Introducing the online ChessBase database

1/17/2014 – Fairly recently, a new online tool was released by ChessBase with little if any fanfare, but that is of no small use for casual users: an online searchable version of the ChessBase database, accessible from your browser, and free. It brings well over 6.5 million games, includes the playerbase pictures, move statistics, and even the Let’s Check computer evaluations. Here is a tutorial.

Mr. Facebook vs the World Champion

1/16/2014 – It was a bit of startling news to read that Mark Zuckerberg had booked a face-to-face with Magnus Carlsen. Indeed, the founder of the greatest social network of our time sought out the World Champion for a lesson in the royal game, but the timing is what makes one wonder. Zuckerberg is famous for setting himself yearly challenges: Could this be his 2014 resolution?

Tata 05 GroupB: Jobava unstoppable

1/16/2014 – With the clash of the 2700s being won by Jobava, the question of who can stop him in this tournament is a natural one. This is his fourth victory in a row. His two closest rivals, Muzychuk and Saric, are only half a point behind but will have to continue their winning streaks if they wish to catch up to what seems to be a crushing showing. His performance is currently over 2900.

A talk with Anastasiya Karlovich

1/16/2014 – Rádio Xadrez, a Brazilian chess site, recently interviewed Anastasiya Karlovich, best known to chess fans as the person presiding the press conferences at FIDE events including the recent Anand-Carlsen world championship match, but also the FIDE press officer at many events over the last years. Here she shares her experiences and impressions on what it is like working behind the scenes.

Illingworth wins Australian Chess Championship

1/16/2014 – It is is the most prestigious event in Australian Chess, and was held this year Springvale, an outer suburbs of Melbourne. IM Max Illingworth, rated 2434, took the title with a score of 8/11. He did it by winning his final round game against wizz kid FM Anton Smirnov, at 2338 the strongest 12-year-old in the world. We have a big illustrated report from "down under", with great pictures and videos.

Tata 04: Rijksmuseum!

1/15/2014 – Today's games were played in the famous Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam, which has a collection of over a million objects going back to the thirteenth century. The round had three White wins, especially important is the victory by Aronian against Nakamura as this propels the Armenian to clear first. Beautiful pictorial report from Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Yes2Chess: A Clever Move by Barclaycard

1/15/2014 – Chess is good for children. It teaches them logical thinking, social interaction, perseverance, and above all concentration. Barclaycard, Europe's leading issuer of credit cards, has partnered with Chess in Schools and Communities and Playchess.com to create a new Internet home for schools across Europe and the USA. Students can play each other online and win an amazing prize.

Tata 04 (Group B): Bloodbath continues

1/14/2014 – While the Master section had a rest day today, the Challenger's section was in full force and they did not slow down. Not a single draw was seen today in the tournament as the players continue to play sharp and interesting chess. Jobava is the solo lead with his third win in a row, but he is followed closely by Muzychuk who beat Duda. Report of today's stars.

Shogi Masters play Chess (2)

1/14/2014 – The Japanese form of chess enjoys a national prestige its western counterpart can only dream of. In part one you saw how some of the best Shogi players in are turning to our version of the game – with remarkable success. In part two of his report GM Peter Heine Nielsen, himself a shogi player, expands on the theme and takes us on a tour through the former imperial capital of Japan Kyoto.

Baseline Chess, Hedgehog and Magnus Carlsen (1)

1/13/2014 – The term is borrowed from tennis, where players do their damage mostly from the baseline. In several chess defenses such as the Sicilian, the French, the Caro-Kann, the Pirc or the Modern, the black players are forced to stay within their back rows. But to do it voluntarily as White? Huffington Post columnist GM Lubomir Kavalek shows us examples of how this strategy was employed.

Tata 03: Topsy-Turvy A, Bloody B

1/13/2014 – Harikrishna and Caruana outplayed Dominguez and Karjakin for very nice positional full points. Van Wely and Gelfand missed their chances against Giri and Nakamura, respectively, but today's show was stolen by the Challenger section, with seven decisive games, which had everything from positional grinds to kings escaping to b5 to avoid perpetual. And it was their top seed's birthday!

ChessBase Christmas prize contest

1/13/2014 – In the last week of 2013, as every year, we celebrated a week of chess puzzles, selected and annotated by GM John Nunn. On January 1st 2014 we asked our readers to start sending in solutions and take part in a solving contest. The closing date for all entries is January 15, 2014, which means that you still have two days to submit your entries. Do it – there are some interesting prizes to win.

