Review: New releases in April!

by Stefan Liebig
5/16/2026 – Strategy, repertoire work and modern trends: five current ChessBase products provide fresh inspiration for training and tournament practice. From Ivan Sokolov’s structural middlegame understanding to Isaac Garner’s practical repertoire ideas, as well as compact solutions against the London System and data-driven Powerbooks, the result is a versatile selection for modern chess training — well-founded, practice-oriented and tailored to different playing styles. | All photos: ChessBase
Master your middlegame with the complete strategy series – now available as a bundle at a reduced price. Take your chance to save and improve!
Master your middlegame with the complete strategy series – now available as a bundle at a reduced price. Take your chance to save and improve!

New releases: April 2026

Understanding Middlegame Strategy Vol.14 Reversed Colour Systems –
Benoni, Blumenfeld and Benko Gambit

Ivan Sokolov’s new volume continues his strategy series with a clear focus on pawn structures and long-term middlegame plans.

The main emphasis is on colour-reversed systems, illustrated by games such as Ding vs Giri and Gukesh vs So. Sokolov shows how active piece play and pressure on the queenside can compensate for structural weaknesses.

:Free readings samples

Introduction

Colour Reversed Benoni – Game 1

Buy in the ChessBase Shop

_

The Ultimate Antidote to the London System – in 60 Minutes

With his “Antidote against the London System”, Mihail Marin presents a compact answer to one of today’s most popular openings. In a concentrated format, he introduces critical ideas against typical London structures, including early counterplay in the centre and flexible piece development.

Using concise illustrative positions, Marin shows how Black can generate active play and neutralise the opponent’s stereotypical attacking plans. The course thus provides a time-efficient solution for practical opening preparation.

:Free reading sample

Introduction

Buy in the ChessBase Shop

_

London System Powerbook 2026

The updated “London System Powerbook 2026” offers a data-driven collection of a vast number of games, combined with detailed statistical analysis. It highlights typical continuations, success rates and current trends in modern tournament chess.

This database provides an objective overview of the current state of London System theory, making it particularly useful for repertoire work and in-depth preparation. With more than 400,000 games included, it also allows for a well-founded assessment of rare sidelines and their practical relevance in tournament play.

Buy in the ChessBase Shop

London System Powerbase 2026

The “London System Powerbase 2026” provides an extensive collection of 282 annotated games by leading players who employ the system at the highest level. The focus lies on strategic guidelines and typical middlegame ideas regularly seen in grandmaster practice.

The database offers structured access to current praxis and facilitates targeted preparation against a variety of Black setups. In addition, selected annotations place critical moments into context and illustrate the typical decision-making processes encountered in practical play.

Buy in the ChessBase Shop

_

New releases of the previous months:

Links

Free January course by Robert Ris
Free December course by Robert Ris
Steinitz: Father of the Modern School
Review: 60 Minutes against Caro-Kann
Peter Balint succeeds thanks to Felix Blohberger's course on the Reti
Karsten Müller at ChessBase
Ivan Sokolov at ChessBase
Review: "Outsmarting the London System – 60 minutes" by IM Andrew Martin
Review: "The Art of Sacrificing" by Krishnan Sasikiran
Review: "The Colle System"
Review: "Reinventing the Ragozin" by Surya Ganguly
Review: David Navara – Your Calculation Compass: Know When to Calculate

<< Live Lecture with IGM Elisabeth Paehtz
Topics: Product reviews
Stefan Liebig, born in 1974, is a journalist and co-owner of a marketing agency. He now lives in Barterode near Göttingen. At the age of five, strange pieces on his neighbour’s shelf aroused his curiosity. Since then, the game of chess has cast a spell over him. Flying high in the NRW youth league with his home club SV Bad Laasphe and several appearances in the second division team of Tempo Göttingen were highlights for the former youth South Westphalia champion.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

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
More...
 1

See also

Review: New releases in January!

2/15/2026 – We have a new author at ChessBase: Harshit Raja. And the Indian grandmaster is ambitious – he offers a complete 1.d4-repertoire! In addition, new episodes of Ivan Sokolov’s Middlegame Strategy series were released in January, and ChessBase Magazine fans can look forward to CBM Extra #229, packed with a rich "Lucky Bag". | All photos: ChessBase
More...
 1

Video

MiddleGame 08594EC Springing pawns

A pawn move can change the character of the whole position. Jussupow-Anand (Linares 1991) is all about such powerful pawn moves.