Chess Problems: Solutions and a bonus from Pal Benko

2/7/2012 – Here are the solutions to the last installment of problems by David Friedgood. A pleasing addition is a contribution from GM Pal Benko, who noticed the interest in the Novotny and sent us a two-mover and a highly enjoyable study which he composed on this theme. Certainly the study is a classic and one which every aficionado of chess art should know perfectly.

ICGA/Rybka controversy: An interview with David Levy (1)

2/6/2012 – He is a star chess programmer with an unbroken record of supremacy in computer chess during the past five years. In June 2011 the International Computer Games Association found Vasik Rajlich guilty of "plagiarism" in early program versions and banned him for life. We published a vigorous defence of Rajlich and a rebuttal by ICGA President David Levy, who promised us an indepth interview.

Dragan Solak wins Turkish Championship

2/6/2012 – It was his first Turkish Championship, and GM Dragan Solak took the title with a final-round win. Dragan has recently completed his transfer from the Serbian Chess Federation to the TCF and will represent the Turkish national team at the next Olympiad. Once again we bring you great photos and personal impressions from Kemer and Antalya, provided by WGM Anatasiya Karlovich.

Tiviakov: Avoid weaknesses with the Scandinavian

2/5/2012 – "In my youth the Scandinavian Defense was considered a second-class opening," writes reviewer GM Dejan Bojkov. Miniatures that showed how to avoid wasting time in the opening inevitably used the Scandinavian. But now it is finding its was into tournament play and is even used by top players. The latest DVD by Sergei Tiviakov, a top expert in this opening, provides full insight into the 3...Qd6 line.

Kavalek in Huffington: Chess Champ Hou Yifan in the Limelight

2/4/2012 – Levon Aronian's brilliant victory at the Tata Steel tournament in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands, would normally be the topic of our conversation. But it was a young Chinese girl, Hou Yifan, 17, who stole the limelight. The women's world champion shared first place at the powerful Tradewise Chess Festival in Gibraltar, one of the world's strongest open tournaments. GM Lubos Kavalek reports.

CBM training: Endgames from Gibraltar

2/4/2012 – Another installment, this time of "Rock solid" endings, picked out and analysed by our resident endgame expert GM Karsten Müller from the games that were played at the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival. His popular ChessBase Magazin section will carry plenty more. Here for now are three current and topical examples. Learn and enjoy.

Kübra Öztürk wins Turkish Women's Championship

2/4/2012 – There were two dominating female players in this event: Kübra, 20, rated 2309, and the eight times Turkish Women's Champion, Betul Yildiz, 22, rated 2340. The two, who are at least 350 rating points ahead of the others, finished tied for first, 1.5 points ahead of the field. In the playoff it was the younger player who won the Armageddon tiebreak game. Report by WGM Anatasiya Karlovich.

Hou Yifan, Short win Gibraltar, Nigel wins playoff

2/3/2012 – The final round at the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival was as exciting as they can get. Seventeen-year-old Women's World Champion Hou Yifan finished in first place at 8.0/10, which Nigel Short catching her in points (but not performance). There was a playoff for the title, which the older, more experienced player won. Illustrated report with pictures by Ray Morris-Hill.

Dejan Bojkov: Try the Sicilian Kalashnikov!

2/3/2012 – The Kalashnikov Variation (B32) is a close relative of the Sveshnikov – in fact it is sometimes called the Neo-Sveshnikov. It has a long history: La Bourdonnais used it in his matches against Alexander McDonnell in 1834. You can use it today to surprise your opponent – but do watch the 32 video clips by a master, Bulgarian GM Dejan Bojkov, before you use it in vital tournaments. Review and report.

Sideline

2/3/2012 – The queen sortie 22.Qg3-g5 (with unmistakable mate ambitions in the h-file) could have been countered by Black with 22...Qc7-b6+ (diagram). Now the sequence 23.Ka1 Bxc2 leads to what?

A) victory for White;
B) perpetual check;
C) victory for Black.
ChessBase Magazine, larger diagram and solution.

Endgame Magic with GM Karsten Müller

2/2/2012 – Endgame knowledge is not easy to acquire and thus a valuable weapon to have. In his Endgame Magic Show on Playchess.com, renowned endgame expert GM Karsten Müller helps you to hone your endgame skills with a bunch of practical endgames. He shows how to handle these positions, which will help to improve your practical results. Example and more information!

