Hot Topics: chessbase magazine - page 1

Too many pawns, too strong a king

7/14/2020 – Usually an extra bishop can easily draw against two pawns. But if the two pawns are supported by their king things might get tricky for the defender. Especially if his own king is too far away to help.
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Well in advance

7/10/2020 – In the diagram, Black's blockade construct Qd8/Bh4 on the kingside looks artificial, but White rightly decided not to rush and calmly strengthened his position. How?

Running for shelter

7/7/2020 – In the endgame the king often gets active – after all, when only a few pieces remain on the board mate is less likely. However, the king often still needs protection from checks and attacks. But sometimes it can use enemy pawns as an "umbrella" to run for shelter.

Dubov's Tarrasch

7/5/2020 – In the new ChessBase Magazine #196 eleven opening articles with exciting repertoire ideas are waiting for you. IM Robert Ris scrutinizes an almost forgotten line with which Daniil Dubov recently brought fresh wind into the Tarrasch Defence and tried at the highest level. Ris' conclusion: 7.cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 is "very hot and deservedly so."
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Queens as targets

7/3/2020 – White's 16.Ng5 in the diagram position threatens 17.Bd5+ and doesn't look too bad, but Black ... is Tal! Can you shine like the 8th World Champion?

No road to Rome

6/30/2020 – Pawn endgames are the foundation of endgame theory. Knowing the importance of "opposition" and "key squares" is the key to master pawn endgames - and it helps to save a lot of points.

New: ChessBase Magazine #196

6/29/2020 – ChessBase Magazine is the most comprehensive and most sophisticated chess magazine there is. World-class players analyse their brilliancies and explain the ideas behind the moves to you, opening specialists present the latest trends in opening theory and offer exciting ideas for your repertoire. Master trainers in the fields of tactics, strategy, and the endgame show you the tricks and techniques a successful tournament player needs! DVD with several hours of video + booklet. Also available for download including the booklet in pdf!

Edouard's e-pawn

6/26/2020 – In the diagram position, there is hardly a more natural continuation for White than the advance 7.e4 - but in fact the move is an invitation! Are you ready for an adventure?

Kingside killer pawns

6/23/2020 – Passed pawns can be powerful, especially in the ending, and pawn majorities allow you to create passed pawns. Therefore, having a far advanced pawn majority is often a big advantage.

Do you have an eye for tactics? (3)

6/19/2020 – In the diagram position, pinning Black's knight on c6 with 29.Rc1 must be a good move for White. Really? Really - but White has to calculate precisely!

Dancing with a knight

6/16/2020 – Mate ends the game but most games are won because one side is material up and the opponent prefers not to drag things out till the bitter end. However, being a whole knight up in the endgame is not always an automatic win.

Do you have an eye for tactics? (2)

6/12/2020 – In the diagram position White's last move was 14.Qh3 which creates a classical threat ... which Black happily ignored! Can you imagine what happened?

Avoiding a bodycheck

6/9/2020 – Rook endings have drawish tendencies and that should be reason enough to be very careful when you have a rook ending on the board - even if you think you are clearly better.