The Chess Handshake Challenge: Winners

7/26/2020 – How far away are you from the World Champion, in terms of handshakes? Have you shaken hands with someone who has shaken hands with him? How far from Boris Spassky? Capablanca? Morphy? We asked about this a couple of weeks ago, and it led to some fascinating historical research, all the way back to European experts/authors who lived in the 1500s and 1600s. And we have a winner!

Legends of Chess: Twists and turns

7/26/2020 – Ian Nepomniachtchi caught up with Magnus Carlsen in the standings table of the ‘Legends of Chess’ online event by defeating Peter Svidler 3:1 while Carlsen managed a win in Armageddon over Vasyl Ivanchuk. Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Leko and Anish Giri also won in round 5. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Check Czech Chess: Father and son Josef Vančura

7/26/2020 – The creator of the famous Vančura position, Josef Vančura, had a son named after him. The younger Vančura sadly died at the age of 23, but nonetheless made at least two important contributions to endgame theory. Columnist Siegfried Hornecker tells us the story. | Pictured: Library hall of the former Jesuit College in the Old Town of Prague

Guess the movie: A chess movie film quiz (5)

7/25/2020 – The movies we are about to show in this quiz are crystal clear. Perhaps, because all of them have a chess scene with a chess set made of glass! Unfortunately, we had to cheat a bit and one of the scenes is from a film presented in one of our last quizzes. Nonetheless, this might be the hardest film quiz so far.

Biel: Harikrishna shines against Keymer

7/25/2020 – The fourth round of classical chess in Biel saw Vincent Keymer losig against Indian star Pentala Harikrishna. In the overall standings of the ‘Grandmaster Triathlon’, Polish GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek has taken the lead after a win against Arkadij Naiditsch; Keymer is third, behind Harikrishna. Sebastian Siebrecht reports. | Photos: Simon Bohnenblust

Legends of Chess: There’s no stopping Carlsen

7/25/2020 – World champion Magnus Carlsen is the sole leader of the Legends of Chess online tournament after four rounds with a perfect score. Ian Nepomniachtchi is trailing by a point, while Peter Svidler and Vladimir Kramnik complete the top 4 in the standings table — let us not forget that the preliminary stage, being played at the moment, serves only to decide which four participants move on to the semifinals. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Power Play Show: The King’s Gambit is very much alive!

7/24/2020 – In this Power Play Show, grandmaster Daniel King uses all the knowledge he gathered to prepare his latest DVD to analyze the King’s Gambit played by Vasyl Ivanchuk against Peter Leko at the start of the week. Unmissable! | Power Play is on air most Fridays at 17:00 UK (18:00 CEST, 11:00 EST) on playchess.com. All the usual puzzles, games and instruction will be on offer. | Photos: Nugzar Kereselidze

Riddle: Was Flohr vs Botvinnik sound?

7/24/2020 – 1933, Moscow. Michael Botvinnik had just won the USSR Chess Championship. A match was arranged between him and one of the top players at the time, Czechoslovakian Champion Salomon Flohr. The 12-game match was drawn, after Flohr took an early lead. In one of his games he showed the chess world how to force a win in the 2B vs 2N endgame. But did he really, or did Botvinnik simply misplay it? Can you help endgame specialist GM Karsten Müller answer this question?

“Best by test: 1.e4” (Bobby Fischer)

7/24/2020 – Bobby Fischer exclusively opened his games with 1.e4 as White. 1.e4 gives White a dynamic structure and is the main weapon in several of the top player's arsenals, including Vishy Anand's. When preparing an opening, it is always important to learn theory, main themes and concepts. Let us help you do exactly that.

Biel: Keymer beats Naiditsch

7/24/2020 – Vincent Keymer has put his defeat against Michael Adams behind him, and showed his other side against Arkadij Naiditsch — as an uncompromising attacking player. David Anton defeated Romain Edouard. In the Open, Gerlef Meins is in the shared lead, while Sebastian Siebrecht — the author of these articles — is a point behind him in the standings. | Photos: Simon Bohnenblust

Ten-day online training course with Chuchelov and Vidit

7/24/2020 – Are you a moderately strong chess player? More importantly: someone with real ambitions to go for the top? Well, here's a chance to do an online course with one of the best trainers in the world (he has worked with Caruana, Giri, Radjabov and Hou Yifan), together with on of the world's top grandmasters (Elo 2726). Normally a ten-day 50-hour course would cost a fortune, and involve travelling to Belgium. But in pandemic online times things are much more reasonable. Anyone in the world who is rated 2300 or higher can take part.

Legends of Chess: Carlsen and Svidler still perfect

7/24/2020 – Magnus Carlsen and Peter Svidler have won all three matches they have played so far in the ‘Legends of Chess’ tournament without ever going to tiebreaks. On Thursday, Carlsen was repeatedly in trouble against Peter Leko but managed to win nonetheless, while Svidler defeated former co-leader Boris Gelfand. In the clash of former world champions, Vladimir Kramnik beat Vishy Anand after winning a memorable first game with black. Ian Nepomniachtchi and Vasyl Ivanchuk also obtained victories. | Photo: Crystal Fuller

Not quite unexpectedly II

7/24/2020 – With his forces fully mobilised, White shatters any faint hope that Black had to survive with his exposed king. Go for it!

