Better than an engine: Leonardo Ljubicic (1/2)

2/21/2016 – Leonardo Ljubicic is the 28th World Champion in Correspondence Chess. In an extensive interview he talks about his way to the title and reveals how he prepares for his games. He talks about his openings and what is important to play successful correspondence chess and explains how humans use engines to play better than engines - an art and a science.

Tehran WGP Rd8: Nana Dzagnidze takes command

2/20/2016 – The high number of decisive games persisted in round eight. The pivotal result was Nana Dzagnidze's win with White against Harika Dronavalli, making the Georgian sole leader with a margin of a full point after Antoaneta Stefanova defeated former leader Natalija Pogonina in a dramatic game that plummeted the Russian to a shared 2nd-4th. Here is the report by Alina L'Ami.

"Die Zeit" interviews Magnus Carlsen

2/20/2016 – "Die Zeit" is one of the most prestigious German weeklies. The first edition was published on 21st February 1946 in Hamburg, and to celebrate the jubilee, the "Zeit" hosts a number of cultural events, among them a 70 board simul with the World Champion. "Zeit"-journalist Ulrich Stock spoke with Carlsen about the Candidates, chess and islam, and how he motivates himself.

Tehran WGP Rd6-7: Nana Dzagnidze joins lead

2/19/2016 – The sixth and seventh rounds offered great action, with a slew of decisive games, enough to satisfy any fan. After catching up with Natalija Pogonina, Nana Dzagnidze is now first be virtue of tiebreak, hoping to take over the lead. The youngest player in the competition, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, is in full ascension as she scored two win. A large illustrated report.

Adhiban: From a Challenger to a Master!

2/19/2016 – For the Challengers section at the Tata Steel Tournament the biggest attraction was the winner qualifying for next year's Masters. The winner in a thrilling finish was Indian GM B. Adhiban. The 23-year-old has sent us some superb game annotations that will give you an insight into the mind of one of the best emerging talents in the world – and perhaps get you 50 rating points, if you study his quiz questions carefully.

Coldblooded defense

2/19/2016 – 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.

Maurice Ashley: trash talk chess in NYC park

2/18/2016 – In Washington Square Park, to be precise, where masters set up chess boards and clocks to play people at $5 a game. Traditionally the master trash talks the opponent – deprecation and humiliation are part of the experience. But what if the hustler inadvertently challenges a grandmaster? It was recorded as part of a "Tim Ferriss Experiment” and is a great pleasure to watch.

A 30 month tournament

2/18/2016 – Despite computers, engines, databases and critical voices - correspondence chess is very much alive. Of course computers have changed correspondence chess but to play it with success handling engines well is not enough. Leonardo Ljubicic knows what modern correspondence chess is about. He just won the 28th Correspondence World Championship with 10.0/16.

Viktor Bologan: King's Indian: A modern approach

2/17/2016 – If you want to play for a win against 1.d4 the King's Indian is a good choice. It was (and is) a favorite of world champions Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov and grandmasters such as Bronstein and Alexei Shirov. Viktor Bologan now presents "A Modern Approach" to this popular opening - more than seven hours high-class chess training. Chris Wainscott took a close look.

Zurich best game poll + it was Sepp Blatter

2/17/2016 – The final day of in Zurich saw three games in the regular "new classic" time controls , and once again you can vote for the Game of the Day and win a valuable prize: a ChessBase DVD signed by Anand, Kramnik or Shirov immediately after the end of each round. Our add-on quiz question came in the form of a picture which showed the former Football Association President Sepp Blatter, who paid the event a surprise visit.

Tehran WGP Rd5: Keeping the status quo

2/16/2016 – After the refreshing free day, the players started the fifth round with renewed forces. Paradoxically, there was only one decisive game, but this was due to the increased degree of accuracy, as the fighting spirit was as high as ever. In the only decisive game, Harika Dronavalli defeated Antoaneta Stefanova after the Bulgarian chose an uninspired plan at an early stage.

4NCL in Birmingham

2/16/2016 – Last weekend the British Four Nations Chess League met in Birmingham to play rounds five and six of the season 2015/2016. Favorites to win the title are the teams from Cheddelton 1 and Guildford 1. Both favorites won their weekend matches clearly. Cheddelton 1 now leads Division 1A by a margin of two points, and Guildford 1 leads Division 1B by a margin of three.

