FIDE August ratings – on a monthly basis

8/5/2012 – The world rankings will in future be published every month, a move we heartily applaud. We have decided to display the top twenty in each category – players, women, juniors, girls – with links to the full lists on the FIDE pages. Also we give the increase or decrease of each player compared to the previous list, plus the number of games played. We hope our readers approve.

Marisa van der Merwe, Women of the Year 2012

8/5/2012 – This award, introduced in 1996, pays tribute to the most exceptional and achieving women in the country, and presents them as role models to the rest of South Africa. Among this year's winners we spotted the co-founder of the South African Moves for Life program and developer of MiniChess, an education-through-chess program (don't miss the video!). Congratulations Marisa!

Grivas: Chess Expertise Step by Step – Rook Handling

8/4/2012 – If there is one aspect of chess that every player can improve, it is rook endgames. Even a minor advance in theoretical knowledge can go a long way. In Chess Expertise Step by Step: Vol. 3, Rook Handling, Greek GM Efstratios Grivas describes them as the "most fascinating element of chess, rich in both tactical and strategic possibilities." Chess Cafe Review.

Chance for whom?

8/3/2012 – One of the many intriguing positions from the just finished Biel grandmaster tournament. Here followed the simplification 31...dxe5 32.Qxd8+ Qxd8 33.Rxd8+ Bxd8 34.Bxb5 Bxa5 35.Kf2 with a draw. Instead, which continuation would you have chosen as White after the intermediate move 31...Bg5?
A) 32.Bxd6
B) 32.Bf4 Bxf4 33.Qxf4 Bxe2
C) 32.Qc2
ChessBase Magazine, larger diagram and solution.

Biel Rd10 - Wang Hao strikes back in last round to win Biel

8/3/2012 – The dice were thrown early on as Anish Giri missed a tactic which gave victory to Wang Hao. Still, that alone did not guarantee the gold as Magnus Carlsen could beat Etienne Bacrot. A late mistake meant that this might actually happen, but the French player held fast and denied the Norwegian the top spot. Hikaru Nakamura beat Viktor Bologan to catch Giri in 3rd-4th. Final report and wrap-up.

Chess Problems: Pinning Themes

8/2/2012 – In this article our problem expert David Friedgood looks at the major thematic ideas that involve pins. In problem chess pins generally refer to a piece being pinned against the king of the same colour; lesser pins seldom occur. In the first instalments we will concern ourselves with black pieces being pinned – later on we will explore white pins. Examples plus two problems for you to solve.

Karjakin and Kosteniuk at the Luzhniki Sport Festival in Moscow

8/2/2012 – For the past five years the Moscow Chess Federation has organized a big chess holiday at the Olympic Sport Stadium Luzhniki, as part of the Moscow Sport Games festival. This world rapid chess champion Sergey Karjakin and former women's world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk were present. There were massive blitz competitions and simultaneous exhibitions. Great entertainment.

Biel Rd9 - Bologan beats Wang, last round will decide all

8/2/2012 – In spite of decisive results and a loss by Wang Hao to Viktor Bologan, who is no doubt sighing in relief, not a lot changed at the top. Magnus Carlsen, who drew Anish Giri today, has the lead, but a draw in the final round will not suffice. If either Anish Giri or Wang Hao win their respective game against each other they would take first. The last round will decide everything. Round nine report.

CBM training: Mighty Magnus, Topalov's rooks

8/1/2012 – Today's endgame lessons, brought to you by ChessBase Magazine columnist GM Karsten Müller, are taken from the recent World Rapid Chess Championship in Astana. Two are by Bulgarian GM Veselin and two from games of Magnus "How-does-he-do-it?" Carlsen. Dr Müller explains how the world's number one sets traps and maintains pressure until the opponent cracks. Learn and enjoy.

Biel Rd8 - Magnus Carlsen five Elo shy of Kasparov record

8/1/2012 – It was a precipitous round in every way imaginable. Anish Giri found himself lost against Etienne Bacrot, but turned the tables around and won. Wang Hao also had a difficult position against Hikaru Nakamura but won, while Magnus Carlsen beat Viktor Bologan to keep the lead and come within five Elo of Kasparov's record 2851. Our challenge received many replies, including a world champion.

Agon and the spiritual home of chess

8/1/2012 – Agon, the company that was recently accorded the commercial rights to the World Chess Championships by FIDE, says that the game is to "return" to Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, which it claims is the "spiritual home of chess in Europe". Simpson’s will be the setting for the Grand Prix event between 20 September and 3 October. The tournament will have a prize fund of 240,000 Euros. Press release.

Chess Life magazine is now in full color

7/31/2012 – After six years existing as a two-color magazine, the print edition of the venerable Chess Life, the flagship magazine of the US Chess Federation, is finally going into full color. This may seem long overdue to some, but contrary to the World Wide Web, where any Tom, Dick or Harry can put up a color publication, print magazines have a different financial burden altogether. Here is a sneak preview.

