1/25/2019 – In the diagram position, with White to move, the white knight b3 is hanging. Retreat or counter-attack — how would you react?

1/18/2019 – In the diagram position White has just played 33.Ne3-f1, overprotecting the square h2 and posing the threat 34.Re7. Do you have Black's nerves of steel to find his striking continuation?

1/12/2019 – The capture 23.Nxc7! is White's best in the diagram position, provided he has the right answer ready to 23...Rxc7 24.Rxc7 Nf6 then. What about you?

1/4/2019 – In the diagram position, White is of course clearly winning. But beauty does matter in chess — can you see the neatest way for him to take the game home?

12/28/2018 – Despite his huge material plus, in the diagram position White is the one who must seek salvation with only moves. Things start with 33.Qxe8+ Qxe8 34.Qd2 Qe5 — the rest will be up to you. Ready?

12/24/2018 – The year 2018 is drawing to a close and it was filled with great events, strong tournaments and fantastic games. Now, at the end of the year, we invite you to vote for the player of the year (male and female), the newcomer, the game, the combination and the endgame of the year. What do you think: what was the best combination of 2018?

12/21/2018 – In the diagram position Black can snatch a pawn with 20...Bxf2. But why be so petty-minded... better start a mating attack instead! Can you play like the 8th world champion?

12/14/2018 – In the diagram position White seems to have everything under control — harmony is the keyword. However, Black's next move changes this drastically. Can you spot his idea?

12/7/2018 – After 21.Nh4 in the diagram position Black's queen and knight are under fire. What do you make of that — or rather of the liquidation sequence starting with 21...Qxf2+ then? Happy calculating!

12/2/2018 – This week GM JON SPEELMAN takes a submission from a Belgian 2200 player featuring the Pirc Defence. Feel free to send in your own games! Jon can always use more material from readers. If your games are selected for the Agony column, not only will you get free detailed commentary of your games by one of chess’s great authors and instructors, and former world no. 4 player, but you also win a free three-month ChessBase Premium Account!

11/30/2018 – The diagram position saw the queen sacrifice 18.Bxh6, giving rise to fantastic complications. After 18...Nxf4 19.Bxg7+ Kh7 20.Rxf4 White threatens checkmate. Can you show — or maybe even remember — how Black could have won?

11/23/2018 – The diagram shows a typically sharp scenario with opposite castled kings and the constellation knight f5 vs. knight c4. Your move for White, please!

11/18/2018 – This week, in honour of the Carlsen vs Caruana match, GM JON SPEELMAN examines eight blunders from World Championship history. One of them features Magnus himself! But, dear regular column readers, do continue sending in your own games! Jon can always use more material from readers. If your games are selected for the Agony column, not only will you get free detailed commentary of your games by one of chess’s great authors and instructors, and former world no. 4 player, but you also win a free three-month ChessBase Premium Account!

11/16/2018 – White's 17.Qh5 threatens checkmate on h7, and after 17...h6 he wants to strike with 18.Nxf7. Flying colours or flop? What would you predict?

11/9/2018 – White's unchallenged bishop on f3 is a huge trump and after 14...Qf5 from the diagram position he ... will get checkmated in 5 moves! Pardon?

11/2/2018 – Following 46.e6+ in the diagram position, Black must choose the right king move to keep the game going. 46...Ke7 or 46...Kf6. What would be your choice?

10/26/2018 – Attacking the bishop f7 with 36.e6 in the diagram position contains many potential ways to lose for Black. His game continuation, however, gives him the advantage! What did White overlook?

10/19/2018 – Which side would you favour after 57.R1b7 in the diagram position? Three moves to find for Black and White, then we'll take stock together. Have fun!

10/12/2018 – Having traded the enemy fianchetto bishop, White has managed to land the queen on h6 ("a beast on h6"). His first move in the diagram position might be obvious, but can you also guess which piece will become the true hero of his attack? Enjoy!

10/5/2018 – From the diagram position White's rooks display amazing flexibility to outsmart Black's passers. Things start with 1.Ra3+ Kb4 2.Rab3+ before the ways (mate nets) divide. Enjoy!

9/28/2018 – The constellation knight on f5 and queen on h6 completely paralyses Black's position, but with his defensive knight on e6 (and an extra rook, by the way) he still seems to be hanging on. How would you continue White's attack in the diagram position?

9/21/2018 – The diagram shows a typical position from the Loewenthal variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qe7 8.Qd3 Nf6 9.Nc3) in which Black springs into action... and is drawing almost by force! Interested to follow his footsteps?

9/14/2018 – Two rooks on the second rank plus mobile pawns and king on the fifth versus a lonely white king on g3 — Black's superiority in the diagram position is crystal clear. But there is only one winning line. Can you see the way for him to rake in the rook b4 by force?

9/7/2018 – In the diagram position White decided to force matters with 21.Re7 Ngxe7 22.dxe7+ Nxe7 23.Qd6, threatening perpetual check. Can you see the only way for Black to emerge victoriously now?