Viktor Korchnoi's 80th birthday clock simul

4/4/2011 – A week ago we celebrated Viktor Korchnoi's 80th birthday in Zurich. There was a gala dinner with chess prominence, but before that the octogenarian gave a handicap clock simul against ten talented members of the Swiss juniors. Viktor Lvovich won the match 8-2 and played some very attractive games. The juniors sent them to us with their notes. Big pictorial report.

TV series Endgame – World chess champion turned detective

4/3/2011 – If we had posted on April 1st that a new TV series had started in which a World Chess Champion was now using his superior analytical and visualization skills to solve crimes, well... you would have known that was the April Fools prank of the day, right? That is why it is not being posted on the first, because it is not a prank. Read about this unique chess champion turned detective.

British Problem Solving Championship – the solutions

4/3/2011 – A mate in two, one in three and a selfmate in five. Those were the problems that John Nunn selected from the BPS Championship for our readers. Today we give you the solutions, carefully explained by the winner. It is an ideal opportunity to learn how to approach these otherwise daunting chess problems. And how to deconvolute and generally enhance astronomical pictures.

2011 European Ch: Potkin champion, Wojtaszek 2nd, Polgar 3rd!

4/3/2011 – It was an enthralling event through and through, and a just result for the players who showed exceptional fighting spirit when it mattered and quality of play. Potkin had seemed to be losing steam, but when it mattered the most he secured his lead and top spot. Wojtaszek was next to join him, and then Judit Polgar won her fourth straight game and a historic third place. Final report with videos.

2011 European Championship: And then there were...twelve

4/2/2011 – With the leader taking his foot off the accelerator, it is not really surprising now to see twelve players sharing the lead with 7.0/9. Notables who joined the leader are Polgar, Jobava, Wojtaszek, and Vallejo-Pons, who is actually ahead on tiebreak. We also have a video report, endgame analysis by GM Karsten Müller and, in reply to the open letter, a video interview with Sébastien Feller.

ChessBase news – back to normal

4/2/2011 – It was, of course, just an April Fool's prank. Not the Zhu Chen Magnus Tyrannosaurus story, though that was indeed quite incredible, coming exactly at this time. No, it was the idea that we could put the unbearably gaudy, blinking, flashing adverts on our page. We are now switching back to normal, with a special link for people who liked the blinky stuff, plus a selection of feedback messages.

Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (61)

4/2/2011 – Adolf Anderssen is often said to have lost a brilliant miniature involving a strange queen sacrifice (13...h5). Both Max Lange and Jean Dufresne have been credited with the win, but was the game actually played at all? With assistance from correspondents in England, Switzerland and Germany, the Editor of Chess Notes has conducted another historical investigation.

New giant dinoasaur found – named after chess champions

4/1/2011 – A giant predatory dinosaur, similar in size and stature to Tyrannosaurus rex, has been discovered in eastern China. The new theropod probably stood four metres tall and weighed around six ton. It has been named Zhuchengtyrannus Magnus, as far as we can tell after former Women's World Chess Champion Zhu Chen and current world number two Magnus Carlsen. BBC Earth News report.

ChessBase news goes mainstream – with new commercial design

4/1/2011 – Remember our info banners? The nicely styled box that appeared the first time you accessed our news site. It provided information on new ChessBase products, but also on special events and services available on any given day. Unfortunately a number of visitors objected vigorously to the "accursed pop-ups”, which we have now abandoned, and restyled our page to match other news sites.

Rapid questions

3/31/2011 – In this sharp position from the 3rd game of the recent match Anand-Kasimdzhanov Black here played 16...Nxf2 preventing the opening of the h-file through h3xg4, which was followed by 17.Ng5 f6. How would you assess the situation after that?
A) favourable for White
B) favourable for Black
C) balanced
The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.

On the origins of the Lewis Chessmen – A reply

3/31/2011 – Gudmundur. G. Thórarinsson, the author behind the main material in The Enigma of the Lewis Chessmen, a discussion on the origins of the world's most famous chess set, was dismayed at the belligerent tone in an article seeking to refute his hypotheses regarding its Icelandic roots. He replies here and adds 'the potency of these arguments necessitates formidable counter arguments'.

Problem solving grand slam – solutions

3/30/2011 – The months of January and February saw two other major solving events. Both were won by John Nunn, a remarkable feat given that he was one of the older participants. John sent us sample positions from both contests, which we passed on to our readers. His explanation of the solutions is possibly even more valuable than the problems themselves. We start with the ISC Solving Contest.

