No. 350
White to play. This is from Anand v Kramnik, Zurich Rapidplay 2015. White has two ways to win this position,…
Tradewise
The Tradewise Masters in Gibraltar has been won by the American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, with the British co-champion David Howell…
No. 349
White to play. This position is a variation from Bellin-Georgiadis, Gibraltar 2015. White has given up his queen. How does…
Sixes and sevens
The veteran world championship contender, Victor Korchnoi, has accused the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen of hypnotising his opponents. Plainly unimpressed by…
No. 348
White to play. This position is a variation from Nakamura-Topalov, Gibraltar 2015. Topalov has already resigned this game as he…
Magnificent Magnus
Magnus Carlsen has won first prize in the elite Tata Steel tournament at Wijk aan Zee, Holland. Leading scores out…
No. 347
White to play. This is a variation from Carlsen-Aronian, Wijk aan Zee 2015. Black has just played his bishop to…
London Blitz
Britain’s leading grandmaster, Michael Adams, started well in the London Classic, with a beautiful win against the rising star Fabiano…
No: 346
White to play. This position is a variation from Kramnik-Nakamura, London Classic Blitz 2014. How can White make a decisive…
London Rapid
The exciting American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura compensated for his somewhat lacklustre performance in the London Classic section, held at Olympia…
No: 345
White to play. This position is a variation from Williams-van Wely, London Rapidplay 2014. How can White bring his kingside…
London Classic
The key feature of the London Classic, which finished shortly before Christmas, was the resurgence of Viswanathan Anand, the former…
No. 344
White to play. This is a position from Adams–Caruana, London Classic 2014. How did Adams convert to a winning endgame?…
Ave et vale
2014 was the year in which Magnus Carlsen confirmed his position as world champion, and also the year in which…
No. 343
White to play. This position is from Caruana–Ponomariov, Dortmund 2014. The structure is symmetrical but White’s pieces are very active.…
London greats
The London Chess Classic, graced by two former world champions Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik, as well as the world…
Christmas chess puzzle
White to play. This position is from Anderssen-Kieseritzky, London 1851. It is a brilliant encounter that became known as the…
Classic
London chess fans are about to enjoy a great treat. The London Chess Classic will run from the 10-14 December…
Chess puzzle
White to play. This position is a variation from Larsen-Portisch, London 1986. How can White exploit a fatal weakness in…
Extinct tigers
The Tiger of Madras has gone the way of the sabre-toothed tiger. Viswanathan Anand, world champion from 2007 to 2013,…
No. 342
White to play. This position is a variation from move 37 of today’s game. How does White win? Answers to…
Comedy of errors
For reasons unknown, the world championship in Sochi between Carlsen and Anand is turning into a catalogue of disastrous blunders…
No: 341
Black to play. This is from Korchnoi-Karpov, World Championship (Game 17), Baguio 1978. Can you spot Black’s winning coup? Answers…
Force Majeure
The common feature of the first two games of the World Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen in…
No. 340
Black to play. This position is a variation from Anand-Carlsen; World Championship, Sochi (Game 1) 2014. Can you spot Black’s…
