   • Here, you will see an option for Syzygy Tablebases.

3. Set the Syzygy Tablebases Directory:

   • In the dialog box, you will see a field labeled Syzygy Path.
   • Click Browse and navigate to the folder where you saved your downloaded Syzygy tablebases (e.g., C:\Syzygy).
   • Select the folder and confirm.

4. Configure the Tablebase Usage:

   • Set the options for how you want Fritz to use the tablebases. Most users prefer setting the engine to use tablebases for both WDL (Win/Draw/Loss) and DTZ (Distance to Zeroing) evaluations. This allows Fritz to optimize its endgame play using perfect knowledge.
   • You can adjust other options such as how many cores the engine uses or limit the use of tablebases to only positions with fewer than a specific number of pieces.

5. Save Settings:

   • Click OK or Apply to save your settings.

4. Install Tablebases in ChessBase

The steps for installing Syzygy tablebases in ChessBase are similar to Fritz:

1. Open ChessBase: Start the ChessBase program.

2. Access the Options Menu:

   • Click on File → Options → Engine.

3. Locate the Tablebases Settings:

   • Find the field labeled Syzygy Path or Tablebase Path.

4. Set the Tablebases Directory:

   • Just like in Fritz, click Browse and navigate to the folder where your Syzygy tablebases are stored. Select the appropriate folder.

5. Configure Tablebase Use:

   • Decide how you want ChessBase to use tablebases. Most users configure it to use both WDL and DTZ tablebases for endgame analysis and engine play.
   • Ensure that ChessBase is set to use tablebases during analysis and for engine matches where applicable.

6. Save Settings:

   • Click OK to apply the changes and close the options window.

5. Verify the Installation

Once you have set up the tablebases in Fritz or ChessBase, it’s important to verify that the program is correctly using them:

• In Fritz:

  • Load an endgame position with a limited number of pieces (for example, a king and rook vs. king).
  • Run the engine and check that the tablebases are being accessed. You should see the engine accessing the Syzygy tablebases in the engine output or evaluation bar.

• In ChessBase:

  • Analyze an endgame position with the engine, and ensure that the evaluation is based on tablebase knowledge for optimal moves. Tablebase moves will usually be instant, showing perfect evaluation with no "thinking" time.

6. Optional: Update or Add More Tablebases

If you want to add more advanced tablebases later (such as 6-piece or 7-piece tablebases), you can download them and place them in the same folder as your existing tablebases. You can reconfigure the settings in Fritz or ChessBase to account for the added tablebases.

Conclusion

By setting up tablebases in Fritz or ChessBase, you ensure that your chess engine has access to perfect endgame knowledge, greatly improving your ability to study and play these critical positions. With tablebases, your engine will always make the best possible moves in positions with few pieces, allowing you to master endgame play and improve your overall chess strength.

Take advantage of this feature, and you'll soon find that endgames, once mysterious and difficult, become clear and simple to navigate