12/12/2017 – "Chess is 99 percent tactics" is an often-quoted aphorism usually ascribed to Richard Teichmann. This number seems exaggerated but that does not change the fact that it pays to keep an eye on tactics — till the very end.

12/5/2017 – Of course, a rook is stronger than a bishop. This is one of the first things you learn in chess. But sometimes rooks are helpless against bishops. Particularly so if passed pawns join the game.

11/29/2017 – Pawns are not particularly mobile: on the first move they can take two steps, after that only one. They know only one direction unless they capture enemy pawns or pieces. But sometimes the pawns are invisibly — and powerfully — connected.

11/25/2017 – The 100th episode of Endgame Magic is airing on Monday. We have a special guest for this jubilee: None other than Wesley So. He joins Karsten to look at some fascinating endgame from recent tournament praxis! Live at 15:00 CET (9:00 AM EST)!

11/21/2017 – Usually it is good and fun to snatch the pawns of the opponent in an endgame. But sometimes the pawns of your opponents are your biggest help. Then you should think twice before snatching them!

11/15/2017 – Passed pawns often lead to exciting tactics. They invite sacrifices and can lead to mating attacks that have to be calculated carefully. But sometimes the tactical possibilities are even more sophisticated.

11/14/2017 – Lawrence Trent is an Internation Master from The United Kingsdom. He's in Hamburg to record a DVD. He also has his own weekly show on playchess (this evening at 18:00 CET). He joins Karsten to today look at some fascinating endgame from recent tournament praxis! Live at 15:00 CET (9:00 AM EST)!

11/7/2017 – Rustam Kasimdzhanov is a Grandmaster from Uzbekistan. A former FIDE World Champion, Rustam is also and renowned author and trainer of top players like Fabiano Caruana. He joins Karsten to look at some of his own fascinating endgame from recent years! Live at 15:00 CET (9:00 AM EST)!

11/7/2017 – Opposite-coloured bishops are a paradox. In the middlegame they favour the attacker. In the endgame they favour the defender. In fact, some endgames with opposite-coloured bishops are drawn even if one side is two pawns up. But they don't draw themselves! You still have work to do.

11/4/2017 – As our readers will know, the Australian state Victoria was named for the British queen whose long-reign record was surpassed two years ago by Queen Elizabeth II. Being the most powerful person of the world, we can draw a parallel between her majesty and chess where queens also have great power — although not nearly such great one.

11/1/2017 – Steve Berger is an International Master from Germany. He grew up in Hamburg, but spent 22 years living in Berlin before returning to Hamburg. He has previously recorded an "Opening Recipes" live show in German for ChessBase, and is a professional chess trainer and author. He joins Karsten to look at some of his own endgame exploits full of tactical tricks! Live at 15:00 CET (10:00 AM EDT)!

10/31/2017 – Bishops like to have free diagonals, pawns like to be protected. However, sometimes it is difficult to combine both. But you should know what is more important.

10/24/2017 – Rooks are strong but passed pawns are also strong, particularly in the endgame. But who is stronger — the rook or the passed pawns? It depends!

10/23/2017 – Lawrence Trent is an International Master from England and also a popular chess commentator and an author for ChessBase. He recorded DVD's about the Grand Prix, Two Knights System and the Morra Gambit. But tonight he joins endgame expert Karsten Müller to take a look at some endgames - from his own practice and recent tournaments. Live at 15:30 CEST (7:30 AM EST)!

10/19/2017 – That's the tagline of the quarterly print magazine, which soon celebrates its one year anniversary. The 150+ page colourful glossy "Issue No. 4" recently arrived at the ChessBase office, and includes a dose of "endgame strategy" from Karsten Mueller, a review of Simon Williams' DVD on The London System and an intriguing article on Tablebases by Jon Edwards, among extensive coverage of tournaments, player interviews, and educational features.

10/19/2017 – Julian Grötzbach is a chess player from Hamburg. Many years ago he was an intern at ChessBase but today he joins endgame expert Karsten Müller to take a look at some endgames - from his own practice and recent tournaments. Live at 14:30 CEST (6:30 AM EST)!

10/17/2017 – "Knight endings are like pawn endings." That is easily said and often true. However, there is one important difference one should not forget: the knight can sacrifice itself! An endgame lesson from Karsten Müller.

10/9/2017 – If they come in pairs bishops can be very strong. But sometimes even a single bishop is strong enough to control the whole board. This edition of Karsten Müller's endgame column looks at what happens when the bishops face off against a rook.

10/4/2017 – While playing through the game Dennis Khismatullin vs Pavel Eljanov in 2015, our study expert saw a truly incredible king move. This inspired him to dig up some equally remarkable studies that feature king walks and astonishing manoeuvres. You will see how chess is not just about protecting your king — that piece can in fact be a powerful attacking force in deciding the outcome of a game. Siegfried Hornecker demonstrates in seven interesting and instructive examples. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons

10/3/2017 – Rooks should go behind passed pawns! In rook endings this is a popular and helpful rule of thumb. After all, in most cases this is indeed where the rook should go. But unfortunately - or fortunately - there are exceptions.

10/3/2017 – Ten days ago we proposed a contest to "fix" the cover of New Scientist magazine's September 23rd issue, which featured a fictitious illustration of President Trump squaring off against North Korea's Kim Jong Un, in what was dubbed 'Endgame'. The position was nonsensical. Of the many creative suggestions, here are our favourites. | Illustration: Robert Carter (crackedhat.com)

9/26/2017 – Knights surprise again and again. One single knight can frighten king, queen and rooks of your opponent (or yourself) or block strong and dangerous passed pawns. But sometimes knights are helpless against a single pawn that wants to queen. No wonder that knight endings are full of tactical tricks.

9/23/2017 – The September 23rd issue of New Scientist magazine has a striking cover illustration featuring President Trump squaring off against the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in what one presumes is a high stakes chess game with nuclear tipped missiles. While visually impressive, the position makes absolutely no sense. Why can't a major magazine using chess as a geopolitical metaphor make a tiny effort to have the game presented coherently? It was a missed opportunity, and I think ChessBase readers can do better. Here's your chance to propose an alternative. | Illustration: Robert Carter (crackedhat.com)

9/19/2017 – ... where angels fear to tread. This little pearl of practical wisdom is a reminder that it is hardly ever good to rush things. Particularly so when you are in a hurry. For instance, in a race of passed pawns.