2016 IMSA Elite mindgames (1/2)

3/7/2016 – The IMSA Mindgames, is a bit of an in-between for FIDE, as far as chess is concerned, and the Olympics (the normal one, not the chess specific one). Each year it organizes a series of chess events, with a number of top players, offering medals as well as prizes. In this years event were rapid, blitz and basque chess. Here is a large illustrated report.

Pavel Eljanov: The Ruy Lopez Breyer Variation

3/7/2016 – Pavel Eljanov is one of the world's best players and if you ask him what to play against 1.e4 he will have a clear answer: the Breyer Variation - which also happens to be a favorite of Magnus Carlsen. This line of the Spanish leads to interesting, rich and varied positions, in which understanding is crucial. On a ChessBase DVD Eljanov shares his insights.

Women's WCh. G4: Short but sweet

3/7/2016 – Game four saw a repeat of the Open Spanish in game two with a slight difference. This time both players came armed to the teeth, in both preparation and disposition, and if the game ended in a draw in just 21 moves, there was nothing dull about it. Very sharp tactics dominated the final stages with a sacrificial attack that led to a forced draw. Illustrated report with GM analysis.

Aeroflot Open Rd6: Tough fights and great games

3/6/2016 – It has been a terrific series of fights with none able to break away from the pack for any length of time. At the top are Najer, Gelfand, Bartel and Matlakov with 4.5/6. The tournament has also been a boon to young talents, several of whom are found in the A and B events. In this report are two games with wonderfully instructive analysis by GM Moradiabadi.

Aeroflot, Rd. 5: Najer stays sole leader

3/6/2016 – Round five of the Aeroflot Open in Moscow was peaceful: nine of the ten games at the top boards ended with a draw. This allowed Evgeniy Najer to defend his lead. After round four he was sole leader with 3.5/4, after round five he is sole leader with 4.0/5. But despite the many draws at the top boards round five still saw some interesting chess in Moscow.

Women's WCh. G3: Change of tactics, but draw

3/6/2016 – After a failed opening in game one with 1.e4, failed because there had never been a chance to make a fight of it with white, reigning champion Mariya Muzychuk changed tactics, and opened with 1.d4 in game three. A Closed Catalan ensued with symmetrical pawns, and in spite of White's small edge thanks to a bishop pair, Hou Yifan was never in any danger. Report with GM commentary.

Aeroflot round four – Najer leads, twelve follow!

3/5/2016 – Four rounds have been completed at the Aeroflot Open and only one grandmaster is on 3.5/4 – Evgeniy Najer. Twelve other players are right on his heels with 3.0/4. This goes to show how keenly contested this tournament is. With five rounds to go and Boris Gelfand finding his form, things are going to get really interesting. We have some nice portraits and in-depth game analysis from Moscow.

Lima: A place to visit

3/4/2016 – The Campeonato Continental Femenino, the American Continental Women's Championship, took place from 19th to 29th February and was played in Lima, the capital of Peru. After some tense moments rating favorite and Peruvian celebrity Deysi Cori won with 7.5/9. Dejan Bojkov, who worked as a coach at the tournament, sends a pictorial report and shares impressions of Lima.

Nicholas Pert: The French Defence

3/4/2016 – The French Defence has always been a tough nut to crack for 1.e4 players and even Bobby Fischer had problems against it. But English Grandmaster Nicholas Pert loves the French Defence - he has been playing it with Black since his junior days. On his DVD about the French he uses his knowledge and experience to recommend a solid yet aggressive repertoire for Black.

2016 FIDE World Chess Candidates Tournament

3/4/2016 – It starts in a week, the eight-player double-round robin tournament to determine the Challenger for the World Championship title match in November this year. Here are details of the tournament and some pictures of the venue and the state-of-the-art design and production features that have been set up for the tournament. In addition an interview with Peter Heine Nielsen on the chances of the various players.

Motif - variations - strike

3/4/2016 – 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.

Andrey Filatov is awarded Legion of Honor

3/4/2016 – On March 2, 2016, His Excellency Mr. Jean-Maurice Ripert, Ambassador of France in Russia, presented Andrey Filatov, President of the Russian Chess Federation, with the Legion of Honor. The award ceremony took place in the building of the first chess museum in Russia, located at 14 Boulevard Gogol in Moscow, where dignitaries were present in great pomp.

