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"Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" - Part 2: Rook and Pawn vs. Rook

3/12/2023 – Karsten Mueller continues his training series for ambitious amateurs in ChessBase Magazine #212. This time it's about basic techniques in the endgame with rook and pawn against rook. You've probably heard about the "Lucena win", "Vancura's draw" - but do you still know how the whole thing works and which details you have to pay attention to? Karsten Mueller's contribution consists of an introductory video in which the techniques and motifs are presented and five interactive training videos in which it is your task to enter the solution on the board. You can watch the introductory video here. The interactive part with video feedback is only available in CBM#212!
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Rook vs bishop

3/28/2023 – In the diagram position, it is White to move and draw. White is an exchange up but he still is in trouble because his pawns are weak and his rook has trouble defending them. In the game White did not find a way to draw the game and lost. Can you do better?

Forward, always forward!

3/25/2023 – From the diagram position Black's knight landed by force... on the square f1! In the end it was only enough for half a point, but she had a fat chance of winning on the way. Have fun!

Positional Milestones

3/24/2023 – The "Special" of the current ChessBase Magazine is dedicated to Anthony Miles. In addition to a collection of 21 extensively analysed brilliant games of the first English grandmaster, you will also find a multifaceted contribution by Mihail Marin on Miles' chess understanding and playing style. Marin's database of 12 games from the years 1978 to 2000 is peppered with many training exercises. For the first time for ChessBase Magazine, our author also offers two interactive videos in which you can put your strategic understanding to the test. And of course Marin again introduces the "hero" of this issue in the introductory video to his contribution - you can watch the 20-minute video here.
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A fresh idea against the Scotch

3/21/2023 – In the current ChessBase Magazine #212 you will find new repertoire ideas for eleven different openings - from the English Opening to the King's Indian. In his search for a suitable weapon against the Scotch, Lars Schandorff has come across a fresh idea with which Black immediately seeks active play: After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 (Schandorff's favourite) 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Nc3 7.Qe2 he recommends 7...a5!?. In his analysis, this idea has proved so successful that he even sees White facing the task of looking for new ideas in the alternative variations with 5.Nxc6 or 5.Be3. Take a look!

Attacking in the endgame

3/21/2023 – Rooks are powerful and two rooks are even more powerful, and given the chance, they can quickly mate the enemy king. In the diagram position the white rooks are passive and seem to be doomed to defend the b-pawn. But it is White to move and win. How?

Bishops vs. 0-0-0

3/18/2023 – In the diagram position Black threatens both ...Qxa1 and ...dxc2, but his king ...Can you find White's elegant winning way?

"Draw?"

3/17/2023 – What should you do if your opponent offers a draw at an early stage of the game? What aspects should you take into account when making your own decision? GM Jan Markos gives you a series of rules of thumb in the fifth part of his series "Practical Tips for the Tournament Player" to help you go for the full point more often - or accept the offer if it is advisable. You can watch an excerpt from his video here!
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Reti players beware!

3/14/2023 – In the current ChessBase Magazine #212 you'll find new repertoire ideas for eleven different openings - from the English Opening to the Scotch to the King's Indian. In his article, Roven Vogel examines a trendyline against the Reti Opening: more and more often Black played the "somewhat strange" move 2...b6!? after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3. White can of course build up in the most varied ways here, and the position types that Vogel analyses are correspondingly diverse. His conclusion: "So far I don't see in which direction Black should really have problems and can therefore warmly recommend this little side variation, at least as a secondary idea for one's own repertoire against 1.Nf3." Take a look!
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Middlegame or endgame?

3/14/2023 – Positions with queen and piece against queen and piece have aspects that are typical for middlegames and aspects that are typical for the endgame. In the diagram position the white king is safe - a typical middlegame aspect - while the dangerous passed pawns - typical for endgames, are good for Black. In the diagram position it is Black to move and draw. How?

Come on in!

3/11/2023 – In the diagram position, the pinned white Nb6 seems to be doomed. But mate comes first, and White has a clever way out - or should we say way in? Have fun!

"The Beast of Birmingham"

3/10/2023 – This time ChessBase Magazine's "Special" is dedicated to the first Englishman who succeeded in winning the title of International Grandmaster: Anthony Miles (1955-2001). Our authors (David Navara, Yannick Pelletier, Spyridon Kapnisis, Julio Sadorra and many others) comment on their favourite games of the creative Englishman - thus an exclusive collection of 21 duels from the period 1978 to 2001 has come together. You can watch Robert Ris' analysis of the game Miles - Spassky (1978) here. Enjoy! | Photo: Dutch National Archive
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Getting in

3/7/2023 – Pawns often open the way for their king - what should White do in the diagram position?
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