5/28/2018 – This is what the chess world has been waiting for: one of the strongest chess engines in the world, but with access to the most important AI enhancement of recent times: Komodo 12 can be switched to a Monte Carlo search, very similar to the one employed by AlphaZero. This engine achieves over 3000 Elo, but more importantly, it plays more aggressively and more human-like. Komodo Monte Carlo is not primarily concerned with material advantage and provides a completely new strategic evaluation of the game.

5/28/2018 – In this Simon Says we look at ten different examples from games, or studies and asks you to take a stab at solving them. Simon then looks at the themes and breaks down the examples! | Photo: Alina l'Ami

5/28/2018 – The Karpov Poikovsky tournament went off to a flying start on Sunday as a decisive game was witnessed on every board: Vidit Gujrathi won in Karpovian style in his very first appearance in Poikovsky; Emil Sutovsky ground down Vladislav Kovalev in an 80 move marathon; Ian Nepomniachtchi and Dmitry Jakovenko won after winning a pawn a piece out of the opening; while Anton Korobov crushed Fedoseev's dubious opening. Here's an illustrated report with analysis. | Pictured: Anatoly Karpov | Photo: Georgios Souleidis

5/28/2018 – The Altibox Norway Chess Tournament started with a blitz tournament, and with 10 of the world’s best players competing it was probably one of the best blitz tournaments in the history of chess. It determined which five players will have one more game with White in the classic tournament which starts today on Monday, April 28, but was of course also about prestige and invites predictions of form. Magnus Carlsen was favourite but Wesley So won. | Photo: Alina l'Ami

5/27/2018 – From 11 to 23 May, the Norwegian Bliss was the scene of a "chess tournament at sea". The ship and the tournament travelled from Miami through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles. The winner was Michael Klyszcz from the SG Löberitz, an amateur angler and ex-basketball player. Jürgen Meijerink and Henry Gregory Allen earned prizes. On its last leg, the chess tourists visited "Switzerland in Central America" and then a land of the volcanoes (see picture towards the foot of one of them). | Photo: Michael Dombrowsky

5/27/2018 – On May 10, 2018, Evgeni Vasiukov died in Moscow. In his prime, he was one of the best players in the world and amongst other things he won the prestigious Moscow Championship no less than six times. Later he was a renowned coach, second, and organiser and achieved a number of successes in senior tournaments. An obituary by DAGOBERT KOHLMEYER.

5/23/2018 – England's newest grandmaster, Daniel Fernandez, is in Hamburg recording a FritzTrainer to be published later this year. He joins Karsten for a look some recent endgames from tournament practice. Watch live at 15:00 CEST (9:00 AM EDT) or later on-demand!

5/23/2018 – The chess tournament aboard the "Norwegian Bliss" continues, as the players travel from Miami to Los Angeles. On the way the chess tourists have now made the transition from the Atlantic to the Pacific passing the "eighth wonder of the world": MICHAEL DOMBROWSKY sends his latest dispatch. | Photo: Andreas Back

5/23/2018 – The French Defence is the sharpest opening setup against 1.e4. With his first two moves, e6 and d5, Black tries to provoke the advance e4-e5. This closes the centre and gives Black the opportunity to get active play on both wings. This DVD gives you the key to start out with the French Defence. GM Yannick Pelletier is a specialist of this opening and believes that the most efficient way to understand its ideas, plans, and typical structures is to study classical lines. He offers you a repertoire that is based on well-established lines that have been tried and tested for decades and that have proven their validity.

5/23/2018 – PRESS RELEASE - The Kasparov Chess Foundation, European Chess Union and the European Chess Academy are launching a summer camp in Slovenia this July. Find out who's eligible and how to register. The deadline is June 30th.

5/22/2018 – Tuesdays at 18:00 CEST (5:00 pm UK time, Noon EDT) Lawrence Trent goes on air on Playchess.com. In his show, Lawrence will be dealing with the latest trends, games and combinations from elite chess tournaments. Today, Lawrence will have a look at games from the Capablanca Memorial.

5/22/2018 – The ninth and final round of the Polish championship in Warsaw was played on Sunday. A draw was enough for Jan-Krzysztof Duda against Mateusz Bartel, as Duda's only remaining pursuer, Kacper Piorun, lost to Aleksander Mista. Duda's final score was 6½ / 9 points; Piorun finished second at 5½ / 9. The women's championship had to be decided in a tiebreak between Jolanta Zawadzka and Anna Warakomska with Zawadzka ultimately coming out on top. | Photo: Piotr Jedrzejewski, mp2018.pzszach.pl