Kings first

2/16/2016 – 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!

Tehran WGP Rd4: Valentina's Day

2/15/2016 – Played on the Valentine's Day, the fourth round was fortunate for Valentina Gunina who recovered from her shaky start with a victory over the experienced Pia Cramling. Natalia Pogonina defeated Nino Batsiashvili with the black pieces, maintaining her lead in the tournament. Four decisive games took place before a most welcome rest day.

Tania Sachdev: Covergirl and chess teacher

2/15/2016 – Tania Sachdev is a woman of many talents. She is an International Master, a successful tournament player, a fine chess teacher, and a popular commentator. She has also worked as a model and now made it to the cover of a popular Indian magazine. A picture of Tania Sachdev embellishes the cover of the 100th issue of "The Man magazine, India".

Which was the best game of day two?

2/15/2016 – Six exciting games on the second day of the Zurich Chess Challenge 2016 – as reported in full yesterday evening. Today once again you have the chance to win a ChessBase DVD, signed by players immediately after the end of the round, by voting for the game you liked most. But you mustn't be influenced by super-cute little girls rooting for their papa. The polls will be available for the rest of the week.

Zurich 2016 : Nakamura does it again!

2/15/2016 – Twice today he needed to defeat Aronian, in the new classical game to tie for first in that format and the second time to win the whole tournament, and he managed both times! Even though Anand had the same combined score as Nakamura (both players finished on 10.5) it was the American that edged him in tiebreaks due to a relatively unimportant match... or one would have thought!

Zurich 2016 day two: Kramnik inches closer

2/14/2016 – After three draws in round three the changes in the scoreboard happened all in round four. Two games were decisive: Aronian was able to vanquish Shirov from the black side of a Berlin, while Kramnik defeated Giri. Anand still leads with 3.0/4, but Nakamura and Kramnik are only half-a-point behind. Tomorrow, the final round will decide the tournament

Tehran WGP Rd3: Zhao Xue is the winner of the day

2/14/2016 – The third round was by far less peaceful than the five draws and one decisive game might suggest. Natalija Pogonina drew with Black against Ju Wenjun, thus maintaining her sole lead. By a funny coincidence, three games of round three ended in a three-fold repetition. In the only decisive game, Zhao Xue - Nino Batsiashvili, White won after sacrificing a pawn and then a piece!

Which was the best game of day one?

2/14/2016 – There were six games in the new classical two-hour format, and a two-game exhibition match on the side. Following our full report from day one of the Zurich Chess Challenge 2016 we ask you to tell us which of the eight games you considered the best. Here's your chance to win a ChessBase DVD signed by the author himself, immediately after the end of the round. Go for it!

Zurich 2016 day one: Anand wins two

2/13/2016 – An explosive start for the Tiger of Madras! He started the day off by annihilating Aronian in 19 moves, and he followed it up by taking advantage of Giri's ambitiousness and he quickly retaliated against a wrongful pawn push from the Dutch. Nakamura is close behind as he drew Giri in the first round and beat Shirov in a strange game in round two. Meanwhile Gelfand beat Morozevich in their exhibition match.

Tehran WGP Rd2: Pogonina starts with 2/2

2/13/2016 – It was a hard-fought round, with a few more draws than fans might like. Round two was a bit of dejà vu as two players repeated their first rounds. Valentina Gunina had another bitter result, though she will undoubtedly rebound, knowing her fighting spirit. On the flip side, Natalija Pogonina, finalist of last year's World Championship, has had a perfect start.

Nakamura wins Opening Blitz in Zurich

2/12/2016 – With a dashing 3-0 start, there was no doubt that Nakamura was the best blitzer out there in the opening tournament. The event did not count for points, it was held as part of the opening ceremony and to determine who has more whites and who has more blacks in the rapid portion. We bring you a round by round report of an exciting opening in Zurich!

Tehran WGP Rd1: What a setting

2/12/2016 – In the strongest tournament organized in Iran, the FIDE Women's Grand Prix has just started in Tehran with the best female players in the world. The exceptions being Hou Yifan and Mariya Muzychuk who are preparing for their epic showdown in March. As can be seen in the photos, the location was a beautiful venue that just begs to be photographed.