Aeroflot Open Rd3: A leader at last

3/4/2016 – Round three of the Aeroflot Open saw one player emerge as the sole leader: Evgeny Najer, the reigning European Champion, as he defeated Tigran Petrosian. After that, things quickly become messy as six players stand at 2.5/3, and 27 more at 2.0. After two draws, Boris Gelfand scored his first win in an impressive game analyzed by GM Elshan Moradiabadi.

Women's WCh. G2: Hou Yifan draws first blood

3/3/2016 – If the first game of the match seemed to have both players circling each other as boxers in a ring, feeling each other out, in the second game, no punches were pulled. A fascinating Open Spanish was the name of the game, and the complications were such that both players consumed most of their time before move 20. See the game with grandmaster commentary.

Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Anand clash again

3/3/2016 – Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Anand played two World Championship matches and in 2016 they will meet again: in the Bilbao Chess Grand Slam Masters Final 2016, a six-player round-robin that will take place from 20th to 30th July. Hikaru Nakamura also confirmed to play and thus it will be one of the strongest and most prestigious tournaments of the year. Press Release...

Chess to enjoy: The Café Batavia tournament

3/3/2016 – The Batavia tournament in the Batavia Café in Amsterdam celebrates Dutch coffeehouse chess culture. Back in the days Max Euwe, who in 1935 became World Champion, played his very first tournament in such a café. Three grandmasters started in the Batavia tournament 2016: Lars Schandorff, Sabino Brunello, and Friso Nijboer. And they showed no respect for the young.

Women's WCh. G1: A quiet Italian

3/3/2016 – The fanfare was a tribute to the passion and enthusiasm of Ukraine and especially Lviv as the match got underway. The media was present in force and game one was started. Playing black, Hou Yifan caught her opponent off-guard as she opted for an Italian game, and her choice was vindicated as Muzychuk failed to get anything from the opening. Report with GM analysis.

Aeroflot Open Rd2: The challenge of being a favorite

3/2/2016 – With only two rounds out of nine, the most noteworthy result is not so much that of some weaker player beating a stronger one, but rather that of five players with 2.0/2, only Vallejo Pons was in the top ten at the start. Of note also is the presence of Boris Gelfand, who will need to adjust to the frenzy of an open. Report, pictures, and more.

Lawrence Trent: The modern Grand Prix Attack

3/2/2016 – If you play 1.e4 you need a weapon against the Sicilian. A good choice is the Modern Grand Prix Attack. The line is sound, aggressive, and easy to learn. White avoids theoretical clashes with well-prepared opponents and from the very start steers the game into structures he knows - if he studies Lawrence Trent's DVD on the modern Grand Prix Attack.

Women's World Ch. opening ceremony

3/2/2016 – The Champion, Mariya Muzychuk, has the white pieces in the first game of this Championship, which starts at 3 p.m. local time (2 p.m. CET, 8 a.m. NY). While you are waiting for that to happen, or watching the start of the game live on out news page, you can enjoy pictures from the opening ceremony that took place last night in the packed Lviv Opera House. Very nice indeed, with no effort spared.

2016 Khazar Cup in Iran brings 758 players

3/2/2016 – Chess has visibly been enjoying huge growth in Iran, as seen not only with the recently held FIDE Women Grand Prix, but also the number of young talents emerging. The Khazar Cup is Iran’s most prominent chess festival, and this year brought together no fewer than 758 participants, and was opened by Anatoly Karpov. Sharing his images and insights, here is a pictorial by Reza Mahdipour.

Aeroflot Open 2016 – round one in Moscow

3/2/2016 – With an average rating of 2585, the Aeroflot Open 2016 is one of the strongest open tournaments in the world. World Championship finalist Boris Gelfand is the top seed in the A group. In the first round itself we had some highly interesting battles and mini-upsets. Our reporters Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal are in Moscow and bring you not only the chess moments but also some nice pictorial impressions from the event.

Better than an engine: Leonardo Ljubicic (2/2)

3/1/2016 – In the second part of his interview with ChessBase, Leonardo Ljubicic, winner of the 28th World Championship in Correspondence Chess, speaks about time-trouble in correspondence chess, strong grandmasters in over-the-board chess who also excel in correspondence chess, the importance of opening preparation, and his chances against Magnus Carlsen in a correspondence match.

The World Championship 2016 comes to New York

3/1/2016 – The World Championship match 2016 between Magnus Carlsen and his challenger who will be established in the Candidates Tournament in Moscow will take place in New York. "I and all New Yorkers welcome the World Chess Championship back to New York City", said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. The 12-game match will be played from 11th to 30th November. Press Release...