1/8/2019 – Far advanced passed pawns are usually very strong. However, in the following case, they can be stopped. Black to move and draw.

1/8/2019 – “The best things in life are free.” This puzzle came to us by way of Joaquim Crusats of the Spanish Society of Chess Problemists (SEPA). It's a problem that, unlike money itself, you really can take with you. Perhaps you'd like to print it out and bring it with you to your next chess club meeting? We tweeted this out last week, but now present the solution.

1/7/2019 – About halfway between Milan and Venice lies Lake Garda, with the town of Arco at its northern end, once again the venue of a small but festive amateur tournament between the Christmas and New Year celebrations. The 9th edition of this tournament ended in a dead heat between four players but FM Alessio de Santis from Italy was the lucky winner in the end. Gerhard Bertagnolli sends these highlights — suitable for beginners — and photos from an attractive winter holiday destination.

1/7/2019 – He will always greet you with a smile, he is always high on energy and, in almost any conversation, you will see him adding some of the famous quotes of great personalities! The natural question to ask is: how does Adhiban Baskaran remain so positive all the time? What is the secret of his positivity, huge ambitions and a pleasant personality? Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal visited Adhiban's home in Chennai, immediately after Adhiban had won the tournament of Peace in Croatia in November 2018. Apart from discussing highlights from the tournament, you'll learn about Adhiban's workspace, his parents and his support system — all the secretes to what motivates him to do well!

1/7/2019 – The Horntye Park Sports Complex received the 94th edition of the traditional Hastings Congress. This year, the Masters section was extended from nine to ten rounds, but that did not prevent six players from tying at the top of the standings on 7 points. Daniel Gormally had arrived in the last round as the sole leader, but after drawing with White he was caught by Oleg Korneev, Sarunas Sulskis, Martin Petrov, Alexander Cherniaev and Conor Murphy. | Photos: Brendan O'Gorman

1/6/2019 – In his first Agony/Ecstasy column of 2019, GM JON SPEELMAN hears from a Turkish sociologist who focuses on the Queen's Gambit Declined. The games show why it's important to keep fighting, even when you fear a loss. Feel free to 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!

1/5/2019 – Rating favourite Tamir Nabaty dominated the field in Stockholm as he finished the Rilton Cup on 8 out of 9, a whole point ahead of a three-player chasing pack — Tiger Hillarp Persson (second), Sergey Volkov (third) and Frode Urkedal gathered 7 points each. The champion would have taken first place with a draw in the last round, but anyway defeated American youngster Awonder Liang in style with the black pieces. | Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

1/5/2019 – Sixty years ago, on January 4th 1959, 15-year-old Bobby Fischer won his second US Championship with a draw against Robert Byrne. A year before, Fischer had won his first US championship at the age of 14. In defending the title, the eventual world champion showed excellent opening knowledge and endgame skills, but above all, fighting spirit. | Photo: Bobby Fischer in Portoroz 1958, tournament book

1/5/2019 – Final round action from Stockholm, with live commentary by IM Jonathan Westerberg & WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni. GM Tamir Nabaty (pictured right) won with Black in the final round against US young-talent GM Awonder Liang (pictured left). The only other player who could theoretically win clear first was Swedish GM Tiger Hillarp Persson who trailed Nabaty by half a point. He has White against Indian GM Karthikeyan Murali. | Photos: Lars OA Hedlund

1/4/2019 – Tamir Nabaty scored a key victory in Round 8 in Stockholm and is the sole leader heading into the final round on Saturday. On his heels is Swedish GM Tiger Hillarp Persson, the only member of the chasing pack to win today — he beat GM Maxime Lagarde in a sharp Sicilian with a scintillating finish you won't want to miss! | Photos: Lars OA Hedlund

1/4/2019 – Fahim Mohammad is an aspiring chess player originally from Bangladesh who immigrated to France. His life story is the subject of an upcoming film 'Fahim' starring Gerard Depardieu. DIANA MIHAJLOVA got to know the boy ten years ago in Budapest and recounts his unlikely rise to prominence in his adopted country. | Photo: Diana Mihajlova

1/4/2019 – In the diagram position, White is of course clearly winning. But beauty does matter in chess — can you see the neatest way for him to take the game home?