The clock ticked down mercilessly in this 5-minute blitz game against my friend Leo here in Bellevue, Washington. Black (yours truly) had to deal with the Larsen-Nimzowitsch attack, something my opponent played in the hopes to steer the game into uncharted territory. The early moves were fairly standard, with both sides developing their pieces. However ..read more

Patience in Chess We all need more patience in chess. The clock ticked relentlessly, a mocking metronome to my mounting frustration. White, my opponent Fritz Scholz, seemed content to weave a slow, methodical spell on the board. We were playing a 5-minute blitz game, a format usually characterized by lightning-fast moves and tactical fireworks. Yet ..read more

Crossroads Chess Nestled in the heart of Bellevue, Washington, the Crossroads Mall has become an unlikely battleground for intellectual combat. For over two decades, an oversized chessboard has served as a beacon, drawing in players of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. This seemingly simple game has fostered a vibrant community, forging friendships and unexpected ..read more

The board was a battlefield of possibilities, the ticking clock a mere formality in the face of strategic precision. Today, white fell prey to a series of calculated maneuvers, a victory that unfolded with a satisfying inevitability. Reviewing the game now, the turning points are clear – moments where I exploited their overconfidence and tactical ..read more

Introduction Chess, the ancient game of strategy and intellect, has captivated minds for centuries. Its intricate dynamics demand deep concentration, strategic foresight, and mental agility. In the pursuit of chess mastery, players explore various disciplines to enhance their skills. Among these disciplines, Zen Buddhism stands out as a profound philosophy that offers unique insights into ..read more

Fritz 19 – an improvement from previous versions In the realm of chess software, where silicon minds challenge human intellect with ever-increasing sophistication, Fritz 19 stands as a formidable contender. Crowned the 2023 Computer Chess World Champion, it wields a strategic prowess that promises to captivate and challenge both seasoned players and aspiring prodigies. But ..read more

MegaBase 2024: Chess marches on! MegaBase 2024 is Chess History in action. Regularly updated every month, the Main Database currently offers 10.6 million games, many of them annotated. Here our columnist offers a review with focus on chess in the 21st Century. Carlsen, Ding Liren and Rivals by Nagesh Havanur The ChessBase Mega Database 2024 ..read more

ChessBase Magazine offers a window to the world of professional chess. The latest issue, CBM 217 is out. Our columnist, Nagesh Havanur takes a look. 1582 games (35 annotated), decisive encounters from the FIDE Grand Swiss deeply annotated. 12 opening surveys, 3 opening videos, 6 demo. lectures and several exercises for training. Annotators include Anish ..read more

Chess, to me, is more than a game; it’s a battlefield of strategy and foresight, where every move holds the weight of victory or defeat. In this realm of calculated warfare, the study of mastering endgames becomes a crucial aspect, demanding precision and skill to navigate through the intricate challenges. Let me take you through ..read more

Power Fritz 18 has generated significant buzz in the chess community, promising to be a game-changer in the world of chess software. As an avid chess enthusiast, I decided to delve deep into its features, user interface, and overall performance to provide a comprehensive review for fellow players. Installation and Setup The initial impression of ..read more