Tal in Memoriam

6/29/2015 – The 28th June happens be the death anniversary of Misha Tal. Few players in chess history have been loved and adored as much as this charismatic figure. Nagesh Havanur pays a tribute to this legendary player, recalling a rare encounter with Garry Kasparov. The second is a hussar-style duel with elegant tactical play throughout. Sheer magic!

No mail today

6/29/2015 – The German post is on strike. For weeks now. Long enough to make this no longer news in the German news. But letters and parcels still arrive. 80% of them, claims the "Deutsche Post". Still, you start to wonder: do I get no letters because I write none? And where is the ChessBase DVD I ordered? And what to do to improve the situation - and one's chess?

2015 Commonwealth: interview with Humpy

6/29/2015 – "Nobody believes Humpy" was a typical headline in national newspapers, after top female GM Koneru Humpy, who was leading with 3.0/3, withdrew from the event. Like her colleague Tania Sachdev, Humpy had forfeited a winning game after misunderstanding the time control rules. Sabrina Chevannes, who is on the appeals comittee, interviewed Humpy to find out exactly what happened.

Dortmund 02: Nisipeanu early leader

6/29/2015 – Some scintillating chess by the black pieces today in Dortmund. The match between two of America's finest, Caruana vs. So, was not a very precise game but it was full of emotion. So took it in a long endgame. Kramnik demolished Hou Yifan brilliantly, while Meier held Nepo to a nice fought draw. However the story of the day is that Nisipeanu already has a one point lead!

Viktor Bologan: the Queen's Indian Defense

6/28/2015 – Once ranked world no.18, Viktor Bologan continues to share his extensive opening knowledge without restrictions, and in his latest work, the Moldovan grandmaster casts his eye on the reputable Queen's Indian Defense. IM Narayan Srinath, an experienced player in the opening, looked at it, and says that had he known the DVD before his results would have been even better.

Dortmund 01: Germans excel!

6/27/2015 – The Dortmund Super-Tournament has started, and it was a great day for the German players as they almost swept their opponents 3-0. Naiditsch won convincingly against Kramnik... and with the black pieces! Meanwhile Nisipeanu welcomed So to Germany with a crushing attack. Hou Yifan can count her blessings that she did not fall to Meier. Caruana and Nepomniatchi split the point.

2015 Commonwealth: Gupta leads; Humpy protests

6/27/2015 – World Champions are always closely watched by the chess world, which follows their example at the board. The current World Champion Magnus Carlsen is no different, in that he has started a trend of… players losing on time! The 2015 Commonwealth Chess Championship witnessed top Indian woman players, GM Humpy and IM Sachdev, losing on time for not knowing the time control.

Wesley So in Hamburg

6/26/2015 – While travelling from Prague to Hamburg, GM Wesley So took the opportunity to visit the ChessBase headquarters in Hamburg. There he met the ChessBase family, was able to see the offices and studio, and enjoyed some one-on-one instruction with resident experts to finetune his understanding of the indispensable program. He also popped in the studio and kibitzed on the Norway games.

FIDE ACC statement on Sandu affair

6/26/2015 – Readers will recall the shocking letter in the European Women Chess Championship, which fifteen players signed, regarding their ‘concerns’ for cheating by WGM Michaela Sandu. Even the most superficial analysis showed the utter lack of evidence to support this. Finally, FIDE’s Anti-Cheating Commission has issued a statement on the matter.

Near or far?

6/26/2015 – 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.

Norway Rd9: Topalov wins event, Carlsen loses

6/25/2015 – It comes as no big surprise that Topalov, with white, managed to neutralize Anand to take sole first, but there ended the expected. Nakamura and Giri both fought hard to win with black in their games, and while Giri missed a chance to beat Caruana and take second, the American outplayed Aronian for a great finale. Still, the surprise was Hammer-Carlsen, with Carlsen losing again! Round Nine report.

Typical mistakes by 1600-1900 players

6/25/2015 – It goes without saying that such a title is not merely about helping players identify their mistakes, but rectify them. English GM Pert, National Head Coach for the English Chess Federation, proposes to do just that, highlighting common issues with 57 videos on lessons and tests to aid the player plug the holes in his game and prevent it from sinking prematurely.

