Norway 05: Blunderful round

6/8/2014 – The quality of today's games was not the highest, and some results were hard to predict especially considering how things were shaping after the opening phase. One man walks away victorious from today and that is Kramnik who received a last minute gift from Caruana and the Russian moves to first place. Carlsen somehow beat Aronian, but it was not the only strange game of the round.

Nakamura moves to 2-0

6/8/2014 – Nakamura keeps an implacable pace in Prague as he defeated Navara again. This time the game was quite interesting, Black sacrificed a pawn early in the opening to obtain counterplay and it seemed as if this would be sufficient for a draw; his pressure being too strong and White having difficulties untangling. But again Navara slipped and Nakamura precisely punished his opponent.

Wei Yi other finalist in Leon

6/8/2014 – The Chinese prodigy Wei Yi, who turned 15 last week, is the second finalist in Leon. He vanquished Ivan Salgado in a match where the Spanish player never had any real winning chances. Setting the tone on game one Wei Yi was able to push his advantage until the end taking the match 2.5-1.5. Festivities in Leon conclude with the match between Wei Yi and Paco Vallejo.

FIDE on Anti-Cheating: plans and proposals

6/8/2014 – "The FIDE ACC recognizes that computer-assisted cheating poses a major perceived threat to the integrity and credibility of chess," writes the Anti-Cheating Committee of the World Chess Federation, "and that immediate action is required." FIDE is set to extend its Rules of Chess to explicitly forbid computer cheating, and also provide a tool for off-line checking of games. Encouraging.

Norway 04: Karjakin lone winner

6/7/2014 – A relatively dull round compared to the excitement of the previous games. However two games stood out from the rest. Caruana and Giri played a very interesting battle that resulted in a strange draw. Karjakin somehow turned around a game that was clearly worse for him into a win. More interesting were the Mindball games that the players participated on the free day.

Russian Higher League starts strong

6/7/2014 – With a lineup of dozens of grandmasters, at least one rated 2700, and many rated in the very high 2600s, it would sound like a national championship at least, but not so. This prodigious platoon actually comprises the field for the Russian Higher League, held in Vladivostok, Russia, at the eastern-most border of Russia, and is the qualifier for the Russian Super Final. Report and pictures.

Nakamura strikes first in Prague

6/7/2014 – The Cez Chess Trophy is underway in Prague. The mini-match features a duel between World number three Hikaru Nakamura and Czech Republic's number one David Navara. The opening party gave Nakamura black on the first game, and he played an absolutely brilliant game. Exploiting his opponent's slips perfectly Nakamura won a pawn and converted it with gorgeous technique.

Vallejo first finalist in Leon

6/7/2014 – The XXVII Master's City of Leon has commenced. The tournament features four players in a unique weekend event. A knock-out system is being used and the games are being played on a rapid time control. Hou Yifan faced Vallejo in the first semi-final and the Spanish player emerged victorious with the narrow margin of 2.5-1.5 He awaits thte results of Wei Yi vs. Salgado.

Analyzing your games with Fritz (Part three)

6/7/2014 – In this final part on how to use Fritz to analyze your games or those of others, we will look at the new Let's Check function, and notably how to enlist others to analyze the game in depth for you in less time than you could achieve, as well as the batch analysis functions that enable you to analyze several games at once and even entire databases if you choose. Easy mastery of Fritz.

International Women's Chess Festival in Erfurt

6/6/2014 – "They are prettier, they dress better and have a much stronger fighting spirit," said GM Thomas Pähtz, when asked why he was organizing this big chess festival for women in eastern Germany in late August. For some reason he missed "photogenic". Thomas, a well-known chess trainer, is the father of the top German female, Elisabeth, who sent us this pre-tournament report.

5th Blitz Marathon to be broadcast live

6/6/2014 – If you itch to see fast-paced action while following the Herculean games in Norway, then on Saturday, you will be served. With 16 grandmasters and many more players, the 5th Blitz Marathon will run a continuous 21 rounds of five-minute blitz games in Marocco, with the top four boards broadcast on Playchess. On Sunday Vishy Anand and Alexander Ipatov will give a simul. Don't miss it.

Kasparov answers questions in Norway (2/2)

6/6/2014 – In this second part, Garry faces provocative questions, starting with Levon Aronian's allegation that aside from Kasparov and Karpov, there were no good players in the 80s. Even Short presents some misgivings, but it is not over when the former world champion is asked to discuss the 1.e4 and 1.d4 debate and why it has virtually disappeared from elite play. What do you think?

