On Putin, Elista, clairvoyants and sorcerers

8/25/2006 – On September 23, at 15.00h Moscow time, the first move of the reunification world championship match between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik will be made in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia. The president of that Russian republic and of the world chess federation FIDE has provided new details in a must-read interview in Chess Express.

Chess on TV?

8/24/2006 – Chess on TV? It's been done with varying degrees of success. In the latest ChessBase Workshop, our intrepid columnist sharpens his pen to tackle the knotty dual problems of format and presentation of chess on TV and presents his own idea for a proposed solution. More information...

Andrew Martin: Practical vs Best

8/23/2006 – On this week's Radio Show our Playchess lecturer Andrew Martin discusses an excellent recent book by Andrew Soltis on practicality vs purity in the choice of chess moves. The subject is fleshed out with a couple of well-chosen examples from recent games. Come and enjoy the show.

Credit Suisse Zurich Blitz: Kasparov and Karpov win

8/23/2006 – The chess event to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Swiss bank Credit Suisse featured Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Viktor Kortschnoi and Judit Polgar, playing an exhibition blitz tournament. It was won by Kasparov and Karpov. We bring you a first express report with the results and games.

Chess Classic: Kasimdzhanov wins the Ordix Open

8/22/2006 – "I'm the man!" beamed Rustam Kasimdzhanov, quoting from the movie Kill Bill II. The Uzbek had just clinched victory in the Ordix Open. Second was Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, edged out on tiebreak points. But Mamedyarov won the combined title for Chess960 and Rapid chess. WGM Natalia Zhukova took the women's title. Illustrated report.

Chess Classic: Anand and Aronian win Mainz

8/21/2006 – Both Vishy Anand and Levon Aronian won both games on the last day of the Chess Classic. Anand took the rapid chess title for the ninth time, and the seventh time in a row. Aronian had won the Chess960 Open twice before and now defeated Peter Svidler in the title match. Rustam Kasimdzhanov won the Ordix Open. Illustrated report.

Romanishin's impressive novelty

8/21/2006 – Last May the USSR Championship runner-up and world championship candidate Oleg Romanishin produced an important novelty, a temporary pawn sac that was missed by Andersson, Aronian and even Tal! It is introduced to you by Dennis Monokroussos on his Monday night Playchess lecture. Join him there.

Active piece play, a rock-solid pawn structure and a clear plan

8/21/2006 – The Benko Gambit is a dynamic response to 1.d4 which enables Black to play for the initiative right from the start. On his training DVD Andrew Martin not only deals with every significant aspect of this opening but also proves that it still is a solid and highly attractive weapon. Order it now or read Steve Giddins' review.

Chess Classic: Neck-and-neck on day three

8/20/2006 – Vishy Anand lost his fifth round game, another Sveshnikov, against challenger Teimour Radjabov, he came back in force to equalise the score in round six. In the Chess960 contest Svidler and Aronian both won a game (there have been no draws so far) to stay equal, now at 3:3. The final day will decide. Giant illustrated report.

Chess Classic: Anand and Svidler bounce back

8/19/2006 – After losing on day one, both Vishy Anand and Peter Svidler came back strongly on day two, equalising the score with one and two wins over Radjabov and Aronian repectively. Etienne Bacrot won the FiNet Chess960 Open, undefated, and Shredder took the Chess960 world computer chess championship title. Big illustrated report.

Kasparov, Karpov, Korchnoi and Polgar in Zurich

8/19/2006 – It will be a day with the champions: Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Viktor Kortschnoi and Judit Polgar playing an exhibition blitz tournament in the Credit Suisse building, and then giving a simultaneous display on 80 boards. You can watch it live on Playchess.com. Here are all the schedule details, and for starters a great interview with Garry Kasparov.

ChessBase Opening Encyclopedia 2006 - Part 2

8/19/2006 – In the second of two ChessBase Workshop columns, we examine some possible methods for using the ChessBase Opening Encyclopedia 2006 to help you sharpen your opening play. More information...

