https://en.chessbase.com/Chess Newshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/review-revealing-modern-grandmaster-secrets-von-nicholas-perthttps://en.chessbase.com/post/review-revealing-modern-grandmaster-secrets-von-nicholas-pertWhat skills define a modern grandmaster, and what can amateurs learn from them? It is a combination of strategies, insights, and techniques compiled by the English GM and coach Nicholas Pert in a two-volume video course. From the opening through tactics and strategy to the endgame, the author explains the thinking and preparation of masters using illustrative games. Jochen Schwarz has examined the Pert course in detail and reviewed it.Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/abhimanyu-mishra-alicante-menorca-2026https://en.chessbase.com/post/abhimanyu-mishra-alicante-menorca-2026Abhimanyu Mishra scored 7½/9 in consecutive open tournaments in Spain, finishing tied for first place both at the Semana Santa Open in Alicante and at the Menorca Open. The 17-year-old remained undefeated across both events, gaining 15.3 rating points in the process. His recent run brought him up to sixth place in the live ratings list among junior players. | Pictured: Star organiser Patricia Claros and Abhimanyu Mishra | Photo: Luis Barona / Semana Santa OpenSat, 18 Apr 2026 03:50:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/live-masterclass-secrets-of-a-champion-makerhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/live-masterclass-secrets-of-a-champion-makerKCF Academy is welcoming a very special guest. On April 19th, at 17:00 CET, we open the doors to an evening with Arshak Petrosian, one of the greatest coaches the chess world has ever seen. It is an incredible chance to see live the coach, thinker, and architect of a golden era in chess, live at KCF Academy.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-tournament-2026-closing-ceremonyhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-tournament-2026-closing-ceremonyThe closing ceremony of the 2026 Candidates in Cyprus brought together players, organisers and guests after more than two weeks of intense competition. Held at the St. George's Hotel & Resort, the evening combined music, dance and prize presentations, culminating in honours for Vaishali Rameshbabu and Javokhir Sindarov as the winners of the women's and open events, respectively. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils RohdeFri, 17 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/freedom-holding-acquires-chessbasehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/freedom-holding-acquires-chessbaseChessBase is expanding. In a press release, Freedom Holding Corp. has announced the acquisition of ChessBase. The Kazakh financial and technology group, based in New York, has been committed to chess for many years – as a partner of FIDE and a sponsor of international tournaments. An initial $5m investment is set to further develop and expand the ChessBase platform. The company will continue to be headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:50:19 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/niemann-v-liang-2026-g12https://en.chessbase.com/post/niemann-v-liang-2026-g12Three wins and nine draws in twelve games - not a bad record for the winner. Remaining unbeaten, Hans Niemann left no doubt during his match in Paris against Awonder Liang. Niemann (pictured at the Grenke Open 2026 in Karlsruhe) won games three, eight and nine in the all-American clash, in which Liang was unable to score a single win. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils RohdeFri, 17 Apr 2026 04:40:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-tournament-2026-vaishali-interviewhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-tournament-2026-vaishali-interviewVaishali Rameshbabu won the Women's Candidates Tournament by defeating Kateryna Lagno in the final round, finishing clear first on 8½/14 and earning the right to challenge Ju Wenjun in the match for the world title. In this interview, Vaishali looks back on the months of preparation that followed her Grand Swiss victory, discusses the support of her family and team, and explains how she coped with the pressure of a tense and closely contested tournament. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils RohdeThu, 16 Apr 2026 19:20:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/regulations-for-2026-fide-team-rapid-and-blitzhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/regulations-for-2026-fide-team-rapid-and-blitzPreparations are fully underway for the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026 in Hong Kong from 16 to 22 June. In previous editions, the tournament has featured numerous top players competing alongside amateurs and rising talents, producing a dynamic atmosphere rarely seen in traditional elite events. Magnus Carlsen is expected to participate in Hong Kong, adding further star power to the competition.Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-tournament-2026-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-tournament-2026-liveThe Candidates Tournaments form the final qualifying stage of the FIDE World Championship cycle. Each tournament features eight of the world's strongest players competing in a double round-robin format over fourteen rounds of classical chess. No fewer than six players (out of eight) enter the final round with mathematical chances of winning the Women's Candidates Tournament. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 14.30 CEST (8.30 ET, 18.00 IST) | Photo: Michal WaluszaWed, 15 Apr 2026 14:15:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/a-game-that-outlasted-the-day-4https://en.chessbase.com/post/a-game-that-outlasted-the-day-4It should be clearly emphasized that the longest chess game of all time can only arise by chance. Any prior agreement between the opponents before the game—such as, "Let’s play the longest game in history today!" – or any such understanding reached during the game, automatically turns them into cheaters, with all the ensuing consequences. Estonian chess expert and trainer, Valery Golubenko, tells us about the struggle to regulate very long theoretical endings.Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/a-game-that-outlasted-the-day-3https://en.chessbase.com/post/a-game-that-outlasted-the-day-3Two months ago Valery Golubenko played what may well have been one of the longest chess games ever seen, measured by number of moves, under the rather restrictive conditions of modern chess life. At move 88, with queen and b-pawn against queen, Golubenko's opponent held for 37 moves, until he missed an only move, and it was theoretically a mate in 47. | Photo during the game by Chess Club Kaksikodad – from the right, GM Aleksandr Volodin and the chief arbiter Askold NassarMon, 06 Apr 2026 19:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-birth-of-a-journeyhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-birth-of-a-journeyPraful Zaveri is the founder of Indian Chess School, where he has trained more than 5000 students. In 2023 he began writing a book, Shat Shat Vande Chess, on the cultural, historical, and philosophical journey of chess, on the 15,000‑year “odyssey” of the game. Now he has decided to make it into a film. Here is the first trailer – and Praful's thoughts on the enterprise.Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:49:56 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-olympiad-cloud-powerhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-olympiad-cloud-powerSuccess in world-class chess is built long before the game begins. With the "Federation Package", developed specifically for national federations, players and coaches gain access to the complete professional ChessBase software, the world's largest chess database, and powerful cloud analysis – at a price that provides up to five times more computing power than individual solutions! A long-term investment that will measurably enhance the performance of the entire team.Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/news-on-the-1896-schiffers-vs-steinitz-matchhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/news-on-the-1896-schiffers-vs-steinitz-matchWilhelm Steinitz had lost his World Championship title to Emanuel Lasker in 1894, but he still retained the right to a return match. That rematch was scheduled to take place in Moscow at the end of 1896. Before that, however, Steinitz played a training match against Emanuel Schiffers. Join us on a brief journey back in time to Rostov-on-Don in 1896.Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/endgame-challenge-solutionshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/endgame-challenge-solutionsWere you able to solve the challenge positions we gave you last week? Were you able to defeat the diagrams, which defended tenatiously? Today we bring you all solutions, with very instructive video explanations by Jared Modica, a chess content creator from Austin, Texas. He shows us how to solve tatical lines of play, and how to handle pawns in endgames.Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:27:02 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/most-attractive-chess-playershttps://en.chessbase.com/post/most-attractive-chess-playersWho is your favourite chess player – of all time, from the history of chess? Whose games do you enjoy the most? Is it one of the greats from the 19th century, the world champion legends of the twentieth? Or is it a player who is still active? Tell us your choices – and we will compare them with what a chess AI chooses, after evaluating millions of games.Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chessbase-26-a-players-guide-5https://en.chessbase.com/post/chessbase-26-a-players-guide-5"Many players use ChessBase, it is the most popular chess software by far, writes GM Iniyan Pa. "Yet, not many people are fully aware of all of its features, and fail to utilise most of them. In this guide I have tried to show the features that I think are vital and important so that the user may gain the most out of the ChessBase. I hope it helps them in their development." We are deeply indebted to Iniyan for his remarkable five-part training review.Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-chess-world-in-2026https://en.chessbase.com/post/the-chess-world-in-2026The chess world has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. From a game on the fringes of public interest, it has become part of the media mainstream. This year will see several major events and developments that promise to have a profound impact on the future of chess. Milan Dinić, editor of The British Chess Magazine, has described the main driving factors and what we can expect in 2026.Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chessbase-2026-a-players-guide-4https://en.chessbase.com/post/chessbase-2026-a-players-guide-4What is the secret of becoming really good at chess? How can you best improve your understanding, your results and your rating? Well, use the cutting edge study and training software. But also spend some time discovering all the advantages it offers! GM Iniyan Pa has uncovered all the secrets of ChessBase´26, and presents his findings in his training/review reports.Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/tata-steel-chess-2026-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/tata-steel-chess-2026-liveThe 88th edition of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament is taking place from 17 January to 1 February and once again features the traditional structure of parallel Masters and Challengers tournaments, each consisting of 14 players competing in a single round-robin. Nodirbek Abdusattorov enters the final round as the sole leader in the Masters, while Andy Woodward and Aydin Suleymanli are tied for first place in the Challengers. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 12.00 CET (6.00 ET, 16.30 IST)Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:45:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/cbm-229-review-nagesh-havanurhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/cbm-229-review-nagesh-havanurChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. Nagesh Havanur takes a look at the current issue, CBM 229. All games from the FIDE World Cup, 27 annotated, 11 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, demo lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Sam Shankland, Wei Yi, Nodirbek Yakubboev and Gabriel Sargissian among others. The icing on the cake is the Special feature "Giri's Gems", offering the Dutch star's eight best games from the year 2025.Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-07-dec-31https://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-07-dec-31Take a look at this relatively simple position. Can you figure out how White can win? And how many moves it will require to overcome Black's most resolute defence? You won't believe it. To relax we bring you the arguably easiest chess study ever composed, and other entertaining puzzles, many from the out-of-the-box legend Karl Fabel.Wed, 31 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-06-dec-30https://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-06-dec-30In August 2019 I spent a week in France, at the training camp I had organized (together with ChessBase India) for young Indian super talents. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik did the chess training, while I pestered the kids with logic puzzles. Most did not involve chess, but some did. Here are a couple for you.Tue, 30 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-05-dec-29https://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-05-dec-29In rotary problems the board is rotated by 180° for a second position with a different solution. It is usually pawns that make a different when you turn the board around. Or the king/queen positions, or castling is involved. Can one devise problems where these factors do not play a role? Yes one can, as our expert for out-of-the-box problems, Werner Keym, proves.Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-04-dec-28https://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-04-dec-28These days it is not easy to challenge anyone with problems or studies. Loading the PGN and clicking Start will usually get you the solution in seconds. So we are trying to provide you with "computer resistant" puzzles in this year's Christmas Puzzle Week. Today the subject is taking back a move in a given position and looking for a move to fulfil the condition. As in this 100-year-old problem by Thomas Dawson: it requires you to take back one move and then mate the opponent in two. Can you think how?Sun, 28 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-03-dec-27https://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-03-dec-27There are chess puzzles which only consist of a line of text, asking you to construct a position or a game that it describes. Some can be awesomely difficult, like the puzzle we first posted 41 years ago. Two world champions were not able to solve it. We tell you about that, and present a new ones, not quite as tough, for you to solve.Sat, 27 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-02-dec-26https://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-02-dec-26Take a look at this position, in which White should mate in two. Looks very easy, and hundreds of readers of the newspaper in which it appeared submitted a solution. But it was not correct. In our Christmas Puzzle week the consummate expert of unusual chess problems, Werner Keym, asks you to look carefully at the position and find a genuine way for White to mate Black in two moves. There are two other problems to solve.Fri, 26 Dec 2025 09:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-01-dec-25https://en.chessbase.com/post/christmas-week-puzzles-01-dec-25Christmas day is usually celebrated with a Christmas tree – in problem chess circles occasionally with a puzzle shaped like a Christmas tree. Like this example, composed by the famous Thomas Rayner Dawson, 101 years ago. It illustrates the universal principle of symmetry, and how it can be broken in a chess problem. Mathematics professor Christian Hesse delves into the very profound thinking behind the problem. But you are invited to solve it first.Thu, 25 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/global-chess-league-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/global-chess-league-2025-liveThe Tech Mahindra Global Chess League returns for its third season from 14 to 23 December, continuing its franchise-based format that combines elite male and female players. Featuring a team structure, the league again brings together established stars and juniors, with the title to be decided through a double round-robin stage followed by a two-match final. | Follow the action live starting at 11.00 CET (5.00 ET, 15.30 IST)Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:50:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/london-chess-classic-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/london-chess-classic-2025-liveThe XTX Markets London Chess Classic is a 10-player all-play-all tournament taking place from 26 November to 5 December at the Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal Football Club. Four English players and six international representatives make up the lineup, which includes top seeds Alireza Firouzja and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 17.00 CET (11.00 ET, 21.30 IST)Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:50:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/rebel-3https://en.chessbase.com/post/rebel-3Ed Schröder, pioneer of chess engine programming, has in his retirement turned his attention to a new and very exciting project: to extract games from a database collection that are especially aggressive – that are short and have daring sacrifices and king attacks. He shows us the kinds of result you can get. Best of all: you can download the utility and use it on your databases.Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/rebel-and-playing-style-in-chesshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/rebel-and-playing-style-in-chessEd Schröder is a pioneer in chess programming. In the 1990s his program Rebel won a number of World Championships in computer chess, and always had a special place in the community, due to its playing style. In 2003 he retired from competitive computer chess, only releasing freeware versions of Rebel. Now Ed has come out of retirement and is undertaking some interesting new projects – like extracting the most interesting games from historical databases. And he is sharing them with us.Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/riddle-korchnoi-karpov-1978https://en.chessbase.com/post/riddle-korchnoi-karpov-1978As chess players occasionally do, Alex Fishbein, the U.S. grandmaster, was recently looking at a classic game from the past: Viktor Kortschnoj's victory over Anatoly Karpov in the 21st game of their 1978 match. Something was wrong. Charles Sullivan had done some intense research on this volatile encounter and asks for your assessment on the results he presents.Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:31:43 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/world-cup-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/world-cup-2025-liveToday marks the final day of the World Cup in Goa, which began on October 31. But the key question of who will play in the Candidates Tournament in March and April 2026 has already been settled: Wei Yi, Javokhir Sindarov and Andrey Esipenko are in. Now it’s “only” a matter of deciding who wins the tournament. That will be determined today in the tiebreak between Wei Yi and Sindarov. The winner takes home the title and 120,000 USD, the runner-up receives 85,000 USD. | Follow the action live with expert commentary starting at 10.30 CET (5.30 ET, 15.00 IST)Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:20:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/ivan-sokolov-understanding-middlegame-strategy-vol-12-reversed-colour-systems-king-s-indian-pirc-defencehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/ivan-sokolov-understanding-middlegame-strategy-vol-12-reversed-colour-systems-king-s-indian-pirc-defenceIvan Sokolov’s new course examines colour-reversed King’s Indian and Pirc structures, showing how extra tempi influence typical plans and why these positions feel uncomfortable for humans but not for engines. He analyses key model games from Kramnik, Botvinnik, and Fischer, demonstrating that White usually gets a pleasant setup without a guaranteed advantage, leading to sharp, dynamic battles decided by understanding rather than theory. The course equips practical players, both with white and black, with clear ideas, typical patterns, and concrete plans for navigating these complex reversed-colour systems.Sun, 23 Nov 2025 20:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/world-women-team-ch-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/world-women-team-ch-2025-liveThe World Women's Team Championship took place in Linares, Spain, from 18 to 23 November. The knockout stage saw Russia beating China in the semifinals, while Azerbaijan got the better of Kazakhstan. In the final, Russia (FIDE team) defeated Azerbaijan convincingly, while China grabbed third place. | Follow the games live starting at 13.30 CET (8.30 ET, 18.00 IST)Sun, 23 Nov 2025 13:20:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/review-all-new-releases-in-octoberhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/review-all-new-releases-in-octoberChessBase’s October releases cover everything from chess history to opening repertoire and calculation training. In episode 19 of the Master Class series, the expert team of Dorian Rogozenco, Karsten Müller, Mihail Marin and Oliver Reeh presents the first World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz. Robert Ris’ new opening course also reaches back to that era, as the opening he examines in depth is named after two classical masters: the Colle & Zukertort System. And who doesn’t enjoy looking into the thought processes of grandmasters and world-class trainers? Discover calculation techniques at the highest level — Surya Ganguly’s “Calculation Step by Step” is sure to climb the ChessBase bestseller list quickly. | All photos: ChessBaseSun, 23 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/svitlana-s-smart-moves-in-memory-of-danyahttps://en.chessbase.com/post/svitlana-s-smart-moves-in-memory-of-danyaSvitlana dedicates the episode to the memory of Daniel “Danya” Naroditsky, whose impact as a player, coach, and communicator reached far beyond the chessboard. She explores one of his favourite