Husband and wife victorious
The German Masters (open and women’s) took place on December 11-19 at the Hotel Gasthof Höhensteiger in Rosenheim, Bavaria. Each tournament was a 10-player single round-robin with a classical time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the remaining moves and 30 seconds per move from the start.
The battle for victory in the German Masters and the Women’s Masters was exciting right up to the final round. In the open tournament, Alexander Donchenko, Dennis Wagner and Rasmus Svane were tied for first place before the final round. Svane played white against Christopher Noe, Donchenko was up against Frederik Svane and played with the black pieces, while Wagner faced Mikhail Prusikin with white.
Alexander Donchenko certainly had the most difficult task, firstly because of the colour and secondly because Frederik Svane also wanted to give his brother a little help.
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.

Alexander Donchenko
Christoper Noe and Michael Prusikin were opponents from the bottom third of the table. In addition, Rasmus Svane and Dennis Wagner had the white pieces.
Frederik Svane expectedly proved to be a difficult opponent and held Alexander Donchenko to a draw. However, F. Svane will not be satisfied with his performance in the tournament. He drew all his games, with one exception. Against Dennis Wagner, he gave up a bishop in a slightly better endgame. This cost Frederik Svane a few rating points, but the 19-year-old will certainly make them up soon.
Rasmus Svane was slightly better in his game against Christopher Noe in a major-piece endgame, but had to accept a draw by perpetual check.

Rasmus Svane and Christopher Noe
So Dennis Wagner had every chance. In a Benoni structure, Dennis Wagner gained a clear space advantage and then had the better chances in a major-piece ending. As the time control approached, however, the advantage became thinner, but Wagner won in the end still.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Be3 6.Nf3 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 6...c5 6...e5 7.d5 Na6 7...a5 7.d5 7.dxc5 Qa5 7...e6 8.Nf3 exd5 9.cxd5 Bg4 9...b5!? 10.Bxb5 Nxe4 11.Nxe4 Qa5+ 12.Nc3 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qxb5 14.Qb3 Ba6 15.Qxb5 Bxb5 16.Nd2= 10.Nd2 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Na6 11...Re8 12.0-0 Nc7 13.a4 Nfe8 14.Kh1 Rb8 15.f4 a6 16.Nc4 16.e5!? 16...b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Na5 Qd7 19.Nc6 Rb7 20.f5 20.Qf3!? -- 21.e5 20...b4 20...gxf5!? 21.Rxf5? 21.Bg5 f6 22.Bh4 b4 23.Nd1 fxe4 24.Qh5 21...b4 22.Na4 Nxd5 21.Nd1 Nf6 21...gxf5!? 22.Bg5 Nb5 23.Nf2 gxf5 23...-- 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Ng4 Bg5 26.Qf2 -- 27.h4 23...Nd4 24.Nxd4 cxd4 25.Qf3 gxf5 26.exf5 Kh8 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Ng4?! 25.exf5 -- 26.Ne4 25...fxg4 26.Rxf6 Nd4 27.Nxd4 cxd4 28.Rf5± 28...f6 29.Qxg4+ Qg7 30.Qd1 Rc7 31.Qxd4 Rc2 32.Rg1 Rfc8 33.Rf3?! 33.h3+- 33...R8c4 33...Kh8!? 34.Rg3 34.h3 f5 34...R8c4 35.Qb6 Qc7 36.Qe3 Rc1= 34.Qb6 Qc7 35.Qe3 Qe7 36.Rg3+ Kh8 37.Ra1 37...Qxe4?? 37...Rc8= 38.Qxe4 38.Qxe4 Rxe4 39.Ra8+ 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
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Wagner,D | 2589 | Prusikin,M | 2513 | 1–0 | 2023 | | German Masters 2023 | 9.2 |
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This makes Dennis Wagner the winner of the German Masters 2023.
Women’s tournament
In the women’s Masters, the two co-leaders went head-to-head in the final round. Hanna Marie Klek faced Dinara Wagner.
In a total of 6 chapters, we look at the following aspects: the right decision based on tactical factors, decisions in exchanges and moves, complex and psychological decisions in longer games and in defence.

Hanna Marie Klek and Dinara Wagner
With the black pieces, Dinara Wagner chose the Najdorf Sicilian. In a well-known variation from the English Attack, Hanna Marie Klek kept her king in the centre and became active on the queenside. This turned out to be a questionable decision.