The Elo rating system – correcting the expectancy tables

3/30/2011 – In recent years statistician Jeff Sonas has participated in FIDE meetings of "ratings experts" and received access to the historical material from the federation archives. After thorough analysis he has come to some remarkable new conclusions which he will share with our readers in a series of articles. The first gives us an excellent overview of how the rating system works. Very instructive.

Cheating in chess: the problem won't go away

3/30/2011 – As you know the recent suspicion of organized cheating during a Chess Olympiad has led to three French players being suspended. One is currently playing in the European Individual Championship, where his colleagues have published an open letter demanding additional security. For years we have been proposing a remedy for this very serious problem. It needs to be implemented now.

2011 European Championship: Potkin maintains lead by miracle

3/29/2011 – The title isn't misleading, though it is not meant to suggest Vladimir has not earned his spot. However, with 5.5/6 going into round seven, followed by fourteen players with 5.0/6, a draw meant that all fourteen would need to fail to win... and that is exactly what happened! This also allowed others to close in and now nineteen are snapping at his heels. Rounds six and seven.

Turkish Chess Federation threatens to sue ECU

3/28/2011 – Tuesday will see an Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECU board, where some very far-reaching decisions are on the agenda: the introduction of Sofia and Bilbao rules in all ECU events, the introduction of a dress code, and to copyright chess games. The president of the Turkish Chess Federation is asking delegates to reject the proposals and announcing his intention to sue if they are passed.

Kavalek in Huffington: Carlsen and the Grand Prix Attack

3/28/2011 – It has nothing to do with fast cars and checkered flags, but with an opening system Carlsen brought to Monaco. The Grand Prix Attack is a lazy player approach to fighting the Sicilian Defense. It can lead to early knockouts as in Carlson's victory against Veselin Topalov, or getting busted in ten moves, as in Carlsen vs Anand. GM Lubomir Kavalek analyses.

Viktor Korchnoi's 80th Birthday Celebration

3/28/2011 – On Saturday the Schachgesellschaft Zürich celebrated the anniversary of someone who had done more for chess in Switzerland than any other player. Viktor Korchnoi, born on March 23 1931, kicked things off with a clock simul and then attended a gala dinner in his honour. Guests included Mark Taimanov and Garry Kasparov. We bring you a big pictorial report by Frederic Friedel.

London Chess Classic – dates announced for the 2011 event

3/28/2011 – Recent bad news was that London would not host the 2011 World Championship after all. The good news now is: there will be a third Chess Classic in the Olympia Conference Centre, from December 3-12, 2011. The event has an extra player and round, plus an increased prize fund. We are delighted to hear this, as the Classic has become our favourite tournament. Press release and memories.

Bad Wörishofen: chess, art, and relaxation

3/27/2011 – Celebrating its fourth edition, the Bad Woerishofen chess festival attracted 330 players this year, a record. The town became famous through the hydrotherapy techniques of Kneipp, and is now a renowned spa resort area, with numerous outdoor art exhibits, allowing more players to enjoy a rare combination of chess, art, and relaxation. Here is a pictorial report by Sergey Tiviakov.

Pressure on the diagonal a5-d2 ...

3/27/2011 – ... was Black's counterinsurance when he decided to heat up the central tension with the thrust 13...e6-e5 (diagram). Which continuation now leads to an advantageous opening of the position for White? 
A) 14.cxd5
B) 14.dxe5
C) a third pawn move

The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.

2011 European Championship: Potkin alone at 5.0/5

3/26/2011 – If after round four, Potkin and Savchenko were the only ones left at 100%, after round five, Potkin followed up his spectacular win in the previous round with an impressive demolition of his rival in 24 moves. Right behind at 4.5/5 are Nisipeaunu, Parligras, and IM Wirig having the tournament of his life. Read about the other surprises in the report, and don't miss Potkin's spectacular wins.

From our CBM Blog – Karsten Müller explains

3/26/2011 – "Do not rush," advises our in-house endgame specialist, GM Karsten Müller. "In opposite colored bishop endings the defender must be able to build the fortress." This was not done by young Anish Giri against the experienced Vladimir Kramnik. Dr Müller also analyses the Carlsen vs Anand rook ending, and shows us how sometimes study-like motifs occur in practical games. Analysis.

Master Moves #8

3/25/2011 – All the deepest plans are useless if you fall victim to a shot that leaves you in a lost position. Likewise, sometimes that superior play will only offer a single window of opportunity to deliver that final blow. All the positions are from the last edition of the wonderful Melody Amber tournament, also the only blindfold event in history. We kindly suggest you *not* try them blindfold!