Play it like Bologan

10/4/2009 – Are you a Caro-Kann player or toying with the idea of building it into your repertoire? Then you should not miss this 2688 ELO rated GM revealing his own Caro-Kann repertoire. In over four hours of video lessons Viktor Bologan explains the lines in easy to grasp terms that makes the DVD extremely valuable for players of every level. Buy his Caro-Kann DVD now or read this review with sampler.

Nanjing: Carlsen wins again, leads with 4.5/5 points

10/3/2009 – Words fail us: Magnus Carlsen has won again, beating Teimour Radjabov in a ferocious 25-move slugout. At halftime at the Pearl Spring tournament the Norwegian leads by two full points and displays an Elo performance of 3143. The other games were drawn. We have an interesting historical assessment of Carlsen's performance by chess statistician Jeff Sonas in our illustrated report.

FIDE Grand Prix: Dzagnidze leads with 4.0/4 and 3191 performance

10/2/2009 – Magnus Carlsen is not the only stratospheric player in Nanjing. In the Women's Grand Prix GM Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia, rated 2535, is blazing a trail through her opponents. With four wins in her first four games she has displayed a 3191 performance. Former Women's World Champion GM Xu Yuhua remains half a point behind. Big report with portrait pictures and annotated games.

No financial guarantees for Anand-Topalov World Championship

10/2/2009 – Bids for the World Championship match between Vishy Anand and Veselin Topalov, planned for April next year, were opened on October 1st. FIDE informs us that three bids were submitted, from Bulgaria, Singapore and Turkey. They should have been accompanied by financial guarantees, but none was provided. FIDE has extended the procedure until October 15th. Press release.

Two unprotected pieces...

10/2/2009 – ... in his own camp White had allowed by playing 33.Nxc4 (diagram position), intending to parry the double attack on Nc4/Rf7 after 33...Qd1+ and ...Qd5 with 34.Ne5. How would you assess the situation?
A) Black still wins material; 
B) White has the advantage; 
C) the position is balanced.

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

Nanjing: Carlsen strikes again, third win in four games

10/1/2009 – The rampage continues: in round four of Pearl Spring 18-year-old Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen showed grit and determination to win his third game, against Russian GM Dmitry Jakovenko, with the black pieces. Magnus now has a performance of over 3100. Radjabov had Topalov on the ropes, but could not score a first victory. Wang Yue-Leko was a draw in 29 moves. Illustrated report.

Nanjing: Dzagnidze leads FIDE Women Grand Prix

9/30/2009 – Third round and things are heating up. Whilst in the men's tournament Magnus Carlsen narrowly failed to win, in the FIDE Women's Grand Prix GM Nana Dzagnidze was the sole player to remain on 100% with 3/3. She is followed by former Women's World Champion GM Xu Yuhua and the untitled Ju Wenjun, both from China. Report with gorgeous pictures and annotated games.

Wednesday night: The Battle of the Great 'K's

9/30/2009 – Bulgarian FIDE master Valeri Lilov, rated 2411, starts a weekly show on Playchess. On Wednesday at 20:00h CEST (7 p.m. London, 2 p.m. NY), he will be discussing the most interesting games from the great players. This time he will focus on the most interesting duel in the history – the matches between Kasparov and Karpov. Take a look, it's free.

Alexander Morozevich: most imaginative player of our time

9/30/2009 – Not only can the Russian GM, who has been enthralling chess fans for over a decade now, defeat anyone – he can do it playing practically anything: the Chigorin, the Albin, 3...Be7 in the French, the King's Gambit, the Evans Gambit... In his Wednesday night Playchess lecture Dennis Monokroussos shows us a game in which Vladimir Kramnik fell victim to "Moro's" brutal attacking play.

Nanjing: Dzagnidze leads FIDE Women Grand Prix

9/30/2009 – The gloves came off in the second round of the women's event that is taking place parallel to the Pearl Spring tournament. After three wins in the first round we saw four decisive games in the second. Even the draws went the full length and all possibilities were exhausted before they were accepted by the Chief Arbiter Ignatius Leong. Report by FM Geoffrey Borg.

Henrik Carlsen on the Nanjing Tournament

9/30/2009 – It took them 22 hours to get there – door to door. But after a quick acclimatizing the two, father and son, have settled down in the splendid hotel and are thinking chess, table tennis and Chinese food. Magnus won his first two games in the Pearl Spring Tournament, with his father Henrik watches, as usual, anxiously from the sidelines. Here's a first installment of his Nanjing blog.

Nanjing: Wang Yue stops Carlsen rampage

9/30/2009 – For a long time in round three it looked like Magnus Carlsen was going to pick up his third victory. The Norwegian had an extra pawn and great attacking opportunities. But he had used too much time and on his last move before the time control spoilt it to a draw. Peter Leko struggled with black against Veselin Topalov, but held; while Radjabov-Jakovenko was a less exciting draw. Illustrated report.