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Be7 9.f3 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.g5 Nh5 12.Nd5 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.Nd5 12...Bxd5 13.exd5 Nf4 14.a4? 14.Bxf4 exf4 15.Nd4 Bxg5 16.0-0-0 0-0 17.h4 Bf6 18.Nc6 Qb6 19.Qxf4 Ne5 14...bxa4 15.Rxa4 Bxg5 16.Bxa6 0-0 17.Bb5 Rxa4 18.Bxa4 Nb6 19.Bxb6 19.Bc6 Nc4 20.Qc1 Ng2+-+ 19...Qxb6 20.Bc6 Qa7 21.h4 21.c4 Rb8 22.Bb5 Nh3-+ 21...Bxh4+ 22.Kf1 22.Rxh4 Qg1# 22...Qa6+ 23.Kg1 Bg3 24.Nc1 Qb6+ 25.Kf1 Qxb2 26.Rg1 Bh4 27.Rg4 g5 28.Rxf4 gxf4 29.Kg2 Kh8 30.Kh3 Bd8 31.Bd7 Qb7 32.Bf5 Qe7 32...Qe7 33.Kg2 Qg5+ 34.Kf1 Qxf5-+ 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
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Klek,H | 2236 | Wagner,D | 2452 | 0–1 | 2023 | | German Masters Women 2023 | 9.1 |
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After a very poor start to the tournament, Melanie Lubbe came to a reasonably conciliatory end, as she beat Sara Papp in the last round.

Jana Schneider concluded the tournament with a victory over Josefine Heinemann

Zoya Schleining (pictured) and Lara Schulze drew their final-round encounter
Final standings - Open
All games - Open
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Nd7 7.d4 Nf6 8.Qd3 Bg4 9.Ne5 Bh5 10.c3 e6 11.Qh3 11...Bd6N 11...Rg8 12.Bc4 Bd6 13.Bg5 Bg6 14.0-0-0 Qc7 15.Rhe1 0-0-0 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.Qf3 Rh8 12.Bg5 Bxe5 13.dxe5 Qd5 14.Bxf6 14.exf6 Qxg5 15.fxg7 0-0-0 14...Qe4+ 14...gxf6? 15.Qxh5 0-0-0 16.Qe2+- 16.Qxf7? Qd2# 15.Qe3 Qxe3+ 16.fxe3 gxf6 17.exf6 Rg8 18.Rg1 0-0-0 19.Be2 Bg4 20.g3 h5 21.Rd1 Rxd1+ 22.Bxd1 Bxd1 23.Kxd1= Kd7 24.Ke2 e5 25.c4 Ke6 26.Rd1 h4 27.Kf3 27.gxh4 Rg2+ 28.Kf3 Rxb2 27...hxg3 27...Kxf6 28.gxh4 e4+ 29.Kf2 29.Kxe4 Rg4+ 30.Kf3 Rxc4 28.hxg3 Rg6 29.Rd8 Rxf6+ 30.Kg2 Kf5 31.Kf3 Ke6+ 32.Kg2 Kf5 33.Kf3 Ke6+ 34.Kg2 ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
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Costa,L | 2472 | Donchenko,A | 2634 | ½–½ | 2023 | B11 | German Masters 2023 | 1.1 |
Noe,C | 2528 | Roseneck,J | 2390 | 1–0 | 2023 | D24 | German Masters 2023 | 1.2 |
Bluebaum,M | 2670 | Svane,R | 2628 | ½–½ | 2023 | E20 | German Masters 2023 | 1.3 |
Prusikin,M | 2513 | Fridman,D | 2580 | ½–½ | 2023 | D32 | German Masters 2023 | 1.4 |
Svane,F | 2639 | Wagner,D | 2589 | 0–1 | 2023 | C54 | German Masters 2023 | 1.5 |
Donchenko,A | 2634 | Wagner,D | 2589 | ½–½ | 2023 | E48 | German Masters 2023 | 2.1 |
Fridman,D | 2580 | Svane,F | 2639 | ½–½ | 2023 | D02 | German Masters 2023 | 2.2 |
Svane,R | 2628 | Prusikin,M | 2513 | 1–0 | 2023 | C10 | German Masters 2023 | 2.3 |
Roseneck,J | 2390 | Bluebaum,M | 2670 | ½–½ | 2023 | A29 | German Masters 2023 | 2.4 |
