3/18/2024 – Endgame training on the computer is much easier and more efficient than it used to be. The quickest way to learn is with a good coach. Surya Ganguly was Anand’s second for a long time, but he is also great at teaching the basics, as he does with his course “Endgame Essentials”. Unmissable!

3/18/2024 – In the Norwegian Defence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Na5!?) Black hunts directly for the early developed white bishop. A number of strong grandmasters have already tried this approach, e.g. Mamedyarov, Vallejo Pons, Sarana and, last year, ... Magnus Carlsen! Igor Stohl dedicates an "All in One" article to the variation in the current ChessBase Magazine #218: You can find out everything you need to know about the variation in a sinlge, extensively annotated game! You can view Stohl's article this week as a free sample - directly in the ChessBase book format on your iPad, tablet, smartphone or wherever else you have a web browser available!

3/18/2024 – Three players remain in contention in each section of the 2024 American Cup. In the open, Levon Aronian won the Champions Bracket and is set to face the winner of the match between Ray Robson and Wesley So. In the women’s, Irina Krush secured victory in the Champions Bracket and will face either Alice Lee or Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova in the Grand Final. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

3/18/2024 – Chess is a really fun game to play, but equally enjoyable is solving artificial positions – problems and studies – many that defy the imagination. In this ChessBase Challenge instalment, we have a set of puzzles that can challenge your brain. Can you solve the position? Can you find the mind-boggling strategy that is required to reach the goal? You have a week to do so. Then we will provide the full solution.

3/17/2024 – Who hasn’t experienced it? You’re prepared for an exciting game in the open Najdorf Sicilian, and suddenly your opponent puts one of the seemingly countless minor variations on the board - in order to avoid the main Najdorf variations. Should you be frustrated? Absolutely not! Luis Engel uncovers the Anti-Sicilians, so you can prepare well.

3/17/2024 – The reigning World Rapid Women’s champion, IM Anastasia Bodnaruk scored an unbeaten 7½/9 to win te 2nd International Women’s Chess Championship 2024. She finished a half point ahead of two players: IM Soumya Swaminathan and WIM Mariam Mkrtchyan scored 7/9 points each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. | Photo: Uzbekistan Chess Federation

3/17/2024 – Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books on chess training and strategy. In the 169th episode of his ChessBase show "Understanding before moving" Herman continues his series "Chess history in a nutshell" and continues to take a look at the unique style of Tigran Petrosian, World Champion fro 1963 to 1969. | Photo: Pascal Simon

3/17/2024 – The FIDE Education Commission is pleased to announce its new initiative: the launch of the FIDE Chess School Award. The award is established to enhance the quality and position of chess in the primary and secondary education systems around the world. FIDE’s wish to provide recognition and motivation for existing Chess in Education activities and programs in schools through a certification process.

3/17/2024 – On yet another day of thrilling chess, Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So advanced to the final of the Elimination Bracket by knocking out Leinier Dominguez and Sam Sevian respectively. In the final match of the Champions Bracket, Levon Aronian got a 2-0 lead against Ray Robson. In the women’s section, Irina Krush has a 1-point lead over Alice Lee in the Champions Bracket, while Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova and Jennifer Yu advanced to the final in the Elimination Bracket. | Photo: Austin Fuller

3/16/2024 – The African Individual Championships 2024 kicked off on March 13 in Accra, Ghana, the city that recently hosted the chess competition of the 13th African Games. Both the open and the women’s championships are 9-round Swiss events with a classical time control. The events run until March 20.

3/16/2024 – With more than 500 participants, the Capelle-la-Grande Open is the largest open tournament in France. First held in 1985, it celebrated its 40th edition this year. Indian grandmaster Abhimanyu Puranik won the 9-round Swiss open. Italian grandmaster Lorenzo Lodici collected as many points as the tournament winner, but had a worse tiebreak score. | Photos: Official website

3/16/2024 – No tournament player can do without the ChessBase Mega Database. But what do you need to know when setting it up on your PC? ChessBase expert Thomas Stark and Arne Kaehler show you everything you need to know about the new Mega Database 2024: Finding the best games, annotated games, and ChessBase magazine articles.