8/31/2024 – ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. Our columnist, Nagesh Havanur takes a look at our recent issue, CBM 220. 512 games, 38 annotated from the Candidates’ and 7th Sharjah Masters, 11 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, 6 demo. lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Gukesh, Firouzja, Giri and Praggnanandhaa among others. The icing on the cake is a special feature on Gukesh with 24 annotated games. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

8/31/2024 – In the diagram position 23.Nf6+! is the first move to blow out the black king's life-light - you are welcome to contribute the other three yourself!

8/30/2024 – Biel 2024 Chess Festival: The winner of the Masters, Le Quang Liem, comments on one of his games. In addition, Jonas Bjerre, Alexander Donchenko, Abhimanyu Mishra and Ihor Samunenkov contribute analyses from Biel - "Special" on Ju Wenjun: CBM authors show their favourite games of the world champion, an exclusive collection of 24 annotated games awaits you! - "If one piece is bad, the entire position is bad": Jan Markos develops a winning strategy for your games in his "Practical tips"! -Bomb in the Panov Attack: Robert Ris analyses the promising piece sacrifice 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 e6 10.Qxb7 Nxd4 11.Bb5+ Nxb5 12.Qc6+ Ke7 13.Qc5+!? and much more!

8/27/2024 – In endgames, king activity is often crucial. In the diagram position, White is a pawn up and her rook and her king are more active. However, White still has to win the game. What should she do?

8/24/2024 – 33.g5! in the diagram position is the right line opener for White, but after 33...fxg5 he failed to crown his play. Can you do better?

8/20/2024 – In pawn endings, precise calculation is important. In the diagram position, Black is a pawn up and can win. What would you do?

8/17/2024 – In the diagram position it is Black to move - and can't he simply play ...b5 to pin and win? Feel free to be skeptical - but not too much!

8/13/2024 – In the diagram position Black is a pawn up, but has to find a way to parry White's attack on the h-pawn. What would you do?

8/10/2024 – In the diagram position it was Black to move and he played 25...Rc4!, which creates a powerful threat. However, curiously, in the game Black took his time before he executed the threat. Enjoy and relax!

8/6/2024 – It is often difficult to build a fortress against the pair of bishops, and it is much easier to build a fortress when opposite colored bishops are on the board. In the diagram position White fights against the pair of bishops, but had a way to draw. What should she have done?

8/3/2024 – White just played 15.Rf3!?, an exchange sacrifice that Magnus Carlsen and other other have tried with success. After 15...Nxf3 16.gxf3 you can really let off steam with White - have fun!

7/30/2024 – Knight endings are like pawn endings. Zugzwang, king actvity and outside passed pawns are crucial. Of course, in pawn endings you do not have to think about forks and the consequences of exchanging your knight. Without the knights the position shown in the diagram would be a simple win for White. With the knights, the position is still won, but the win is more complicated. What should White do?

7/27/2024 – In the diagram position Black's three heavy pieces are positioned around the Kg3, but he doesn't yet have a win. However, after the game continuation 56...Rh7 57.Qf5?? he has - can you spot the difference?

7/23/2024 – Against bishops it is often a good strategy to build a blockade. In the diagram position it is Black to move - how could he have built a blockade and saved the game?

7/22/2024 – “Finishing off the opponent's king is, and remains, the ultimate goal of a chess game, and in order to memorise the checkmating patterns and know how to use them successfully in your own games, only one thing helps: practise again and again!”. Oliver Reeh introduces his tactics column in the new ChessBase Magazine #220 with these words. Is there anything to add? Let's go! Take advantage of the CBM reading sample of the week and go king hunting with Oliver Reeh. Here and now and directly via your web browser!

7/20/2024 – The diagram position shows a typical picture from the 6.Bg5-Najdorf: White has pinned the black king in the center, sacrificed a piece and after 14...h5 finishes brilliantly. Have fun!

7/16/2024 – In an endgame the king should be activated. In the diagram position it is Black to move - and he can win! How?

7/15/2024 – In chess literature, there is one topic - and a very attractive one - that has surprisingly never been dealt with systematically: Fortresses! Dorian Rogozenco sets out to fill this gap with his new column in ChessBase Magazine. In each issue, Rogozenco will introduce you to a fortress in a video. "There are fortresses that are important to know. In my new column, I will start with the simplest ones," says the former coach of the German national team. The presentation of the fortress is followed by a series of interactive videos to help you memorise the motif in a fun way. Do you know the fortress with knight and bishop against queen? Take a look at our first sample of the new ChessBase Magazine #220! Simply load it with your web browser in the ChessBase Books format. Have fun!

7/13/2024 – In the diagram position the black king is in a tight spot, and with the cool 36.Ka2! White was already looking forward to 36...Rd2. You were too?

7/9/2024 – In an endgame you should activate your king. In the diagram position, it is Black to move and he can win by activating his king. But how?

7/7/2024 – The new ChessBase Magazine #220 again provides plenty of ideas for your repertoire with ten opening articles, from the Reti Opening to the Jobava London System and the King's Indian! In his search for a weapon against the Semi-Slav (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6), our author Yago Santiago came across the move 5.Qc2!? with which Matthias Bluebaum, among others, has achieved impressive results! The article in CBM #220 consists of an introductory text and nine extensively annotated games (with an outright 9:0 in favour of White!), including no less than five games by the German grandmaster. This week we invite you to take a look at the article with all our author's analyses as a free reading sample - directly via your web browser in ChessBase Books format.

7/6/2024 – In the diagram position Black played 24...Nd7 to simplify things - but from what I know about you, you will find a way to put a spanner in the works with White!

7/2/2024 – In rook endings activity is often crucial. In the diagram position it is White to move and win. What did he do?

6/29/2024 – After 15...f4? (diagram position) White wins by storm - an ancient oldie, have fun!