Qatar Masters and the amazing Doha (1/2)

12/10/2014 – Though the Qatar Masters Open was assuredly covered in detail, and well, a post-scriptum report was sent by our dear globetrotting Alina L'Ami, who sent her impressions of not only the event, but above all Doha, Qatar, and a city that is hotter than hot in more ways than one. It was a festival of exotic markets and boundless luxury cars, such as Lamborghinis and pink Rolls-Royces.

The magic rook and its apprentice

12/9/2014 – 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!

LCC: Adams wins Elite Blitz tournament

12/9/2014 – On Monday all six elite entrants to the London Classic proper took part in a double-cycle round-robin to decide the draw order for the main tournament. The Blitz, which was scored on the 3-1-0 basis, ended in a three-way tie for first between Mickey Adams, Hikaru Nakamura and Vladimir Kramnik on 17/30. The three got the starting numbers 1-3, which means they get an extra white.

Closing Ceremony in Kazan

12/9/2014 – After nine tough rounds, Lysyj took the gold. He led the event most of the way, though he was far from the pre-tournament favorite. In the women's section one of the favorites, Gunina, started the tournament on the wrong foot, but she turned things around and won the tournament. Eteri Kublashvili brings us her impressions of the final round and the closing ceremony from Kazan.

Nakamura wins LCC Super Rapid Play

12/8/2014 – In the final round of the London Chess Classic Super Rapid Hikaru Nakamura had the white pieces against Vishy Anand. They were the only players left who could win the £8,000 first prize. Hikaru opened with 1.b3 – and a fateful excursion to snaffle Hikaru’s h-pawn proved Anand's undoing. The American won first prize with an outstanding score of 9½/10. Report by John Saunders.

Gunina, Lysyj, Russian Champions

12/8/2014 – They took very different routes to get there, but Gunina and Lysyj are the new Russian Champions! Gunina recovered from a bad start, played an incredibly topsy-turvy game in the final round against Galliamova, won and took the title. Meanwhile Lysyj led since the early stages of the tournament, played a solid game and became champion. Analysis of a hard-fought last round.

LCC Super Rapid Play Open day one

12/7/2014 – The London Chess Classic is as much about the development of children’s chess as it is about super-GMs. The tournament started on Saturday with a novelty: pairings of the super-elite players (who will start playing their own closed Classic event on Wednesday) and six under-18 players from the host nation – for the amateurs, rated up to 1000 points lower, a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Myanmar Open won by Short and Belous (2/2)

12/7/2014 – In the second part of the report on the Zaw Win Lay Myanmar International Open, won jointly by GM Nigel Short and GM Vladimir Belous, we bring you an exclusive interview with the one of the joint winners, Nigel Short, who discusses the tournament, Burma, and eating grasshoppers and worms. There are also player portraits as well as some beautiful pictures of Yangon.

A visit to Hawaiʻi!

12/7/2014 – In the wake of the upcoming Hawaiʻi Chess Festival, we felt our journalistic duty to investigate the island of Oʻahu before giving our full support to the event. After relaxing at Waikiki Beach, hiking Diamond Head, enjoying its magnificent views, shopping in Kalakua Avenue and eating some of the best food in the world, we can say the Hawaiʻi Chess Festival is something you cannot miss!

Rus SuperFinal 08: Exciting Penultimate Round

12/7/2014 – The Russian Super Final is nearing its end, and in the Open section Lysyj continues with a half point lead. All the games were drawn in that second today except for Khismatullin's win a gainst Vitiugov. If Lysyj wins against Grachev tomorrow he will be Russian Super Final Champion! The race in the Women's is between Galliamova and Gunina, both tied with 6.0/8..

Carlsen analyzes the World Championship (2/2)

12/6/2014 – In the second part of Magnus Carlsen's overview of the second match against Anand, the world champion analyzes the key moments and his evaluations of the openings as well as the turning points in the games. He brings up the famous mutual oversight in game six, but as will be seen, Anand would have other opportunities later in the match. See Carlsen's analysis.

Rus SuperFinal 07: Gunina joins leaders

12/6/2014 – Valentina Gunina found herself in a lost position against Anastasia Bodnaruk, but through cunning, good defense and a lot of help from her opponent she managed to win the game and tie for the lead with Alisa Galliamova and Aleksandra Goryachkina, who drew their game. In the open Igor Lysyj was unable to solve a study-like position and to fell victim to Vadim Zvjaginsev.

