Grivas Training: Getting to Know Ourselves

2/13/2011 – Young chess players need to be able to identify the assets and weaknesses of their chess personalities. Many trainers and trainees have wondered how this can be done properly. The basic resource are one's recent games, which are used to produce an "X-ray image" of one's chess-self. GM Efstratios Grivas, a world-class trainer, tells us how to go about it, in Part 2 of his lecture series.

Aeroflot Open: Le Quang Liem crushes Kamsky and is now on 4.5/5

2/12/2011 – Whether an off-day for the American, or an on-day for the Vietnamese, Le's victory over Kamsky in the fourth round was nothing short of explosive. Quang Liem continues his great form and is now on 4.5/5 with a 2988 performance. He wasn't the only inspired player, as perusing the games reveals, and we highlight a pearl that might otherwise be missed. Report with pictures by Maria Bolshakova.

Nunn wins Second Tata Steel study solving contest

2/12/2011 – After the success of the first study solving competition held at Wijk aan Zee two years ago (unexpectedly won by Dutch player Twan Burg, with John Nunn second), the event was repeated this year. It was won by one of the oldest participants, none other than the world-class problem solver (and ChessBase photographer) John Nunn. Here's a pictorial report and a sample study to solve.

Pawn or battery?

2/11/2011 – In this position from the recent Bundesliga weekend Black had just played 30...c5-c4 which White answered with 31.Qg3 increasing his pressure in the g-file. What do you think? This leads to...
A)... advantage for White
B)... the regain of the exchange, with equality
C)... victory for Black

The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.

Tal-like moments and "Dracula-Frankenstein" in Shirov Simul

2/11/2011 – The work of a grandmaster extends far beyond just playing in tournaments, and includes lectures and simuls to allow others to enjoy their skill and knowledge. Shirov passed through Ottawa, Canada where he enjoyed local activities, and distributed a few Tal-like moments, even playing a "Dracula-Frankenstein" variation! John Upper brings us an illustrated report with games and fun anecdotes.

Kavalek in Huffington: King Tut in Chess Puzzles

2/10/2011 – Protecting a king is vital in every chess game, and pawns are best suited to do the job. When the pawns surround the king in chess problems and studies, we see some beautiful and astonishing creations. Entombing the king became a popular theme, and some insisted on burying the king inside a sarcophagus of eight pawns. This, to GM Lubomir Kavalek, evokes memories of King Tut and his tomb.

Aeroflot Open: Le Quang Liem takes early lead with 3.0/3

2/10/2011 – The International Chess Festival, the "Aeroflot Open" has started its 10th edition, with three opens for players of all ratings, and a EUR 125,000 prize fund. In the A Open, reserved for players rated 2550 or more, last year's winner Le is in the sole lead with 3.0/3 after a brilliant win, and will face the top-seed Kamsky, who also won with a sparkling positional queen sacrifice. Report and games.

Turkish Chess Federation: 'Some of the complaints were simply rubbish'

2/9/2011 – The Women's World Championship was staged by the TCF in December 2010. In January 2011 eighteen participants publicly complained about the conditions offered at the venue in Antakya, Turkey – the quality of the hotel and the charges for rooms and transportation. FIDE responded to the allegations in general, now the TCF replies in greater detail, with maps and pictures.

Moscow Open: Untitled Belous tops them all

2/9/2011 – The Moscow Open is one of the super-strong ones in Russia and comes just before the Aeroflot. With over 100 titled players, and round-robins as well as opens including one exclusively for women, there is something for everyone. The main event was won unexpectedly by 17-year-old untitled Vladimir Belous (rated 2497) with 8.0/9 and a 2735 performance. Here is the report with pictures.

FIDE to Pein: it was all about Carlsen

2/9/2011 – Last week the potential sponsors of the 2012 World Chess Championship, the organisers of the annual London Chess Classic, withdrew their two million Euro bid after negotiations with the World Chess Federation (FIDE) collapsed. Today the FIDE Vice President Israel Gelfer has undertaken "to provide the chess world with the correct facts which caused this move". Open letter.

Beating the French Vol.1: Super-GM classes for the amateur

2/8/2011 – The French Defense is one of those fascinating defenses that never seems to lose its luster at all levels, and one need only see the difficulties Short had with White in the recent London Classic. Rustam Kasimdzhanov just released three DVDs to remove the veil of mystery, with the first on the Winawer. Scientist, professor, and French enthusiast Kevan Cowcill gives his in-depth review.

Will Anand play 2012 world title match in India?

2/8/2011 – Last week London withdrew its bid to host the 2012 World Chess Championship. In that match a challenger who qualifies from the Candidates matches in May can challenge reigning champion Viswanathan Anand. Now Anand's native country India is bidding to stage the event. It would be the first time in ten years that Anand would play there. Newspaper articles.

