(For Fritz, I'd recommend `handicap' mode rather than `friend' mode or
`sparring' mode.)

I heartily agree with the above, and I would add that Chessmaster 10th
Edition is a great program for a beginner. It's dozens of "personalities"
with biographies and ratings can make playing rated games and going for
points positively addicting! However, I recommend it with one reservation:
It freezes frequently on my computer. I don't know why. Others don't seem to
have the problem. If it works for you, though, its fantastic. Lots of
instructional materials too!



The first thing to sort out is tactics. Reinfeld's books of problems
(1001 checkmates and 1001 sacrifices and combinations) are a good
place to start. http://www.chessgames.com/ has a daily tactics
puzzle, which gets harder through the week (Monday is usually a queen
sacrifice to force mate in two; Sunday is usually impossible unless
you're Russian and your surname begins with `K'.) Dan Heisman's
`Novice Nook' column at http://www.chesscafe.com/ is invaluable.

I wouldn't START with Reinfeld's books. Though they are the classics for
combinations, they can be maddeningly difficult, and you never know whether
you're staring at a mate in two or in eight! You do, however, know what the
theme is, and that can point you in the right direction.
If you want a great beginner and intermediate and master book of
brain-teasers, get "Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games" by
Polgar. It starts with 350 mate-in-one problems which you should train
yourself to solve in seconds (though some stymied me for two minutes or
more!) followed up by about 2500 mate-in-two. Then three, then over 600
games and a bunch of combinations.
If you want the one desert island chess book for a super price, check it
out. Even when you move on to lots of other books about to be recommended in
this thread, Polgar's will remain a trusted companion.