10/28/2025 – We take a unique behind-the-scenes look at how top chess masters organize their digital workspace. Grandmasters and trainers like Svitlana Demchenko, Robert Ris, Michael Prusikin, Harald Schneider-Zinner, Frederik Svane, Felix Blohberger, and Dorian Rogozenco share their screens to reveal their personal ChessBase 18 setups — from meticulously clean desktops to chaotic databases full of ideas. They show us their board designs, current projects, and discuss their favourite or most-used ChessBase functions, offering fascinating insights into how great minds prepare, study, and work with chess every day.
new: ChessBase 18 - Mega package
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.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before. FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
The Benko Gambit is back at the very highest level - and it's easy to see why. Black sacrifices a pawn to seize the initiative on the queenside, obtaining long-lasting pressure, active pieces and open files that make life difficult for White.
€39.90
My ChessBase 18 Desktop! - Chess Masters invite us in
with Dorian Rogozenco, Robert Ris, Svitlana Demchenko, Frederik Svane, Felix Blohberger, Harald Schneider-Zinner, and Michael Prusikin
Robert Ris
Robert Ris gives a candid look into his “creative chaos”—his personal ChessBase 18 setup filled with numerous databases for different projects and trainings.
He admits to being disorganized but emphasizes that he knows exactly where everything is, and that this system fuels his creativity. Robert then shows one of his own attacking games, explaining how he analyses and stores them, and reveals that his favourite ChessBase feature is the online database and player report, which he uses for opening research and opponent preparation.
Finally, he gives a glimpse of his private repertoire files—hundreds of experimental opening ideas—joking that while it may look chaotic, it works perfectly for him and might even make others feel better about their own messy desktops.
0:00 — Creative Chaos: Robert admits he’s “not the most organized person,” showing a desk full of databases and projects.
1:35 — Personal database loss: Robert is explaining how he lost many of his early games due to a computer crash and now focuses on training.
3:01 — Playing and analysing his own games: Robert loads a recent win, sharing how he adds notes and arrows after playing, analysing mostly for himself rather than for students.
5:09 — A beautiful attacking game: Robert walks through an impressive attack from one of his games, explaining his thought process and how harmony between the pieces created a strong kingside breakthrough.
7:03 — Favourite ChessBase 18 function: Robert reveals his most-used feature — the online database — and demonstrates how he uses the CB 18 style report to analyse opponents’ styles, strengths, and weaknesses.
10:27 — The secret repertoire revealed: Robert opens his private white repertoire folder — a massive, chaotic but brilliant structure of hundreds of files, and explains his creative system of naming and experimenting with new ideas.
With the moves d4-Nf3-e3-Bd3 White aims for simple piece development and to slowly build up a devastating attack on the kingside! One of the simplest openings for White to learn, and one of the most frustrating ones for Black to face! With the moves d4-Nf3-e3-Bd3 White aims for simple piece development and to slowly build up a devastating attack on the kingside!
Free sample video: Introduction
Free sample video: e4-e5 attacking ideas
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
If you're looking for a dynamic alternative to the Slav, Queen's Gambit Declined, or other mainstream systems, the Chigorin Defence offers exactly what modern tournament players need.
Michael Kotyk presents a complete repertoire after 1.e4 e5, built around creative ideas, surprising move orders, and practical weapons designed to catch your opponents off guard.
Michael Kotyk presents a complete repertoire after 1.e4 e5, built around creative ideas, surprising move orders, and practical weapons designed to catch your opponents off guard.
Michael Kotyk presents a complete repertoire after 1.e4 e5, built around creative ideas, surprising move orders, and practical weapons designed to catch your opponents off guard.
“Attack with Qh5!!” – Tactical training with Oliver Reeh, “6…g5 – nothing ventured, nothing …” – Le Quang Liem comments on one of his victories in Biel, “Grischuk’s stroke of genius” – Petra Papp reveals a surprise in the Sicilian Kan Variation, and much
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
While tactics decide the game in concrete moments, strategy guides the entire battle. Understanding how to improve your pieces, create weaknesses, execute maneuvers, and steer the game toward favorable structures is what defines strong players.
€39.90
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