Houdini 3: Analyzing in the cloud (part two)

11/17/2012 – For most users a major query is: what can the program do for me, whether just for fun or to help me become a better player? This usually starts with analyzing one's own games, and of course the functions are numerous, from blunder-checking to full analysis. However, the new Fritz interface offers new options for analyzing in the Cloud and even analyzing with your desktop remotely.

Silent chess and snow leopards (part 2)

11/17/2012 – In part two of this account of the 2012 Championships of the ICSC (International Committee of Silent Chess), Christopher Kreuzer reports on the excellent result against a grandmaster achieved by the English deaf chess player Lewis Martin. The snow leopard connection is revealed, along with annotated games, a list of winners, and photos of Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Dark-squared invasion

11/16/2012 – White's queen on a3 is controlling the vital diagonal to f8.
Which continuation gives him the win?

A) 29.Qc5 Nd6 30.Rxb5 (Nd7)
B) 29.Bb6 Qxb6 30.Bxc4+ Kh7 31.Qxf8
C) both
D) neither
ChessBase Magazine, larger diagram and solution.

Favourites fall at the Women’s World Championship round two

11/16/2012 – The three top seeds, Humpy Koneru, Hou Yifan and Anna Muzychuk were eliminated, by players well over 150 rating points below them. The fourth seed Zhao Xue squeaked through, but the fifth seed Kateryna Lahno was knocked out. The sixth seed Nadezhda Kosintseva required four rapid tiebreak games to proceed to round three. Tough going for the top stars. Big illustrated report.

The 2012 World Youth Chess Championship reaches climax

11/16/2012 – After all the players were greeted with gifts from ChessBase in round seven, they soon returned to serious competition as the climax was reached. Every game is crucial, and leaders rise and fall. Only two have 100%, Indian Priyanka (Girls U10) and Vietnamese Nguyen Anh Khoi (U10 Open), while the rest fight for glory. Read the stories behind it all with pictures, videos, and GM commented games.

The chess player – a Don Quixote in disguise?

11/15/2012 – In a week filled with some of the toughest chess on the continent, playing in the Spanish League, itinerant player and traveloguer WGM Alina L'Ami found herself inspired by the beautiful settings of Leon, home to the start of one of the most famous pilgrimages in the world. This led to some soul-searching amidst the hardened competition and warm open-arms of the Spanish locals.

CHESS Magazine: An interview with... Andrew Paulson (Part two)

11/15/2012 – He is a man with a mission for world championship chess. Early this year Andrew Paulson and his company Agon were handed the rights for all of FIDE’s major events – the Grand Prix series, the Candidates and the title match itself. Last month John Saunders and Matthew Read of Britain's CHESS Magazine were invited to meet him at his office in Whitehall for an indepth interview. Here is part two.

Watson on Bologan: English 1 c4 c5 for Black

11/14/2012 – "This DVD by one of ChessBase's most knowledgeable contributors contains a comprehensive look at 1...c5 employed as an anti-English repertoire," writes John Watson. "I've always loved Viktor Bologan's creative style as a player. Bologan isn't the most charismatic presenter, nor is he the worst; fortunately, the high quality material speaks for itself." Instructive review and sampler.

The 2012 World Youth Chess Championship in full swing

11/14/2012 – The World Youth Chess Championship began on November 8 in Maribor, Slovenia, and has a record number of participants – with 1584 players from 91 countries. The event has attracted many established names, from the top-seed Darius Swiercz (2611) to the 11-year-old Samuel Severian (2347), and will unveil many more. Here is a large illustrated report with videos and GM analysis.

Andrew Martin – Refuting the Grand Prix attack

11/14/2012 – The moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 are known as the Grand Prix Attack and are popular among club players today, mainly owing to the prospect of launching an attack without the need for too much prior preparation. Our ChessBase Trainer IM Andrew Martin has produced a video which possibly renders the Grand Prix attack, at least with an early f4-f5 sacrifice, harmless. Full instructions and analysis.

Houdini 3: the new king of the block (part one)

11/13/2012 – Who is the best? Who is the strongest? In chess, right now, the answer is neither Magnus Carlsen, nor Garry Kasparov, the answer is unequivocally: Houdini 3. This ultimate chess guru and oracle brings new options to provide ultrafast tactical analysis plus great endgame play, and the combination with the latest Fritz interface and all its new features is a marriage made in heaven.

The Women’s World Chess Cup 2012 round one

11/13/2012 – There were no big surprises in the first round, where the top seeds were generally paired against lower ranked players. Women's world champion Hou Yifan and 2012 challenger Humpy Koneru scored 2-0 victories over their lesser opponents, as did Anna Muzychuk, Zhao Xue, Kateryna Lahno and Nadezhda Kosintseva. We bring you the results, games and some wonderful portraits of the players.