Costa,L | 2472 | Noe,C | 2528 | ½–½ | 2023 | C54 | German Masters 2023 | 2.5 |
Noe,C | 2528 | Donchenko,A | 2634 | 0–1 | 2023 | A48 | German Masters 2023 | 3.1 |
Bluebaum,M | 2670 | Costa,L | 2472 | ½–½ | 2023 | A17 | German Masters 2023 | 3.2 |
Prusikin,M | 2513 | Roseneck,J | 2390 | 1–0 | 2023 | E48 | German Masters 2023 | 3.3 |
Svane,F | 2639 | Svane,R | 2628 | ½–½ | 2023 | C42 | German Masters 2023 | 3.4 |
Wagner,D | 2589 | Fridman,D | 2580 | ½–½ | 2023 | D30 | German Masters 2023 | 3.5 |
Donchenko,A | 2634 | Fridman,D | 2580 | ½–½ | 2023 | D02 | German Masters 2023 | 4.1 |
Svane,R | 2628 | Wagner,D | 2589 | ½–½ | 2023 | D02 | German Masters 2023 | 4.2 |
Roseneck,J | 2390 | Svane,F | 2639 | ½–½ | 2023 | A13 | German Masters 2023 | 4.3 |
Costa,L | 2472 | Prusikin,M | 2513 | 1–0 | 2023 | C43 | German Masters 2023 | 4.4 |
Noe,C | 2528 | Bluebaum,M | 2670 | 0–1 | 2023 | E14 | German Masters 2023 | 4.5 |
Bluebaum,M | 2670 | Donchenko,A | 2634 | 0–1 | 2023 | D00 | German Masters 2023 | 5.1 |
Prusikin,M | 2513 | Noe,C | 2528 | ½–½ | 2023 | A46 | German Masters 2023 | 5.2 |
Svane,F | 2639 | Costa,L | 2472 | ½–½ | 2023 | D33 | German Masters 2023 | 5.3 |
Wagner,D | 2589 | Roseneck,J | 2390 | 1–0 | 2023 | B88 | German Masters 2023 | 5.4 |
Fridman,D | 2580 | Svane,R | 2628 | ½–½ | 2023 | E39 | German Masters 2023 | 5.5 |
Donchenko,A | 2634 | Svane,R | 2628 | ½–½ | 2023 | E05 | German Masters 2023 | 6.1 |
Roseneck,J | 2390 | Fridman,D | 2580 | 0–1 | 2023 | E04 | German Masters 2023 | 6.2 |
Costa,L | 2472 | Wagner,D | 2589 | ½–½ | 2023 | C54 | German Masters 2023 | 6.3 |
Noe,C | 2528 | Svane,F | 2639 | ½–½ | 2023 | D43 | German Masters 2023 | 6.4 |
Bluebaum,M | 2670 | Prusikin,M | 2513 | 1–0 | 2023 | E61 | German Masters 2023 | 6.5 |
Prusikin,M | 2513 | Donchenko,A | 2634 | 0–1 | 2023 | E92 | German Masters 2023 | 7.1 |
Svane,F | 2639 | Bluebaum,M | 2670 | ½–½ | 2023 | E51 | German Masters 2023 | 7.2 |
Wagner,D | 2589 | Noe,C | 2528 | 1–0 | 2023 | D27 | German Masters 2023 | 7.3 |
Fridman,D | 2580 | Costa,L | 2472 | 1–0 | 2023 | D02 | German Masters 2023 | 7.4 |
Svane,R | 2628 | Roseneck,J | 2390 | 1–0 | 2023 | B51 | German Masters 2023 | 7.5 |
Donchenko,A | 2634 | Roseneck,J | 2390 | ½–½ | 2023 | D78 | German Masters 2023 | 8.1 |
Costa,L | 2472 | Svane,R | 2628 | 0–1 | 2023 | B90 | German Masters 2023 | 8.2 |
Noe,C | 2528 | Fridman,D | 2580 | ½–½ | 2023 | A33 | German Masters 2023 | 8.3 |
Bluebaum,M | 2670 | Wagner,D | 2589 | ½–½ | 2023 | D05 | German Masters 2023 | 8.4 |
Prusikin,M | 2513 | Svane,F | 2639 | ½–½ | 2023 | E51 | German Masters 2023 | 8.5 |
Svane,F | 2639 | Donchenko,A | 2634 | ½–½ | 2023 | B97 | German Masters 2023 | 9.1 |
Wagner,D | 2589 | Prusikin,M | 2513 | 1–0 | 2023 | E73 | German Masters 2023 | 9.2 |
