8/28/2015 – The tournament has become an even tighter race. Topalov had a fantastic start with 3.0/4 and played very strong chess, but Fabiano Caruana, who had a rough start with 0.0/2, has beaten the Bulgarian, escaped from the basement and Topalov is no longer leading. With Carlsen winning yet another game, the Norwegian is now tied for first with Aronian, who drew Grischuk.
Chess Festival Prague 2025 with analyses by Aravindh, Giri, Gurel, Navara and others. ‘Special’: 27 highly entertaining miniatures. Opening videos by Werle, King and Ris. 10 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more. ChessBase Magazine offers first-class training material for club players and professionals! World-class players analyse their brilliant games and explain the ideas behind the moves. Opening specialists present the latest trends in opening theory and exciting ideas for your repertoire. Master trainers in tactics, strategy and endgames show you the tricks and techniques you need to be a successful tournament player! Available as a direct download (incl. booklet as pdf file) or booklet with download key by post. Included in delivery: ChessBase Magazine #225 as “ChessBase Book” for iPad, tablet, Mac etc.!
Winning starts with what you know The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
In this video course, kings will play a role of strong and active pieces. We will explore how Kings can be helpful in defence and prophylaxis, or even in attack!
€34.90
2015 Sinquefield Cup
This super-GM single Round Robin brings together some of the best players in the world. This is the second leg of the Grand Chess Tour.
The players – Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Anish Giri (Netherlands), Viswanathan Anand (India), Wesley So (USA).
The venue is the Chess Club and Scholastic Center at 4657 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63108. Tickets can be purchased at the Saint Louis Chess Club.
Round Five
Round Five
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Aronian, Levon
2765
½-½
Grischuk, Alexander
2771
Carlsen, Magnus
2853
1-0
So, Wesley
2779
Nakamura, Hikaru
2814
½-½
Giri, Anish
2793
Anand, Viswanathan
2816
½-½
Vachier-Lagr, Maxime
2731
Topalov, Veselin
2816
0-1
Caruana, Fabiano
2808
Daniel King shows the game of the day from round 5: Carlsen vs So
The tournament has become an even tighter race. Topalov had a fantastic start with 3.0/4 and played very strong chess, but in the top tournament in the world it is clear that even the most “out of shape” player could strike back at any moment! Fabiano Caruana, who had a rough start with 0.0/2, has beaten the Bulgarian, escaped from the basement and Topalov is no longer leading. With Carlsen winning yet another game, the Norwegian is now tied for first with Aronian, who drew Grischuk.
The first game to finish today was slightly surprising. Anand came out with an interesting idea in the Najdorf that caught MVL somewhat off guard. However, it wasn’t enough; MVL played well and despite being down a pawn had really good chances to hold. In the final position, White had an extra pawn but the position seemed to be much closer to a draw than a win. It was still surprising that Anand didn't try to convert the position or at least torture his opponent.
Giri thought it was "ridiculous" to accept a draw as early as Anand did, but Hess
did mention he thought the game was simply a dead drawn
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a66.Be2e57.Nb3Be78.Be3Be69.Qd3The idea of putting the queen on d3 to support a knight on d5 is common, it hasn't been seen in top level chess in this particular position.Nc610.a3preventing Nb4 ideas and preparing Nd5.d5!?Black breaks through before White can establish his bind. However this doesn't fully equalize just yet.11.exd5Nxd512.Nxd5Qxd512...Bxd513.0-0-0seems dangerous for Black. But perhaps after13.0-0!13...Bxg2!?he can get away with capturing the pawn.13.0-0-0Qxd313...Qxg2just looks suicidal, even if the computers can navigate the complications.14.Bxd30-0-014...Bxb3?!15.cxb30-0doubles the pawns, but the bishop on the lightsquares is too strong to control.15.Nc5Bd516.c4Black doesn't want to give up the pair of bishops, but that means that this bishop must take quite a tour.Bxg217.Rhg1e4!An important move.18.Be218.Rxg2exd319.Rxg7Ne5=is not entirely clear.18...Bf319.Bxf3exf320.Rxg7Rxd1+21.Kxd1Rd8+22.Kc1Ne5Black's structure isn't the best, and h7 is hanging, but he has good compensation. His pieces are active and Black's pawn on f3 is annoying.23.Ne4!Kd723...Nxc424.Rxf7Re824.Rxh7Ke625.Nd2Rc826.Kc226.Rh6+!26...Nxc427.Nxc4Rxc4+28.Kd3Rg429.h3Ra430.Rh6+f631.Rh7Ra532.Ke4Rb533.Bd4Bd634.Rh6Be535.Bxe5Rxe5+36.Kxf3Rf5+White is up a pawn, but converting it is very difficult black is too active and it is hard to make progress with a weak h-pawn.37.Ke2Re5+38.Kf1Rb539.b4Rd540.Rg6a541.bxa5Rxa542.Rg3Ra4½–½
The Paulsen/Taimanov in Nakamura-Giri was an unbelievably deep preparation, especially when you take into consideration how early the novelty was in the game. Nakamura said he forgot which rook to play, chose the wrong one and was worse. A mistake by Giri allowed the American to equalize. A strange perpetual happened and the game was drawn.