Bucharest Kings Rd6: Ivanchuk outlasts Topalov and wins gold

11/13/2012 – They say that luck goes to the strong, and that was certainly true as Vassily Ivanchuk found himself deciding the title with Veselin Topalov in a tiebreak. In the first tiebreak game, he was down a pawn and in trouble when the Bulgarian's flag fell despite the increment. This was enough to secure him a deserving gold after showing great verve throughout. Report, videos, and GM analysis.

Bucharest Kings Rd5: Topalov beats Nisipeanu and joins lead

11/12/2012 – With all the razor sharp games and near misses, it was only a matter of time before someone's head was lopped off, and sure enough it was Topalov who did the lopping. In his vintage style, the Bulgarian sacrificed the exchange for the attack against Nisipeanu, and brought home the bacon to join the lead. Caruana also sacced the exchange but could not beat Ivanchuk. Report and GM commentary.

CBM training: Zugzwang, Chernyshov's Counterblow, Milliet's missed chance

11/12/2012 – Our ChessBase Magazine columnist GM Karsten Müller has selected topical games from different sources for his endgame instructions. In the first example he shows us how zugzwang can be used as a sharp weapon; in the second a great counterblow by Russian GM Konstantin Chernyshov; and finally a missed chance by the current French women's champion Sophie Milliet. Learn and enjoy.

Bucharest Kings Rd4: Missed wins

11/11/2012 – If round two could be described as missed opportunities, round four was one of outright missed wins. Both Nisipeanu and Caruana will wonder how they failed to win, while Topalov and Ivanchuk will thank their lucky stars. It was an intensely exciting round with superb examples of how resourceful the greats can be when needed. Report and analysis by GM Rogozenco.

Silent Chess and snow leopards (part one)

11/11/2012 – Recently the ICSC (International Committee of Silent Chess) staged its 2012 Championships. Over 170 people from some 30 countries gathered in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Christopher Kreuzer, himself a participant, sent us a two-part illustrated account. In part one he reports on the opening ceremony and provides video footage of an historic blitz game played by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

Alberto David is the 2012 Italian champion

11/10/2012 – The former Luxembourg grandmaster Alberto David was crowned the 2012 Italian champion after moving to Italy and sweeping through the field, winning with a round to spare, a full point and a half ahead of the field. The top Italian Fabiano Caruana is currently in Bucharest, and was unable to defend his title. 18-year-old IM Caprio was second with a GM rating performance. Illustrated report.

The Women’s World Chess Cup 2012 in Khanty-Mansiysk

11/10/2012 – The strongest female players from nine different countries have gathered in the eastern Russian oil boom town for the knock-out women's world championship, which starts on Sunday. There will be live video coverage and commentary in three languages. Saturday was the spectacular opening ceremony, which you can watch in HD video – a visual treat.

Watson on Davies: The English Opening

11/10/2012 – "GM Nigel Davies has done more ChessBase videos than any other presenter," writes John Watson, "and his delivery shows why: this is a well-paced and highly instructive DVD which presents 40 games to cover a repertoire based upon 2.g3." As a sample Watson shows how Davies confronts the Reversed Dragon problem. He does so by cleverly avoiding the main line.

Bucharest Kings Rd2: Missed opportunities

11/9/2012 – Round two was a round of near misses with the players all scratching their heads a bit on missed shots and chances. A serious mistake by Nisipeanu based on an oversight led to a mistaken attempt at a perpetual. His saving grace was that Caruana also missed it, and blundered away a clear win. Topalov and Ivanchuk also drew after a tense battle. Report and analysis by GM Rogozenco.

Queens and rooks

11/9/2012 – With 26.Re1-e8 (diagram) the first player has taken control of the enemy back rank. The opponent's attempt to follow suit with 26...Rd4-d1+ leads to ...

A)... advantage for White;
B)... perpetual check by force;
C)... advantage for Black.

ChessBase Magazine, larger diagram and solution.

A star is born

11/9/2012 – Sixty-four years ago: a twelve-year-old lad is excited that Mikhail Botvinnik is visiting his city. "I am going to challenge him,” he proclaims. To his dismay he is not allowed to go anywhere near the World Champion, but the boy gets to play in a simul against Botvinnik's sparring partner Vyacheslav Ragozin. You know of course who the boy was – today would have been his 76th birthday.

Kavalek in Huffington: What Is the Best Age for Chess?

11/9/2012 – A football player survives in the NFL on the average only three years. The careers of top chess players last 25 years or even longer. They can challenge the world's best already as teenagers and can continue for six, seven decades until they turn into ageless warriors. At what point do they play the best? What is the optimal age for success in chess? GM Lubomir Kavalek, 69, provides the answers.