Müller/ Engel: Player types - a review

1/24/2022 – Can players be classified into certain types? On their new ChessBase course Karsten Müller and Luis Engel follow a model of Danish Grandmaster Lars Bo Hansen and distinguish between four types of players and illustrate their different playing styles with typical games. This model helps to understand your own strengths and weaknesses and the strengths and weaknesses of your opponents better. Christian Höthe took a look at the course.

Gibraltar: Battle of the Sexes begins

1/24/2022 – The opening ceremony of the #GibChess Battle of Sexes Chess Match-Tournament, to be held at the Garrison Library, 24 January to 3 February 2022, took place at the Garrison Library at 6pm on Sunday 23 January 2022 in the presence of the Hon. Dr John Cortes, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change and Education, and Dr Jennifer Ballantine, Director of the Gibraltar Garrison Library, which is hosting the event.

The Best In Iceland

1/24/2022 – In 2020, we started a series called "The Best In", and interviewed some of the strongest male and female players of Aruba, The Bahamas, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago, Armenia and Austria. The popular series will continue as a YouTube version with a 1-to-1 Zoom interview, including an analysis of the player's favourite game. We start the new chapter with the coldest country so far - Iceland. And in 2021, Hjörvar Steinn Grétarsson has had his best chess year so far. He speaks with us about the chess situation in Iceland, his motivation for the next years, and an interesting, mad story with another "ginger" chess fellow - Simon Williams.

All set for first leg of the FIDE Grand Prix series

1/23/2022 – In less than two weeks, Berlin will host the first leg of the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2022, organized by World Chess. From February 3 to 17, sixteen elite chess players, including grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna — who replaces Wei Yi — will compete for the chance to win the last two spots in the Candidates Tournament to be held later this year.

Understanding before Moving 63: The light-squared beast

1/23/2022 – Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books about chess training and chess strategy. In the 63rd instalment of his ChessBase show "Understanding before Moving", Herman looks at "light-squared beasts". | Photo: Tommy Grooten

Tata Steel R7: Dubov forfeits, Carlsen leads

1/23/2022 – An eventful seventh round in Wijk aan Zee saw Daniil Dubov forfeiting his game against Anish Giri after declining to wear a mask during the game as requested by the organizers — someone in the Russian’s inner circle had tested positive for Covid-19. Later on, wins by Magnus Carlsen, Jorden van Foreest and Fabiano Caruana left the world champion in the sole lead. | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit

Mind, Art, Experience: 10 Years of Chess & Culture in Saint Louis

1/22/2022 – “Mind, Art, Experience: 10 Years of Chess & Culture in Saint Louis” celebrates the best chess, art and culture from all 50 exhibitions held at the WCHOF since its 2011 relocation to Saint Louis, Missouri. The three-floor show features more than 120 artworks and artifacts, including pieces related to legendary World Champions Bobby Fischer, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, and Boris Spassky.

Pawn chain saw

1/22/2022 – In the diagrammed position Black just played 25...Bd1?? to attack the pawn on e2. However, this backfired with a vengeance. How did White react?

Tata Steel R6: Carlsen beats Rapport, joins the lead

1/22/2022 – Three well-known names collected full points in round 6 of the Tata Steel Masters tournament, as Magnus Carlsen, Sergey Karjakin and Anish Giri all won their Friday games in Wijk aan Zee. Carlsen’s victory over Richard Rapport allowed him to catch the leaders in the standings table. Meanwhile, in the Challengers, Arjun Erigaisi continues to dominate as he scored his fifth win in a row! | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Anish Giri teaches the Italian

1/21/2022 – If you want to learn more about the Italian Game, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, is there a better teacher than Anish Giri? The Dutch GM (of Nepalese/Russian extraction) is number seven in the world, with a 2772 rating. In a very instructive video, Anish tells you everything you need to know about this opening. The two-hour streaming session with ChessBase India is most entertaining, and at the same time wonderfully instructive. Take this boost to your tournament performance and make the most of it!

Trent's Tactics - Alekhine's tactical brilliancies

1/21/2022 – Normally, Lawrence and Arne approach the tactic section, and solve some puzzles to reach a higher rating. Today, Alexander Alekhine takes over. Lawrence shows us two prime examples of Alekhines tactical understanding. Trent's Tactics is about exceeding your tactical understanding, with plenty of different motifs. We highly recommend trying the puzzles on your own for a couple of minutes, before watching the solution.

Daniel King’s Power Play Show: What did Carlsen miss?

1/21/2022 – In his Power Play Show, GM Daniel King looks at a rare occurrence — a missed opportunity by world champion Magnus Carlsen! The Norwegian could have beaten Andrey Esipenko in Wijk aan Zee had he correctly calculated a tactical sequence in the middlegame. | Power Play is on air most Fridays. Watch it on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account. All the usual puzzles, games and instruction will be on offer.

