Edge or centre?

2/16/2011 – In this position from the C-group in Wijk aan Zee White had just played 34.Rb1-b3 in order to safeguard the vulnerable points d3 and c4 with his rook via the third rank. Which knight move leads to advantage for Black now?
A) 34...Na5 (35.Rc3)
B) 34...Ne5
C) neither

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

Aeroflot Open: Le Quang Liem takes full point lead in 'last' open?

2/15/2011 – Despite the wonderful conditions, such as a generous prizefund with $20,000 for first place, reduced airfares, and even airport taxes covered by the organizers, the tournament director has admitted that next year's event is not guaranteed. Though attendance is on a low, possibly due to the world crisis, the field has been no less impressive. A beautiful illustrated report by Anna Burtasova.

Fritz Powerbook 2011: Size and quality

2/15/2011 – The Fritz Powerbook 2011 contains 23 million opening positions, derived from 1.5 million high-class games (also included), with all relevant information stored: average rating, success rate and Elo performance. However, the DVD also contains a restricted StrongBook, with moves only from players rated over 2100, so you can choose to see it all or just the best. Review by Dennis Monokroussos.

Turkish Championship in Antalya

2/15/2011 – Turkish Chess Championship took place at Kemer, Antalya, in a large ten-round Swiss event. This year the Turkish Chess Federation provided an impressive prize fund of 30.000 TL (approximately 15.000 euro) attracting 257 participants, including 3 GMs, 4 IMs and 2 WIMs. GM Emre Can became new Turkish Champion with 8.5/10. Report and pictures by Anastasiya Karlovich.

Absolute and Women's Championships of Belarus 2011

2/14/2011 – During the month of January the Belarus national championships were held with a battle for the Absolute fought by the Zhigalko brothers, with Sergey beating Andrey. In the Women's Championship, 26-year-old Anna Sharevich, ex-aerobics instructor and dance teacher, returned home and took the women's title. Here is the photo report by Sergey Kasparov.

New world record for 604-board simul by Iranian GM Maghami

2/14/2011 – GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, 9-time Iran national champion, set a new world record of 604 boards for an individual simul. The simultaneous exhibition took 25 hours from 8th to 9th February 2011 at the sports stadium of the Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. He broke last year's record set by Israeli GM Alik Gershon who took on 523 opponents. Pictorial report.

Master Moves #5

2/13/2011 – 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 in this column are from the Aeroflot Open underway. Can you play like the masters?

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.