5/8/2019 – Developing and honing an opening repertoire is both fun and improves your results. The openings web app openings.chessbase.com that comes with a ChessBase account is a powerful tool to choose the lines you want to play and study, and to develop, learn, or refresh your repertoire. | Drawing: ChessBase

5/8/2019 – The traditional Capablanca Memorial is celebrating its 54th edition in Havana, Cuba. After taking place in Varadero in 2016 and 2017, the event returned to the capital last year. Seven-time winner Vassily Ivanchuck and American rising star Samuel Sevian are atop the standings table on 3½/5. Meanwhile, top seed Adhiban is having a hard time, as he lost to Sevian and David Antón in the first half. In the Open, Isán Ortiz and Luis Agüero are sharing the lead. | Photo: Abel Rojas / Mi Columna Deportiva

5/8/2019 – Starting on Wednesday, the first stop of the Grand Chess Tour 2019 is the Ivory Coast. It's the first time the GCT has held an event in Africa. Ten top GMs compete in the Pullman Abidjan Hotel in Abidjan, the country's largest city, including World Champion Magnus Carlsen in rapid and blitz chess for a prize fund of USD $150,000. Live commentary will be available by GM Yannick Pelletier, IM Tania Sachdev, GM Alejandro Ramirez & GM Maurice Ashley.

5/7/2019 – ChessBase is now available in French! You can find the site at fr.chessbase.com and follow the daily coverage of the Grand Chess Tour kickoff event: the 2019 Cote d’Ivoire Rapid & Blitz with daily live commentary by GM Edouard Romain & GM Laurent Fressinet.

5/7/2019 – On the show today, why Michael Adams has a reputation for making the smallest of advantages look so easily convertible. Available on-demand beginning at 16:00 UTC (18:00 CEST, 12 Noon EDT) and free for a limited time, or forever on-demand with a ChessBase Basic Account. You can register a free 90-day account to watch.

5/7/2019 – Far advanced passed pawns can be really powerful and sometimes they are even more powerful than a rook.

5/7/2019 – Saint Petersburg's "Bronze Horsemen" won all five matches so far at the Russian Team Championship to take a two-point lead over Sima-Land and Molodezhka — the leaders have not faced either of the chasing teams yet. In the women's section, SShOR — also from Saint Petersburg — defeated Yugra in round four and are now in clear first place. Monday was a rest day in Sochi. | Pictured: Gata Kamsky (Ladya) | Photo: Irina Chibikova

5/6/2019 – Last time our columnist wrote on the life and career of Oleg Pervakov. This week he offers a glimpse of the eminent composer’s work from a recently published collection of endgame studies. He also sets a challenge for readers to solve three of them. Your move! | Photo: ChessPro.ru

5/6/2019 – In this Simon Says we have a mixed bag of goodies. First up we take a look in at the recent gambit mentioned in Jonathan Speelman's latest column, 'The Bryntse Gambit'. Then pawns, puzzles and more. On-demand starting at the usual time: 16:00 UTC (18:00 CEST / 12 Noon EDT).

5/6/2019 – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave would have remained undefeated in the recently concluded Grenke Chess Classic tournament had it not been for the final round loss against Magnus Carlsen. One of the most talked about points of their encounter was the French grandmaster's move 10...b5, a move that left many puzzled. In an exclusive interview with DHANANJAY KHADILKAR for ChessBase, the 28-year-old speaks on a variety of subjects from playing against Carlsen to his hopes of qualifying for next year's Candidates tournament. And, he also explains why he made that particular move.

5/5/2019 – After three rounds, two players co-lead the TePe Sigeman & Co Tournament in Sweden's third largest city, Malmö. Top seeds Gawain Jones and Pentala Harikrishna drew two and won one to position themselves ahead of the field on 2/3. Meanwhile, Nihal Sarin wasted a big chance to take down Ivan Saric in round one — still, the 14-year-old Indian became the youngest 2600+ rated player in the world (in the live ratings). SAGAR SHAH analysed two of Nihal's games. | Photo: Official site

5/5/2019 – This week JON SPEELMAN marvels at an obscure queen sacrifice in the opening (on move six!) that USA expert Dana Mackenzie used to ensnare two titled players in over-the-board tournament games! Send in your own games! Jon can always use more material from readers. If your games are selected for the Agony column, not only will you get free detailed commentary of your games by one of chess’s great authors and instructors, and former world no. 4 player, but you also win a free three-month ChessBase Premium Account!