Walter Browne dies in his sleep at 66

6/25/2015 – GM Walter Browne, born in Australia, was a six-time US Champion and eleven time winner of the National Open. He won the American Open seven times, the World Open three times, and the US Open Championship twice. On Wednesday night, after a tournament, a simul and a poker session in Las Vegas, Browne passed away suddenly. The chess world is shocked and saddened by this loss.

Norway 08: Topalov-Anand defines all

6/24/2015 – The results today in Norway have blown the tournament wide open! Anand beat Hammer with ease, while Giri ground down Topalov in a long game. The Bulgarian still leads, but he faces Anand tomorrow. If the Indian player wins he will claim clear first place! Nakamura was unable to keep pace as he drew MVL from an advantageous position. All eyes on Topalov-Anand tomorrow.

Documentary film: The Polgár Variant

6/24/2015 – Everyone has heard the myths and the rumours surrounding the Polgár sisters, but how many of us really know the true story of the family that yielded three chess super-talents? For over four years an Israeli film-maker collected archive material never seen before, and produced a documentary that is epic and historic, but also personal and intimate. Watch the latest trailer.

Norway 07: All drawn

6/24/2015 – Five draws today in Norway 2015. Interestingly, all the games ended in repetitions, but the way they got there was very different for each game. Carlsen went pawn hunting with home prep against MVL, who accepted a draw though he didn't have to. Topalov almost pushed too hard and was in trouble against Caruana. He seems in good shape to win the first Grand Chess Tour event.

ChessBase Magazine 166: Always evolving

6/23/2015 – Over the decades, ChessBase Magazine has evolved into a unique full-fledged multimedia magazine, always true to its roots, and always bringing more high quality content. In this latest edition, the subscriber or buyer will find everything they could want, from opening articles, powerful novelties, tactics and strategy lectures, and a fantastic Benko Endgame video course.

The outside pawn is the knight's biggest enemy

6/23/2015 – 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!

Valuation: variations on a famous Kubbel study

6/23/2015 – One of the greatest chess composers in history was Leonid Ivanovich Kubbel, born in 1891 in St. Petersburg, Russia. One of the greatest contempory composers is GM Pal Benkö, born in 1928. One of the most famous studies of all time is a 1922 composition by Kubbel. It is, however, not completely flawless, and so Benkö set out to polish it. He gives us a unique insight into the process.

Norway 06: Topalov wins, Anand brilliant

6/23/2015 – The forty-some year old players in this event are showing the young guns how it is done! Topalov won yet again, and with black, this time against Grischuk. Time pressure combined with great play from the Bulgarian gives Topalov a seemingly unstoppable 5.5/6 lead. Meanwhile Anand showed that he is as sharp as ever, and in a difficult Najdorf he annihilated Vachier-Lagrave.

Russian Higher League starts in Kaliningrad

6/22/2015 – On June 21, the city of Kaliningrad was the venue for a grand opening of a nationwide competition for places in the 68th Russian Men's Chess Championship and the 65th Women's Chess Championship. The total prize fund is five million Roubles (€82,000 or $93,000). Play days are June 22–July 1. The opening ceremony was held within the walls of a 19th century fortification. Details.

Capablanca Mem. Rd6: Yu and Kunin lead

6/22/2015 – After round five, it almost seemed like the Capablanca Memorial had some mystical parallel with the Norway Chess, as Yu Yangyi not only won again to reach 4.5/5, but did so after winning a dead lost game against Nepomniachtchi. Still, round six reverted that as he lost against Andreikin, who is now tied for second with Eljanov. Report and analysis.

Norway 2015 Rd5: Topalov is untouchable at 4.5/5

6/22/2015 – It is said that in order to win a tournament, one needs both good play and a bit of luck. Topalov, who has certainly been playing well, has been under the umbrella of a guardian angel so far, and after his miracle turnaround against Carlsen, was ready to shake hands today against Jon Hammer, when his opponent blundered the game away. He is now at 2816 in the Live Ratings. Round Five report.

Chess in Norway – wall-to-wall coverage on TV

6/21/2015 – The country if famous for its inventions – the cheese slicer, the paper clip and – slow TV (e.g. 12 hours of wood fire). But in the last couple of years, for reasons you might guess, Norway is gripped by chess fever, and TV stations are vying rights to broadcast entire tournaments – every game, live on national TV. Our correspondent Thomas Robertsen tells us how it came about.