Nakamura is not afraid to wear a logo... or three
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3Qc76.Be3a67.Qd2Nf68.0-0-0Be79.f4b510.e5b411.Ncb5axb512.Nxb5Qb813.exf6gxf614.Kb1d515.Qf2A novelty according to my database, but apparently both players knew this move well.Ba616.Bb6Bxb517.Bxb5Qb718.Rhe1Rb819.Bxc6+Qxc620.Bd4Ra821.b3Kd722.a4!Giri missed this move in his preparation, a move which seems to be quite strong.bxa323.Rd3?The players were very critical of this move. Apparently up this point it had all been Nakamura's preparation, but he confused which rook to move!23.Re2!Rhc8a bizarre thing about this position as that Stockfish gives a comfortable advantage to White... but Komodo thinks Black is better. Just analyzing the position I would say White has the better chances, planning to put his king on a2 and preparing c4. On the other hand, Aronian told me he has a feeling Black is better, so it's pretty confusing.23.c423.Ka2Rhc824.Re2Bc523...Rhc824.Re2Qb5!Around this time Nakamura noticed something was wrong: c4 is impossible since the rook is always under attack. As he put it "I don't know what I was doing".25.Qf3Ra625...Rc6!Was more precise, now f5 fails to26.f5e5!27.Bxe5a2+28.Ka1fxe529.Rxd5+Rd6is the important point. Here the queen is untouchable since a2 is still defended and Rd1 is mate.26.f5!Rac626...e527.Bxe5+-27.fxe6+fxe628.Rdd2a2+29.Ka129.Kxa2is playable, but strange.29...f530.Qe330.g4!?fxg431.Qxg4Qxb3is a funny draw.32.cxb3Rc1+33.Kxa2Ra8+34.Kb2Ba3+35.Ka2=30...Rg831.c4Finally with the break through.dxc432.Bc5+Ke833.Bxe7Kxe734.Qh6Qb6!Very resourceful from Giri, now this was the only move to draw.35.Qxh7+Kf836.Qh4Ke837.Qh5+White has nothing better than a perpetual as Black has real threats now.½–½
Next, Levon Aronian brought an interesting idea in the Panov Caro-Kann, which was reached in a weird move order. Unfortunately, Grischuk over the board outplayed his opponent. Grischuk had quite an advantage, but the position was very messy with the kings castled on opposite sides. He was unable to find the most precise variations, mainly because as usual he was in time pressure, and Aronian was able to get a draw.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.c4c52.Nf3Nc63.e3!?Clever. Aronian comes into the game with a very clear opening preparation. A few players have tried 1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 against Grischuk to trick him into a Sicilian, but Aronian has other thoughts in mind.Nf64.d4cxd45.exd4d56.Nc3Suddenly, we are in a Panov Caro-Kann. The positions's are usually very unbalanced.Bg4main line.6...e6is possible.7.Bg5!?In a position that has been reached thousands of times, Aronian chooses a move that has only been played 19 times in the database. Grischuk sank into deep thought after this.e67...Ne4seems possible, but after8.Be3it's unclear if the knight is well placed on e4.8.cxd5exd59.Qe2+Played very quickly.Be6very natural, but Aronian started thinking after this move. Perhaps he didn't expect it or his preparation was simply not that deep.10.Bxf6gxf6Black's pawn structure is shattered, but he has the pair of bishops and White hasn't finished developing yet.11.Qc2Qb612.a3 It almost feels like Aronian's last two moves were too slow.0-0-0The king is as safe on the queenside as it will be anywhere else.13.Na4Qc714.Bb5Rg8Surprisingly, it is not trivial for White to defend the g2 pawn.15.0-015.g3Bh3is some trouble, as Bg2 is a difficult threat to parry.15...Bh316.Nh416.g3was a very interesting idea, sacrificing the exchangeBxf117.Bxf1gives White the structural advantage and slightly safer king. However when one plays a game it is clear that an exchange is an exchange, so this cannot be done lightly.16...Rg417.Bxc6bxc617...Rxh4!?leads to other kinds of craziness.18.Rac1bxc618.Qd3Rxh419.gxh3Qf4 Getting low on time, Grischuk's hand hovered over his queen for a while before making this move.20.Rac120.Qa6+!Kd721.Rfe120...Kd7!A very nice move, preemptively removing the king from the dangerous c-file.20...Bd621.Rxc6+Kd722.Rxd6+gives White more than enough compensation for the exchange.21.Rfe1Bd622.Kf1Qxd4Already in severe time pressure, Grischuk manages to win a pawn. However it is very messy and difficult to play precisely here.23.Qf5+Kc724.Nc3Kb724...Qc4+25.Ne2Qb5!looks too complicated to be played by a human with minutes left and 15 moves to go.25.Ne2Qe525...Qe4!26.Qc2Rc427.Qb3+Regaining the pawn, Aronian equalizes.Kc728.Rxc4dxc429.Qxc4Qd530.Qxd5cxd5½–½
