Dear readers, I am happy to announce that my Chessable course 'Lifetime repertoire: Werle's 1.e4 e5' has been released today. A pivotal part of the course encompasses the Ruy Lopez, in which I recommend the Chigorin variation...
The Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation (1.e4, e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6) is an easy line to play, contrary to the difficult main lines arising after 4.Ba4. Avoiding all the long and winding theoretical lines White gets the better pawn structure an...
One more look back at the Gibraltar Chess Festival with one of the players, GM JAN WERLE, who takes a tour of the highlights from this year's tournament, including a selection of games from the winners — Vladislav Artemiev, Karthikeyan Mural...
Max Euwe was the fifth world champion. In 1935 he defeated the reigning champion Alexander Alekhine. Euwe held the crown for merely 2 years. His 'abdication' was ensured by Alekhine in 1937. In daily life, Euwe was a doctor of mathematic...
The third round of the European Club Cup has been played this Sunday. Of course there are many interesting games to share with you dear readers, but I'd rather share with you my special experience of the day. My German team Werder Bremen faced the...
From Wilhelm the first to Emanuel the Second, we arrived in this series at the third world champion: Jose Raul Capablanca. The Cuban grandmaster reigned from 1921 to 1927. Maybe the most glamorous amongst the World Champions, but on the ches...
As there has been comprehensively reported on the Olympiad so far, I'd like to highlight the national team which is in the lead after 7 rounds: Azerbaijan. With Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Naiditsch, Mamedov and Safarli, they are clearly one of the favo...
As one of the most wonderful chess events of the year is taking place, the golden oldies (i.e. my series: Finishing touch from the World Champions) have to wait for a little while. In Batumi, Georgia, the 43rd Olympiad is being held. Please have a...
Emanuel Lasker (Wch: 1894-1921) Among the world champions, Emanuel the Second is known as (one of) the most gifted defensive player. Reigning between 1894 and 1921 he could perfectly read his opponents' intentions, being able to look a few mo...
Wilhelm Steinitz, before he became the first world champion in the era 1886 till 1894, was a true attacker. This game from 1863 - long before he besieged the crown and drafted his revolutionary positional theory - is a fine example of his sty...
On my blog I'd like to share with you some decisive manoeuvres from the former world champions. We are bypassing the narrative. I only ask a little bit of your concentration. In the fragment below another example of Aljechin capitalizing o...
On my blog I'd like to share with you some decisive manoeuvres from the former world champions. We are bypassing the narrative. I only ask a little bit of your concentration. So please sit back... and enjoy In the following example w...
