Hesse: Retreats of genius

3/30/2015 – In order to be victorious in a game of chess, generally speaking an element of offensive ‘up-and-at-’em’ is required. But in exceptional situations the strongest move by far can be a simple retreat. Good, unforced retreats by well-placed pieces are amongst the hardest manœuvres to find, and they are rare. In his book Joys of Chess Christian Hesse shows us some astounding examples.

Karsten Müller: Chess endgames

3/29/2015 – "In everything people do that is difficult enough to be interesting, there is a crunch time", the time of exercise and effort that decides about success or failure claims chess enthusiast Derek Grimmell. In chess he thinks this is the endgame. More than a good reason to practice this crucial phase of the game. Karsten Müller has excellent material to do so.

WWch Rd4 tiebreaks: The mighty fall

3/29/2015 – It was a day when expectations went one way, and reality the other. Not only were all three tiebreaks won by the lower-rated players, but four out of the eight games played were decided in Black's favor. The biggest surprise was M.Muzychuk's victory over Koneru after her perfect start, while her sister fell to Pia Cramling. Pogonina beat Zhao Xue once more with her Benko Gambit.

Aeroflot R2: Only four?!

3/29/2015 – Aeroflot is unique: what a slug-fest of the the World's best! Grandmaster against grandmaster at every corner, 2700s losing against underdogs... who are only a few points lower rated than they are! Mamedyarov was unable to keep his perfect score... he lost to Khairullin and is actually back at 50%! Four people remain with 2.0/2 and so far, it is none of the favorites...

WWch Rd4 G2: Harika first to semis

3/28/2015 – The level of tension and fight is best illustrated by the fact that of the four matches left, three will need to be decided in the tiebreaks. Harika Dronavalli was the only player to avoid that fate, as she defeated Meri Arabidze. Both Humpy Koneru and Natalia Pogonina pulled off their must-win missions, with the Russian winning her game after an entertaining Benko Gambit.

Aeroflot Open starts

3/28/2015 – After hosting a rapid in 2013, and skipping 2014, many had given up on the tournament - a gem that had been cancelled, a memory of an incomparably strong open. But the Aeroflot Open is back! The tournament is not as top-heavy as Gibraltar, but it packs an amazing Group A where the minimum rating requirement is a whopping 2550! The first round has been played, with some brilliant games.

Reykjavik riddle

3/27/2015 – 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.

Kavalek in Huffington: drawing a lost position

3/27/2015 – Most people who don't play chess believe that the checkmate ends the game. They may not know they can also lose by overstepping the time limit or by resigning – something unheard of in sports like football, basketball or hockey. Of course, you don't win by resigning. But Huffington correspondent Lubomir Kavalek once offered to resign in a lost position and curiously saved a draw.

WWch Rd4 G1: Testing the mettle

3/27/2015 – The fourth round of the Women's World Championship bespoke the tension and quality of the eight players left in the competition. While they say some luck is needed to win a tournament, this final group also represents those who have played the best. The competition is now at its tensest and today it was Mariya Muzychuk who showed her grit by breaking Humpy Koneru's streak.

Two Knights: a tricky repertoire for White

3/27/2015 – Players who play the Italian Game must obligatorily be ready to answer the most important deviation: the Two Knights, since it is a common reply from players with black who want to narrow down the theory they need to learn. While White chooses the line, the question is really which. Andrew Martin proposes to answer that question in just 60 minutes.

Norway tests chess in schools program

3/26/2015 – In yet another example of chess being promoted as an educational tool, the Norwegian Parliament approved a trial to include a one-hour a week chess class in schools for third and fourth grade students. This initiative was presented and promoted by Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen, in a high-profile event, joining similar efforts underway in the UK and Spain.

WWch Rd3 tiebreaks: Nervy and dramatic

3/26/2015 – Six players returned to the SCC Galactica to find out who would advance to the quarterfinals, with only three tickets into the last eight. For the Russians, it was a very nervous affair since two of them were Russian, and elimination of the two would mean that was that. There are no easy matches left, and it showed as the games were nervy and dramatic.

