8/6/2019 – Opposite-coloured bishops have two faces: in a pure endgame they are often drawn because the weaker side is often able to defend on the squares that his bishop controls. But with more pieces on the board the opposite-coloured bishops indeed tend to favour the attacker. In this case Black can use the attacking potential of his queen.

8/2/2019 – In the diagrammed position, Black is very cramped, so perhaps starting a little activity with 24...Qb4 is in order. Or is there a problem?

7/30/2019 – The duel of bishop against knight can be fascinating. The bishop often strives for dynamic play while the knight prefers more static positions.

7/26/2019 – In the diagram position White played 31.Qb8+!, but then after 31...Kg7 failed to find the right defensive continuation, and three moves later it was over. Can you see the whole picture?

7/23/2019 – Mating attacks are always possible, even in the endgame with only a few pieces left on the board.

7/19/2019 – The diagram saw a board hoovering sequence: 22...Bxa3 23.Qxg6 hxg6 24.Bxa6 Bxb2 25.Bxb2 bxa6 26.Rxa6. Your first task is to imagine this final position. The second — to then see Black's win!

7/16/2019 – Even apparently simple pawn endings can be surprisingly tricky. Black to play and draw!

7/12/2019 – From the diagram position it's still quite a way to go for White until he finally hunts down Black's king in the centre. Enjoy the motifs!

7/9/2019 – White is a piece up but still has to win. In such cases zugzwang often helps.

7/5/2019 – In view of the coffin nail f6, the only hope for Black's king in the diagram position is based on his defending knight on e8. White to play. Say no more!?

7/2/2019 – In the endgame, kings should get active. But sometimes it is not clear which way the king should take to make the most of its activity.

6/28/2019 – 26.Rfd1! in the diagram is best if one has a reply ready to 26...Bb6. Can you see how White hunts down Black's king in the centre after that?

6/27/2019 – ChessBase Magazine is the most comprehensive and most sophisticated chess magazine there is. World class players analyse their brilliancies and explain the ideas behind the moves to you, opening specialists present the latest trends in opening theory and offer exciting ideas for your repertoire. Master trainers in the fields of tactics, strategy, and the endgame show you the tricks and techniques a successful tournament player needs! Here are the highlights of this new DVD with several hours of video + booklet.

6/25/2019 – Rules of thumb are just that — rules of thumb. They are often a good guideline but sometimes they are made to be broken and only concrete calculation helps.

6/21/2019 – From the diagram, the pawn sac 6.Nb5!? a6 7.Nd6+ Bxd6 8.Qxd6 (Bxe4) gives White the typical dark-squared compensation. The catastrophe to follow shortly after was of course not forced but, some might feel, not completely unexpected either.

6/18/2019 – The duel bishop vs knight is often more complicated than it seems at first. "Strong" knights are often not as strong as they seem and "bad" bishops can become really bad - for the unsuspecting opponent. How should Black continue in the diagram position?

6/18/2019 – Endgames can be tricky - which offers good chances to save or gain a point if you know what you are doing. ChessBase and the ChessBase Magazine help you to know what you should do and what you can do in the endgame. Here's a short tutorial. | Picture: ChessBase

6/14/2019 – With 14...0-0-0 in the diagram position Black parries the threat Nc7+, but White's continuation shows that it's not only about material on the queenside. Five moves later it was "Game Over". But what did White play after 14...0-0-0?

6/11/2019 – "Mate ends the game!" Beginners know this simple truth but if you start to learn the intricacies of positional play you sometimes forget about the enemy king while trying to exploit weak pawns, weak squares, pawn majorities, etc. But mating attacks are often very powerful - even in the endgame.

6/7/2019 – 26.Qe6! in the diagram position just feels right - the queen takes a threatening stance in front of Black's king which is stuck in the middle. However, after 26...Qc6 or 26...Bc6 White must walk the talk. Are you up to it?

6/4/2019 – White is almost in zugzwang but the diagonal a2-g8 happens to be just long enough for White's bishop.

5/31/2019 – In the diagram White has just captured on d4. What do you make of this continuation — or rather the position arising 21...Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 and now?

5/28/2019 – World Champion Magnus Carlsen once famously quipped that he doesn't believe in fortresses. But sometimes fortresses are strong enough to save a draw despite a heavy material disadvantage. White to play and draw...

5/24/2019 – In the diagram position the white king seems reasonably protected, but the game continuation gives Black an irresistible attack. What would be your idea?