5/11/2011 – While the critics wrote rave reviews about Edward Winter's book on Capablanca, of which a paperback edition is now available from McFarland, one person remained virtually silent regarding the work: the author himself. The chess historian simply pursued his investigations and writings. But now we have coaxed him into describing how his unique book came about. Here is the inside story.

5/10/2011 – Contrary to previous editions, this year the European Women Chess Championship is being held separately from the overall event at Tbilisi, Georgia. It is a fitting choice considering the history of women's chess there, and the number of Georgian greats. After four rounds, Lithuanian GM Viktorija Cmylite is the only player with 4.0/4. Robert Fontaine from Europe Echecs has provided daily video reports.

5/10/2011 – All the deepest plans or endgame technique are useless if you fall victim to a shot that leaves you in a lost position. Likewise, sometimes that superior play will only offer a single window of opportunity to deliver that final blow, so it is vital to be ready for it when it does. All the positions are from the US Championship and the Russian Women's Team Championship. Come minister your mind's eye.

5/9/2011 – For Easter the Hungarian chess grandmaster, author and great problem composer Pál Benkö sent us five puzzles, which we presented to our readers. "Each puzzle was incredible wonderful!" wrote Gabor Szamosközi of Budapest, and a large number of readers participated in the competition for a Fritz program signed by World Champions. Are you the winner?

5/9/2011 – In this difficult position the second player Gata Kamsy went for 30...N8e7, whereupon he had to continue suffering and could save the game only by a miracle. How would be your assessment of the alternative 30...Nxd4 31.Bxd4 Bxa2 with a discovered attack on the the white bishop d4?
A) good enough for equality;
B) still worse for Black, but better than the game anyway;
C) a direct way to disaster, White wins immediately.
The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.

5/9/2011 – The surprises took place almost at the same time. Aronian was tied Grischuk, but lost the fourth game. Kramnik tied Radjabov in all four rapids, and then lost the first blitz (of two). With a dead drawn position and 15 seconds left each, the clock died! When they resumed, thirteen minutes later, Radjabov quickly lost, after which Kramnik took the second blitz match. Report with GM commentary.

5/8/2011 – It could hardly have been more dramatic, with Topalov in a must-need situation. He played a novelty on move five, and built a small edge, but nothing more. Kamsky blundered in time-trouble, and suddenly was dead lost. Possibly fantasizing of the tiebreaks, Topalov returned the favor and is now eliminated. Tiebreaks tomorrow! Report with video plus annotations by GM Alejandro Ramirez.

5/7/2011 – Of the four games our GM annotator has selected the decisive (and most exciting one). "Topalov came prepared with a good novelty, but he didn't follow it up correctly," says Super-GM Fabiano Caruana. In fact, it only took one mistake for White's position to go downhill – that's how it works in these sharp lines." Once again Fabiano provides wonderfully insightful commentary. Learn and enjoy.

5/7/2011 – No recollection of anything like this in world championship history comes to mind. Sac by sac, and move by move, Gelfand was down more and more material for pawns against Mamedyarov until his grand total was a full SIX pawns for a rook. Astonishing. Here is the report on game three, with video of the Daily Wrap-up show, as well as the lucid and highly instructive annotations by GM Alejandro Ramirez.

5/6/2011 – ... was on the board in this game from the Asian Individual Chess Championships, where Black's had last played 30...Bd4-f2 with the idea after 31.Rxf2 to continue with 31...Qxe4. How would you judge the situation after that? White ...
A) ...wins with 32.Bf3
B) ...wins with 32.hxg4
C) ...stands badly since both continuations lose
The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.

5/6/2011 – Did you enjoy the first round of the 2011 FIDE Candidates matches? Especial the epic battle between top favourite Levon Aronian and the ever resourceful Alexander Grischuk had us enthralled until way into the evening. But how much of it did you understand? Here to help us appreciate what transpired is Super-GM Fabiano Caruana, 18, who sent us some remarkably insightful commentary.

5/6/2011 – It was certainly not what the punters expected, as Kamsky drew first blood in the Candidates. Topalov carefully prepared a very ambitious novelty 9.0-0-0 in a Grünfeld line that Kamsky has played more than once, to set up an all-out affair. Instead, his game never got going and it was his king that went the way of the Dodo. The other games were played out, but drawn. Game two report.