Highlights of ChessBase Magazine #221
From the Biel 2024 Festival to Jan Markos’ “Practical tips for tournament players” and “The Fortress” series with Dorian Rogozenco:
Over 5 hours of video with Daniel King, Rainer Knaak, Jan Markos, Mihail Marin, Karsten Mueller, Oliver Reeh, Robert Ris, Dorian Rogozenco, Ivan Sokolov and Nico Zwirs!
High-end games analyzed by Masters
Biel Chess Festival 2024: The Masters and Challengers of the traditional Swiss tournament once again took place in the form of a triathlon. Games with classical time control as well as rapid chess and blitz provided many exciting moments. In the Masters, Le Quang Liem won for the third time in succession. Saleh Salem won the Challengers. The Masters winner comments on one of his games in this issue. Jonas Bjerre, Alexander Donchenko, Abhimanyu Mishra and Ihor Samunenkov also give us their analyses of Biel.
Special Ju Wenjun
CBM authors (Adhiban, Bojkov, Csonka, Kapnisis, Krasenkov, Markos, Sadorra and many others) comment on their favorite games of the world champion. An exclusive collection from 2009 to 2024 awaits you!
The fortress
“You have to know about fortresses, just as you have to know about openings”. Dorian Rogozenco continues his new series with two new, closely related fortress motifs. Introductory video, five interactive training videos with a detour to the first part of the 1972 World Championship match between Spassky and Fischer.
Videos covering Openings
- Ivan Sokolov presents a new Gambit idea against the Slav. After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.♘f3 ♞f6 4.♘c3 dxc4 5.e4 b5 6.a4 b4 7.♘a2 ♞xe4 8.♗xc4, White sacrifices an ♙ for long-term positional compensation.
- Nico Zwirs shows a game by the new Dutch 2024 Champion, Max Warmerdam, who invented the novelty 6.h4!? in the English opening after 1.c4 c6 2.♘f3 d5 3.g3 g6 4.♕a4 ♞f6 5.cxd5 ♞xd5.
- Attention blitz and bullets fans: Daniel King presents one of Andrew Tang’s favorite weapons, one of the best players online – the Englund Gambit, which promises initiative from the start with 1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 ♞c6 3.♘f3 d6/d5.
Fresh ideas for your repertoire
From Dutch to East Indian, ChessBase Magazine #221 brings you 10 articles on openings with fresh ideas for your repertoire:
- Renato Quintiliano – Dutch: 1.d4 f5 2.c4 ♞f6 3.♘c3
- Robert Ris – Caro-Kann Panov attack: 13.♕c5+
- Sergey Grigoriants – Caro-Kann: 3.♘c3 dxe4 4.♘xe4 ♝f5
- Alexey Kuzmin – Dragon Accéléré: …a5 / …a4
- Evgeny Postny – Viennese Game: 3.♗c4 ♝c5 4.d3 c6 5.f4
- Petra Papp – Spanish: 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♞c6 3.♗b5 a4 4.♗a4 f5
- Imre Hera – Gambit ♕ Exchange variation: 5.cxd5 exd5 6.h3!?
- Spyridon Kapnisis – Gambit Blumenfeld
- Balazs Csonka – Nimzo-Indienne Variante Rubinstein: 10.♗a2
- Krisztian Szabo – East Indian Makogonov variation: 5.h3 e5!?
Thematic traps in the Opening
“Favorite mistakes and single-use moves”. Rainer Knaak presents eight traps from tournament practice – from Sicilian to West Indian.
Shot by shot
Arjun Erigaisi defeated GM Hovhannisyan of Armenia in an exciting positional battle full of technical finesse. Put your understanding of the game to the test and let Robert Ris help you if you don’t hit the nail on the head!
Modern Classics
At the 1959 Candidates’ Tournament, Mihail Tal comfortably beat his competitors. In this issue, Dorian Rogozenco presents his white victory thanks to a surprising ♕ sacrifice against Vassily Smyslov. Enjoy your viewing!
All in one
Everything you need to know about a variation in one extensively annotated game! Igor Stohl examines a modern approach for Black in the Spanish after 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♞c6 3.♗b5 a6 4.♗a4 ♞ge7, the delayed Cozio defense, also known as the Aronian Variant, appears on the board.
Practical tips for tournament players: “If one piece is bad, the whole position is bad!”
A single wrongly positioned piece can decide the outcome of a game! Jan Markos uses this to develop a strategic approach to your games: gain a decisive advantage by removing one of your opponent’s pieces from the game! Video, plus a small collection of practice exercises.
Tactics: “Lucky bag Open”
38 games with lots of practice questions await you in Oliver Reeh’s tactical article. You can solve his four favorite combinations move by move in an interactive video format.
Finals basics – Part 11: The finals of ♘♞ are similar to the endings of ♙♟!
In the introductory video, endgame expert Dr Karsten Mueller presents the most important techniques and tips. Then it’s up to you to play in two interactive training videos. Ju Wenjun’s strong points in the finals” (video + analysis).
His game is put to the test in two interactive videos. Mueller makes yet another contribution with Gukesh’s best endgames (video introduction + analysis).
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