8/30/2016 – With more than a 100 titled players and more than 40 grandmasters the open tournament in Abu Dhabi that was played from 21st to 29th August had a strong field. Top seed was Dmitry Andreikin with a rating of 2733. With 3.0/4 he started the tournament well but not overwhelmingly. After six rounds he had 4.5/6, half-a-point less than the leader, but then won three fine games in a row. This was enough to finish clear first with 7.5/9.

8/30/2016 – How does one win a super tournament where the average rating of the participants is 2778? How does a self-made super grandmaster function? What sort of discipline and sacrifices are required to become one of the best in the world? In this interview with Wesley So we try to not only get answers to the above questions, but also dissect So's games, novelties and psychology from the Sinquefield Cup 2016. Wesley's mantra is straightforward: "I live a simple and happy life and that’s how I want it to stay!

8/29/2016 – Recently the Russian Chess Federation submitted a proposal for consideration at the 87th FIDE Congress, to be held during the Baku Olympiad next week, allowing the World Chess Champion to accept the challenge of any player who can contribute to the prize fund and the costs of holding of the match. This motion was vigorously opposed by the Association of Chess Professionals, ACP, that has collected 850 signatures (including 200 grandmasters). There are three days left to join the opposition.

8/29/2016 – Aaron Nimzowitsch knew how to teach chess and he knew how to study the middlegame. His advice was to “study typical pawn structures.” Every structure has its typical plans and to know these plans helps you to find your way in these positions. On this new DVD the author, one of the world's foremost trainers, explains the most common central structures every chess player should know: The Hedgehog, the Maroczy, Hanging pawns and the Isolani. Don't miss it!

8/28/2016 – As technology and computer science advance, the contributions of computers to human knowledge have made it harder and harder to delineate which part of the equation was the more essential, humans or the computers they used. Obviously we cannot outcalculate the top computers anymore than we can outrun a car, but one area we still outdo machines is in creativity, right? Is this still true, and if so, for how long?

8/27/2016 – During the first week of August the city of Belgrade, famous for many notable chess events in the past, hosted the 40th World Chess Solving Championship. The event was covered vigorously in the national media, and it was won by the Polish participants. John Nunn, who won the Seniors section, sent us a report with some very nice problems for our readers to solve. Today he presents the solutions, annotated in his wonderfully lucid style.

8/27/2016 – Some countries wonder how to make their national championships attractive. Maybe they should emulate the French chessplayers who crown their national champions in a real chess festival. This year it took place in the town of Agen and attracted a huge number of players who competed in various tournaments. In the strongest group, the National, the new French Champions were established. Matthieu Cornette and Sophie Milliet won the titles.

8/26/2016 – This year's Olympiad will be held in Crystal Hall in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan (seating capacity: 25,000) and promises to be one of the finest in chess history. The budget is 13.3 million Euros and preparations reflect that commitment. ChessBase will be covering the event extensively. Here for starts is a preview of previous Chess Olympiads by someone who has attended them all since 1992. Enjoy a long interesting trip down memory lane.

8/26/2016 – Tactics can seem deceptively simple, particularly when seeing an engine analysing grandmaster games. Strange, however, how difficult it is to find the right move and to calculate variations properly when playing yourself. It is easier if you solve tactical puzzles regularly. In the ChessBase Magazine and his tactics column Oliver Reeh helps you to do so.

8/26/2016 – The European Youth Chess Championships are played from 17th to 28th of August in Prague. It is a huge tournament and young talents from all over Europe start in the age groups U8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18, boys and girls. In each group eight rounds are played and after five rounds everything is, of course, still open, but the blitz- and rapid tournaments played on the free day had a winner.

8/25/2016 – "Tap into your creative mind and start the game on a fresh note," says GM Timur Gareyev. "The Trompowsky, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5, is an opening outside of conventional wisdom. Create challenges and make your opponent solve problems early on." This DVD by the world renowned blindfold expert expresses his passion for active play where time prevails over matter and where you have to be prepared to play gambits. He deals with sacrificial openings and more solid, positional structures. A cool way to improve your results.

8/24/2016 – The 10th and last player to join the line-up of the 8th London Chess Classic is none other than England’s number one, Michael Adams. The Cornishman has been the country’s leading player since 1999 and was once ranked number 4 in the world. Adams has consistently recorded outstanding performances and been a member of the world elite for the better part of 20 years. Recently Mickey was crowned British Champion in Bournemouth, posting an impressive score of 10.0/11. Press Release...