Fridman,D | 2580 | Bluebaum,M | 2670 | ½–½ | 2023 | A07 | German Masters 2023 | 9.3 |
Svane,R | 2628 | Noe,C | 2528 | ½–½ | 2023 | C67 | German Masters 2023 | 9.4 |
Roseneck,J | 2390 | Costa,L | 2472 | 1–0 | 2023 | A13 | German Masters 2023 | 9.5 |
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Final standings - Women’s
All games - Women’s
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 d6 7.Bd3 e5 8.e4 exd4 9.cxd4 Nxe4 10.Ne2 d5 11.Bxe4 dxe4 12.0-0 Bg4 13.Bb2 Nd7 14.d5 Qg5 15.Qc2 Rae8 16.Ng3 f5 17.Bc1 f4 18.Nxe4 Qg6 19.f3 Bxf3 20.Rxf3 Rxe4 21.Rf1 Nb6 22.c5 Nxd5 23.Qb3 c6 24.Ra2 Rf7 25.Raf2 Kh8 26.Kh1 h6 27.Qh3 Rfe7 28.Qc8+ Kh7 29.Qh3 Re2 30.Qf3 Qe4 31.h4 Qxf3 32.Rxf3 g5 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.Rh3+ Kg6 35.g3 Re1 36.Kg1 f3 37.g4 f2+ 38.Kxf2 R7e2+ 39.Kg1 Rxf1+ 40.Kxf1 Rc2 41.Be3 Rc3 0–1
- Start an analysis engine:
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- Drag the split bars between window panes.
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Bashylina,L | 2179 | Wagner,D | 2452 | 0–1 | 2023 | E28 | German Masters Women 2023 | 1.1 |
Schneider,J | 2255 | Sieber,F | 2274 | ½–½ | 2023 | C83 | German Masters Women 2023 | 1.2 |
Papp,S | 2309 | Heinemann,J | 2360 | ½–½ | 2023 | C77 | German Masters Women 2023 | 1.3 |
Schulze,L | 2299 | Lubbe,M | 2257 | 1–0 | 2023 | B22 | German Masters Women 2023 | 1.4 |
Klek,H | 2236 | Schleining,Z | 2338 | 1–0 | 2023 | C50 | German Masters Women 2023 | 1.5 |
Wagner,D | 2452 | Schleining,Z | 2338 | 1–0 | 2023 | E61 | German Masters Women 2023 | 2.1 |
Lubbe,M | 2257 | Klek,H | 2236 | 0–1 | 2023 | B23 | German Masters Women 2023 | 2.2 |
Heinemann,J | 2360 | Schulze,L | 2299 | ½–½ | 2023 | A29 | German Masters Women 2023 | 2.3 |
Sieber,F | 2274 | Papp,S | 2309 | ½–½ | 2023 | C03 | German Masters Women 2023 | 2.4 |
Bashylina,L | 2179 | Schneider,J | 2255 | 0–1 | 2023 | D35 | German Masters Women 2023 | 2.5 |
Schneider,J | 2255 | Wagner,D | 2452 | ½–½ | 2023 | B90 | German Masters Women 2023 | 3.1 |
Papp,S | 2309 | Bashylina,L | 2179 | ½–½ | 2023 | B90 | German Masters Women 2023 | 3.2 |
Schulze,L | 2299 | Sieber,F | 2274 | 1–0 | 2023 | B26 | German Masters Women 2023 | 3.3 |
Klek,H | 2236 | Heinemann,J | 2360 | ½–½ | 2023 | C45 | German Masters Women 2023 | 3.4 |
Schleining,Z | 2338 | Lubbe,M | 2257 | 1–0 | 2023 | B20 | German Masters Women 2023 | 3.5 |
Wagner,D | 2452 | Lubbe,M | 2257 | 1–0 | 2023 | E92 | German Masters Women 2023 | 4.1 |
Heinemann,J | 2360 | Schleining,Z | 2338 | 0–1 | 2023 | B22 | German Masters Women 2023 | 4.2 |
Sieber,F | 2274 | Klek,H | 2236 | ½–½ | 2023 | B32 | German Masters Women 2023 | 4.3 |
Bashylina,L | 2179 | Schulze,L | 2299 | 1–0 | 2023 | E51 | German Masters Women 2023 | 4.4 |