ideas in the Four Knights Opening - the powerful Nd5!, a move Danya loved to highlight for its elegance and instructional value. This episode blends clear educational insight with a heartfelt tribute, showing how Danya’s creative spirit continues to inspire players through the ideas he championed.Sat, 22 Nov 2025 20:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/review-60-minutes-against-the-frenchhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/review-60-minutes-against-the-frenchThe concept behind Chessbase's "60-minute" courses is simple: a one-hour video course for just under 10 Euros. There are also courses on middle game and endgame topics, but most courses focus on quite "specialised" opening variations. In the second instalment of a short series, Jochen Schwarz presents the most important 60-minute courses for 1.e4 players against the French Defence.Sat, 22 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/world-cup-2025-r7g1https://en.chessbase.com/post/world-cup-2025-r7g1Friday’s opening games of the FIDE World Cup semifinals offered balanced results but no shortage of depth. Both encounters were drawn, yet Wei Yi and Andrey Esipenko (pictured) produced an intricate tactical sequence, while Nodirbek Yakubboev and Javokhir Sindarov explored a queenless middlegame full of subtle decisions. With three Candidates spots at stake, every nuance now carries considerable weight as the matches head into their second classical games. | Photo: Michal WaluszaFri, 21 Nov 2025 20:10:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/who-will-win-the-world-cup-and-who-will-make-it-to-the-candidateshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/who-will-win-the-world-cup-and-who-will-make-it-to-the-candidatesThe World Cup began on 30 October in Goa, India. Two hundred and six players entered the tournament; three weeks later, only four remain and will now meet in the semifinals. China’s Wei Yi faces the Russian GM Andrey Esipenko, while Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan takes on his compatriot Nodirbek Yakubboev. The top three finishers qualify for the Candidates Tournament. The winner earns 120,000 USD, the fourth-placed player 50,000. But who has the best chances of winning the event — and securing a spot in the Candidates? | Photos: Michal WaluszaFri, 21 Nov 2025 09:35:20 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/world-women-team-ch-2025-d3https://en.chessbase.com/post/world-women-team-ch-2025-d3The preliminary stage of the Women's World Team Championship concluded on Thursday in Linares, with Russia and Georgia topping their respective groups and eight teams advancing to the knockout phase. The final round brought clear outcomes in both pools, alongside a few notable surprises, including India's qualification with a reserve lineup and Ukraine's early exit after two costly defeats. Several intriguing matchups now await in the quarterfinals, most notably China v. United States. | Pictured: Russian IM Polina Shuvalova | Photo: Pavel DvorkovichFri, 21 Nov 2025 05:50:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/us-championships-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/us-championships-2025-liveThe 2025 US Chess Championships are taking place on 12-24 October at the Saint Louis Chess Club. Each tournament is a 12-player single round-robin with a classical time control. Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So and Hans Niemann are the highest-rated players in the open, while Carissa Yip, Alice Lee and Tatev Abrahamyan head the women's field. | Follow the action live starting at 19.00 CEST (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST)Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-endgame-challengehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-endgame-challengeTake a look at this position. In order to have any winning chances, White must clearly move his rook. There are nine squares it can safely occupy, but only one retains the win. Can you find it? Today we have four problems that will challenge your endgame skills. Try to solve them by moving pieces on our interactive diagrams. The video solutions will be provided in a week.Fri, 17 Oct 2025 07:14:58 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/european-team-championships-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/european-team-championships-liveThe ninth and final round of the European Team Championships will determine the medal winners. In the Open Ukraine and Azerbaijan fight for victory, in the Women's Tournament Poland is in the lead, but Ukraine and Germany can still hope to win. | Watch the games live with video commentary. Start: Around 10:00 CEST.Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/fermat-in-chesshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/fermat-in-chessPierre de Fermat (1601–1665) was a French mathematician who made pioneering contributions to analytic geometry, calculus, optics, and probability. He is best known for Fermat's Last Theorem, which famously remained unproven for over three centuries. Then, thirty years ago (in 1995), the mathematician Andrew Wiles published the comprehensive proof. In his book "Chess Stories" mathematician Prof Christian Hesse, told us how he applied Fermat's final conjecture to chess.Mon, 13 Oct 2025 08:32:12 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/lasker-chigorin-legendary-clash-of-two-bishops-vs-two-knightshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/lasker-chigorin-legendary-clash-of-two-bishops-vs-two-knightsAlready in the second round of the famous Hastings tournament of 1895, two of the favourites faced each other in a tough and complex battle. After just thirteen moves, the game had reached a semi-endgame with two rooks and two minor pieces each. Lasker held the pair of bishops, but it was Chigorin with the pair of knights who emerged victorious in the end. The game made history, and its course has been interpreted very differently over time. We invite our readers to join us in the search for new insights.Sun, 12 Oct 2025 15:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/werner-keym-problem-chess-art-6https://en.chessbase.com/post/werner-keym-problem-chess-art-6You may have seen it before. In this very famous position, composed almost exactly a century ago, it is White to play and draw. Which do you think is the stupidest move White could make. Right, that is the solution – it is the only move that saves the game. Problem expert Werner Keym illustrates this in a book which he has made available, as an eBook, to everyone, free of charge. Here are some excerpts to give you a taste. You can play them out on the diagrams we provide.Wed, 08 Oct 2025 08:53:52 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/solution-botvinnik-boleslavsky-1943https://en.chessbase.com/post/solution-botvinnik-boleslavsky-1943Some time ago, we invited our readers to help us unravel a long-standing mystery in the famous game Botvinnik–Boleslavsky, played in 1943 (during World War II!). The response was overwhelming, and in a relatively short time, we reached a conclusion: Boleslavsky could have held the balance – a draw was within reach – despite Botvinnik’s claim in his (usually precise!) commentary that his position was winning.Wed, 03 Sep 2025 18:26:51 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/sinquefield-cup-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/sinquefield-cup-2025-liveThe Sinquefield Cup, the only event to feature in every Grand Chess Tour since 2015, returns to Saint Louis from 18 to 27 August. As the concluding leg before the revived Finals in São Paulo, it will play a decisive role in determining the four qualifiers, with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave currently leading the standings and strong challengers close behind. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 19.00 CEST (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST)Wed, 27 Aug 2025 18:50:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/man-ray-chesshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/man-ray-chessOver the past 20 years Larry List has curated exhibitions, and written primarily about the interrelationships between chess and visual art. To coincide with a Man Ray exhibition of photos at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this September, Hirmer Verlag of Munich is publishing his new book On Man Ray, the closest artist friend of the famous 20th century artist Marcel Duchamp. It is lavishly illustrated with color photos, with a solid and attractive layout. | Man Ray self-portrait 1926 Centre PompidouWed, 23 Jul 2025 20:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/problem-chess-arthttps://en.chessbase.com/post/problem-chess-artLast week Problem expert Werner Keym gave us some remarkable chess problems to solve. They were from his latest eBook, Problem Chess Art, which is available to everyone, free of charge. Here today are the solutions of the problems he selected for us. Were you able to solve them?Mon, 21 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/can-you-play-pawn-endings-2https://en.chessbase.com/post/can-you-play-pawn-endings-2They are absolutely vital. Gukesh won the World Championship with one – or we could say Ding Liren lost his title because he misplayed it. So can you understand and play pawn endings proficiently? Take a look at this position: White has six legal moves, all with his king. But only one of them ensures the win. Which one? We have four instructive and entertaining positions that will test your skills. And hopefully leave you a better, more effective player.Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:06:21 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/children-chess-o2-arena-2025https://en.chessbase.com/post/children-chess-o2-arena-2025To mark the launch of a new community chess club, pupils from The Pointer School played a game of chess 52 metres above London atop the O2 Arena. The initiative aims to make structured chess coaching freely accessible to primary school children across Greenwich and South East London. Backed by a strong chess tradition and alumni like Shreyas Royal, the school continues to promote chess as a powerful tool for personal development.Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:25:22 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-statistics-todayhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-statistics-todayIn our previous article on historical chess statistics we showed you the number of rated players there were in 1993, their ages, ratings, and where they came from. Today we compare them with the current FIDE statistics, showing how things have developed in the three decades that have passed. Our report also contains a little puzzle for you to mull over – why does the chess superpower China have so few rated players?Thu, 12 Jun 2025 07:38:46 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-whole-chess-world-is-yourshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-whole-chess-world-is-yoursThe ChessBase Premium Account is a powerful all-in-one chess improvement tool that provides extensive online resources, training, playing opportunities, and cloud services to help players of all levels enhance their game effectively. And the service runs on anything: Windows, Macs, notebooks, tablets, your mobile phone. Watch this video by Sagar Shah explaining the services you get and how to best use it. And best of all: it will only cost you €4.99 per month!Tue, 10 Jun 2025 12:08:55 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/prof-regan-s-statistical-systemhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/prof-regan-s-statistical-systemThe Arbiters’ Council of the European Chess Union asked Prof. Kenneth W. Regan to write a dissemination article about his system, to let every arbiter get acquainted with this very important anti-cheating tool. The article has been written in aw way to make the system understandable without any particular mathematical skill, in order to have the concept behind known to every arbiter. It appeared in the April issue of the ECU Magazine.Sun, 08 Jun 2025 09:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/norway-chess-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/norway-chess-2025-liveThe 13th edition of the Norway Chess super-tournament is taking place from 26 May to 6 June in Stavanger. An open event and a women's event are being played concurrently with an identical number of players, the same format and an equivalent prize fund. Both world champions — Ju Wenjun and Gukesh Dommaraju — are participating, besides world number one Magnus Carlsen. | Follow the games live starting at 17.00 CEST (11.00 ET, 20.30 IST)Fri, 06 Jun 2025 16:45:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/fide-history-era-of-soviet-dominationhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/fide-history-era-of-soviet-dominationLast year FIDE celebrated its 100th anniversary. The book "100 Years of FIDE" is an illustrated history of the World Chess Federation. From it we excerpt passages, with kind permission, this time from the first World Championships in the post-war era – after the sudden death of World Champion Alexander Alekhine. It is a great chance to brush up your knowledge of chess history.Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-chess-passport-is-herehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-chess-passport-is-hereWorld Chess and the Algorand Foundation propose levelling the playing field with a "chess passport". In a whitepaper published last month, World Chess (LSE: CHSS) and the Algorand Foundation (ALGO) conceptualize a new blockchain-based system that would establish secure, private, and verifiable credentials for global sports organizations, including chess.Thu, 29 May 2025 21:50:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/superbet-chess-classic-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/superbet-chess-classic-2025-liveThe 2025 Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest marks the second stage of this year's Grand Chess Tour and the first of two classical tournaments in the series. Held on 6–16 May, the event brings together ten top grandmasters in a single round-robin format. Reigning tournament champion Fabiano Caruana and world champion Gukesh Dommaraju are part of the star-studded lineup. