1/8/2024 – ChessBase Magazine is breaking new ground. For almost 30 years, a Windows operating system and a ChessBase program were a must for reading the CBM. The new issue #217 (January 2024) is the first one to include full mobile access, so you can load it directly via the web browser on your iPad, tablet, Mac, etc. Thanks to the new ChessBase Books system, all content is available: Analyses, videos, repertoire articles, training exercises and the interactive training videos from the tactics, strategy and endgame columns! We invite you to join us: In this and the coming weeks, we will be offering you a complete CBM article from the current issue for free! The best first: Oliver Reeh's article "Invasion on the back rank" with lots of tactical exercises and four interactive training videos!

1/8/2024 – In general, a queen and one pawn equal two rooks – this leads us to nearly always prefer the two rooks. Is this always the case, and when it is, how can we take advantage of it. If you want to learn more about the tactics and strategy involved, it will be well to carefully follow the instructions of a world leading chess trainer and analyst, who uses high-class games to illustrate his points.

1/8/2024 – The Caplin Masters, part of the Hastings International Chess Congress, came to an end on Friday with a triumph for Abhijeet Gupta. The 34-year-old Indian grandmaster was the only one of 100+ participants in the event to achieve a score of 7½/9, thus getting outright victory. Pengxiang Zhang from China (7/9) came second. Behind Zhang, a group of nine players finished with 6½/9 points each. | Photo: Official website

1/7/2024 – As the new year gets underway, it's traditional to look both forwards and backwards. 2023 saw Magnus Carlsen abdicate his world title, Ding Liren capture the vacant crown after a nail-biting match against Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ju Wenjun retain her world title also by a narrow margin after defeating her countrywoman Lei Tingjie. Jon Speelman looks back to 2023 and forward to 2024. | Photo: Fabiano Caruana | Photo: Lennart Ootes

1/7/2024 – In the first Fast & Furious episode of 2024, Robert Ris presents a dangerous line against a popular variation of the Caro-Kann. | Fast & Furious is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.

1/7/2024 – Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books on chess training and strategy. In the 159th episode of his ChessBase show "Understanding before moving" Herman continues his series "Chess history in a nutshell" and talks about the "Sorcerer's Apprentice", David Bronstein. | Photo: Pascal Simon

1/3/2024 – Early in 2023, the Qualifications Commission (QC) initiated a review of the FIDE rating regulations, inviting federations, officials and the public to contribute their thoughts and suggestions. The review was prompted by feedback from professional players and FIDE officials, highlighting a rating deflation resulting from prior changes in the rating system.

1/3/2024 – With the publication of FIDE's January rating list, the participants in the Candidates Tournaments in April have been practically finalised. Alireza Firouzja and Humyp Koneru qualify thanks to their ratings while Magnus Carlsen is formally qualified, but has already stated that he does not wish to play.

1/3/2024 – In part four of our Christmas Puzzle Week we had some seasonal chess problems – a candle and two Christmas trees. But we also included a helpmate in two, with a devilishly difficult retroanalytical part. Were you able to find the two solutions, and explain why one of them was illegal? Try and follow the analysis of our problem expert.

1/2/2024 – In 2024, the International Chess Federation will celebrate its 100th anniversary. As part of the celebrations throughout the year 2024, FIDE, chess organisers and national federations are planning numerous activities, including chess festivals, exhibitions, tournaments, and others under the umbrella of #FIDE100. One of the first was the lecture about the former FIDE president Folke Rogard, which took place at the Rilton Cup 2023-24 at Scandic Continental on December 30. | Photo: FIDE

1/2/2024 – A rising star is the 17-year-old Srilankan Susal De Silva, who won the recent U18 category in the Asian Youth Championship 2023, which was held in Al Ain (United Arab Emirates). No wonder: he is a student of world-class trainer Efstratios Grivas, who tells us that "a Gold Medal is mostly welcomed, but hard work is in need and opening preparation is a value part of the success!"

1/2/2024 – The diagram shows a position from a game Vincent Keymer and Magnus Carlsen played at the World Cup in Baku 2023. It is Black to move and win. In the game, Carlsen missed this chance - can you do better?