7/17/2021 – In the diagram position Black just played 21...Rxd4!, capturing a knight. However, this move looks dangerous because White has 22.Qc3, pinning the rook on the long diagonal and threatening 23.e3. But Black knew exactly what he was doing. Can you follow his thoughts?

7/10/2021 – In the diagram position White has brought almost all of his pieces in position to attack the black king. However, in order to exploit this menacing show of force White needs to play all over the board. But he will be rewarded with checkmating the opponent or a decisive material plus - enjoy!

7/3/2021 – In the diagram position Black seems to be able to win a pawn with 20...Rxa4?? 21.Rxa4 Rxa4. But taking this pawn leaves Black's back rank unprotected which White can exploit. How?

6/26/2021 – In the diagram position Black has a strong attack and threatens 30...Qxg2#. But with careful play White can defend and win the game. How?

6/19/2021 – A far advanced passed pawn supported by his queen can be an irresistible force. In the diagram position it is White to play and win!

6/12/2021 – In endgames, a "petite combinaison" à la Capablanca is often the quickest (if not the only) way to convert a material advantage. In the diagram position, White is a pawn up - how does he save himself a lot of work?

6/5/2021 – White's continuation in the diagram position truly belongs into the category "very special". How about a little test: how did White continue here and was this move among your first three candidate moves?

5/29/2021 – White has misplayed the opening (six moves with the queen!), and in the diagram position Black's huge delevopment advantage is just crying out to be exploited. How did Black (MVL) proceed?

5/22/2021 – The diagram shows a position from the game L. Dominguez vs M. Carlsen, Opera Euro 2021. Black's last move 27...Kh6? gave White the chance to hunt the bold king down and to win against the World Champion. But as this was a rapid game and White did not have much time left on the clock, he failed to find the win. Can you do better, without a ticking clock and all the time in the world?

5/15/2021 – After White's bishop retreat from f4 to h2 (see diagram position), Black needed no second invitation to unleash her forces. What did she play?

5/8/2021 – If Black plays 30...Nxc3 in the diagram position he attacks White's rook on b1 and opens the bishop's diagonal a8-g2. So, everything seems fine for Black - unless White can spoil the fun with 31.Bc5. Well, can he?

5/7/2021 – Constant tactical training is vital if you want to improve or just maintain your playing strength. In his ChessBase Magazine column "Tune your tactics", tactics expert IM Oliver Reeh regularly presents about 30 tactical tasks, from opening, middlegame and endgame, from simple to super-difficult, with questions far beyond the scope of the conventional "X to play and win". Moreover, Reeh presents his personal favourites in interactive Fritztrainer videos. In ChessBase Magazine #201, these favourites include three classics and a recent example. Take the test and enjoy!

5/1/2021 – In the diagram position, which is from a game between Adelya Salakhova and Valentina Gunina, White seems to be doing more or less okay. However, it took Gunina, who has a keen eye for tactics, only a few moves to reveal the hidden weakness of White's position - power play in perfection! What did Black do?

4/24/2021 – Black's weak back rank is shielded only by the Ne6 - basically that's all you need to have in mind to work out how White wins from the diagram position. Especially the first move is a toughie, though. Have fun!

4/17/2021 – In the diagram position, 32...Qf3+! 33.Kh3 would have led to victory for Black, a "wow move" included. Enjoy!

4/11/2021 – It isn't often one sees a game between top programs in which a queen is trapped in the middlegame, but just such a thing happened in a game shared by Peter Grayson. What stood out was how both programs differed on a key juncture, leading him to comment, "Fat Fritz 2 exhibits almost human-like qualities to threaten the snaring of the queen". Enjoy this fun tussle and his kind analysis. | Photo: National Portrait Gallery, London

4/10/2021 – In the diagram position, Black's strong knight on d5 controls many squares - but that is still not enough to withstand the force of White's attack. It's White to play - how would you attack Black's exposed king?

4/3/2021 – 26...Rxh4! in the diagam position was very strong, however, after 27.gxh4 Black failed to crown his combination and take the game home. Can you do better?

3/27/2021 – In the diagram position, White has just played 17.e5, attacking against Black's queen on f6 and Black's bishop on b7. The World Champion first defended cooly, but then blundered which allowed his opponent a spectacular finish. Enjoy!

3/22/2021 – In the diagram position, Black's rook and knight threaten White's exposed king. Time to bring up a third attacker - how?

3/13/2021 – In the diagram position 35.Rxg6+! wins for White - if White finds the right checks after 35...Kh7. Are you up to the challenge?

3/10/2021 – The ChessBase Magazine celebrates its anniversary! On the occasion of issue # 200, published at the beginning of March, we are presenting highlights from the many regular columns of the ChessBase Magazine. A good way to get better and to win more games is to solve tactical puzzles regularly. And in each issue of the CBM, Oliver Reeh leads you through a series of training puzzles - from simple to super-advanced tasks - and presents his personal favourites in interactive Fritztrainer videos. Take part, improve your tactics, and enjoy!

3/6/2021 – In the diagram position, Black's rook on h4 is cut off from the rest of the army, and after 21.Bg5 a rescue operation is needed. But what could that be?

2/27/2021 – In the diagram position, White started to expose the central enemy king with 43.c5! dxc5 44.Rxc5 a3 - can you take things to victory from there?