2/11/2025 – Rook checks are an important defensive technique in rook endings, and it is good to know ways to defend against this rain of checks: one way is to hide behind the enemy pawns using these pawns as an "umbrella". Can White use this technique to win the diagram position?

2/10/2025 – The 8th edition of the Ciudad de Montevideo Open concluded with Argentine IM Lucas Coro claiming victory, scoring 8/9 points. Uruguay’s FM Facundo Vázquez and IM Claudio Coppola secured second and third place. In the women’s category, WIM Milagros Tatiana Brizzi from Argentina took first place. Held at the Montevideo Municipality Conference Center, the tournament featured 99 participants from 11 countries.

2/10/2025 – In his Endgame Magic Show #286, Karsten Müller looks at endgame highlights from the Tata Steel Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, which Praggnanandhaa won after defeating World Champion Gukesh in a dramatic tiebreak. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

2/10/2025 – The 2025 FIDE Women's World Chess Championship will see a rematch between China's Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi in a 12-game battle for the title. Set to take place from 1 to 23 April in Shanghai and Chongqing, the match continues China's legacy of dominance in women's chess. With both players boasting impressive careers and past championship victories, this highly anticipated encounter promises a compelling contest at the highest level.

2/10/2025 – As the Djerba Chess Festival in Tunisia approaches, starting in just five days on February 15, Diana Mihajlova shares fond memories of Vasyl Ivanchuk, the most popular participant of the Djerba Chess Festival 2024: Vasyl Ivanchuk. | Photos: Diana Mihajlova

2/10/2025 – The knockout stage of the Freestyle Chess tournament in Weissenhaus began with the first classical games of the quarterfinals and the ninth-place playoff. Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Vincent Keymer took the lead in their matches, while Hikaru Nakamura and Javokhir Sindarov remain level after a draw. In the ninth-place playoff, Levon Aronian defeated Vladimir Fedoseev with white. Sunday's starting position led to dynamic struggles, with all white players opting for 1.f4. The second classical games will now determine who advances or forces tiebreaks. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

2/9/2025 – Rook endgames are often deceptively complex, with even top grandmasters struggling in seemingly straightforward positions. In "Endgame essentials you need to know", Surya Shekhar Ganguly explores key endgame concepts, highlighting how even the fundamental Lucena position has been misplayed at the highest level. Through real-life examples, including mistakes by Magnus Carlsen and himself, Ganguly demonstrates why mastering these essentials is crucial for players of all levels.

2/9/2025 – Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books on chess training and strategy. In episode 216 of his "Understanding before Moving" show Herman looks at the career of Sergey Karjakin. | Photo: Pascal Simon

2/9/2025 – Let's go: In part 1 of our new tutorial series, we will show you how to quickly enter and save your own games. Just follow the explanations and screenshots and gradually build up your own database of games.

2/8/2025 – The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and Women's Grand Swiss will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 3 to 15 September, marking the first time the event is hosted in the country. With a growing chess presence and past successes in global tournaments, Uzbekistan continues to establish itself as a major hub for the game. The tournament will offer direct qualification spots for the 2026 Candidates and an increased prize fund of at least 30%.

2/8/2025 – Peter Enders was one of the greatest talents in the German Democratic Republic in the 1970s, but often came into conflict with the authorities. After reunification, Peter Enders was able to develop more fully, becoming an international champion and grandmaster. Peter Enders died on his 62nd birthday in Freyburg. | Photo: Georgios Souleidis

2/8/2025 – In the diagram position Black has an astonishing path to victory. In the game, however, she preferred 24...Qc7 25.Kg1 Qc5 26.Kh2 to strike only then. Either way - have fun!