26.12.2009– Correct evaluation of pawn endings is an important pillar of good endgame
technique. So, e.g., in the following position Black had to come to a
judgment as to whether, after the exchange of rooks with 47...Rxe2 48.Kxe2, the
ensuing pawn ending is a draw. Otherwise, he would be obliged to do without
the exchange and to defend the rook ending.
What do you think? Does the exchange of rooks lead to a drawn position?
The solution is here,
but first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.Читать дальше »
26.12.2009– When he previewed our puzzle page on Christmas Eve John Nunn solved the first
position in fifteen seconds (yes, he's slowing down with age). But then he woke
up on Christmas day in a cold sweat, realizing that the problem was flawed.
The same conclusion was drawn by problem expert Noam Elkies. Today we give you
an explanation, a correction, and a new position to bait
your computer.Andrew Martin:
The Trompowsky - The easy way - 2nd Edition Thirty years ago the Trompowsky opening was almost totally unknown. It took a few spectacular games by Rafael Vaganian to bring 2.Bg5 into the limelight, and after that, the die was cast. Today 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 is used by many of the best players in the world and a whole body of complicated theory has built up.
More information... Читать дальше »
26.12.2009– There were four decisive games in round five of the men's section, with one sensation: the leader, Peter Svidler, lost to the youngest participant, 16-year-old Sanan Sjugirov of Kalmykia. That put Alexander Grischuk, who won his game, in the sole lead. In the women's section IM Alisa Galliamova continues her rampage and is leading by a full point. Games and statistics.Andrew Martin:
The Trompowsky - The easy way - 2nd Edition Thirty years ago the Trompowsky opening was almost totally unknown. It took a few spectacular games by Rafael Vaganian to bring 2.Bg5 into the limelight, and after that, the die was cast. Today 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 is used by many of the best players in the world and a whole body of complicated theory has built up.
More information... Читать дальше »
25.12.2009– Those were the exact words that led to the misunderstanding of an Indian journalist and the viral spread of the report that Magnus Carlsen would be one of the seconds of World Champion Viswanathan Anand in his Sofia match against Veselin Topalov. One of our readers sent video footage, and also a delightful Christmas report on Anand's visit in Bangalore.Andrew Martin:
The Trompowsky - The easy way - 2nd Edition Thirty years ago the Trompowsky opening was almost totally unknown. It took a few spectacular games by Rafael Vaganian to bring 2.Bg5 into the limelight, and after that, the die was cast. Today 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 is used by many of the best players in the world and a whole body of complicated theory has built up.
More information... Читать дальше »
24.12.2009– It is tradition during the week from December 25th to January 1st we
bring you daily installments of puzzles. This time the theme is the Revenge
of the Humans problems that will (hopefully) stump computers, but which
biological brains are able to comprehend. New puzzles will appear daily on the
index page,
here for today, with best seasonal wishes, is our
first 2009 Christmas puzzle.Andrew Martin:
The Trompowsky - The easy way - 2nd Edition Thirty years ago the Trompowsky opening was almost totally unknown. It took a few spectacular games by Rafael Vaganian to bring 2.Bg5 into the limelight, and after that, the die was cast. Today 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 is used by many of the best players in the world and a whole body of complicated theory has built up.
More information... Читать дальше »