Solution to the CBM competition

7/8/2009 – An amazingly large number of our readers had no problem identifying the game and the final position: Byrne-Fischer is the solution to our competition set on the 30.6., to be precise Robert Byrne-Robert Fischer, USA Championship 1963/64, played on 18.12.1963. There was a little confusion, however as there is a second famous Byrne-Fischer game: in 1956 the 13 year old Fischer defeated Donald Byrne, in what many even called the game of the century - the one with the queen sacrifice. 
Fischer monograph in the shop
Fischer Video
Famous games by Fischer
Winners

No mystery: what Kasparov said to Obama

7/8/2009 – On Tuesday former World Chess Champion and oppositional leader Garry Kasparov met with Barack Obama. Russian state media quickly sought to marginalise the meeting between the US President and the "ex-grandmaster". State controlled Russia Today: "What exactly Kasparov and other opposition leaders talked about with Obama, remains a mystery." Perhaps we can help.

Dortmund 6: All games drawn, Carlsen leads

7/8/2009 – Top French GM Etienne Bacrot and top German GM Arkadij Naiditsch drew a Queen's Indian in 24 moves. Former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik and his 2004 Challenger Peter Leko played a Nimzo Indian which ended in a 25-move draw. Top ranked Russian GM Dmitiy Jakovenko and world number three Magnus Carlsen drew a Sicilian Sveshnikov by repetition on move 45. Express report.

Monokroussos on the Hedgehog System(s)

7/7/2009 – Because of its rather abstract nature and, most obviously, the amount of space it concedes to the opponent, the Hedgehog System (or systems) tend to be relatively unpopular at the club level. In this week's Playchess lecture Dennis Monokroussos shows us that this is not the way things ought to be. Be there to watch on the server at 9 p.m. ET.

Dortmund – a walking tour

7/7/2009 – Tuesday – after five rounds, and having completed the first half of the double round robin Sparkassen tournament, the players have earned a rest day. For your roving correspondents the concept is unknown – we use the pause to take a look around the German industrial city of Dortmund. Join Michael von Keitz on a sightseeing tour through Dortmund.

Dortmund 5: Carlsen, Leko win, Carlsen leads

7/6/2009 – The first half of the Sparkassen Super-GM ended with Peter Leko demolishing Etienne Bacrot after the French GM blundered on move 36. Magnus Carlsen kept the pressure up against Arkadij Naiditsch's Berlin Defence, until the German player committed an innocuous looking error and crumbled. Carlsen is once again in the sold lead with a 2885 performance. Full illustrated report.

All India Chess Federation revokes ban on Gopal

7/5/2009 – In March we reported on the ban that was placed on G.N. Gopal, one of India's bright young stars, by the AICF. The 2555 rated GM had failed to play in the national championship last December, and the punishment would have seen him missing the next Asian and the World Junior Championship. Now, after protest by the Chess Players Association of India, the AICF has lifted the ban.

Dortmund 04: Kramnik wins with black, leads with Carlsen

7/5/2009 – After a desperately uneventful round three the players suddenly all galvanised into fighting mode and delivered a supremely exciting round four. Vladimir Kramnik won his game with the black pieces against Arkadij Naiditsch, while Magnus Carlsen came very close to a black victory against Etienne Bacrot. Carlsen and Kramnik now lead with 2.5/4 points. Big pictorial review.

Anya Corke – a special talent from Hong Kong

7/5/2009 – She was born in the USA but raised in Hong Kong, where her Chinese mother and Scottish father had lecturing positions. She is a WGM and strongest chess player in Hong Kong and has represented the island at several Olympiads playing on the first table against, amongst others, Gata Kamsky. In spite of an academic career this girl has a bright chess future. Portrait by Diana Mihajlova.

Dortmund 02: Jakovenko defeats Naiditsch

7/4/2009 – In the July 2009 FIDE ratings he is listed as the highest ranked GM in Russia. On the second day in Dortmund Dimitri Jakovenko defeated Germany's Arkadij Naiditsch in a nice endgame effort. The game was a Sicilian Najdorf and lasted 62 moves. Vladimir Kramnik drew Etienne Bacrot in 30 moves, Peter Leko held Magnus Carlsen in 25. The Norwegian leads. Round two report.

Obama to meet Kasparov in Moscow

7/4/2009 – US President Barack Obama is meeting with several prominent members of the Russian opposition, including United Civil Front leader (and former chess world champion) Garry Kasparov. The meeting is set to take place on July 7th at the Ritz Carlton hotel. "The previous American administration didn’t dare to do this,” said Kasparov in a radio interview. Report in 'The Other Russia'.

Dortmund 03: All games drawn in sweltering heat

7/4/2009 – The city of Dortmund has been struck by a heatwave. Problem is you do not have much air-conditioning – in Germany you need it for just a couple of weeks per year. All of the players in the Sparkassen GM tournament seemed fazed by the temperature and all three games ended in more or less rapid draws. Meanwhile Sofi Leko, wife of Peter, discussed literature with a German professor. Pictorial report.

