11/7/2024 – In part two of his review of the ChessBase Opening Encyclopaedia 2024, Nagesh Havanur explores the nuanced world of Semi-Open games, focusing on the Sicilian Defence and French Defence. From the explosive Najdorf Sicilian, favoured by Fischer and Kasparov, to the sharp Sicilian Dragon, each line offers distinct challenges and strategies. As our author transitions to Closed Games in his next instalment, he offers much practical advice for the aspiring tournament player.

10/26/2024 – When analysing grandmasters’ opening choices, the wealth of available chess resources demands careful selection. ChessBase, a leader in opening theory, provides players with powerful tools, including the Opening Encyclopaedia 2024. With over 1,400 articles, thousands of games, and numerous new repertoire ideas, this resource allows players to build their opening strategies effectively. It highlights the importance of balancing recent trends with older, reliable lines that may have fallen out of favour but remain sound.

8/31/2024 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. Our columnist, Nagesh Havanur takes a look at our recent issue, CBM 220. 512 games, 38 annotated from the Candidates’ and 7th Sharjah Masters, 11 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, 6 demo. lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Gukesh, Firouzja, Giri and Praggnanandhaa among others. The icing on the cake is a special feature on Gukesh with 24 annotated games. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

6/25/2024 – MegaBase 2024 is Chess History in action. Regularly updated every month, the Main Database currently offers 10.6 million games, many of them annotated. In the first part of his series our columnist dealt with the treatment of chess in the 21st Century in the MegaBase. In the second part of the series he took us down the memory lane with a world championship that deserves to be better known. In the third and concluding part of the series he shows how we can learn from the games of the past in the MegaBase.

6/5/2024 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. Our columnist, Nagesh Havanur, takes a look at our latest issue, CBM 219. 217 games from the Prague Chess Festival and the American Cup 2024, 12 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, 6 demo lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Nodirbek Abdusattorov, R Praggnanandhaa and David Navara, among others. The icing on the cake is a special feature on Fabiano Caruana with 26 annotated games. | Photo: ChessBase India

4/25/2024 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. Our columnist Nagesh Havanur takes a look at our recent issue, CBM 218. 540 games from Tata Steel Chess and Chessable Masters 2024, 12 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, 6 demo lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Wei Yi, Anish Giri, Nordibek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja, Vidit Gujrathi and Praggnanandhaa among others. The icing on the cake is a special feature on Richard Rapport, with 28 annotated games. | Pictured: Gukesh D playing white against Ding Liren in Wijk aan Zee | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024

2/25/2024 – MegaBase 2024 is Chess History in action. Regularly updated every month, the Main Database currently offers 10.6 million games, many of them annotated. In the first part of his review he dealt with the treatment of chess in the 21st Century in the MegaBase. Here he offers a rare discovery from a world championship match that fell into oblivion.

2/8/2024 – MegaBase 2024 is Chess History in action. Regularly updated every month, the Main Database currently offers 10.6 million games, many of them annotated. Our columnist Nagesh Havanur offers a review with focus on chess in the 21st Century.

2/2/2024 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. The latest issue, CBM 217, is out. Our columnist Nagesh Havanur takes a look. 1582 games (35 annotated), with decisive encounters from the FIDE Grand Swiss deeply annotated. 12 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, 6 demo lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Anish Giri, Nordibek Abdusattorov, Ruslan Ponomariov, Vidit Gujrathi and Praggnanandhaa, among others. | Photo: FIDE / Anna Shtourman

12/19/2023 – This month marks the birth anniversary of Viswanathan Anand. The phenomenal rise of the Indian super talent created a chess wave in his own land that shows no sign of diminishing. Vishy has been an inspiration for many young players, and today he is an ambassador for the game. Here our columnist recalls the early career of the former world champion.

11/26/2023 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. The latest issue, CBM 216, is out. Our columnist Nagesh Havanur takes a look. Included are 968 games (34 annotated), decisive encounters from the World Cup deeply annotated, 11 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, 6 demo lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Anish Giri, Peter Heine Nielsen, Nijat Abasov, Vidit Gujrathi and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, among others. The icing on the cake is a feature on Hou Yifan with 22 annotated games. She has just won the Julius Baer Women’s Speed Championship for the second consecutive time. | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage

10/11/2023 – Last year GM Yuri Averbakh turned 100 and set a world record. He became the oldest ever grandmaster in chess history. Sadly, he passed away in May. Averbakh led a rich and extraordinary life that he narrated himself in his autobiography, “Centre-stage and Behind the Scenes”. In the series here, our columnist draws on this important work and also explains much that was left unsaid. | Photo: Averbakh playing Kasparov (B. Dolmatovsky via Douglas Griffin’s website)

9/13/2023 – MegaBase 2023 is Chess History in action. Regularly updated every month, the Main Database currently offers 10 million games, many of them annotated. Our columnist offers a review with focus on modern master play. There is a lot more to discover in this treasure trove: grand battles, opening novelties and exemplary endgames.

9/7/2023 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. The latest issue, CBM 215 is just out. Here our columnist, Nagesh Havanur takes a look at a recent issue. 162 games (41 annotated), decisive encounters from World Championship deeply annotated. 12 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, 9 demo lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Anish Giri, Boris Gelfand and Peter Svidler among others. The icing on the cake is a feature on Boris Spassky with 27 annotated games. | Photo: Ding Liren vs Nepomniachtchi, WCH 2023, FIDE/Anna Shtourman

6/29/2023 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. The latest issue, CBM #214 is out. Meanwhile our columnist, Nagesh Havanur takes a look at a recent issue. 2651 games (47 annotated) from WR Masters and European Championship among others. 12 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, 9 demo. lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Levon Aronian, Alexey Sarana, Kirill Shevchenko, Vincent Keymer, Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa among others. The icing on the cake is a feature on Viswanathan Anand with 26 annotated games.

3/22/2023 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. 618 games (20 annotated) from the Schachbundesliga, Meltwater Tour Tournament and the U.S. Championship, plus 12 opening surveys, 8 demo lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Loek Van Wely, Pavel Eljanov and Luke McShane, Erwin L’Ami, Nikita Vitiugov, Nils Grandelius and Gawain Jones among others. The icing on the cake is a feature on Misha Tal with 21 annotated games.

12/7/2022 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. Issue #210 contains 7578 recent games, (45 annotated) 12 opening surveys, 9 demo lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Anish Giri, Ajun Erigaisi, Gabriel Sargissian, Ivan Sokolov, Luke McShane, Pentala Harikrishna, Pragganandhaa, Maria Muzychuk and Wesley So among others. The icing on the cake is a feature on Ding Liren who will play the world championship match with Ian Nepomniachtchi now that Carlsen has announced that he will not defend the title. Prof. Nagesh Havanur took a closer look.

9/4/2022 – The ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess and it provides arsenal for the tournament player. The latest issue, CBM #209, is just out. Meanwhile here is a review of the recent issue, CBM #208. It offers games from two major events, Superbet Chess Classic, Bucharest 2022 and European Individual Championship. 2055 games (49 annotated), 11 opening surveys, 12 demo lectures and exercises for training. Annotators include Anish Giri, Matthias Blübaum, Gabriel Sargissian, Yuriy Kuzubov and Karsten Müller among others. The icing on the cake is a flashback on the 1997 FIDE World Championship Special with 323 games and a commentary.