NEW: Opening Encyclopaedia 2026

by ChessBase
3/24/2026 – The new Opening Encyclopaedia 2026 offers comprehensive and easy access to modern opening theory, helping players build, expand, and refine their repertoire with clarity and confidence. With 1,586 in-depth articles, over 40,000 games, and 100 expert video lessons from leading grandmasters, it combines cutting-edge ideas with practical explanations and annotated examples. Designed for players of all levels, it is an essential all-in-one resource to stay up to date with the latest trends and gain a decisive edge in the opening.
YOUR EASY ACCESS TO OPENING THEORY: Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product.
YOUR EASY ACCESS TO OPENING THEORY
Be well prepared with the new Opening Encyclopaedia 2026! Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product and is the ideal start for your opening training. Many new articles enrich the current theory with new or revisited ideas. The Encyclopaedia can help you learn openings quickly and give you a head start on your next opponent. Each article contains explanations and annotated games illustrating typical plans to deepen your understanding.

The new Opening Encyclopaedia 2026

YOUR EASY ACCESS TO OPENING THEORY

Be well prepared with the new Opening Encyclopaedia 2026! Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product and is the ideal start for your opening training.

The newest Opening Encyclopaedia has arrived

GM Dorian Rogozenco: “The Opening Encyclopedia  is the best product around in the field of opening theory”

“The Opening Encyclopedia offers an ample and unique overview about the opening theory. In multiple videos and theoretical articles highly qualified trainers analyze and explain different opening variations and present them in a compact and easy-to-learn formats. Literary everyone, from beginners to Grandmasters, can find many ideas to expand their opening repertoire. Whether you want to surprise your opponents with unexpected moves right from the beginning of the game, learn a complex theoretical variation, or understand the newest developments of the modern chess theory – the Opening Encyclopedia provides you with everything you need for that. It is my deepest conviction that the Opening Encyclopedia  is the best product around in the field of opening theory, improving your knowledge about the openings and helping you to become considerably stronger in practice.”

Many new articles enrich the current theory with new or revisited ideas. The Encyclopaedia can help you learn openings quickly and give you a head start on your next opponent. Each article contains explanations and annotated games illustrating typical plans to deepen your understanding.

In 100 videos, famous masters elaborate on their opening knowledge - Felix Blohberger for example with the King's Indian 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 Na6 - A solid and ambitious sideline

The Opening Encyclopaedia offers quick access to all openings. The openings are sorted by name and ECO code via the menu for quick and easy access to your favorite openings.

Opening Tutorials give a quick yet comprehensive overview of all established openings to help every chess player find the most suitable opening according to their personal preferences.

Nicely sorted, the tutorial section for your favourite opening

100 high-class opening videos are included in the Encyclopaedia 2026, from our popular ChessBase Authors. Daniel King, Dorian Rogozenco, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Mihail Marin, Ivan Sokolov, Adrian Mikhalchishin, Leon Mendonca, Jan Werle, Luis Engel, Rainer Knaak, Robert Ris, Felix Blohberger and many other grandmasters present new opening ideas clearly and vividly. The number of articles in the Opening Encyclopaedia is growing – it now contains 1,586 and the included database contains all games from all opening articles.

One more highlight: Grandmaster Dorian Rogozenco presents opening trends in world-class chess. You can look forward to a total of 9 videos on the French, Sicilian, Najdorf, Ruy Lopez, Italian, Petroff, English, Queen’s Gambit Declined, from the entire year 2025 to spring 2026.

As always, GM Dorian Rogozenco presents the newest opening trends

All this makes the new Opening Encyclopaedia 2026 an indispensable reference work for every tournament player.

  • 1,586 special theoretical databases – analyses with annotated games & ideas by Grandmasters
  • Over 40,000 illustrative games
  • 8,200 opening surveys, 300 new or updated
  • 100 opening videos. Total duration: over 35 hours
  • Grandmaster Lectures : Dorian Rogozenco: The latest trends (9 Videos)

YOUR EASY ACCESS TO OPENING THEORY: Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product.
YOUR EASY ACCESS TO OPENING THEORY
Be well prepared with the new Opening Encyclopaedia 2026! Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product and is the ideal start for your opening training. Many new articles enrich the current theory with new or revisited ideas. The Encyclopaedia can help you learn openings quickly and give you a head start on your next opponent. Each article contains explanations and annotated games illustrating typical plans to deepen your understanding.

Available as a booklet or download - now!

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See also

Review: All new releases in February!

3/22/2026 – The Sicilian has long been one of the most popular openings. It therefore makes perfect sense for White to consider 1.c4. ChessBase author Nico Zwirs takes a look at similar, but reversed structures. His 60 Minutes course is aptly titled “Reversed Sicilian Power.” And since the Sicilian cannot be played without tactics, this new February release also fits the theme perfectly: Oliver Reeh’s new Master Class tactics volume offers exercises for players of all levels, regardless of their opening repertoire. | All photos: ChessBase
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See also

Game of the Week #715: Timman vs Karpov

3/20/2026 – A few weeks ago Jan Timman passed away at the age of 74. In the Netherlands Timman has always been immensely popular, a true icon of chess. His positive nature and adventurous style has inspired many chess players and will continue to do so. At his peak he reached number two in the world rankings, behind Karpov, ahead of the young Kasparov. Today we will look at his fantastic attacking game against Karpov, with whom he had countless interesting encounters. Merijn's show is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can <a href="https://account.chessbase.com/en/create-account" target="_blank">register a Premium account here</a>.
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Video

60m English A solid scandinavian surprise

On this 60 mins video we are going to concentrate on a simple, very solid idea in the main line Scandinavian, which even Magnus Carlsen has used to win games. Black focusses on making his life easy in the opening and forces White to work very hard to get advantage – but it is doubtful if White can get an advantage. Club players are always on the lookout for effective, time-saving solutions and here we have just that. Accompany FIDE Senior Trainer and IM Andrew Martin on this 60 mins video. You can learn a new opening system in 60 mins and start to play it with confidence on the very same day!