Your judgement, please

7/2/2009 – The bishop sac on h7 (h2) to rip open the enemy's king position is a classical motif in chess. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it isn't - but one always has to be aware of it. And what is the case after 13.Nxc4 here?
A) Black wins easily, after all he's not got only one bishop, has he?
B) The sac is correct, however, victory requires yet a 'silent hammer blow'.
C) As good as it might look, the strike backfires; with cool defence White gets the advantage. The solution is for replay here or as video sample from Kings Powerplay 1 DVD. Hint: first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.

Dortmund 01: Carlsen beats Jakovenko

7/2/2009 – The Sparkassen Chess-Meeting, the most important traditional chess tournament in Germany, started with a fine victory by top seed Magnus Carlsen. The 18-year-old Norwegian GM out-maneuvered his opponent, Russia's top GM Dmitry Jakovenko, in a knight vs bishop ending and took the full point after 49 moves. The other games were drawn. Report with commentary.

25th Spring Chess Festival in Budapest

7/2/2009 – Hungary certainly does not lack in chess tournaments. The year starts with the traditional early January tournament organised by the Hungarian Chess Federation, soon afterwards, in March, the spring season starts with the Spring Chess Festival. This year was the 25th edition. The events in Budapest are fraught with cultural activities. Illustrated report by Diana Mihajlova.

Monokroussos on not winning a model game

7/1/2009 – Few things in chess are more satisfying than winning a model game. The opening prep goes smoothly, one gains an advantage of some sort of another, and a series of fine moves leads to the inexorable conclusion: we win! And then there's the other 90% of the time. Lecture this Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on Playchess.

July 2009 FIDE ratings: Topalov leads, Anand second

7/1/2009 – Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov has gained one point from ten games to retain his top ranking in the FIDE list, 25 point ahead of reigning World Champion Viswanathan Anand. In third place we find Magnus Carlsen, the 18-year-old GM from Norway. The biggest fall – once again – was by Vassily Ivanchuk, who shed 43 points. Top rankings and statistics.

Lviv – the chess capital of Ukraine

7/1/2009 – Chess was popular in the Ukrainian city of Lviv (or Lvov) before World War II, but it reached its golden age in the 1960s, when Leonid Stein gave inspiration to young young boys and girls. But it was the work of legendary trainer Viktor Kart that brought the country to the forefront of chess, producing some of the best players in the world. Illustrated report by Vladimir Grabinsky.

More Fischer-Spassky memorabilia on sale

6/30/2009 – We recently reported on a large Fischer collenction that was snapped up for US $61,000 by Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield. Collectors – and especially philatelists – have an opportunity to get some new items from the 1972 Fischer vs Spassky World Chess Championship, with postcards, envelopes, a signed admittance ticket. They are from a private Icelandic collection.

Do men and women have different brains?

6/30/2009 – In a recent thought-provoking article WGM Natalia Pogonina and Peter Zhdanov presented their views on the topic of why women are worse at chess than men. A number of our readers were unconviced: they think that efforts at "explaining" differences between the sexes only from environmental factors are doomed at the outset. Recent studies seem to support this. Feedback and articles.

Swedish ChessBoxing Sensation in London

6/28/2009 – London hasn’t been this crazy about a Swede since the heady days of Bjorn Borg at Wimbledon. This was undoubtedly the best chessboxing night yet seen in the UK; there was a superlative headline bout between two of the world's leading chessboxers, controversy involving an illegal move, the flamboyant Red Kite, and an England vs Germany match. Pictorial report with annotated games.

Tiger Lilov’s Chess Show: The Art of Defense

6/28/2009 – Bulgarian chess trainer Valeri Lilov, rated 2411, has a weekly show on Playchess.com. On Mondays at 20:00h CEST (7 p.m. London, 2 p.m. New York) he presents practical chess problems and interesting themes based on games taken from recent super-tournaments. This time he will focus on the defence in chess, with live audio commentary. Take a look, it’s free!

For the beginners

6/28/2009 – It's been quite a while since our ChessBase Workshop columnist had a look at Fritz features geared toward the beginning chess player. Novices take heart – a new ChessBase Workshop series for this group of novices and amateurs starts now with a column devoted to general advice. Learn more in the latest Workshop.

Your judgement, please

6/27/2009 – Opposite-coloured bishops tend to favour the attacker in middlegame positions, yet in endgames they can sometimes save the weaker side despite being one or even several pawns down. What do you think about the position after 66...Ke6? A) White has nothing better than to go for the trade b7 against e4, when despite two plus pawns his victory is written in the stars. B) There is a clever way to keep the pawn on e4, increasing his winning chances considerably. C) The first player can win by force. The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.