Chess in Schools – Pein in the Palace

7/31/2012 – IM Malcolm Pein, the CEO of the British charity Chess in Schools and Communities, received the Royal seal of approval earlier this week at St James’s Palace. He was presented with the ‘highly commended’ award by HRH Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex during the Sport and Recreation Alliance's Community Sport and Recreation awards ceremony. Congratulations!

FIDE confirms sanctions in French cheating case

7/30/2012 – Since 2010 we have been reporting on a cheating scandal uncovered by the French Chess Federation: one of its players at the Chess Olympiad had been receiving computer-generated moves during his games. The suspension of the three players involved in the conspiracy has now been confirmed by the FIDE Ethics Committee, which in its 26-page ruling provides some gripping new details.

Biel Rd7 - Magnus Carlsen takes the lead

7/30/2012 – In an energetic surge, the world number one, Magnus Carlsen, came from behind and is now tied for the lead, ahead on tiebreak. On Sunday he played the missing round three game against Viktor Bologan, and sure enough imposed his will to give himself a fighting chance for first. In round seven, a crucial game against leader Wang Hao was all that it took. Report and challenge to the readers.

Biel Rd6 - Anish Giri moves into clear second

7/29/2012 – It was a quieter round than most, but it was not without impact. Wang Hao could not lose his top spot even had he lost, but he did not, and drew. Nakamura and Carlsen drew, and forewent the video post-mortem saying there was little to comment or analyze. Anish Giri shoved the luckless Viktor Bologan, winning a pawn and then eking out the full point to take sole second. Illustrated report.

Jermuk R11: Hou Yifan loses final game, wins Grand Prix

7/29/2012 – In the final round of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix the reigning women's world champion Hou Yifan lost her game against the Ukrainian GM Kateryna Lahno, but managed to retain her lead after her nearest rivals Ju Wenjun and Ruan Lufei both also lost their games. Nadezhda Kosintseva and Katya Lahno finished half a point behind. Final report with game annotations.

A day in Konya

7/28/2012 – As a well-documented globetrotter, Sergey Tiviakov has visited capitals and exotic countries all across the world. During this time, he developed a deep-seated interest in Islamic history and culture. On his list of "cities to see", lay Konya, Turkey, home to mausoleums as well as numerous other artifacts. Enjoy this illustrated report in which he got to see the beard of Muhammad.

Jermuk R10: Hou Yifan leads by a full point

7/28/2012 – And she does so one round before the finish, which means she will be at least equal first in the Fifth FIDE Women's Grand Prix (and in the lead in the entire series). Hou achieved this with a black-piece win over IM Ekaterina Kovalevskaya, while her closest rival, tragically WGM Ju Wenjun, stumbled against compatriot GM Zhao Xue. Round ten report with pictures and annotated games.

CBM #147: Commended for the ambitious player

7/27/2012 – "ChessBase Magazine is the flagship of the company," writes reviewer Nagesh Havanur. "With its database of recent events and presentation on every aspect of the game it provides both the arsenal and field manual to the ambitious player." Prof. Havanur, who resides in Bangalore, India, gives us an impression of issue 147, which dealt with Wijk aan Zee and Gibraltar. Review.

Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (87)

7/27/2012 – An exceptional visual treat is in store for readers in the form of archive moving pictures of many of the great masters of the past, including Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Euwe, Bogoljubow and Nimzowitsch. The Editor of Chess Notes provides links to a rich selection of footage, much of which has been found over the years by his correspondents throughout the world. Unmissable.

Biel Rd5 - The Wang Express has left the station

7/27/2012 – There is no question that beating, no, destroying expectations, Wang Hao has taken a commanding lead in the first half of Biel. With four wins, where each is worth three points, he has made a very strong bid for gold. Anish Giri and Magnus Carlsen fought to the end, but drew in the end. Hikaru Nakamura scored his second win, beating Etienne Bacrot. Report, pictures, and videos.

Jermuk R8: Hou Yifan catches Ju Wenjun in the lead

7/26/2012 – The Chinese WGM Ju Wenjun has been alone at the top of the table for most of the tournament, but two draws allowed her main rival Hou Yifan, to catch her after a round eight win. With three rounds to go the two are a full point ahead of the rest of the field and hot favourites to win. We bring you an illustrated report on rounds seven and eight, again with annotated, replayable games.

Anand on the World Championship in Moscow (Part three)

7/26/2012 – He had played twelve classical chess games and the score was tied at 6:6. Now it was time for rapid chess – and blitz and Armageddon if necessary. How do you switch from one mode to the other, how do you prepare and how can your seconds help you? In this revealing interview Viswanathan Anand describes his thoughts and feelings during the decisive tiebreak games.