Kasparov: 'Something is dead wrong in chess'

9/30/2009 – The recent match between Kasparov and Karpov in Valencia, Spain, was a tremendous success. That is tragic, says Garry Kasparov – when two old guys, one retired, the other no longer a real force in the game, still are the greatest show in the world of chess. In his interview with GM Robert Fontaine for the French magazine Europe-Echecs Kasparov vents his feelings on this and other subjects. Part two.

A match decided in an endgame

9/30/2009 – In the Short-Efimenko match, which finished last Saturday in 
Mukachevo, the young Ukrainian player went straight into the lead in round one, but saw Short catch up immediately in the next round. The match was finally decided in round five - in a rook ending, in which the experienced English player demonstrated his faultless technique to secure the win. In the position in the diagram Short (White) was on the move and held on to his advantage with an accurate manoeuvre. Can you work out his 38th move? Our ChessBase Magazine endgame expert GM Karsten Müller has analysed the decisive phase of this game.

Nanjing: Opening ceremony, Women's Grand Prix

9/29/2009 – The Second Nanjing Pearl Spring Chess Tournament started off with a traditionally colourful pageant, with Chinese mimes, dancers, singers and acrobats – a visual feast. On Monday, in addition to the Men's Tournament the Nanjing Fide Women Grand Prix got under way, a category eight tournament with an Elo average of 2447. Here's a giant pictorial report with analysis of all games.

Nanjing: Carlsen strikes again, defeats Topalov

9/29/2009 – The training sessions with Garry Kasparov seem to be working out. In round two Magnus Carlsen scored a second, very convincing victory – over top seed Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria. Peter Leko drew Teimour Radjabov in 32, Dmitry Jakovenko drew Wang Yue in 35 moves. Magnus leads by a full point. We bring you an updated report with pictures and commentary.

Video interview with Garry Kasparov on Valencia

9/28/2009 – Garry Kasparov won the commemorative match against Anatoly Karpov convincingly by 9.0-3.0. After it was over GM Robert Fontaine, roving reporter for the French magazine Europe Echecs, sat down with the winner to discuss the games, the match, and Kasparov's work with the young chess star Magnus Carlsen. The interview is presented in two sections. Here for your enjoyment is part one.

Nanjing: Carlsen wins with the Scotch

9/28/2009 – Garry Kasparov will be proud. His chess charge, Magnus Carlsen, won his first-round game against Peter Leko at the Pearl Spring Chess Tournament with a convincing Scotch Opening – Kasparov's favourite during his active career. The other two games, Topalov-Jakovenko and Wang Yue-Radjabov were fighting draws. A big pictorial report follows, here for now are the games and analysis.

Mukachevo: Nigel Short wins 3.5-2.5

9/27/2009 – "Nigel has a 3:2 lead, so it is quite simple for Zahar," wrote GM Klaus Bischoff. "He has to win the last game, a draw is of no use. This must-win situation is unpleasant, but every chess player has been in there." And who amongst us has not failed. The game ended in a draw and Nigel Short had won the match 3.5-2.5, pretty much in keeping with the rating difference. Final report with GM analysis.

Mukachevo: Nigel Short pulls ahead with game five victory

9/26/2009 – "So we have four games played and White could not win a single game yet," noted match commentator Klaus Bischoff. "Today we will see Nigel's last try with the white pieces." Try he did, and in fact pulled off a fine victory to take a 3.0-2.0 lead in this match (with one game to go). Not a single game so far has been unfought or boring. Report with GM analysis.

Three GMs lead in SPICE Cup in Texas

9/26/2009 – This Category 16 event, billed as the "highest rated international invitational tournament in U.S. history", is named after its founder, former Women's World Champion Susan Polgar. After six rounds GMs Kuzubov, Andreikin and Hammer lead, but Group B (Cat. 11) is also interesting, since 14-year-old IM Ray Robson is trying to pick up his final GM norm. Illustrated report.

The natural move...

9/25/2009 – ... is a continuation which immediately springs to mind in a position - if, for example, a piece can be developed to an active square in the opening with tempo. In the diagram, playing 16.Rad1 White occupied the d-file with his rook and at the same time attacked the opponent's queen. What is your judgement on this?
A) simple and strong, the move maintains a powerful initiative;
B) here nature is against White, Black gets the advantage; 
C) neither nor, with a precise reaction the position is kept in balance.
The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.

Valencia: Kasparov's blitz win, final score 9:3

9/25/2009 – Everyone expected an easy win by Kasparov, but their eight-game blitz encounter started with a shock loss. Karpov drew first blood, Kasparov took a "deep breath" 17-move draw to clear his head, and then went on to score five wins in a row. The final game was a draw, leaving Kasparov winning the blitz with 6.0:2.0 and the match with 9.0:3.0 – exactly as their ratings predicted. Illustrated report.

Valencia: Karpov wins game three, Kasparov wins the match 3-1

9/24/2009 – Day two of the commemorative rapid chess match saw Anatoly Karpov win a fine game against the man who dethroned him as World Champion 25 years ago. In the final game Garry Kasparov only needed a draw, but put on the pressure until Karpov crumbled and lost – again – on time. The final score of 3.0:1.0 is exactly what the ratings predicted. Illustrated report with videos.