Sensation: Hou Yifan beats Shirov, leads alone with 7.5/9

2/2/2012 – Seventeen-year-old Women's World Champion Hou Yifan is simply unstoppable. In the penultimate round of the 2012 Gibraltar Chess Festival she outplayed Super-GM Alexei Shirov with black. Yifan is now in the sole lead and and her tournament performance currently stands, as the tournament bulletin puts it, "at a colossal 2892". Watch the final games on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Aronian to FIDE: I cannot play in Azerbaijan

2/2/2012 – The first two bids to stage the next Candidates Tournament for the World Championship received by FIDE are from Bulgaria and Azerbaijan. But one of the two top candidates, Levon Aronian of Armenia, warns that he will not be able to accept the latter, owing to the long-standing tension between the two countries. We received this open letter from the Armenian Chess Federation.

A talk with legendary Lajos Portisch – Part II

2/2/2012 – In this second part of a fascinating talk with Lajos Portisch, one of the dominating players in the sixties, seventies, and eighties, you will read about his impressions of Bobby Fischer, the study preferences of Petrosian, and his overall disdain for using chess engines. Unhappy with the focus on openings, he also proposes a greater focus on endgames. Food for thought.

A talk with legendary Lajos Portisch – Part I

2/1/2012 – Lajos Portisch is one of the greatest Hungarian players of all time, and was third in the world at his height. He recently agreed to speak with Albert Silver and gave his first serious interview in English in over 20 years. In it he regaled us with stories ranging from his start in chess ate age twelve, to meetings with the great players, and even his many secret meetings with Bobby Fischer!

Hou Yifan marches on, catches Adams in first place

2/1/2012 – While much of Europe is in the clutch of blizzards and freezing temperatures the players in Gibraltar are frolicking on the beach in short sleeved T-shirts. Meanwhile women's world champion Hou Yifan, 17, is sweeping GMs under the carpet. With an eighth-round win over Le Quang Liem she has caught Michael Adams and stands to gain a whopping 26 points on the next FIDE list.

Hou Yifan beats Judit Polgar in an historic encounter

1/31/2012 – They had never met before, over the chessboard. In round seven of the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festiva the strongest female player of all time, Hungarian GM Judit Polgar, 35, rated 2710, had black against the current Women's World Champion Hou Yifan of China, 17 years old and rated 2605. In a tense struggle the younger lady prevailed. Commentary by GM Alejandro Ramirez.

Turkish Championships start in Antalya

1/31/2012 – The Turkish Chess Championships have begun in Kemer, Antalya. It is a ten round Swiss and has attracted over 300 players – including four GMs, six IMs and six FMs. Is Bank and Arzum are the sponsors of the events, providing over €12.500 in both the men's and women's sections. GM Dragan Solak is among the leaders with a perfect 5/5 score. Report by WGM Anatasiya Karlovich.

Boris Spassky: a chess legend turns seventy-five

1/30/2012 – He was born on January 30, 1937 in Leningrad, learnt the moves at five and was one of the great child prodigies in chess. Boris Spassky went on to win multiple USSR championships and qualify for Candidates and World Championship matches. In 1969 he beat Petrosian to become the tenth chess world champion. Combatting illness Spassky is still in good spirits and has interesting plans.

Wijk aan Zee Rd13: Aronian is sole winner!

1/30/2012 – It was a deserving finish to a great tournament by Levon Aronian. He takes sole first and his seven wins is the highest since Kasparov in 1999. Carlsen tried hard to crack Van Wely to no avail and shared second with Radjabov. Joining them is Fabiano Caruana who beat Gelfand in the last round. Pentala Harikrishna won Group B, and Maxim Turov took Group C. Illustrated report with videos.

Efstratios Grivas: Endgame Magic

1/30/2012 – The Greek grandmaster is a highly experienced chess trainer and chess author. He has participated in the ChessBase sponsored program of training sessions for talented young players. In addition he has recorded a number of training DVDs, the latest of which deals with the endgame. In addition to a description of this product we bring you a valuable lesson in an important ending.

Gender differences in chess – feedback and a new theory

1/30/2012 – We recently told you about a report on the gender differences in chess – why it is that there is just one woman in the top 100 players in the world, and just 2.2 percent in the top 1000, according to the FIDE rating list. Naturally we received a large number of more or less adamant opinions from our readers, which we now share with you, together with a pet idea of our own.

Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (77)

1/29/2012 – Correspondents often send the Editor of Chess Notes forgotten brilliancies published in old newspaper columns, and here he shows half a dozen such games. They include queen sacrifices and some moves which look like misprints, and they range from a lightning skirmish to a complex battle between Nimzowitsch and Marshall. Enjoy these entertaining games.

Wijk aan Zee Rd12: Aronian beats Gelfand and secures tie for first

1/28/2012 – It was a game full of high emotions, as Levon Aronian described his game with Boris Gelfand in which both desperately wanted the win, the Armenian had the last word and secured a tie for first. With no tiebreak, he can theoretically still end up sharing first place with Radjabov and Carlsen, but only if he loses. Groups B and C are also undecided. Illustrated report.