Experience vs Rising Stars in Amsterdam

8/18/2006 – Ulf or Magnus? Beliavsky or Karjakin? Two teams of five face off in the NH Chess Tournament in Amsterdam on Saturday – a confrontation between "experienced grandmasters" and "rising stars". The former consists of chess legends, the latter of young players heading for the top. The average ages are 51.8 and 17.6, the average ratings 2590 and 2614. Preview.

Chess Classic: Anand and Svidler falter

8/18/2006 – Vishy Anand, the world's strongest rapid chess player, got off to a shaky start at the Chess Classic in Mainz, drawing one and losing the second game to challenger Teimour Radjabov. In Chess960 the reigning champion Peter Svidler lost both his games to Levon Aronian, albeit somewhat unluckily. Full report on day three of the Classic.

Cheating at the World Open – more details

8/17/2006 – Last week we reported that two players were accused of using computer assistance during their games at the World Open in Philadelphia in July. The story was in the New York Times, but contained some inaccuracies. The tournament director who found the secret communication device sets the record straight. And one of the victims sent us analysis of his game. You'll probably guess who played it.

Chess Classic: Chess960 results, Anand and Aronian simuls

8/17/2006 – In the three Chess960 (Fischer Random) world championships India's Harikrishna won in the Juniors section, Alexandra Kosteniuk in the Women's and Vlastimil Hort in the Seniors. Anand gave a simultaneous exhibition and drew to a rock musician from Finnland. Aronian played a blindfold Chess960 game against soap star Vaile and won. Pictorial report.

Adriaan de Groot, chess psychologist (1914–2006)

8/16/2006 – In the 40s, 50s and 60s the Dutch psychologist and chess master conducted a number of ground-breaking experiments in the cognitive processes that occur in the brains of strong chess players. A recent Scientific American article bears testimony to this research. Adriaan de Groot died in Schiermonnikoog, Holland on August 14. He was 91. In memoriam.

Kirsan, Putin and the world championship match

8/15/2006 – Some people were getting a bit nervous. After announcing the reunification match for a single world championship title between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik in April this year there was a lack of news on the event. Now FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and released all the details.

The Swiss King of India

8/15/2006 – The sensation at the First Hirabai Salgaocar Tournament in Goa was IM Diwakar Prasad Singh, a 2377 rated IM, who, after a dismal showing as a member of the Indian Chess Olympiad squad, has gone on to win three major tournament in a row. This time he took first in a strong field of 235 players. Here's a beautiful photo report from Goa by Praful Zaveri.

Chess Classic with Anand, Radjabov, Svidler, Aronian and Vaile

8/14/2006 – Suffering withdrawal after Sofia and Dortmund? The next big event starts tomorrow, in Mainz, Germany. Anand plays an eight-game rapid chess match against Teimour Radjabov, Peter Svidler a Chess960 (Fischer Random) against Levon Aronian. There are Chess960 events for women, seniors, juniors and computers. We bring you a road map and all the essential links.

Scientific American: The Expert Mind

8/14/2006 – Once again (after a report on Deep Blue) chess has made it to the cover of the periodical Scientific American. An article written by Phil Ross, a 2053 USCF player, describes the research that has gone into explaining such extraordinary cognitive feats of the human mind as grandmasterly play. Not a lot of new material for the expert, but a good summary for a general audience. Read the online version.

Charousek vs Suechting – the battle continues

8/13/2006 – Last week in Dennis Monokroussos' Monday night Playchess lecture we saw part of an incredibly sharp 1897 game between Rudolf Charousek and Hugo Suechting. This Monday Dennis will examine this ending thoroughly. There are some useful lessons to be learned.

Chess on the mud flats

8/12/2006 – This is possibly the most dangerous form of chess. The players make their moves on boards set up on the North Sea mud flats on the shores of the island of Baltrum. The goal is to finish the tournament before the tide comes in and drowns everyone. This year it took place in driving rain, but we are glad to report that everyone survived. Pictures and video.

Kirsan and Ali – Gens una Sumus

8/12/2006 – Two months ago the two were bitter rivals, competing for the presidency of FIDE: Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the incumbent, and Ali Nihat Yazici, President of the Turkish Chess Federation, who together with Dutch businessman Bessel Kok, tried to oust him from office. Now they have met at the foot of the Biblical Mount Ararat, in perfect harmony.