9/16/2022 – In ChessBase Magazine #208, our new author, GM Jan Markos, started his video training series "Practical Tips for the Tournament Player" with an article on "Time Management". In the new issue, CBM #209, he reveals how you should play in must-win situations. You certainly know such situations too - what would you tend to do? Play a risky opening line? Seek sacrifices? Try to put your opponent under time pressure? Jan Markos' recommendations go in a completely different direction. You can watch an excerpt from his video here. Have a look!

9/15/2022 – Dutch IM and well-known trainer Robert Ris has recorded a two-volume FritzTrainer in which he presents a complete Black repertoire against the opening moves 1.d4,c4 and 1.Nf3. His repertoire is based on the Queen’s Gambit Accepted after 1.d4 d5 2.c4. Free piece play is the idea. Philipp Hillebrand took an in-depth look at the course.

9/15/2022 – Ian Nepomniachtchi could not keep up the pace he had shown on Wednesday, as he is now standing in third place at the Champions Showdown tournament. Nepo was replaced at the top of the standings by Alireza Firouzja and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Garry Kasparov has lost all his games so far in Saint Louis. Do not miss GM Karsten Müller’s endgame analysis. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

9/15/2022 – In his “Game of the Week” show, Merijn van Delft looks at a razor-sharp encounter between Alireza Firouzja and Wesley So. A crucial game which shed some light on current top-level chess trends. | Merijn’s show is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.

9/15/2022 – When you are solving an exercise in a book, or guessing a move in Solitaire Chess, and your move is wrong, the first thing you want to know is why it was wrong, and what the refutation was, but unless the author included your exact choice, you will be left scratching your head. A new feature in ChessBase solves this brilliantly and can become a powerful tool to your improvement.

9/15/2022 – World Champion Alexander Alekhine successfully played an unusual opening in the 1920s, one that would later be named after him. For White, the opening is annoying because, although it looks unplayable for Black at first, it is very much playable for his opponent. Furthermore, although it is called "Alekhine's Defence" it is seemingly more suitable for attacking players, which we will learn from today's video. Svitlana enjoys this opening big time, and shares her knowledge with us.

9/12/2022 – FIDE Chess for Protection is a project that helps refugees learn the game of chess and acquire new important life skills, socialize, and release stress through it. Second report: Being an arbiter is not a solitary journey, it is more of a team effort. We cooperate in tournaments, share experience, get together in seminars and workshops. An arbiter is a member of a pack, not a lone wolf. Read about this in the latest ECU Magazine. | Photo FIDE

9/12/2022 – Alireza Firouzja beat Ian Nepomniachtchi in play-offs to win the ninth edition of the Sinquefield Cup. Firouzja also grabbed an extra $100,000 for winning this year’s Grand Chess Tour. The youngster came from winning the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Tournament a couple of weeks ago. This was Firouzja’s first trip to Saint Louis, one that he is sure to remember for time to come! | Photo: Grand Chess Tour / Lennart Ootes

9/12/2022 – Alongside a variety of videos and training columns, ChessBase Magazine #209 offers 32 deeply annotated games. One focus of these analyses is the Prague Chess Festival 2022 with contributions by Pentala Harikrishna, Vincent Keymer, David Navara and Sam Shankland. Another is the "Special" with 21 games of Anna and Mariya Muzychuk with analyses by various CBM authors. "The Analysis" of the current issue comes from David Navara: in his encounter with Saleh Salem an unusual structure came on the board, which had already proved comfortable for White in Navara’s preparation. Take a look!

9/12/2022 – Some endgames crop up more often than others as will be seen in this article. In this excellent taster, you will see classics such as Vancura's Draw, as well as a Knight Hunt set forth by Wojtaszek against his opponent. Finally there is a powerful 1-2 punch that breaks down the final barrier to victory.

9/11/2022 – Max Euwe was the first of the twelve World Chess Champions whom Frederic met in the late before and during his involvement with ChessBase. In our new weekly series he tells us how he met and befriended the top players, and the adventures they experienced together. Frederic has written a new book, together with Professor Christian Hesse, with fascinating chess stories from the last 50 years. It will appear (first in German) in October.

9/11/2022 – From September 2 to 11 the Polish team championship, the "Ekstraliga", takes place in Bydgoszcz. The tournament is a round-robin event with ten teams, and after six rounds VOTUM SA POLONIA WROCLAW leads with 10/12. The best Polish players start in the "Ekstraliga" but also international stars such as Pentala Harikrishna, Nils Grandelius, Vincent Keymer, Lucas Van Foreest, Anton Korobov, David Navara, and others. Round 7 starts at 15:00 local time (9:00 ET, 13:00 UTC). Follow the games live.