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

3/6/2023 – The current ChessBase Magazine #212 offers three opening videos: Rustam Kasimdzhanov examines the Ruy Lopez with 8.a4 b4 9.a5, which was played twice in the Tata Steel Masters 2023 (So-Keymer and Caruana-Carlsen). Nico Zwirs checks Magnus Carlsen's idea 7...Bg4 in the Queen's Gambit Exchange Variation. And Mihail Marin puts the Evans Gambit from the game Beerdsen-Pechac from the Challengers to the test. You can watch an excerpt from Kasimdzhanov's video analysis here. Have fun!

3/4/2023 – The new ChessBase Magazine #212 provides, among many other things, 50 games with detailed commentary, a large part of which comes from the Tata Steel Masters and Challengers. Anish Giri is also an excellent analyst: he takes a close look at nine games from Wijk aan Zee as well as at games from current rapid chess events in CBM #212. Other authors are Jorden van Foreest, Praggnanandhaa, Alexander Donchenko and Peter Heine Nielsen. "The Analysis" of the issue comes - how could it be otherwise - from the winner of the Tata Steel Masters: it's Giri's long-awaited victory over Magnus Carlsen. Find an abridged version of his analysis here. Enjoy!

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?

3/1/2023 – Tata Steel 2023: The tournament winner of the Masters, Anish Giri, comments on his best games as well as Jorden van Foreest, Praggnanandhaa and many more. In addition, video analyses by Dorian Rogozenco – "Special" on Anthony Miles: exclusive collection of 21 commented games + contributions on strategy and endgame – "English for Attackers": Alexey Kuzmin shows the highly topical gambit 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 c6!? – "Theory Update from Wijk aan Zee I": Rustam Kasimdzhanov brings Spanish with 8.a4 b4 9.a5 up to date – Endgame series "Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" Part 2: Learn the most important rules and techniques in the ending Rook + Pawn vs. Rook from Dr. Karsten Mueller and much more.

2/28/2023 – In endgames with two rooks on both sides you should wath out for tactical possibilities and chances to attack the enemy king. In the diagram position it is White to move. What should he do?

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!

2/21/2023 – This endgame guideline is often useful to find the best move when pawn races occur. In the diagram position it is White to move and win. What should he do?

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!

2/14/2023 – In the diagram position the white knight has to fight against the black pawns. Black's d-pawn and Black's f-pawn are both weak and seem to fall quickly. But the position is still tricky though White has a hidden way to win. Can you find it?

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!

2/7/2023 – Fighting against passed pawns can be tricky. In the diagram position Black's bishop has to fight against no less than four passed pawns. However, Black can still draw. But how?

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?

1/31/2023 – Pawn endings must be calculated very precisely. In the diagram position it is Black to move, and with precise calculation he could have saved the draw. What should he do?

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

1/27/2023 – Videos: Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3) by Christian Bauer and Saemisch-Benoni by David Navara. "Lucky bag": 45 annotated games - analyses by Anish Giri, Alexander Motylev, Nijat Abasov and many more. "The brilliancy" by GM Yago Santiago - an uncompromising attacking game against the Gruenfeld with 4.h4 and 10.Rh4!?. Plus Update service with over 40,000 new games! ChessBase Magazine Extra is the perfect complement to ChessBase Magazine. Available as a single issue or by subscription (6 issues per year). Available as download or on DVD.

1/24/2023 – Pestering the enemy king with checks is an important defensive technique in rook endings. But while giving checks the defending side should not forget that it is often more important to prevent the enemy king from finding a safe escape. In the diagram position it is White to move and draw. How?

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?

1/17/2023 – In the diagram position both sides have dangerous passed pawns. But it is Black to move - and he can win by making the most of his passed pawns. How?

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!

1/10/2023 – The creation of a passed pawn is a typical endgame topic. In the diagram position it is Black to move and win.