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 14.00 CEST (8.00 ET, 17.30 IST)Fri, 16 May 2025 19:06:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/in-a-restaurant-in-parishttps://en.chessbase.com/post/in-a-restaurant-in-parisRecently, on the last day of the Paris Freestyle chess even, Sagar Shah of ChessBase India was served dinner by a master chef, someone who takes traditional French dishes to a new dimension. The restaurant he visited, Cellar, provides some remarkable food and equally remarkable chess vibes. Sagar's video report shows you more.Thu, 15 May 2025 21:21:34 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/kasparov-karpov-1987-riddle-solutionshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/kasparov-karpov-1987-riddle-solutionsIn the fourth world championship match between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov, played in Seville in 1987, the score was 12–11 in Karpov’s favor, putting Kasparov in a must-win situation to retain his title. This game was the subject of our previous article. We invited our readers to analyze with us, to solve a historical riddle. Here are the results.Wed, 14 May 2025 20:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/fide-chess-history-2https://en.chessbase.com/post/fide-chess-history-2Last year FIDE celebrated its 100th anniversary. The book "100 Years of FIDE" is an illustrated history of the World Chess Federation. From it we excerpt passages to retrace the final non-FIDE world championship (Alekhine-Boguljubow) and the Chess Olympiads from 1924 to 1940. This is a great chance to brush up your knowledge of chess history.Mon, 12 May 2025 09:06:29 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/women-gp-pune-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/women-gp-pune-2025-liveThe fifth leg of the 2024/25 Women's Grand Prix series is taking place in Pune, India, on 14–23 April. A 10-player single round-robin, the event has Humpy Koneru, Zhu Jiner and Polina Shuvalova as the top seeds. The top two finishers in the series will qualify for the next edition of the Women's Candidates Tournament. | Follow the action live with expert commentary starting at 11.00 CEST (5.00 ET, 14.30 IST)Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:30:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/and-then-there-were-fourhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/and-then-there-were-fourI have told the story often: in an interview in 2020 I said that in five years I expected at least two of the top ten players in the world would be Indian. My prediction was met with deep scepticism. It was clearly the unrealistic optimism of a friend and admirer of young Indian talents. It is true I was wrong. In five years since the prediction three have risen into the top ten bracket, and a fourth is on his way into it.Tue, 22 Apr 2025 11:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/player-types-in-chess-what-the-chessbase-style-report-revealshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/player-types-in-chess-what-the-chessbase-style-report-revealsIn this insightful discussion, Dr. Karsten Müller reflects on his evolution as a chess player, particularly his transformation from an aggressive "Hyperactivist" to a more universal and pragmatic style. Through a comparison of his early years and later career, Müller's playing style is analysed using the ChessBase Style Report. His experiences highlight how his strengths developed over time and how this shift mirrors broader patterns in chess players' evolution.Sat, 19 Apr 2025 08:39:22 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/kasparov-karpov-the-secret-of-the-24th-gamehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/kasparov-karpov-the-secret-of-the-24th-gameGarry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov played five matches for the world championship. The fourth match was played in Seville in 1987. After 23 games, the score was 12–11 in Karpov’s favor, putting Kasparov in a must-win situation to retain his title. The final game was adjourned after five hours of play, to be resumed the next day. The sealed position is the subject of this article.Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/malcolm-pein-on-unfair-playhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/malcolm-pein-on-unfair-playAfter the 2022 Olympiad in Chennai, FIDE set up a Fair Play Commission aimed at preventing cheating in chess. The commission received sweeping powers, over and above those of the arbiters or chess tournaments. Is that necessary and justified? Malcolm Pein, writer for The Daily Telegraph, takes vigorous offence at the working of the commission in the editorial of the London-based magazine CHESS.Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/women-wc-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/women-wc-2025-liveThe 2025 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship is taking place from April 3 to 21 in two Chinese cities: Shanghai and Chongqing. It features a highly anticipated rematch between two of China's top grandmasters: the reigning Champion, Ju Wenjun, and the Challenger, Tan Zhongyi. The title of the Women's World Chess Champion is decided in 12 games and a tiebreak, if necessary. After 7 games Ju Wenjun leads 5-2. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 9.00 CEST (3.00 ET, 12.30 IST)Wed, 16 Apr 2025 08:50:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/ecu-partners-with-senserobothttps://en.chessbase.com/post/ecu-partners-with-senserobotThe European Chess Union (ECU) has proud to announce a landmark partnership with SenseRobot, a leading innovator in AI technology solutions. The Hong Kong based company aims at redefining the future of home intelligence through groundbreaking AI innovation, including the large-scale production of home-use AI robotic arms. So why the cooperation with the ECU? You'll never guess.Sat, 22 Mar 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-patron-saint-of-chesshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-patron-saint-of-chessIn an historic moment for the global chess community, World Chess officially introduces a Patron Saint of Chess: bringing the game into a centuries-old tradition of sports and cultural patronage. St. Teresa of Avila, a 16th-century Spanish mystic, writer, and intellectual, is an apt choice for chess's first patron saint. One of the most influential figures of the Catholic Church, she was known for her deep strategic thinking, discipline, and ability to navigate complex intellectual and spiritual landscapes—qualities that also define the highest levels of chess.Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/slaughter-s-and-simpson-shttps://en.chessbase.com/post/slaughter-s-and-simpson-sToday, "coffee house" will most likely refer to ubiquitous American chains that have no particular connection with chess. In London during the 18th and 19th centuries coffee houses were at the epicentre of the chess world, where players met and reputations were formed. In CHESS Magazine Ben Graff explores an era when coffee houses were at the epicentre of the chess world.Mon, 17 Mar 2025 07:30:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/meet-roman-vidonyak-the-hidden-coach-behind-top-grandmastershttps://en.chessbase.com/post/meet-roman-vidonyak-the-hidden-coach-behind-top-grandmastersSome of the world’s best chess players have trained under him, yet his name remains unknown to many. He has worked with players like Anish Giri, Jorden van Foreest, and Vladimir Fedoseev but always stayed behind the scenes. He is known for his creative training methods and intensive sessions. The name of this mastermind is Roman Vidonyak, and Sagar Shah got the opportunity to meet him in Wijk aan Zee. Check out his interview in which he talks about his training journey, training philosophy, and what it takes to create champions. Photo: German Chess FederationTue, 11 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/how-spassky-fought-for-fischerhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/how-spassky-fought-for-fischerOn July 13, 2004, Bobby Fischer was detained in Japan with an invalid U.S. passport. That marked the beginning of a nine-month ordeal for him in Japanese custody. Among the supporters fighting for his release was former World Champion Boris Spassky, whom Fischer had dethroned thirty years earlier. Spassky, who passed last week, even wrote a personal letter of appeal to President George Bush, asking to be locked up in the same cell as Fischer. "And give us a chess set," he said.Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/women-s-grand-prix-monaco-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/women-s-grand-prix-monaco-liveAfter Georgia and Kazakhstan, Monaco is the third stop on the current Women's Grand Prix series. Ten players will be competing for points and a place in the Women's Candidates Tournament from 18 to 27 February. Live daily from 15.00 local time - though the last round starts at 14.00.Thu, 27 Feb 2025 13:45:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/grivas-on-trapping-a-piecehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/grivas-on-trapping-a-pieceA trapped piece is a piece that has no escape squares or squares where it can safely move without being captured. A trapped piece can be a bishop or a knight, but also ‘heavier’ pieces such as a rook or a queen can be ensnared. Even the king can be put into a position where it no way to move around. In the first part of his article GM Efstratios Grivas deals with a trapped king and trapped queens.Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:04:42 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/puzzles-for-you-to-solvehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/puzzles-for-you-to-solveReady to test your wits, your ability to handle unusual chess problems? We have selected three really challenging examples for you to solve – problems that have come up with some outrageous ideas. See if you can find them, and record the time it takes you to solve them. In a week we will provide you with the full solutions, diligently explained in YouTube videos.Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:20:33 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/tata-steel-chess-2025-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/tata-steel-chess-2025-livePraggnanandhaa Rameshbabu won the 2025 Tata Steel Masters after beating world champion Gukesh Dommaraju in a blitz tiebreaker. The two Indian stars entered the final round tied for first place and, notably, both lost their classical games on Sunday. Pragg then won the blitz tiebreaker by a 2-1 score after Gukesh misplayed a knight endgame in the third encounter. Meanwhile, Czech GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen won the Challengers, as he had a better tiebreak score than Aydin Suleymanli, who finished tied for first in the single round-robin. | Replay all the games with computer-assisted analysis. Full report to follow shortly.Sun, 02 Feb 2025 11:45:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/special-offer-judit-polgar-s-bookshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/special-offer-judit-polgar-s-booksJudit Polgar, the strongest female chess player of all time, wishes our readers a "Happy 2025, which will hopefully be filled with exciting challenges and successes – both on and off the chessboard!" To kick off the year she has prepared something special for us: you can get Judit's books, personally signed by her, at discounted prices in her Webshop. This exclusive offer is valid until January 31, 2025.Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:14:24 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/gm-iniyan-on-chessbase-18https://en.chessbase.com/post/gm-iniyan-on-chessbase-18Are there any advantages of moving to the latest ChessBase 18? Are strong chess players doing it, and finding the software useful in their every-day tournament activity? A decided 'Yes!' is given by Indian grandmaster Pa. Iniyan, who sent us an in-depth three-part review. You would do well to read about his experience carefully, and learn how you too can dramatically improve your level of chess study and preparation.Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/my-first-endgame-study-a-chess-composition-tourney-by-wfcc-and-chessbase-indiahttps://en.chessbase.com/post/my-first-endgame-study-a-chess-composition-tourney-by-wfcc-and-chessbase-indiaBeneath its deceptively simple facade of a game, chess conceals a rich tapestry of human ingenuity and thought. It is, as Anatoly Karpov succinctly remarked, art, science, and sport all rolled into one. Yet, while the competitive aspect of chess basks in the limelight with its high-stakes, action-packed tournaments and matches, the subtle but no less fascinating endeavour of chess composition, where artistry shines the brightest, languishes in relative obscurity. As a step towards redressing this imbalance, ChessBase India and the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC) present My First Endgame Study, a beginner-friendly study composing contest designed for chess enthusiasts eager to explore the creative world of chess composition, specifically studies. Details follow.Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/world-championship-match-ding-liren-vs-gukesh-d-game-1-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/world-championship-match-ding-liren-vs-gukesh-d-game-1-liveGukesh D became the youngest-ever undisputed world chess champion after beating Ding Liren in the last classical encounter of their 14-game match in Singapore. Ding voluntarily entered a pawn-down endgame which was objectively drawn, but a blunder by the Chinese GM on move 55 meant Gukesh would take the title by winning the match with a 7½-6½ score. | Full report to follow shortly.Thu, 12 Dec 2024 09:45:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/stocking-fillers-from-boy-to-man-chessbase-18https://en.chessbase.com/post/stocking-fillers-from-boy-to-man-chessbase-18Yes, it is that time of the year again. Time to leave your copy of CHESS Magazine open, ‘non-suspiciously’, hoping that the family will take the hint and place a big order at Chess & Bridge. If the hint is not taken, then just order one or more of the items yourself, safe in the knowledge that there are much worse things you could be doing.Tue, 10 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/espn-love-at-first-sighthttps://en.chessbase.com/post/espn-love-at-first-sightThis ESPN article describes how former World Champion Viswanathan Anand created the Gukesh-Grzegorz team that's shaken the chess world. Grzegorz who, you ask?Mon, 09 Dec 2024 08:10:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/london-chess-classic-2024-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/london-chess-classic-2024-liveThe London Chess Classic elite section is an 8-player all-play-all tournament taking place from 29 November to 7 December at the Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal Football Club. Four English players and four international representatives make up the lineup, which includes Azerbaijani star Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, living legend Michael Adams and women's world champion Ju Wenjun. | Follow the games live and with commentary by Peter Svidler and Lawrence Trent, starting at 17.00 CET (11.00 ET, 21.30 IST)Fri, 06 Dec 2024 16:45:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-stories-now-in-englishhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-stories-now-in-englishThe book was originally published in German, has now been published in English by ChessBase India. The luxury hard cover version, printed in full colour, is available for less than $12, and the eBook version for just $9.50 – with all proceeds going to the HelpChess Foundation. Advanced copies of the book were given to former World Champions and other notable personalities in Singapore.Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/remote-engine-in-chessbase-18-power-everywherehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/remote-engine-in-chessbase-18-power-everywhereA remote engine does not run on your computer but in a data center. Here you’ll learn why the new remote engine is a smart addition to our proven cloud engines. How to run a remote engine without spending ducats? Why did our Helsinki machines give us quite a scare before the autumn discount day? And how did Fritz wreck a server rack?Sun, 01 Dec 2024 09:30:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/females-and-males-working-behind-the-scenehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/females-and-males-working-behind-the-sceneIn the Spotlight article of the ECU magazine we were introduced to the women but also men working behind the scene, doing a fantastic work to support women in chess. They play a key role as players, arbiters, coaches, volunteers, says Antonina Gora from Ireland.Sun, 01 Dec 2024 08:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/underpromotion-milestones-part-threehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/underpromotion-milestones-part-threeFinally, in this three-part series, we come to the first full Babson task endgame study, composed by Gady Costeff. Many thought it was not possible to fulfil this extremely difficult task. Harold van der Heijden describes the full story. But one problem remains: the position is not legal. Costeff had already constructed it in 2011 and tried in vain to find a legal version. So this is still an open problem. Maybe you can give it a try?Thu, 28 Nov 2024 09:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/learning-the-shirov-killerhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/learning-the-shirov-killerThere are tactical motifs which are continuously repeated and can be learned exactly like we learn opening theory. I feel that the correct approach is to collect thematic, nearly identical positions which are involved on similar patterns which you should look for. In this survey I will present an often met tactical motif I call the "Shirov Killer." It was wonderfully demonstrated by legendary GM Alexei Shirov in an Internet blitz game.Fri, 22 Nov 2024 08:19:35 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/european-championship-in-montenegro-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/european-championship-in-montenegro-liveAlmost 400 players will take part in the European Individual Championship 2024 (8 to 19 November) in Petrovac (Montenegro). After ten of eleven rounds, the Serbian GM Aleksandar Indjic leads with an 8½/10 score, while Daniel Dardha stands in sole second place a half point back. The 20 best players qualify for the World Cup. The final round starts at 13.00 local time. Follow it live with the official commentary of the European Chess Union.Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:45:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/33-500-fide-masters-event-at-arsenalhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/33-500-fide-masters-event-at-arsenalNew entries are being sought for an iconic edition of Britain’s most prestigious chess event, the 2024 XTX Markets London Chess Classic, starting on November 29 at Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium. The event’s FIDE Masters tournament, which will take place alongside the main tournament, is open to amateur and professional players alike and currently has an impressive line-up of strong masters. Like to join in? Here's your chance.Mon, 18 Nov 2024 10:44:01 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/tata-steel-india-2024-livehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/tata-steel-india-2024-liveThe Tata Steel Chess India tournaments are taking place on 13-17 at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata. An open tournament and a women's tournament run concurrently. Rapid and blitz take place one after another. The last two days see the players fighting in a double round-robin with a 3+2 time control. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 9.30 CEST (4.30 ET, 14.00 IST)Sun, 17 Nov 2024 09:15:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-ultimate-chessbase-tutorial-learn-the-basics-in-less-than-20-minuteshttps://en.chessbase.com/post/the-ultimate-chessbase-tutorial-learn-the-basics-in-less-than-20-minutesReading about the latest and greatest new features in ChessBase is exciting, but if you can barely use the basics, then it can also be frustrating. But worry not! You can learn them all in under 20 minutes, and even how to customize the work space, in this crystal clear video tutorial.Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:14:26 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/ancient-chess-problems-to-solvehttps://en.chessbase.com/post/ancient-chess-problems-to-solveChess was invented in India, and brought to Europe in the 9th Century by the Arabs – who also introduced the first “mansuba” – middle or endgame puzzles with well-defined tasks, with stories and legends surrounding them. Today we give you three of the oldest mansuba to solve – in your head or against our live chess diagrams.Wed, 13 Nov 2024 20:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chessbase-18-new-dimensions-in-study-and-preparationhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/chessbase-18-new-dimensions-in-study-and-preparationThe latest version of the standard chess study program has received a major update. It now allows you to evaluate your opponents, study their repertoire, their strengths and weaknesses, all at a click of the mouse. It draws its conclusions by replaying all their games – it has access to many billions of online games. Head programmer Matthias Wuellenweber has written about the new program in the latest issue of ChessBase Magazine. Check out the details and decide whether you can afford not to have the program.Mon, 11 Nov 2024 08:00:20 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/underpromotion-milestones-2https://en.chessbase.com/post/underpromotion-milestones-2Recently, the famous Babson task (Black promotes to one of the four possible pieces and White must promote to the same piece in all four cases to win) has been conquered by in an endgame study. Many thought it to be impossible to realize this extremely difficult task. In this second part of the three part series Harold van der Heijden describes how study composers progressed towards solving the problem.Wed, 06 Nov 2024 19:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/mate-in-two-with-a-twist-2https://en.chessbase.com/post/mate-in-two-with-a-twist-2FIDE, together with the World Solving Championships for Youth and Cadets, hosted a series of free online lessons to get participants ready for the inaugural FIDE World Solving Championships. They were run by Anirudh Daga and WFCC President Marjan Kovačević. Today we bring you the solutions to the two-movers we gave you to solve last week. Were you able to solve them?Tue, 05 Nov 2024 14:00:00 GMThttps://en.chessbase.com/post/arte-kasparov-chess-rebelhttps://en.chessbase.com/post/arte-kasparov-chess-rebelARTE Culture, the French-German film production and TV channel, recently made a full six-part dramatic re-enactment of the epic 1997 match between Garry Kasparov and the super-computer Deep Blue. At the same time they broadcast a 50-minute portrait that traces the extraordinary life and career of the global icon. The film contains many historically interviews by personalities from the time. It is well worth watching.Thu, 31 Oct 2024 08:09:34 GMT