Master Moves #4

2/7/2011 – All the deepest plans or endgame technique are useless if you fall victim to a shot that leaves you in a lost position. Likewise, superior play will sometimes only offer a single window of opportunity to deliver that final blow, so it is vital to be ready for it when it does. Here are some positions from the recent Gibraltar tournament. Test your tactical eye.

Pairings for Candidates Matches are released

2/7/2011 – FIDE has released the final pairings for the Candidates Matches to be held in Kazan, Russia, from May 3rd to 27th. The matches will be four games and six games long, with as many as fifteen possible rapid and blitz tiebreak games to decide the winner in the event of a draw. There are two days rest between matches. Read on for complete information.

Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (57)

2/6/2011 – ‘A most extraordinary game in that the final moves were wholly unexpected’, wrote one commentator. But what is the truth about the brilliancy, with a full range of suggestions regarding the loser’s identity? And what can be discovered about a master’s painting of the spectacular conclusion? The Editor of Chess Notes looks at a miniature with a unique checkmate.

Demythologizing the chess player's Elo rating

2/6/2011 – Certain facts regarding the rating system are misunderstood or unfamiliar to top-rank players, as well as organizers and administrators of major chess events. The recent articles that appeared on the subject, as well as the contest organized by a statistician, point to the fact that certain basic concepts have not been fully understood. Elmer Dumlao Sangalang endeavors to rectify the situation.

Tata Steel: Once more with feeling (and a good camera)

2/5/2011 – John Nunn is not just a mathematician, chess player, analyst, author, publisher and, of late, a roving astronomer. He has also taken up photography in a serious way. John visited Wijk with his Canon 7D camera and sent us a selection of pictures – which we give you in normal and higher resolution. He has also written wonderfully detailed instructions for ambitious chess photographers.

Gibraltar Masters: Ivanchuk wins with 9.0/10 and 2968 performance

2/5/2011 – It was an awesome performance by Ivanchuk showing just how big a difference there is when a Super-GM in form is lined up against the rest. Can you say 'target practice'? Short came back from his loss with 8.5/10 and also a remarkable 2883. No less incredible was 79-year-old legend Korchnoi, finishing with a 2634 performance, and nearly beating Vallejo in the end. Round 9 and 10 report.

London withdraws its 2012 World Championship bid

2/3/2011 – It was going to be a World Championship to remember: in the same location as the magnificent Chess Classics, for a prize fund of around two million Euros, tax prepaid. The potential organisers paid a € 50,000 deposit and gave FIDE until January 29th to accept or reject. Neither happened and today the sponsor formally withdrew his offer. Bad news.

Kramnik's Norwegian nemesis

2/2/2011 – Vladimir Kramnik seems to have a problem with Magnus Carlsen. At the London Chess Classic the Norwegian was lost against the former World Champion, but somehow survived. In Wijk aan Zee in a drawn position Carlsen played on and took home the full point in a masterful and highly instructive endgame performance. Deep analysis by GM Karsten Mueller.

Chess on a high-speed express

2/2/2011 – Reigning World Champion Viswanathan Anand played two games against former World Champion Anatoly Karpov on Tuesday. Then the two took on eleven players each in simultaneous matches. The unusual part was the venue: it was on a high-speed Spanish train en route from Madrid to Valencia. Our report includes a 45-minute video interview with Anatoly Karpov.

Gibraltar Masters: Ivanchuk leads with a 2947 performance

2/2/2011 – Seven wins, two draws – Vassily Ivanchuk is marching through. After nine rounds the Ukrainian Super-GM is half a point ahead of his only serious rival, Nigel Short (performance 2849). IM Melia Salome of Georgia missed a clear win in round eight, but is with a 2612 performance still on course for a GM norm. The weather is splendid and we have pictures of topless GMs frolicking in the sea.

Routes for the king in Wijk

2/2/2011 – In the endgame the king takes on a very special role. Not only is its intervention necessary, often the whole outcome of the game depends on it.

But in many cases it is not an easy decision as to exactly which route the king should take.

GM Karsten Müller has annotated two endings from Wijk for ChessBase Magazine Online in which everything depends on the correct choice of route.

FFE: cheating not the first time, Biel statement

2/1/2011 – The French Chess Federation disclosed they had evidence that the "organized cheating" accusation, which has rocked the chess world recently, is in fact not the first time. They have now mandated the Federal Bureau to take the case to trial in a court of law. Meanwhile the Organisers in Biel have issued a statement on the same players earlier last year in their Master Group. Open letters.