ChessBase New Year's Puzzle 2016

1/2/2016 – First of all a very Happy New Year to all our faithful readers, and best wishes for happiness and success in the year 2016. To celebrate and to close our Christmas puzzle week we bring you a final problem, one that is easy to formulate but is seriously difficult to solve. This is your chance to compete with some of the world's strongest players and problem experts. And to win a prize with historical significance.

January 2016 ratings: Magnus Carlsen is no.1

1/1/2016 – The headline might seem a tad obvious, but it should be noted that he is not only no. 1 in classical chess, he once more holds the no. 1 positions in rapid and blitz as well. Vladimir Kramnik regains the world no. 2 spot, and rejoins the 2800 club. However, a note should be made of Iranian FM Alireza Firouzja, who is 2455 and only 12 years old.

Qatar Masters Rd9: Magnus supreme in Qatar

1/1/2016 – As you know from our Express report Magnus Carlsen won the Qatar Masters in a thrilling tiebreak finish with last year's winner Yu Yangyi. After the event was over our reporters in Doha had to take a flight home and got stuck in Bahrain. Thus the description of the final day comes a little late, but it is full of didactic analysis that will make you stronger, and exclusive pictures and videos.

Best of 2015: Best Game

1/1/2016 – The year 2015 is over now, so we thought it's time to let you vote for the highlights of the past year. Today we want you to vote for the best game of the year 2015. The following article features a selection of ten games from the elite level. Which, do you think, is the best game of 2015?

A treat to the eyes

1/1/2016 – 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.

ChessBase Christmas Puzzles 2015 (7)

12/31/2015 – In 1999, in the very first installment, we gave you a proof game problem as a Christmas puzzle, one that has occupied generations of chess players. Such problems require a great deal of lateral thinking, and are not readily accessible to computer analysis. This month we nostalgically reconnected with an old friend (from the previous millennium) who specializes in such problems. Have fun with Stuart Rachels' quick mates.

2015 Nutcracker - Kings do not lose their majesty

12/31/2015 – Always innovating, trying out new formulas, Russian chess patron Oleg Skvortsov once more ended the year in class and elegance in his Nutcracker event, also dubbed “Battle of Generations”. This year there were two team matches: one was “Kings” versus “Princes”, and the second pitted a team of girls against a team of boys. Illustrated report with interview.

Best of 2015: Most popular opening

12/31/2015 – The year 2015 is almost over, so we thought it's time to let you vote for your highlights of this year. Today we want you to vote for the most popular opening of the year 2015. The following article features a video by Rustam Kasimdzhanov who presents a selection of openings to vote for. Which is the most popular opening of the year 2015?

The New Yorker magazine: "Your Move" with Caruana

12/31/2015 – The New Yorker is a rare breed of magazine nowadays that mixes local stories, national issues, sophisticated opinion pieces, and even original fiction that has seen contributions by some of the greatest authors. In the latest edition in January 2016, Fabiano Caruana is the topic of an article entitled “Your Move”. Read more.

"Magnus": A new book on the World Champion

12/31/2015 – Did you ever wonder why and how Magnus Carlsen became so good? How he managed to become World Champion in a country without a great chess tradition? In a new book about Carlsen Norwegian author Aage G. Sivertsen writes about Carlsen's way to the top. In the past Sivertsen has time and again shown that he knows how to motivate and how to invite success.

Best of 2015: Best female player

12/31/2015 – The year 2015 is almost over, so we thought it's time to let you vote for your highlights of this year. To begin with, we want you to vote for the best female player of the year. The following article presents a number of players who currently shape the chess world and whose achievements in 2015 stand out. Who is your player of the year 2015?

ChessBase Account: MyGames Cloud (part two)

12/30/2015 – While it is absolutely true that one can create a database, enter fresh games, and analyze them, all using the MyGames app, to get the most from all its options such as collectively shared databases across the globe, you need ChessBase 13. However, you don’t need this if all you want is to to share analysis for player preparation as a player with a second or coach.

CNN: An interview with Magnus conducted by fans

12/30/2015 – You might be inclined to dismiss this as YAIWMC (Yet Another Interview with Magnus Carlsen), but this one particular one mediated (not conducted) by CNN came with a twist. All the questions came from fans through social networks, asking everything: from Carlsen's eating habits to his ultimate opponent. Some of the answers might surprise you!