Grischuk had a good position, but as usual he was plagued by time pressure [photo by Austin Fuller]
Topalov seemed dominant in Norway and again now in the Sinquefield Cup, but Caruana has put a stop to his streak. The American player thought he was in a little bit of trouble but was very surprised when the Bulgarian pushed his pawn to e6. After this, Caruana swiftly advanced on the kingside, winning material. Topalov had compensation but it was clearly insufficient, precise simplifications that ultimately ended Topalov’s game.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.d3Bc55.c30-06.0-0d67.Nbd2Ne78.d4exd49.cxd4Bb610.Re1Bg4a deviation from the Topalov-Nakamura game of round two. Black immediately pressures the center and develops his bishop, instead of improving his knight first.11.h3Bh512.Qb3White gets out of the pin so that he can improve his knight. Before this happens, Caruana strikes the center.d513.e5Nd7Black would love to install a knight on e6 and start blockading, but he is a bit far away from doing so. On the other hand White hasn't even fully developed yet, so any break on e6 lacks strength.14.a4a515.Qd1since c5 was weakened by d5, the knight wants to go to b3 instead of the queen.Nb8!?Interesting remaneuvering, and notice that this knight started on g8! It is now headed to b4.16.Nb3Nbc617.Bg5h618.Bh4Qc818...Bxf319.Qxf3Nxd420.Nxd4Bxd421.Qg4looks extremely unpleasant. The attack on the kingside isn't easy to parry.19.g4! Gaining space, kicking out the bishop. White of course has to be worried of weakening the kingside, but Caruana has to prove it.Bg620.Rc1Bh721.Bg321.Nc5seemed more consistent.21...Nb422.Re3Na223.Ra1Nb424.Ne1 of course, Topalov doesn't want to draw right away.Nec625.Qd2Qe626.Bxc6?!I don't understand this move. White's bishop wasn't the most valuable, but Black's knights were superfluous and White in the future might want to have his bishop to rip apart the blockade on the light squares.Qxc627.Rc3Qe628.Ng2f6!?Making things sharp. Black starts opening lines for his bishops and pieces.29.Nf4Qd730.e6"I thought this was a disastrous move" - Fabiano Caruana.30.Nh5!?f531.e631.Bf4!?31...Qxe632.Be5-+30...Qe731.Re1f5!Going for the complications, despite being down on time. Caruana keeps trying to rip apart the kingside.32.Nc5Bxc533.Rxc5c6White finds himself without coordination. The threat of g5 is seriously looming.34.Rc3g535.Ng235.Nh5f436.Bh2looks ugly, but at least doesn't lose material yet.35...f436.Nxf4gxf437.Bxf4Nd3!Going for the greedy option!38.Rxd3Bxd339.Bxh6Rf3!Black is up a rook, but White does have three passed pawns and Black's king is exposed40.Re3Rxe341.Qxe3Qh7!Very precise41...Be442.f3Bxf343.Qxf3Qxe6Was also a good option as now both kings are under fire.42.f3Re843.h4Qg644.e7Qd6Threatening the pawn on e7 and check on g3. White, of course, cannot afford to trade bishops.45.Bf4Qxe7!Excellent understanding.45...Rxe746.Be5is more material, but also more complicated.46.Qxd3Qe1+47.Qf1forcedQxf1+48.Kxf1Rf849.Be5Rxf3+50.Kg2Rb351.h5Rxb2+52.Kg3b553.axb5Rxb50–1
Magnus Carlsen was able to obtain some pressure from the opening. Despite being down a pawn, his dominant knight on d5 was too strong. The combination of the strong knight and the pawn expansion on the kingside made the Black king very uncomfortable. Wesley So committed a mistake even though it was hard to make moves. Carlsen missed several winning moves, but it didn’t matter; his position was good enough.
