ChessBase Magazine Online

ChessBase Opening Encyclopedia 2006 - Part 2
19.08.2006 – In the second of two ChessBase Workshop columns, we examine some possible methods for using the ChessBase Opening Encyclopedia 2006 to help you sharpen your opening play. More information...
 

Chess Classic: Anand and Svidler falter
18.08.2006 – Vishy Anand, the world's strongest rapid chess player, got off to a shaky start at the Chess Classic in Mainz, drawing one and losing the second game to challenger Teimour Radjabov. In Chess960 the reigning champion Peter Svidler lost both his games to Levon Aronian, albeit somewhat unluckily. Full report on day three of the Classic.
 

Experience vs Rising Stars in Amsterdam
18.08.2006 – Ulf or Magnus? Beliavsky or Karjakin? Two teams of five face off in the NH Chess Tournament in Amsterdam on Saturday – a confrontation between "experienced grandmasters" and "rising stars". The former consists of chess legends, the latter of young players heading for the top. The average ages are 51.8 and 17.6, the average ratings 2590 and 2614. Preview.
 

Chess Classic: Chess960 results, Anand and Aronian simuls
17.08.2006 – In the three Chess960 (Fischer Random) world championships India's Harikrishna won in the Juniors section, Alexandra Kosteniuk in the Women's and Vlastimil Hort in the Seniors. Anand gave a simultaneous exhibition and drew to a rock musician from Finnland. Aronian played a blindfold Chess960 game against soap star Vaile and won. Pictorial report.
 

Cheating at the World Open – more details
17.08.2006 – Last week we reported that two players were accused of using computer assistance during their games at the World Open in Philadelphia in July. The story was in the New York Times, but contained some inaccuracies. The tournament director who found the secret communication device sets the record straight. And one of the victims sent us analysis of his game. You'll probably guess who played it.
 

Adriaan de Groot, chess psychologist (1914–2006)
16.08.2006 – In the 40s, 50s and 60s the Dutch psychologist and chess master conducted a number of ground-breaking experiments in the cognitive processes that occur in the brains of strong chess players. A recent Scientific American article bears testimony to this research. Adriaan de Groot died in Schiermonnikoog, Holland on August 14. He was 91. In memoriam.
 

Kirsan, Putin and the world championship match
15.08.2006 – Some people were getting a bit nervous. After announcing the reunification match for a single world championship title between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik in April this year there was a lack of news on the event. Now FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and released all the details.
 

The Swiss King of India
15.08.2006 – The sensation at the First Hirabai Salgaocar Tournament in Goa was IM Diwakar Prasad Singh, a 2377 rated IM, who, after a dismal showing as a member of the Indian Chess Olympiad squad, has gone on to win three major tournament in a row. This time he took first in a strong field of 235 players. Here's a beautiful photo report from Goa by Praful Zaveri.
 

ChessBase Magazine 113 – training with the stars
14.08.2006 – After 112 issues of this vital lifeline for chess players all over the world, vol. 113 of ChessBase Magazine comes in a fully new design and conception. It is all about chess training, mostly in audio and video (three and a half hours of it), with stars like Anand, Kasimdzahnov and Radjabov. Instructional material that is fun to follow. Order it now, or read this overview with a sample video.
 

Chess Classic with Anand, Radjabov, Svidler, Aronian and Vaile
14.08.2006 – Suffering withdrawal after Sofia and Dortmund? The next big event starts tomorrow, in Mainz, Germany. Anand plays an eight-game rapid chess match against Teimour Radjabov, Peter Svidler a Chess960 (Fischer Random) against Levon Aronian. There are Chess960 events for women, seniors, juniors and computers. We bring you a road map and all the essential links.
 

Scientific American: The Expert Mind
14.08.2006 – Once again (after a report on Deep Blue) chess has made it to the cover of the periodical Scientific American. An article written by Phil Ross, a 2053 USCF player, describes the research that has gone into explaining such extraordinary cognitive feats of the human mind as grandmasterly play. Not a lot of new material for the expert, but a good summary for a general audience. Read the online version.
 

Charousek vs Suechting – the battle continues
13.08.2006 – Last week in Dennis Monokroussos' Monday night Playchess lecture we saw part of an incredibly sharp 1897 game between Rudolf Charousek and Hugo Suechting. This Monday Dennis will examine this ending thoroughly. There are some useful lessons to be learned.