ChessBase Christmas Puzzles 2015 (6)

12/30/2015 – This year was the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Musing over the Napoleonic invasion of Russia, three years before, Pal Benko found a well-known chess problem that reflects the retreat of the French forces and the attacks by Cossack Hussards. It was composed by Alexander Petrov in 1824, but is somewhat flawed. Our problemist friend could not resist improving on it.

The strategical opening exchange sacrifice

12/30/2015 – Opening theory evolves at a startling rate, and most instruction deals with concrete variations and lines to wield the openings in battle over the board. However, in this series of lectures, the erudite GM Adrian Mikhalchishin discusses the evolution of the exchange sacrifice in opening theory and its many manifestations. A fascinating and entertaining course.

Best of 2015: Best player

12/29/2015 – The year 2015 is almost over, so we thought it's time to let you vote for your highlights of this year. To begin with, we want you to vote for the best male player of the year. The following article presents a number of players who currently shape the chess world and whose achievements in 2015 stand out. Who is your player of the year 2015?

2015 Al Ain Classic Rd6-7: Wang Hao is unstoppable

12/29/2015 – Wang Hao scored another victory, this time against Micheil Mchedishvili of Georgia to take his tally to 6.5/7 and extend his lead by a full point at the end of the seventh round. Four players share second on 5.5/7, Alexei Shirov, Arman Pashikian, Abhijeet Gupta and Yuriy Kryvoruchko. In this report you will find fine portraits and commented games.

ChessBase Chrismas Puzzles 2015 (5)

12/29/2015 – Here's an interesting problem: say you have found some moves somewhere, in coordinate notation without piece names – e.g. 1.h7g5 d8g5 2.b5d5 d1c2 etc. Can one reconstruct the original supposedly meaningful position to which they apply? Azlan Iqbal, who has a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence, retraces his thought processes when he tried, in this unique exercise in forensic chess. Help him and you can win a special prize.

Qatar 2015 Rd9: Carlsen takes title in thrilling final round

12/29/2015 – After an edge-of-your-seat final round in which Yu Yangyi defeated Wesley So to try to snatch the title in a playoff, World Champion Magnus Carlsen added another feather to his cap by clinching the Qatar Masters 2015 title after outclassing his Chinese rival in tie break blitz games. Express Report.

Qatar Masters R08: Mamedyarov vs Carlsen

12/29/2015 – In round 8 we saw a lot of draws on the top boards. But not all were drawn. Yu Yangyi won against Grandelius to join Kramnik who also won against Sjugirov. They're both on 6 out of 8 directly behind Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen had the black pieces against Mamedyarov and won in the end. Daniel King analysed this game in his highlight video. Click here for the video...

Powerful pawns

12/29/2015 – Every week ChessBase magazine author and renowned endgame expert Karsten Müller presents a remarkable or particularly instructive endgame in his blog. A click on the diagram opens a larger board. Test your endgame skills, improve and have fun!

Carlos Torre Open: Snowless winter (2/2)

12/29/2015 – When having lived in a country where Christmas is synonymous of snow and sleighs, it can be quite disconcerting to find oneself in hot sunny pastures, even if distracted by a very busy tournament schedule. Nevertheless, how can one complain with paradise on one side, and ancient civilizations on the other? A large pictorial by Alina L'Ami.

Qatar Masters Rd8: It’s a Carlsen vs Kramnik showdown!

12/29/2015 – Magnus Carlsen won his game with ease against Mamedyarov and shot into sole lead with 6.5/8. Kramnik beat Sjugirov while Yu Yangyi got the better of Nils Grandelius. Both of them follow Magnus with 6.0/8. It is going to be a superb last round as Carlsen takes on Kramnik and Wesley takes on Yu Yangyi. In this article we also introduce you to the eight chess couples in Qatar!

Announcing 14th Delhi Open with record prizes

12/28/2015 – The 2016 edition of the Delhi International Open will take place from January 9-16, 2016, and will have a prizefund of roughly 48 thousand Euros, a record in India! The event will bring opportunities for players of all levels, with norm opportunities for strong players, to incredibly rich prizes even for lower rated categories. Read on how to inscribe.