Tata 02: Three quality wins

1/12/2014 – As opposed to yesterday's games, today's decisive results were characterized by quality and interesting chess. Aronian played a great game and never gave Caruana a chance to show his chess prowess. Giri went for Naiditsch's throat and the German was mated on f4, while Rapport exploited Gelfand's weaknesses and convincingly won with Black in a... Budapest Gambit!

Tata 01: Many mistakes, many wins

1/11/2014 – Only two draws were seen in the opening round of the 2014 Tata Steel tournament. Karjakin, Caruana, So and Nakamura all started with victories after taking advantage of their opponent's mistakes. Today's round was not marked by outplaying maneuvers as much as by self-destruction and mistakes. In some cases, rather obvious ones. Analysis and report of round one

GM Vugar Gashimov, 1986 – 2014

1/11/2014 – Vugar Gashimov was one of the leading chess players of Azerbaijan, playing for his country in four Chess Olympiads, as well as winning gold for the Azeri team at the European Team Championship 2009. During the past decade he suffered from a brain tumor and, during treatment for this in a hospital in Germany, Vugar Gashmimov died on the night of 10-11 January 2014. He was just 27. | Photo: Nadja Wittman / ChessBase

Tata Steel 2014 under way

1/11/2014 – The opening ceremony made use of the group that staged the famous flashmob recreation of a Rembrandt painting (do not miss the video!), and had the players join historical personalities for the drawing of lots. Our roving reporter WGM Alina l'Ami could not catch the entire ceremony, as she was nominated Sports Woman of the year in a different location. Darn. So she sent us brief impressions.

Daniel King: Test your attacking chess

1/10/2014 – "Studying the ten games on this volume reminds me of working with an experienced chess coach," writes Glenn Mitchell. "GM King describes part of the game and then pauses for the viewer to decide on their next move. Coupled with Daniel King’s personal charm and you have a great training resource for the self-motivated chess improver." Review.

Shogi Masters play Chess

1/9/2014 – The Japanese form of chess is called Shogi. It enjoys a national prestige we in the West can only dream of. Some of the Shogi masters are dabbling in our form of the game, and making rapid headway. One of the best Shogi players in the history of the game, 43-year-old Yoshiharu Habu, recently returned to chess with a remarkable performance in Poland. GM Peter Heine Nielsen reports.

Tata Steel 2014 starts tomorrow

1/9/2014 – The famous tournament in Wijk aan Zee, this time with two GM groups instead of three and twelve players instead of fourteen, will start with an opening ceremony at the Tata Steel headquarters in IJmuiden on Friday, with the first round at 13:30h local time on Saturday. The Master Group A has an average rating of 2743, making it a category 20. Tournament information and commentary schedule.

1.e4 – "Best by Test"? (Part 2)

1/9/2014 – After detailed database culling, data crunching, and number calculations, Matthew Wilson brings to conclusion his findings on which is ultimately better: 1.e4 or 1.d4. While the great Bobby Fischer was content to state his preference as "best by test", here charts and mathematics rule the day. However, you will find the answer to which opening move is truly the best.

Sam Collins – Tactical Toolbox

1/8/2014 – "IM Sam Collins is one of my favorite ChessBase lecturers," writes Glenn Mitchell. "This new DVD is different from previous Fritz Trainer DVDs. It’s even different from the new interactive Fritz Trainer DVDs. The focus here is exclusively on tactical problems. More than sixty of them!" In his review Mitchell gives the DVD an enthusiastic recommendation for intermediate to advanced players.

1.e4 – "Best by Test"? (Part 1)

1/8/2014 – While there is no question much of chess is a matter of choice, what if you could know with mathematical certainty which is stronger: 1.e4 or 1.d4? The late Bobby Fischer swore by 1.e4, claiming it was "best by test", but that was before the era of databases. In the following article, PhD student Matthew Wilson takes a close look to answer that very question.

First Maharashtra Open for Children

1/7/2014 – India is becoming a powerhouse in every aspect of chess. After the series of open tournaments that the country has been hosting, we take a look at how India is training its young players. Niklesh Jain brings us a report of the first Maharashtra Open tournament for U-15 children - including the technological innovations they are using to improve their play...

Hammer victorious at Rilton Cup

1/7/2014 – Played at the same time as the Hasting Chess Congress, the Rilton Cup, Sweden’s biggest and most famous international chess tournament, was held in Stockholm, Sweden, from December 27th, 2013 to January 5th, 2014 and after a strong duel between Nils Grandelius and Jon Hammer, the Norwegian won his second tournament in a month, with a powerful performance, and earning a solid gold medal.