Ultimate Moves ends with jokes and jibes

9/6/2015 – With the final round over and the trophies and checks handed out, one would understandably presume that was the end of the Sinquefield Cup, but not quite yet. There was one last encore for the players and spectators, and not some simul or other, it was the Ultimate Moves. This very fun event brought teams with the stars in blitz games, rotating the players every few moves!

Prize winners at the Abu Dhabi Masters 2015

9/5/2015 – In our previous report we brought to you annotations and an interview with the winner of the Abu Dhabi Masters 2015, Nils Grandelius. But four other players had the same number of points and took places second to fifth on tiebreaks. Martyn Kravtsiv was the runner-up, with Baadur Jobava, Alexander Areshchenko and Richard Rapport following behind. Pictures and games annotations.

Chess in the land of dried apricots (2/2)

9/5/2015 – In spite of the many interesting things to see and enjoy, the Golden Apricot tournament was still about chess, and the event saw a number of surprises, notably two players rated just over 2000, both young and old, who finished with wins over master and grandmaster in a moment of inspiration. Here is second part of Alina L'Ami's report, chock full of portraits, profiles and moments.

Check the ideas

9/4/2015 – 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.

Chess in the land of dried apricots (1/2)

9/4/2015 – The title could hardly be more fitting, as the 3rd International Golden Apricot tournament took place in Malatya, Turkey, a region that literally produces nearly 70% of the world's dried apricots. Although this is its obvious claim to fame, it is also the home of the UNESCO World heritage site, the mausoleum of Antiochus I (69–34 B.C.). We bring you a large illustrated report.

Grandelius wins Abu Dhabi Masters 2015

9/3/2015 – While the Sinquefield Cup was taking place in the United States, a strong open event with many 2600+ players was happening in the Middle East. After nine rounds of grueling chess five players tied for the top spot. Nils Grandelius of Sweden had the best tie-break and went on to win the title – the biggest result in his career. We have an interview as well as annotations from the winner.

An imprisoned bishop

9/3/2015 – 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!

Learn the Anti-Bayonet Attack in 60 minutes

9/3/2015 – The King’s Indian Defense is one of the most intriguing and feared defenses for Black, and among the most direct methods of countering it is the so-called Bayonet Attack, with White striking immediately with 9.b4, hoping to neutralize Black’s ambitions before they can start. Mikhail Marin instructs Black how to deal with it showing the key theory and plans.

Hejazipour new Asian Women’s Champion

9/2/2015 – The Women's section of the Asian Continental Championships 2015 in Al Ain brought quite a bit of fighting chess and was decided in a very tense and dramatic final round. The winner was a 22-year-old WIM from Iran, who was hoping for good result but never expected Gold. Mitra Hejazipour tells us how it felt and and annotated a key game for us.

Sinquefield 09: Aronian wins tournament

9/2/2015 – Aronian had no trouble holding a draw today against Topalov, all he needed to crown himself as the winner of the 2015 Sinquefield Cup, and the second leg of the Grand Chess Tour. If anything, Aronian was the one playing for an advantage for a large part of the game. Caruana had a winning position against So, but was unable to convert. Nakamura pushed hard against Grischuk and won a long game...

Online Database: preparing against a player

9/1/2015 – In ChessBase, there are two functions for accessing the Online Database. There is one, already discussed, tuned for openings and statistic, but there is a second one, where users can search for the games of a tournament, or a player. This second one allows you to make advanced searches, against specific opponents, events, and more, and you can even download all the games.
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Garry Kasparov: 'kicking and screaming'

9/1/2015 – It was a relaxed and good-humored Garry Kasparov who appeared in the live commentary beside hosts Yasser Seirawan and Jennifer Shahade, and to the delight of spectators, he seemed in no hurry to leave. He spoke openly about a variety of topics including opening advice to Nakamura (to not repeat his mistake against Kramnik), effusive credit to Vishy Anand, and chess in the USA.