Carlsen is back on top after his first round loss
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a66.Be3e57.Nb3Be68.f3Nbd79.Qd2b510.0-0-0Be711.g4b412.Nd5Bxd513.exd5Nb614.Na5Nbxd515.Nc4Rare but possible. Dominguez used it many years ago to win a game against Predojevic. The idea is that White will seek compensation for his pawn by using the opposite colored bishops to restrain the d-pawn and create an initiative on the light squares.Nxe316.Nxe30-017.Bc4Nd7!After a long thing, this makes sense. The idea is that the knight will remaneuver to a more useful spot, like b6, and make the bishop on c4 uncomfortable.18.h4a518...Nb6made more sense, but perhaps So didn't want to allow Qxb419.Qxb4d520.Qa5∞19.g5Rc820.Bd5Nb621.Kb1Qc722.Rhf1Nxd523.Nxd5Qb724.f4f5White retains compensation for the pawn. His strong knight on d5 is untouchable, but a pawn is a pawn.25.Qe3e426.h5!White's advance of this pawn is key. He will make Black's position very uncomfortable as So cannot afford to open up the kingside.Rc527.h6g628.Qb3So is in trouble, despite what the engines say. It is unpleasant to find moves and the king is always suffering.Rf729.a4!Bd830.Rd4putting on the squeeze.Kf831.Rfd1Rc632.Ne3Bb6what else?33.Nc433.Rxd6!was a big move, even if White retains the advantage in the game continuation.Rxd634.Rxd6Bc735.Re6!The point is as follows:Bxf436.Nd5Bxg537.Qc4!and the attack becomes too strong.33...Bxd433...Rxc434.Qxc4Qc7is no fun for So.34.Nxa5Qb635.Nxc6Bc535...Qxc636.Rxd4and all of Black's pawns are falling and the king feels unsafe.36.Qd5e337.a5!Qb537...Qc7was better resistance38.Nd8!Ra739.Ne6+Ke840.Nd4?40.Nxc5!was much strongerQxc541.Qg8+Kd742.Qxh7+Kc643.Qxg6and since e2 is not possible due to Qe8+ and Qxa5 isnt possible due to Qxd5+, Black is just lost.40...Qxa541.Qg8+Kd742.Qxh7+Kc843.Qg8+Kb744.c3bxc345.Qb3+!Qb646.Qxb6+46.Qxc3!was very strong, though the move in the game should be better for white, Qxc3 seems winning. Black has too many problems to solve and his king is very weak.46...Kxb647.bxc3Bxd448.Rxd4Kc649.Kc2Ra2+50.Kd1Rf251.Ke1The pawn on h6 is just too strong. Black has no hope to hold.Kd752.Ra4Ke653.Ra8Rh254.c4Kf755.Rb8Ke656.Rg81–0
The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.
Alejandro RamirezGrandmaster Alejandro Ramirez has been playing tournament chess since 1998. His accomplishments include qualifying for the 2004 and 2013 World Cups as well as playing for Costa Rica in the 2002, 2004 and 2008 Olympiads. He currently has a rating of 2583 and is author of a number of popular and critically acclaimed ChessBase-DVDs.
2nd Move Anti-Sicilian Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 12090 games from Mega 2025 or the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 874 are annotated.
Ruy Lopez Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 12092 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 1276 are annotated.
In this 60 Minutes, Andrew Martin guides you through all the key ideas you need to know to play with confidence. Whether you’re looking to surprise your opponents, or simply want a straightforward weapon against e5, the Centre Attack has you covered.
€9.90
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.
Pop-up for detailed settings
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.