Riddle solved: Tal could have drawn!

7/23/2020 – At the Candidates Tournament 1962 in Curacao, Mikhail Tal (pictured) lost a tricky rook endgame against the eventual tournament winner and World Champion to be Tigran Petrosian. But did Tal lose only after one or more mistakes? Endgame specialist Karsten Müller asked for the readers’ help and came to a conclusion: Tal could have held the draw!

Biel: Adams beats Keymer

7/23/2020 – The youngest participant of the GM tournament in Biel, Vincent Keymer, went into the third round as the standings leader, but met his match in world-class grandmaster Michael Adams. The remaining games ended in a draw. Sebastian Siebrecht reported and spoke with tournament director Paul Kohler. | Photos: Simon Bohnenblust

Legends of Chess: Carlsen beats Anand, Nepomniachtchi wins in style

7/23/2020 – In the second round of the Legends of Chess online tournament, Ian Nepomniachtchi beat an out-of-form Ding Liren 2½:½ after getting a stunning win in game 1; current world champion Magnus Carlsen defeated former world champion Vishy Anand; Boris Gelfand got the better of Vasyl Ivanchuk; Peter Svidler beat Peter Leko in a closely-contested encounter; and Anish Giri took down Vladimir Kramnik. None of the matches went to Armageddon. | Photo: Niki Riga

New: Simon Williams - The Exciting Budapest Gambit

7/23/2020 – Are you tired of playing d5 against 1.d4 or c4? Grandmaster Simon Williams, one of the most creative GMs in the chess world, has tackled the flamboyant Budapest Gambit. Williams' typically fun and entertaining way of teaching is paired with serious theory, as he is always very well-prepared to show extraordinary variations. The English Grandmaster honestly reflects on how this opening can backfire, and goes over several traps that can be triggered against White.

Grandmaster Chef: Judit Polgár

7/23/2020 – At her peak rating in 2005, Grandmaster Judit Polgár was ranked number 8 in the world. Although she retired from competing in August of 2014, Judit promotes chess through her Global Chess Festival and serves as Honorary FIDE Vice-President. To show appreciation for Judit on her 44th birthday, this article has a recipe for a dessert, which could serve as her birthday cake. WIM Alexey Root and her co-author WGM Sabina Foisor are former U.S. Women’s Chess Champions. | Pictured: Judit showing Shirov-Polgár (1994) to her children Oliver and Hannah | Photo: Bela Doka, 2012

Game of the Week: Ivanchuk beats Leko with the King’s Gambit

7/22/2020 – In his “Game of the Week” show Merijn van Delft looks at a brilliant win by Vasyl Ivanchuk. In a must-win situation, the Ukrainian genius defeated Peter Leko with the seldom seen King’s Gambit! | Merijn’s show is freely available at 15.00 UTC (17:00 CEST, 11:00 EDT) for a limited time, and on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here. | Photo: sunwaychessfestival.com

Biel: Keymer starts with a brilliant victory

7/22/2020 – Vincent Keymer shows his enthusiasm and hunger for success at the Biel Chess Festival. He ended yesterday’s opening round with a victory over the Spaniard David Anton. Arkadij Naiditsch also won his game. Sebastian Siebrecht reports. | Photos: Simon Bohnenblust

Active vs. the Catalan!

7/22/2020 – The Catalan is a tough nut to crack. Lars Schandoff's article on the opening, included in ChessBase Magazine #196, challenges the solid setup with a fine solution — activity! Deviating from the practice of elite Grandmasters, he suggests a "more entertaining variation" with 5...a6 and the risky 6...Nc6!? Exciting and recommended to everyone who is not satisfied with playing for a draw when having the black pieces!

Checkmate the virus!

7/22/2020 – That's what the chess club in Marburg, Germany, intended when they submitted a video clip for the city initiative to combat the covid pandemic. The three-minute clip was made by quantum physicist and string theorist Vera Spillner, who is a member of the club. It gives chess fans an insight into the game and into club life during Corona, with a clever move, checkmate, included. Vera's video is the first of a series.

Legends of Chess: Carlsen, Svidler and Gelfand start strong

7/22/2020 – Magnus Carlsen picked up where he left off in the last tournament of his own series, as he convincingly defeated Anish Giri in the first round of the ‘Legends of Chess’ tournament. The biggest surprise of the day came from Boris Gelfand, who obtained a clean victory over world number three Ding Liren. Besides Carlsen and Gelfand, Peter Svidler was the one other player to win without needing tiebreaks. | Photo: Ritvo Photography

Biel: The Special Corona Amateur Tournament has begun

7/21/2020 – Following the Rapid Tournament, the Grandmasters were allowed to enjoy a rest day. The open tournament, limited to 150 players due to the corona crisis, kicked off on Monday. Sebastian Siebrecht sent a report. | Photos: Simon Bohnenblust