Sinquefield 08: Carlsen forgives Nakamura

9/1/2015 – Today's round featured three solid draws, after which two very long games were the only ones left in the playing hall. Giri suffered slightly against Caruana as he lost a pawn and had to defend, but it wasn't too hard. Nakamura, however, is the one that was lucky. Carlsen's prep basically gave him a winning position, but the World Champion was careless, and Naka found a way to survive!

September 2015 ratings: Burke youngest 2600 ever

8/31/2015 – It was certainly a month for remarkable results, and the foremost will be untitled John M. Burke, born in 2001, who rises to 2601, breaking Wei Yi's record as youngest 2600 player ever, and is now the no.2 US Junior. Ding Liren continues to rise, and is now world no.7, the highest ranked Chinese ever, though none can beat Battsooj Amina, who went from beginner to master in four months.

Hans Olav Lahlum: historian, organiser, novelist

8/31/2015 – The Norwegian Hans Olav Lahlum is a historian who published political biographies but also a series of successful and critically acclaimed crime novels. He is also a passionate chess player, organiser, and television commentator. In a detailed interview he talks about his chess career, crime writing and reveals why he loves to do the things he does.

Sinquefield 07: Aronian's day

8/31/2015 – What a day for the Armenian celebrity, former number two in the world: Levon Aronian was the biggest winner today with a fine positional victory against Hikaru Nakamura. In the meantime, Magnus Carlsen saw his dreams of a comeback hamstrung as he lost a dramatic game against Alexander Grischuk in a long endgame that went down to the final seconds!

Sinquefield 06: Nakamura Brilliant!

8/30/2015 – In a showing of excellent attacking chess, Nakamura took So's deep preparation, shredded it over the board and won a brilliant game with multiple sacrifices. So simply seemed to have no clue where the ball was rolling today and was properly punished for it. It was not the only important win today, as MVL and Grischuk also won their games. This puts MVL, Naka and Giri 0.5 from the leaders.

World Solving Championship – solutions (2)

8/29/2015 – Are you interested in chess problems? Many-movers, help and selfmate? In the solutions to the second part of his series John Nunn explains how these problems work and how the mind of an world-class problemist goes about finding the solution. You should replay John's wonderfully lucid explanations to get a taste of the bizarre beauty of chess problems.

Five leaders in Abu Dhabi

8/28/2015 – Going into the rest day after six rounds we have five players in the lead at the Abu Dhabi Masters 2015 – Grandelius, Rapport, Areshchenko, Gupta and Kravtsiv. A horde of nine players are just half a point behind the leaders. With three rounds to go this promises to be a very exciting finish. We have an illustrated report with lots of pictures, videos and analysis right from the venue.

Smooth shortcut

8/28/2015 – 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.

Nagesh Havanur on ChessBase Magazine #167

8/28/2015 – 1586 OTB games, 107 annotated, and 12,450 CC games, 33 games annotated. Apart from this basic supply you have 14 topical opening surveys, exercises in opening traps, middle game tactics and endgame technique. In ChessWorld review Prof. Nagesh Havanur rates this CBM issue as "Recommended" and illustrates his opinion with a dramatic example from its contents.

Sinquefield 05: Topalov loses, Carlsen resurges

8/28/2015 – The tournament has become an even tighter race. Topalov had a fantastic start with 3.0/4 and played very strong chess, but Fabiano Caruana, who had a rough start with 0.0/2, has beaten the Bulgarian, escaped from the basement and Topalov is no longer leading. With Carlsen winning yet another game, the Norwegian is now tied for first with Aronian, who drew Grischuk.

Online Database: annotating openings like a pro

8/27/2015 – One of the somewhat innocuous looking tools of the latest generations of ChessBase is the ability to access the Online Database, but for any student or competitor, this is a tool of incomparable value. It has two manifestations in the program. The first, used by all ChessBase writers to annotate games, allows you to easily and instantly consult the openings and games linked to them.

Sinquefield 04: Aronian Brilliant Again!

8/27/2015 – An unusual day today, as we saw four (!) opposite colored bishops positions. It’s an unusual circumstance, which can make the game either extremely exciting or very dull. Unfortunately for us today there were four games in which, because of the opposite colored bishops, the game was simply drawn. To make up for it Aronian played a brilliant sacrifice against So, and ties for the lead.