Viktor Bologan: The Caro-Kann with Black and White

12/5/2014 – The Caro-Kann enjoys the reputation of a solid opening. But in the hands of a player who knows what he is doing it can be very dangerous. Thus, if you play 1.e4 with White you better come prepared. On his new DVD Viktor Bologan recommends to play the Advance Variation against the Caro-Kann. Priyadarshan Banjan had a look at Bologan's take on the Caro-Kann.

Blow number 3

12/5/2014 – Do you know the feeling when you have outplayed your opponent and your position looks won but your opponent refuses to resign and congratulate you, but instead defends stubbornly? He comes up with one only move after the next while you just cannot find the decisive move? Well, after delivering the first and second blow you sometimes have to find the final one.

RUS SuperFinal 06: Leaders cement positions

12/5/2014 – Not the pre-tournament favorites, but the leaders are playing powerful chess. Lysyj in the Open section is performing fantastically at 2924 and his latest victim was Khismatullin. With this win Lysyj leads by a full point. In the Women's, Goraychkina drew Pogonina, but Galliamova was able to turn a bad situation into a tie for the lead.

Carlsen analyzes the World Championship (1/2)

12/4/2014 – Shortly before his mega match against Norway, Magnus Carlsen took advantage of his presence in the NRK studios during his dinner break and decided to record his game-by-game summary of the World Championship match. The video was posted on his YouTube channel, which we have transcribed here with ample diagrams of key moments. It is a fascinating read.

Yu Yangyi wins Qatar Masters Open 2014

12/4/2014 – He started as the 13th seed, rated 2705, but went on to beat two Top Ten players, both in great form, to take clear first. Chinese GM Yu Yanyi has gained 25 Elo points and now has a live rating of 2730 (no. 24 in the world). A remarkable achievement of a player who is still in the Juniors section of the FIDE ratings. We bring you the games and pictures in our final report from Doha.

Qatar Masters: Kramnik wins, takes sole lead

12/4/2014 – Anish Giri was on a path to a triumphal win, but after winning the first six games he lost in rounds seven and eight to drop out of contention for first place. Meanwhile Vladimir Kramnik notched up his sixth win in succession – going for a caruana? – with a beautiful game, and is now poised to take the title in the final round on Thursday. Round eight report by Sagar Shah.

Chessbase 13 through the eyes of a top Junior

12/4/2014 – With a rating of 2625, 20-year-old Vidit Gujrathi is India’s top Junior and number ten in the world Junior ratings. He is a perfectionist and well known as a dangerous theoretician. We sent him a copy of our new ChessBase 13 and asked for his opinion. Vidit thinks it is mandatory buy for all ambitious players, analysts and professionals, and finds some of the new functions 'simply amazing!'.

Myanmar Open won by Short and Belous (1/2)

12/3/2014 – The Zaw Win Lay Myanmar International tournament was held in Yangon, Myanmar from the 24th of November to 29th of November 2014. It was a nine round Swiss event with 128 players taking part in it. The tournament was held in the memory of GM Zaw Win Lay who passed away on 3rd of October 2014. Although no games were saved for the event, we bring exclusive key games sent by the players.

Qatar Masters: Kramnik brings down Giri

12/3/2014 – He was on the path to a straight caruana (seven wins in the first seven rounds of a very strong tournament). But Anish Giri, who yesterday was sporting a performance rating way above 3000, was stopped in his stratospheric flight by former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik. Now the two of them lead with 6.0/7 points. With two rounds to go it's going to be an exciting finish.

Chess and Education Conference in London

12/3/2014 – It is part of the London Chess Classic and shares the location with it: the second Chess and Education Conference brings together leading experts on school chess and mathematics education on 6 and 7 December 2014 at the Olympia Conference Centre, Kensington. Experts from different countries provide examples of how to connect school chess and mathematics.

2014 London Classic allows all to play

12/3/2014 – In last year's London Classic, the theme was a Pro-Celebrity event with top players paired with British celebrities. This year the organizers have decided to let everyone have a chance at fulfilling their dream: in an Open rapid tournament, all six superstars will play in the same field as everyone who registers to play. Ever wanted to sit across Anand or Kramnik? This is your chance!

Romanian league in Napoleon retreat (2/2)

12/2/2014 – In this second part of her soul-searching article on the Romanian League, Alina L'Ami shares her thoughts on Romania and its deeply rooted traditions, as well as contrasting memories as a child and today. Seeking a sense of nostalgia, she examines everything with a look to remember. As usual, this is combined with her photos and player profiles, all in her inimitable style.