Schneider,J | 2255 | Papp,S | 2309 | 1–0 | 2023 | C02 | German Masters Women 2023 | 4.5 |
Papp,S | 2309 | Wagner,D | 2452 | ½–½ | 2023 | B33 | German Masters Women 2023 | 5.1 |
Schulze,L | 2299 | Schneider,J | 2255 | 0–1 | 2023 | C27 | German Masters Women 2023 | 5.2 |
Klek,H | 2236 | Bashylina,L | 2179 | 1–0 | 2023 | B84 | German Masters Women 2023 | 5.3 |
Schleining,Z | 2338 | Sieber,F | 2274 | 1–0 | 2023 | B22 | German Masters Women 2023 | 5.4 |
Lubbe,M | 2257 | Heinemann,J | 2360 | 0–1 | 2023 | B23 | German Masters Women 2023 | 5.5 |
Wagner,D | 2452 | Heinemann,J | 2360 | ½–½ | 2023 | A50 | German Masters Women 2023 | 6.1 |
Sieber,F | 2274 | Lubbe,M | 2257 | 0–1 | 2023 | B33 | German Masters Women 2023 | 6.2 |
Bashylina,L | 2179 | Schleining,Z | 2338 | ½–½ | 2023 | D52 | German Masters Women 2023 | 6.3 |
Schneider,J | 2255 | Klek,H | 2236 | ½–½ | 2023 | B32 | German Masters Women 2023 | 6.4 |
Papp,S | 2309 | Schulze,L | 2299 | 0–1 | 2023 | B45 | German Masters Women 2023 | 6.5 |
Schulze,L | 2299 | Wagner,D | 2452 | 0–1 | 2023 | B54 | German Masters Women 2023 | 7.1 |
Klek,H | 2236 | Papp,S | 2309 | 1–0 | 2023 | B15 | German Masters Women 2023 | 7.2 |
Schleining,Z | 2338 | Schneider,J | 2255 | 0–1 | 2023 | A13 | German Masters Women 2023 | 7.3 |
Lubbe,M | 2257 | Bashylina,L | 2179 | ½–½ | 2023 | B84 | German Masters Women 2023 | 7.4 |
Heinemann,J | 2360 | Sieber,F | 2274 | 1–0 | 2023 | A29 | German Masters Women 2023 | 7.5 |
Wagner,D | 2452 | Sieber,F | 2274 | 1–0 | 2023 | E12 | German Masters Women 2023 | 8.1 |
Bashylina,L | 2179 | Heinemann,J | 2360 | 0–1 | 2023 | E46 | German Masters Women 2023 | 8.2 |
Schneider,J | 2255 | Lubbe,M | 2257 | ½–½ | 2023 | B62 | German Masters Women 2023 | 8.3 |
Papp,S | 2309 | Schleining,Z | 2338 | 0–1 | 2023 | C54 | German Masters Women 2023 | 8.4 |
Schulze,L | 2299 | Klek,H | 2236 | 0–1 | 2023 | B30 | German Masters Women 2023 | 8.5 |
Klek,H | 2236 | Wagner,D | 2452 | 0–1 | 2023 | B90 | German Masters Women 2023 | 9.1 |
Schleining,Z | 2338 | Schulze,L | 2299 | ½–½ | 2023 | D11 | German Masters Women 2023 | 9.2 |
Lubbe,M | 2257 | Papp,S | 2309 | 1–0 | 2023 | C07 | German Masters Women 2023 | 9.3 |
Heinemann,J | 2360 | Schneider,J | 2255 | 0–1 | 2023 | A13 | German Masters Women 2023 | 9.4 |
Sieber,F | 2274 | Bashylina,L | 2179 | ½–½ | 2023 | B52 | German Masters Women 2023 | 9.5 |
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Let us learn together how to find the best spot for the queen in the early middlegame, how to navigate this piece around the board, how to time the queen attack, how to decide whether to exchange it or not, and much more!
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