2/14/2017 – With eleven mini-matches reaching tie-breaks, players started the first tie-break in a hair-raising fashion. The most notable characteristic of these tie-break games was the uncompromising approach of the players in every match. The most dramatic incident was the host’s disappointment when they saw both of their local players lose their respective matches. Here is the report on the tiebreaks with a detailed look at the matches and games.

2/13/2017 – You may have noticed recently the posts on the Live events featuring a brand new live replayer, replacing the previous one that showed a number of very small boards. The new replayer is not only easier to navigate, but includes great tools such as an engine you can run, and the ability to move the pieces on the board and analyze. Learn how you can also embed it free in your own pages.

2/13/2017 – The Brazilian Championship is finally rounding the last curve as it enters the home stretch, and while it cannot claim the ultra-elite field of national championships such as Russia, it has more than made up for it in fighting spirit and fun. The top guns are leading as one might expect, but it has not been a smooth ride as even top-seed Fier nearly lost in 20 moves. Illustrated report with games and positions.

2/13/2017 – 20 of 63 ladies lost their respective matches and had to leave the cycle. 11 matches went into the tie-break with hair-raising pressure. For many, it was the question of survival in the competition. In Tehran, many of the players who lost their first games managed to bounce back and square the match, some did not. Check out GM Elshan Moradiabadi's illustrated report and analysis.

2/12/2017 – Dutch Stonewall is an underrated opening. Players with the white pieces who play 1.d4 usually do not devote much time to studying the best way to deal with it. It's a positionally dubious system, is what they think. However, the Dutch grandmaster Erwin L'Ami has come out with a ChessBase DVD that will change your opinion about the Stonewall. L'Ami calls it a perfect weapon for a fighting game of chess. IM Sagar Shah, a firm adherent of 1.d4 in his chess career, presents his findings.

2/12/2017 – The first round of the Women's World Championship 2017 was off to a controversial start in Iran. For a handful of higher rated players, it was a frustrating opening round as they were held to draws. Some even lost. Check out GM Elshan Moradiabadi's illustrated report with analysis and more.

2/7/2017 – Once more one of the world's largest chess festivals took place in the heart of the chess world, the Moscow Open. Named as if it were but one event, it is rather a sprawling festival of chess competitions that range from foremost main Open, to an exclusive (and very well attended) Women's Open, an Amateur (sub-2300), team events, university competitions, a huge children's competition, and this year they even innovated with a Rapid Chess tournament for the blind!

2/6/2017 – Davide Nastasio wanted to take his game to the next level. He bought ChessBase 14 along with Mega Database 2017 and started experimenting with it. He was amazed at the things he could do with these tools. After working for a few days, he realised that CB 14 and Mega 2017 allowed him to not only study master games, but also analyse them, learn from world class annotators and find out errors in his own game. He now shares his experience with you in this detailed review.

2/6/2017 – In this second part of her pictorial of images from Tata Steel, Alina L'Ami continues to not only share her choice images, but also what fascinated her, what attracted her, what made her stop and think. All these moments are unveiled as she explains why some work, and why some don't, and ideas for you to take home and try to include in your own photography. In the meantime, enjoy this photographic selection with her comments.

2/5/2017 – Manuel Infante, an American in his early sixties. He survived childhood cancer, grew up an Air Force brat, became a mathematics teacher and coach. At the Western Heights Public Schools in Oklahoma he was the chess club sponsor, and after early retirement from teaching he renewed his chess studies and began once again to participate in chess tournaments. Manny submitted two games, an feature “agonising” loss in which he played an inventive pawn sacrifice, and a crushing win. They are analysed by our columnist Jon Speelman.

2/5/2017 – Tata Steel is without question one of the highlights of the year thanks to its great diversity of events and of course the Masters with its host of elite players. One other thing that has helped keep it such a pleasurable event is the attention made to have great videos and photography. Alina L'Ami has been the official photographer for the last few years, and enriched the reports by all with her lovely imagery. Here is a large pictorial of photos she chose with her comments and tips.

2/4/2017 – The ChessBase Mega Database 2017 lists 35 casual games Adolf Anderssen (photo) played from 1851 to 1859 against Louis Eichborn. Eichborn won 32 of these games, lost 2 and only one game ended in a draw. Now Anderssen is considered as one of the best if not the best player of that time while Eichborn is relatively unknown. How then to explain his overwhelming plus against Anderssen?