The variation that brought down Kasparov
September 30, 2008 by New in Chess (ADVERTORIALS) · Leave a Comment
British IM John Cox has posed himself the daunting task of writing a book on the infamous Berlin Wall.
And he succeeded: this is the Berlin Wall Bible for some time to come, if only for the organization of the contents: 58 pages on typical Berlin endings, followed by 60 pages on positional themes, and only then the theory of the Berlin Wall is considered, in 184 pages. This is the way to tackle a purely strategic variation like the Berlin Wall!
Queens come off quickly in the main variation of the Berlin Wall, but is it a boring variation? Not really, considering that the position remains dynamic and that even an aggressive player like Topalov uses it from time to time. The Berlin Wall can do more than a making a draw with Kasparov.
Play the Berlin Wall and get well acquainted with its nuances with this splendid manual by John Cox.
Topalov tops new FIDE ratings, now officially
September 30, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 11 Comments
For the first time since January 1 (or rather March 31) 2007, Veselin Topalov is the highest rated player in the world. On the new FIDE rating list, published yesterday, Magnus Carlsen is number 4 and not 3 as in Hans Arild Runde’s live list.
Read more
Russia takes revenge with rapid and… football
September 29, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 6 Comments
After they lost the most important (classical) part of their match against China 26-24, the Russian team took revenge by winning the rapid part and… the football match on the rest day. We’re not sure about the blitz… Read more
Four-way tie for first at SPICE Cup
September 29, 2008 by Peter Doggers · Leave a Comment
The 2nd SPICE Cup has finished in a four-way tie for first: Pentala Harikrishna, Alexander Onischuk, Leonid Kritz and Varuzhan Akobian all ended on 5.5 out of 9. Harikrishna had the best tiebreak and received the cup (and a Swiss watch). Read more
Chess is art is chess
September 28, 2008 by Peter Doggers · Leave a Comment
On this beautiful Sunday we shouldn’t get too much involved in chess politics. Let’s not forget that chess is also just a beautiful game! An opinion shared by artists around the world. Read more
Weekly Endgame Study (90)
September 27, 2008 by Yochanan Afek · Leave a Comment
Every Saturday an endgame study is published at ChessVibes, selected by IM Yochanan Afek: player, trainer, endgame study composer and writer. A week later the solution is published. Good luck with the instructional occupation of solving a study! Read more
Bulgarian Chess Federation: “Mr Ilymzhinov, please inform us” (UPDATE)
September 26, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 24 Comments
On June 1st, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov personally guaranteed the prize fund for the match Topalov-Kamsky scheduled, for November this year. Since then it has been quiet around this match – a bit too quiet, says Stefan Sergiev, President of the Bulgarian Chess Federation, in an open letter – its translation has been corrected now. Read more
Attacking ?ɬ† la Tarrasch
September 26, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 2 Comments
Siegbert Tarrasch wasn’t exactly known for his attacking games – in those days Rudolf Spielmann was the Last of the Mohicans trying to hold up romantic chess. It’s also not an every day story that Black wins with a beautiful attack using Tarrasch’s Defence, but that’s what happened in round 6 of the SPICE Cup. Read more
Torre’s comeback?
September 25, 2008 by Peter Doggers · 5 Comments
Chess in Asia has been somewhat neglected by Western media, but the region actually deserves more attention and ChessVibes intends to do better. This time it wasn’t the Philippine super talent Wesley So who caught our eye, no, it was his 56-year-old compatriot Eugene Torre, who scored his best result in years. Read more
New & full of opening novelties: Yearbook 88
September 25, 2008 by New in Chess (ADVERTORIALS) · Leave a Comment
Yearbook 88 has just arrived, and in this issue of
The Chess Player’s Guide to Opening News you will find,
among much else, answers to urgent questions like:
– What does Carlsen offer White and Black in the Catalan?
– Has Ivanchuk pinpointed White’s weak spot in the Petroff?
– Which novelty revived an ailing Gr?ɬºnfeld line?
– Has Kramnik found the Hedgehog’s Achilles’ Heel?
– What’s the new idea in the King’s Indian Bayonet Attack?
– Is there new hope in the Nimzowitsch Petroff?
– Does the sensational Gajewski Gambit hold up?
– Is Gelfand’s 11.Qb6 still viable in the Najdorf?
– How does Anand fight the fabulous Budapest Gambit in simuls?
– Why does British co-champion Keith Arkell play 1.b4?
– Why does nobody play the right move in the Jaenisch Ruy Lopez?
– And much, much more…