Norway 03: Fantastic Round!

6/5/2014 – A very hard round to predict. Carlsen barely held on against Caruana who had him against the ropes the majority of the game. Aronian blundered his queen in less than 15 moves and Grischuk mopped up the game. Karjakin miraculously drew against Agdestein who certainly had a winning position. Kramnik meanwhile cannot win Catalans with the white pieces, but he crushes with black!

Breaking news: "There will be a Chess Olympiad"

6/5/2014 – That's the good news the twitter account ChessOlympiadNorway could spread to the chess world. After doubts whether the 41. Chess Olympiad 2014, which will take place from 1. August to 14. August in Tromsø, Norway, could be financed, the Norwegian parliament has come to the rescue. With 12 million Norwegian Crowns (about 1.47 million euros).

To Tromsø with Style

6/5/2014 – Norway's coastline is spectacular. As has been noted by thousands of tourists and by Douglas Adams in his classic "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". But what does this have to do with chess? Well, if you want to visit the Chess Olympiad in Tromsø in August and experience the beauty of Norway's coast there is an opportunity to combine both.

Alexander Chernin - coach to the stars

6/5/2014 – There are coaches and there are coaches. Alexander Chernin is one whose pedigree of students elevated to stardom ranks him as one of the most successful in the world, and his students have included Fabiano Caruana, whom he mentored from IM to elite player, and now US stars such as Samuel Sevian and Jeffrey Xiong, both who just scored GM norms. A fascinating interview.

Kasparov answers questions in Norway (1/2)

6/5/2014 – During the first round of the Norway Chess tournament, Garry Kasparov appeared in the commentary box hosted by Dirk Jan Ten Geuzendam, editor-in-chief of New in Chess, and Nigel Short. While analyzing the games in progress, he also answered questions regarding players such as Caruana and Karjakin, and clarified a number of points on the campaign. He didn't mince words.

Norway 02: Caruana 2.0/2

6/4/2014 – Caruana showed excellent preparation and confused Svidler who could not keep up with the extreme complications over the board, putting the Italian player in a perfect 2.0/2 start. Aronian vanquished Karjakin, the Russian's first loss in 24 games. Topalov and Grischuk was also wild, and time pressure this time did not favor the Bulgarian who committed a series of mistakes.

French Team Ch: Clichy and Bischwiller victorious

6/4/2014 – It was a fitting conclusion to a great event held in Saint Quentin, France. In the penultimate round, not only was Clichy guaranteed the title, and Bischwiller the silver, but the two tail-enders condemned to play next year in the lower division and fight for their spot in the sun. Despite knowing the results, all the teams played the games in the final round to the bitter end.

13-year-old scores GM norm in Saint Louis

6/4/2014 – Saint Louis was recently named the capital of chess in America, and it is living up to its name. Only a couple of weeks after the US Championship two closed tournaments were held simultaneously; one an IM-norm and one a GM-norm section. The GM section was dominated by young kids, and the winner was 13 year old Samuel Sevian from California. Brian Jerauld brings us a full report.

Norway 01: Caruana strikes first

6/3/2014 – The first round in Stavanger almost saw five draws and a very solid series of games. Carlsen had some chances against Giri but an exceptional defense allowed the Dutchman to hold on to a draw. Grischuk got into his typical time pressure but his solid position should have ended in the players splitting the point, until a colossal move 39 mistake cost him the game Round one report.

Final Four Nations League Weekend – Part three

6/3/2014 – Over 850 players and £10,000 in cash prizes make this the most prestigious team chess event held in the United Kingdom. It takes place over various weekends from October to May 2013/14, in several venues. In the third (of four) reports John Saunders shows us two games, one an adventurous display of counterattacking chess, one a game that baffles chess engines. Learn and enjoy.

Norway Blitz brilliancies and blunders

6/3/2014 – Every chess player enjoys a blitz game, and there is nothing quite like watching the best of the best slug it out between themselves. Chess fans got a major dose of it in the opening day of Norway, where the elite fought for the fun and prestige of it. The predominant feature of blitz games is tactical fireworks and many great shots were made and missed. Can you find them?

Norway Blitz: Carlsen Crushes

6/2/2014 – Magnus Carlsen, who recently announced his goal of being the best player in blitz, rapid and standard time controls, proved that he is definitely capable of dominating all of chess' speeds as he razed his opposition in the blitz tournament in Norway. A crushing 7.5/9 eclipsed even Aronian's 6.5/9, a score that was enough to win last year. Full report with all the blitz games!