5/9/2026 – The Advance Variation in the French Defence can be seen as the purest form of handling this opening, as White forms the thematic French pawn chain as early as move three and aims to rely on his advantage in space and minor pieces. In his review, Lukas Köpl examines Jan Werle's contribution to the "60 Minutes" series from the perspective of both player and trainer.

12/23/2025 – Wilhelm Steinitz, the first World Champion was far ahead of his time. A new ChessBase Master Class explores Wilhelm Steinitz as a theoretician, practitioner, and driving force of ideas – and shows why his concepts continue to resonate today. Harry Schaack, Editor-in-Chief of the German chess magazine "Karl", has taken a close look at the course and explains in the current issue why Steinitz still provokes, inspires, and surprises.

10/5/2025 – When is it useful to invest a lot of time in thinking about a position, and when is it not? This is a question that players ask themselves time and time again. Our reviewer is familiar with this topic from his own experience. Hannes Langrock is an editor at a fiction publishing house and an International Master. He lives in Leipzig and plays for ESV Nickelhütte-Aue. He studied the course intensively and shares his thoughts on it. | Photos: ChessBase

9/13/2025 – GM Felix Blohberger takes the road less traveled with his two-part video course on the Réti Opening. In nearly eight hours of material, he explains the ideas he has developed for the Réti – drawing on his own practical experience. Hannes Langrock, an International Master and literary editor at a fiction publishing house, lives in Leipzig and plays for ESV Nickelhütte-Aue. He took an in-depth look at the course and now shares his impressions. | Photos: ChessBase

8/9/2025 – What kind of chess did a world champion play who combined brilliant intellect with quiet strategic strength? Master Class Volume 18 offers a deep dive into the thinking of Max Euwe, a player whose ideas remain surprisingly relevant and instructive today. International Master Hannes Langrock, a fiction editor based in Leipzig and a player for ESV Nickelhütte-Aue, has taken a close look at the course and shares his impressions.

11/19/2024 – This exceptionally clear and concise video will show you not only all the features of the newly released ChessBase 18, but demonstrates how they can be used by amateurs and pros alike (not to mention some that are just plain fun). Even the new mobile app is on display in full live action with the database, repertoires and opening stats all available.

9/6/2024 – The new issue of ChessBase Magazine is bursting with interesting topics: Ju Wenjun's career and style of play is just one of them. The often interactive format also deals with fortresses, the principle of bad pieces, current tournament games, endgames and much more.

5/30/2024 – Building up a suitable opening repertoire is no easy task and can take some time. If you have an experienced trainer to help you with tips and advice, that is extremely helpful and also saves a lot of time. The Dutch grandmaster Sipke Ernst (photo: Frans Peeters) offers this help with his video course "A practical repertoire for the positional player after 1.d4".

4/19/2024 – The Indian Grandmaster RB Ramesh is regarded as one of the best and most successful coaches in the world, and he has played a significant role in the many successes of talented Indian players. In the ChessBase course "Improve your Pieces" he now reveals his chess and training philosophy. Harry Schaack watched the course and was impressed.

12/12/2023 – Ivan Sokolov has risen to the ranks of the top coaches since the team of Uzbekistan, which he coached, won gold at the the Chess Olympiad in Chennai 2022. In his Fritztrainer series "Understanding Middlegame Strategies", Sokolov regularly shares his grandmaster knowledge and shows what to do in a large variety of positions and structures. Hannes Langrock had a look at Sokolov's course on the Catalan.

12/5/2023 – The Caro Kann Defence is a much-played opening today, with which Black often makes life difficult for White after 1.e4. In his ChessBase course "Weapons against the Caro-Kann, 1 and 2", English GM Daniel Fernandez shows how White can successfully combat this defence. Christian Höthe took a look at the course.

11/23/2023 – The ChessBase Magazine offers many advantages. When he got hold of the latest issue of the magazine - #216 - Davide Nastasio was happy about the wealth of chess content CBM offers, but he was also happy about the other advantages of the magazine. In his review he reveals why.

10/13/2023 – After White's first move, it is usually Black, who determines the character of the game. The Keymer System 1.Nf3 and 2.e3 is an attempt from White to steer the game into lines and structures White likes. On his first Fritztrainer the young Indian Grandmaster Leon Mendonca shows the potential and the advantages of the Keymer System. Christian Höthe took a look at the course.

7/12/2023 – Since moving to the digital world we live in, a few parts of our lives continue to be a cross between tradition and the new, such as photography, newspapers, and most notably: books. There are many who are deeply reluctant to make the switch for reading, keen to bring up aspects of print that are absent in digital. But is it that simple? Enjoy this article and video!

5/9/2023 – Chess journalist Harald Fietz, who experienced Viktor Kortschnoi in person, treated himself to the Fritztrainers "Viktor Kortschnoi: My life for chess" and "Masterclass: Viktor Kortschnoi". In one the master speaks himself, in the other, they talk about him. Both Fritztrainers offer plenty of chess thrills, says Fietz in his review.

2/12/2023 – The Slav has a reputation for being a (very) solid opening. But there are ways to play it for a win and give your opponent difficult problems to solve. Dutch Grandmaster Sipke Ernst shows how in his course "The Super Solid Slav Defence". Hedinn Steingrimsson took a look at the course and liked what he saw.

2/7/2023 – Attacking is what is most fun in chess. Ideally, you mate! But how do you make your attack successful? On his latest Fritztrainer, Grandmaster Karsten Müller has put together some rules of thumb for a successful attack. Christian Höthe has taken a look at the course.

2/6/2023 – The ChessBase Magazine appears six times a year and shows the latest trends in top level chess and opening theory. However, the issues do not get old: the first issue of 2023 is CBM #211, but Davide Nastasio recently had great fun looking at CBM #205. In an impromptu review he writes: every issue of the ChessBase Magazine "is pure gold for those genuinely interested in growing as chess players".

12/13/2022 – We sent a copy of the new Chessbase 17 to the noted Russian journalist WGM Elmira Mirzoeva, and she wrote back quite excited how impressed she was, and that it was just such software and their new functions that allow young players to rise as quickly as they do. Read what she thinks in this review!

5/27/2022 – Rustam Kasimdzhanov is considered one of the world’s leading opening experts; he has worked as a second for Vishy Anand, Fabiano Caruana and the German national team. In his new Fritztrainer on the French Defence, he passes on his knowledge. Christian Höthe has taken a look at the course and concludes, “The French is a wonderful opening, especially after studying this Fritztrainer!”

9/20/2021 – Among the myriad apps and services offered with a subscription to ChessBase Account is the Tactics web app. This concept is hardly new, and readers undoubtedly are aware of a plethora of rival sites and apps offering this same service, so what makes this one so special? What makes it deserving of the headline "best by test"? Read on to find out!