"One clear win and already tired of winning?" - An interview with Anatoly Karpov

1/21/2022 – Anatoly Karpov is one of the World Champions who is featured in the ChessBase NFT series. The 12th World Champion is a passionate stamp collector and immediately understood the idea. In an interview Karpov talks about NFTs, the story behind his brilliant win against Viktor Kortschnoi in the Candidates Final 1974, the World Championship match Carlsen vs. Nepomniachtchi, and Carlsen's statements about defending the title.

The Charles Leclerc vs Carlos Sainz Chess Challenge

1/21/2022 – Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. are the drivers of the legendary Scuderia Ferrari in Formula One. Lewis Hamilton is not the only self-confessed chess fan among Formula One racing drivers. The two Ferrari drivers also love the royal game and even engaged in a rapid chess challenge.

Tata Steel R5: Shakh and Rapport join Vidit in the lead

1/21/2022 – Returning from the rest day, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Richard Rapport scored full points to join Vidit Gujrathi in the lead of the Tata Steel Masters tournament. Andrey Esipenko and Magnus Carlsen stand close behind, as the world champion both lived dangerously and got winning chances in his (drawn) game against Nils Grandelius. Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi won again in the Challengers, and now has a one-point lead in the standings table. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Kvika Reykjavik Open 2022

1/20/2022 – The Kvika Reykjavik Open will return to its normal setting in the Harpa music and conference center in 2022 – which has been billed as the best playing venue for an open tournament ever! The dates are from the 6th of April until the 12th of April, with nine rounds in seven days! Many world class players have taken part in then tournament in recent years. The total prize-fund in the 2022 edition will be €15.000, including many special prizes for various age and rating categories, in addition to the traditional top women’s prize.

Robert Ris’ Fast and Furious: Fireworks in the Giuoco Piano

1/20/2022 – This week Robert Ris will have a look at the fantastic game between Daniil Dubov and Vidit Gujrathi from the Tata Steel Masters in Wijk aan Zee. Dubov played provocatively out of a Giuoco Piano, Vidit gladly accepted the challenge, and an incredible struggle ensued! | "Fast and Furious" is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.

FIDE declares 2022 the year of the woman in chess

1/19/2022 – The International Chess Federation has declared 2022 the Year of the Woman in Chess. According to the FIDE Women’s Commision, this is a chance to take a leap forward in their mission of forming gender equity policies, practices and programs. | Pictured: Eva Repkova / Chair of FIDE Women’s Commission

Kasparov and NFT

1/19/2022 – "It was special for me to present my journey with 1Kind [Crypto portal] in a series of NFTs that traced my life from childhood through my ever-busy ‘retirement,’" writes Garry Kasparov. "The project was all the more meaningful for me because 10% of the proceeds will go toward setting up a scholarship fund at the Kasparov Chess Foundation, dedicated to my late mother Klara, that will support all the great talents raised by single mothers like her." Read his interview in CoinDesk.

Svitlana's Smart Moves - The prophylactic moves

1/19/2022 – A core of chess is the correct prophylaxis. That doesn't mean, that we have to brush our teeth twice a day, since I hope we all do this any way. But, as I heard Yasser Seirawan once say:"I tend to play a conscious move, before my opponent plays the threat". Svitlana shows us the smartest moves in difficult situations, and explains how to approach a rough position like this.

Tata Steel R4: Wins for Pragg and Shakh

1/19/2022 – Vidit Gujrathi kept the sole lead at the Tata Steel Masters going into the first rest day of the event, as round 4 saw 2 out of 7 games ending decisively. Praggnanandhaa inflicted Nils Grandelius’ third defeat to bounce back to a 50% score, while Shakhriyar Mamedyarov got the better of Jan-Krzysztof Duda with the white pieces. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

The Weekly Show: Highlights from Wijk aan Zee

1/19/2022 – In his "Weekly Show" Lawrence Trent shares his thoughts and some highlights from the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Lawrence analysed the lovely game Carlsen vs Giri, where the World Champ unveiled some serious hidden prep in a Catalan. | Lawrence’s show is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here

DGT Centaur – the latest sensor board

1/19/2022 – Remember what "Sensory board chess computers" were like, four decades ago? Bulky, heavy, with complicated installation, and very expensive to buy. Today you get elegant, flat boards, which run on rechargeable batteries. And they are immediately ready to play. The one we are looking at today even adjusts its playing strength to match yours. It is a pleasure to operate.

Livestream event: The fascinating world of AI

1/18/2022 – During the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, the worlds of Artificial Intelligence and Chess will come together at a unique event called ‘The Game Changer’. The event will take place online on Friday 21 January, starting at 15.30 CET. How is AI used in chess? Could Magnus Carlsen also have become world champion without the use of AI? And more importantly, how can the world of manufacturing adopt lessons learned in the world of chess?