Top US Juniors defeat UTD team

3/25/2015 – While St. Louis may have been declared the chess capital of the United States, there is little doubt that in the academic circles, the University of Texas - Dallas is a bright beacon in itself. During the Spring Break, it organized a particularly appealing idea by pitting its grandmaster team against a group of guests all of whom represent the very best of the US Juniors.

Vijayalakshmi, India’s first WGM

3/25/2015 – Women's chess in India is currently dominated today by two players: Humpy Koneru and Harika Dronavalli. However, before they were born a little girl from Chennai was creating ripples, winning almost all the age group Nationals. Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman went on to become India’s first WGM and also the country's first female IM. We wish Viji a Happy Birthday today with a very special interview.

Hawaii GM Challenge (Part 1/2)

3/25/2015 – Hawaii is full of possibilities, from hiking and snorkling to the ever popular whale watching - which we were able to attend thanks to the organizer's efforts - but at some time in every chess festival the main event begins. The Hawaii GM Challenge pitted together three strong grandmasters and a wildcard in a strong quadruple round robin in both rapid and blitz.

Master Class Vol. 4 - José Raúl Capablanca

3/25/2015 – José Raúl Capablanca was one of the greatest chess talents of all times. Off and on the board he had an easy and elegant style, he rarely lost, and the clarity of his games still impresses. In Volume 4 of the ChessBase Master Class series Niklas Huschenbeth, Oliver Reeh, Mihail Marin, and Karsten Müller take a fresh look at the Cuban chess genius.

WWch Rd3 G2: Koneru scores six straight wins

3/25/2015 – Arriving for the return games of the third round the four Russian players faced an uphill battle: they all faced must-win situations to avert elimination after devastating losses from day before. Two of them succeeded, Pogonina and Kosteniuk, with a chance for redemption in the tiebreaks, while Gunina fell to Cramling, and Humpy Koneru beat Galliamova in her sixth straight win.

The "zwischenmate"

3/24/2015 – Every week ChessBase magazine author and renowned endgame expert Karsten Müller presents a remarkable or particularly instructive endgame in his blog. A click on the diagram opens a larger board. Test your endgame skills, improve and have fun.

WWch Rd3 G1: bloody battles

3/24/2015 – Depending on which side of the fence you lie, it was either a disastrous day for the Russians, or a great day for Asian players. Whichever your preference, it was a wonderful day for chess spectators with only two of the eight games ending in draws. The tension showed in several games, with violent upheavals all around, but there was no lack of excitement.

Lawrence Trent: Winning with the Fantasy Variation

3/23/2015 – No fun against the Caro-Kann? Why not surprise your opponents with the Fantasy Variation 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3? Aggressive, creative, unexplored, difficult to deal with, but easy to learn. In 60 minutes Lawrence Trent shows you the basics of this interesting and exciting variation that is bound to lead to interesting games. Review...

Bringing chess into the spotlight (2)

3/23/2015 – Today your mobile phone could beat the human World Champion, says Viswanathan Anand in part two of his frank and eloquent talk at the India Today Conclave. "Soon your kitchen table and your fridge will do it!" The fifteenth World Champion, who started working with computers some years before Magnus Carlsen was born, also has succinct things about his successor. Do not miss this one.

WWch Rd2 tiebreaks: the hand of fate

3/23/2015 – After the second round of standard time control games had been played, the sixth day of the FIDE Women's World Championship ushered in another series of tiebreak games played at rapid and blitz time controls. This time ten players were left to settle the score. As if the nerve-wracking rapid and blitz games were not enough, Anna Ushenina missed her first game by a cruel twist of fate.

WWch Rd2 G2: 11 decisions, 5 tie-breaks

3/22/2015 – In round two of the Women's World Championship in Sochi number two seed Ju Wenjun had to give up all hopes of becoming World Champion after losing against Natalja Pogonina. But most of the favorites prevailed, and Valentina Gunina (picture) and Humpy Koneru even won their fourth game in a row. Five matches were drawn and will be decided in the tie-break.

Stewart on chess: US buying nerds??

3/22/2015 – Remember our recent article on a clandestine effort to recruit top players from other countries to switch their allegiance to the United States, to help win team championships like the Chess Olympiad? Well, Comedy Central's inimitable Jon Stewart picked up on the New York Times report and did a five minute sketch on chess, one that is simultaneously insulting and funny.