3/21/2026 – ChessBase Magazine has been a gold standard for structured chess training for decades. From club players to strong tournament competitors, it offers ample material for players of all levels. Lukas Köpl, himself a long-time user of “CBM”, takes a look at the latest issue of ChessBase’s digital magazine and presents his personal highlights.

2/14/2026 – With ChessBase '26, ChessBase presents a new version of its long-standing database software, which is less about minor improvements and more about a strategic further development of the entire system. For decades, ChessBase has been the benchmark for professional chess databases, opening preparation, opponent analysis, and game management at the highest level. In this review, Lukas Köpl focuses on the new features of the current version and examines them from the perspective of a player and trainer.

11/16/2025 – Hardly any opening polarises opinion online as much as the London System. Black has numerous ways to achieve a comfortable position. Nevertheless, there are many followers who have remained loyal to this opening for years. What if there were a surprise weapon that could lure White out of his comfort zone and into positions that require precise play instead of formulaic thinking? Andrew Martin has a secret weapon up his sleeve that he wants to share with us – Lukas Koepl presents the course.

11/8/2025 – "The perfect sacrifice is every chess player's dream," says Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran in the description of his Fritz Trainer! But when exactly is a sacrifice perfect? How can you correctly assess and evaluate sacrifice ideas, and how can you handle them when complications arise? The Grandmaster from India now wants to show ambitious chess players the answer to this question with his Fritz Trainer. Lukas Köpl has summarised the essence of the Fritz Trainer in his review.

10/11/2025 – The Ragozin Defence is one of those opening systems that are very popular in modern tournament chess. It combines solid classical elements with dynamic ideas. For those looking for active and dynamic play against 1.d4 without taking any significant risks, Grandmaster Surya Ganguly has created a high-class Fritz trainer in "Reinventing the Ragozin". The course impresses not only with its modern repertoire against the Queen's Gambit Declined in impressive depth, but also with valuable insights into the modern opening preparation of current top players. Lukas Köpl has taken a close look at Ganguly's Fritz trainer.

9/27/2025 – The technique of calculating variations is perhaps one of the most important techniques that defines a chess player's playing strength. An entire generation of top players, including the current World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, have a reputation of being true calculating machines. David Navara brings the secrets of calculating variations from the perspective of an absolute top player with a peak rating of 2751 to your home. Lukas Köpl, himself a trainer and advocate of the technique of calculating variations, reviewed David Navara's contribution. | Photos: ChessBase

7/24/2025 – In his Fritz Trainer, Grandmaster S.P. Sethuraman presents a modern repertoire for the classical Sicilian. Reviewer Lukas Köpl, an experienced tournament player and licensed trainer with over 15 years' experience, introduces the course and shows how ambitious players and Sicilian fans can benefit from Sethuraman's work.