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!

3/20/2023 – Rainer Knaak was born on 16 March 1953 in Pasewalk, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In 1974, at the age of 21, Knaak became the then youngest grandmaster in the world. The mathematician is a 5-time champion of the German Democratic Republic, and always caused a stir with his optimistic and elegant attacking style. Knaak was also successful as an author. He published numerous books and began working for ChessBase in 1994. He was editor-in-chief of ChessBase Magazine and published a number of popular ChessBase DVDs.

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

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!

3/4/2023 – In the diagram position, Black wins by force if he plays his trumps in the right order. Attacking with patience - can you do it?

2/25/2023 – After 25...exd5 White skillfully set up the final attack. If you see his first move right away - please check black counterstrikes!

2/18/2023 – In the diagram position, White has to act quickly in the face of Black's threat e5-e4 - and in the end it will be he who triumphs on the diagonal c2-h7. Happy uncovering!

2/11/2023 – In the diagram position White just played 11.Qf3?, which allows Black to get the advantage. A 'petite combinaison' par excellence - I hope you enjoy it a little!

2/6/2023 – The ChessBase Magazine appears six times a year and shows the latest trends in top level chess and opening theory. However, the issues do not get old: the first issue of 2023 is CBM #211, but Davide Nastasio recently had great fun looking at CBM #205. In an impromptu review he writes: every issue of the ChessBase Magazine "is pure gold for those genuinely interested in growing as chess players".

2/4/2023 – Yes, 24.Rxg7+! wins for White - but it's definitely a challenge to foresee the complete path to victory from the diagram position, even if it's initially paved with checks. Your perfect start to the (chess) weekend, right?

1/28/2023 – In the diagram position White can win a piece after 18.Nxc6! Bxc6. Can you calculate the lines in your head?

1/21/2023 – In the diagram position White had just calmly covered his knight g4 with 25.h3! and then after 25...exd4 powerfully set off for the final attack. Can you follow in his footsteps?

1/16/2023 – In football, the area around the center line is usually a hazard-free space. But in chess, when a knight crosses the centre line – i.e. if it jumps from his own half of the playing field to that of the opponent – then it "usually sends a clear attack signal", writes Oliver Reeh in his tactics section in ChessBase Magazin #211. His collection of tasks in the new edition includes 38 games, which are peppered with many training questions. Attacking knights play an important role in almost all cases. We would like to present the first three tasks from the collection as well as an excerpt from his first interactive video here. Have fun!

1/14/2023 – In the diagram position it is White to move. Black just played 48...Qe2??, a move that looks strong but allows White a surprising win. What should White do?

1/12/2023 – After Dorian Rogozenco had concluded his "Classics" series in ChessBase Magazine in summer last year, he started his new column "Modern Classics" in CBM #210 with a game Fischer-Petrosian from the 1971 Candidates Match. In CBM #211 he takes up the "Special" of the new issue and presents a brilliant game by Mikhail Tal. On the programme is the sixth game of the World Championship match from 1960 against Mikhail Botvinnik. You can watch an excerpt from Rogozenco's video analysis here!

1/9/2023 – Viktor Kortschnoi was one of the greats in chess. He played twice for the World Championship and only narrowly failed to win the title. His fighting spirit and his passion for chess is legendary. On the new Masterclass Fritztrainer "Viktor Kortschnoi" you can follow his long career game by game and in the remastered Fritztrainer "Kortschnoi: My Life for Chess" you can watch how the master presents his best games himself. Christian Höthe has taken a look at the two Fritztrainers.

1/9/2023 – Mikhail Tal's meteoric rise shook the chess world in the late 1950s, taking him straight to the very top. His victory over Botvinnik in the 1960 match won him the world title. In the process, the 'Wizard from Riga' thrilled fans with his unprecedented combination style – “There are two kinds of sacrifices - correct ones and mine!” For CBM 211 we invited our authors to comment on their favourite Mikhail Tal games. The total of 21 encounters, the last played in 1991, show the eighth World Champion above all, in his element - as a brilliant tactician. A little-known game from the National Open in Chicago 1988 is presented by Yannick Pelletier in CBM 211 - you can watch his analysis in abridged form here. Enjoy!

1/7/2023 – With ChessBase Magazine #211 Karsten Mueller starts a new training series, which is not about endgame finesse on grandmaster level, but about basic techniques, which are worth learning for every ambitious chess player. And without them you won't get far at a higher level. The topic of the first article is the endgame rook vs. pawn. As clear as the balance of power is in this endgame, you have to know a few rules of thumb and techniques in order to always be able to treat the position correctly. You can watch Karsten Mueller's video introduction to his new series here!

1/7/2023 – In the diagram position White just played 26.Rb1+. How would you parry the check spontaneously, with 26...Nb6 or with 26...Ka8? But you can also think a bit longer, because one of these moves leads straight to a loss...

1/5/2023 – As a chess player, you probably know this problem: The openings for the next chess tournament are all perfectly prepared, but then shortly before the tournament starts you start to wonder: what should I wear? ChessBase presents the new spring fashion, with prints that will impress your opponent. Also for the children and the dear four-legged friends. Now in the New Year's Sale!

1/4/2023 – October saw the start of the new Bundesliga season. In ChessBase Magazine #211 participants from various teams comment on their games from the first rounds, including the stars from the cover - Pavel Eljanov, Loek van Wely and Luke McShane - as well as Nils Grandelius, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Ivan Saric, Ivan Cheparinov, Gawain Jones, Nikita Vitiugov, Erwin L'Ami, Dennis Wagner, Daniil Yuffa, Georg Meier, Jan-Christian Schröder, Thai Dai Van Nguyen and Michael Prusikin. In addition, David Navara presents his game against Luke McShane in a detailed video analysis and Rustam Kasimdhzanov reviews his Black victory against Julian Kramer, also in the video. "The Analysis" of the issue comes from Erwin l'Ami – A Queen’s Gambit Accepted in which the Dutch GM actually had his opponent perfectly pegged out. Enjoy!

1/2/2023 – Online chess with its short time controls has also led to a renaissance of romantic openings like the King's Gambit. After the moves 1.e4 e5 2.f4 gxf4 3.Nf3 Black is faced with a fundamental decision. Should one try to hold the extra pawn on f4 with g7-g5 at all costs? With little time on the clock and against a potential theory expert, this involves some risks. So should one instead focus less on the material but on development and good piece play? With 3...Ne7!? Sergey Grigoriants recommends the second approach in his article for CBM #211 The "Bacrot Variation" is of course no refutation of the King's Gambit, "but it is an excellent practical choice for Black". Take a look!

12/31/2022 – Black has a weak king and a weak back rank - but White's forced win from the diagram is also based on the a7 rook. You'll get it, I'm sure!

12/30/2022 – Bundesliga season 22/23: Stars up close - Eljanov, Van Wely, McShane, Jones, Kasimdzhanov, Cheparinov, Meier and many others comment on games from the first rounds - "Special" on Mikhail Tal: exclusive collection of 21 commented games + contributions on strategy and endgame - "The Scotch Gambit": Daniel King presents another gambit idea: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5. 0-0 (video) - "How to deal with opening surprises": Jan Markos continues his training series for tournament players (video + collection of exercises) - "Jumping across the centre line":over 50 tactics exercises + three selected combinations in video format with Oliver Reeh - Endgame good, all good: Karsten Mueller's new video series "Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" (Part 1: Rook vs. Pawn) – King’s Gambit: Take it easy! Sergey Grigoriants promotes 1. e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Ne7!? - Gambit time in the French Advance Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.0-0!? and much more.