2/13/2017 – 20 of 63 ladies lost their respective matches and had to leave the cycle. 11 matches went into the tie-break with hair-raising pressure. For many, it was the question of survival in the competition. In Tehran, many of the players who lost their first games managed to bounce back and square the match, some did not. Check out GM Elshan Moradiabadi's illustrated report and analysis.

2/12/2017 – Dutch Stonewall is an underrated opening. Players with the white pieces who play 1.d4 usually do not devote much time to studying the best way to deal with it. It's a positionally dubious system, is what they think. However, the Dutch grandmaster Erwin L'Ami has come out with a ChessBase DVD that will change your opinion about the Stonewall. L'Ami calls it a perfect weapon for a fighting game of chess. IM Sagar Shah, a firm adherent of 1.d4 in his chess career, presents his findings.

2/12/2017 – The first round of the Women's World Championship 2017 was off to a controversial start in Iran. For a handful of higher rated players, it was a frustrating opening round as they were held to draws. Some even lost. Check out GM Elshan Moradiabadi's illustrated report with analysis and more.

2/11/2017 – After an almost non-stop stream of controversy regarding the Women World Championship, whether because of the infamous Hajibgate, or simply the country itself, the grand championship has finally begun its cycle to determine the next title-holder. The opening proceedings were somewhat overshadowed by the recent demise of Romanian IM Cristina Foisor, who remained in the roster as a tribute. Here is the amply commented report on the opening by Elshan Moradiabadi.

2/11/2017 – "Studies prove: the more patterns you know, the better you play," says Ukrainian GM Adrian Mikhalchishin. He is one of the best trainers in the world: he coached the USSR team, the national teams of Slovenia, Poland and the Netherlands, and was the trainer of Anatoly Karpov (1980-1986) and other famous players. Now he turns his attentions on you: in a new Fritztrainer DVD he reveals the pattern recognition secrets of the World Champions. Don't miss it.

2/11/2017 – Imagine an Open tournament with beautiful surroundings around the venue, a beach nearby. Imagine going to the playing hall by pedaling a bicycle on the seashore. Atul Dahale found it so mesmerizing that he thought he was in a different world. Find beautiful pictures, annotations, GM masterclass by the winner, and more in his personal report!

2/10/2017 – This week the Agony/Ecstasy features none other than our columnist himself. He played a game against an old rival and friend, John Pigott, got outplayed and was faced with a clearly worse endgame. "I did something grossly stupid, and then he reciprocated, offering a draw in a position which turns out to be winning! A very lucky escape for me, and later he generously assented to my using the game here." There is a lot to learn from this week's column.

2/10/2017 – FIDE has partnered with ChessBase to provide FIDE training courses via Playchess. Anyone who wishes to acquire a FIDE Trainer title, can now register for this series of lectures and participate online without geographical restrictions. All participants will not only be eligible for one of four FIDE Trainer titles, but will also receive a full copy of ChessBase 14 upon registration. Please note that the course is limited to 30 participants, and will run from March 3 - 5. Don't miss this opportunity!

2/10/2017 – Tactics can seem deceptively simple, particularly when seeing an engine analysing grandmaster games. Strange, however, how difficult it is to find the right move and to calculate variations properly when playing yourself. It is easier if you solve tactical puzzles regularly. In the ChessBase Magazine and his tactics column Oliver Reeh helps you to do so.

2/10/2017 – That might sound like the title of a dull round, a plaintive complaint of lack of fighting spirit, but the contrary is true here. Three is actually the grand total of non-decisive games after five rounds in a tournament with twelve players. The win rate is absolutely unprecedented, and one player has been the greatest beneficiary: Everaldo Matsuura with 5.0/5. Illustrated report with master analysis.

2/9/2017 – An opening destined to become a trend is the rather curious looking Modern-Pirc. Or as some grandmasters are already admiring it, a fusion of the strategies involved in the Modern Defence and the Caro-Kann Defence. If you are wondering how that is done, you are about to find out.

2/8/2017 – What's your favourite book of chess? This question is asked many a time, and every chess player has a book that is close to his heart. Usually it's a book that one has read in childhood and has ignited the love for the game. In case of IM Sagar Shah it was a book by Irving Chernev. In this article he speaks about what he loved about the book and also annotates his favourite game, which, to be frank, is some sort of a fairy tale!