1/16/2011 – 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. Here are some positions from recent master and grandmaster practice. Test you tactical eye.

1/16/2011 – It was a quiet day overall, with not much to drum up strong emotions or free-flowing adrenaline. In the main "A" tournament, spectators were left wondering whether the omission of the anti-draw Sofia rules might not have been a mistake after all, with Nepomniachtchi the only winner. In the "B" event, GM Luke McShane took the early lead with 2.0/2. Report with analysis by GM Karsten Mueller.

1/15/2011 – In the newly rebranded Wijk aan Zee by Tata Steel, the world's top three are joined by a fascinating mix, and even the "B" and "C" events are not to be ignored. In the top "A" tournament, Anand, Nakamura, and Smeets were the first to strike blood, and Carlsen played ambitiously against Aronian though drew. In "C", 14-year-old Nyzhnyk beat top seed GM Kazhgaleyev (2637). Illustrated report.

1/15/2011 – The British magazine CHESS has been going for 75 years now. The January issue is dedicated to dedicated to the London Chess Classic, which was organized by its Executive Editor IM Malcolm Pein. As a special gift to our readers Malcolm has provided us with the massive 29-page report in PDF, including the 13 annotated games in ChessBase format. Come and get it.

1/15/2011 – Grandmaster, openings theorist, author and brilliantly imaginative problem composer – Hungarian GM Pal Benko has always been interested in our Christmas puzzles. For the 2010 edition he sent us a set of positions, but his message got lost in the Christmas mail. Here they are now for your pleasure. In addition we are extending the deadline for our puzzle contest by one day.

1/14/2011 – The tournament used to be called "Corus", but In 2006 the steel company sponsoring the event was taken over (for $7.6 billion) by the Indian company Tata Steel, hence the name change. To chess fans the name is linked to the Dutch seaside town Wijk aan Zee, where the event takes place from January 15 to 30. This year it is stronger than ever, and we are providing full coverage.

1/13/2011 – The Candidates Matches have been sailing through rough seas. The venue had to be changed, the top favorite withdrew, and there were numerous protests. But now, with all contracts signed. things are set to go ahead. Especially after Teimour Radjabov has shelved his concerns and is determined to play. Both he and Garry Kasparov have been talking about the withdrawal of Magnus Carlsen.

1/13/2011 – The new ones are clear: World Champion Vishy Anand, who at 41 can look back on his career contentedly; Hou Yifan, the women's champion, at age 16 the youngest in chess history; and Magnus Carlsen, who last January became the world's top-rated player. In his chess column GM Lubomir Kavalek focuses on a player who clinched the world title a half century ago: Mikhail Tal (1936-1992).

1/13/2011 – Many players hope that they will never have to face at the board the ending of knight and bishop against king, because they are afraid that they will not be able to manage to mate correctly. The right way to do so was demonstrated recently by no less than Ivanchuk in his game against Morozevich.

GM Dr. Karsten Müller has dealt with the subject for ChessBase Magazine Online and shows everyone whose technique is still less than perfect how to master this mate completely by making use of the W-manoeuvre.

1/12/2011 – As most chess players will tell you, how or where to attack an enemy king is not always obvious. Chess traniner and GM Daniel King provides the necessary knowledge on this DVD. "I cannot praise this 'DVD of the Year' enough," says retired teacher Ralph Deline. "Every chess player from beginner to master, coach to trainer, should go through it until they understand the contents." Review.

1/11/2011 – In December Ian Nepomniachtchi caught the leading Sergey Karjakin in the last round of the Russian Superfinal and then won the playoff in an Armageddon blitz game. Now Karjakin had a chance to avenge the defeat – and avenge it he did. Yevgeny Potemkin captured the action in video, and we are able to offer you a special treat: watch the match from a front seat.

1/10/2011 – It was not illegal computer assistance – Alexander Zubov proved that it is possible for an amateur to win a big tournament. The Ukrainian IM, rated 2574, is a honey producer by profession, but was able to win the Cracovia Open (for a second time in succession), held from December 27th 2010 to January 4th 2011 in Cracow, Poland, on tiebreak points. Big pictorial report by Piotr Kaim.