January 2014 Issue

Chess.com's Preview Article for the January Issue of the 2014 Master's Bulletin can be found here:

http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-masters-bulletin-january-2014

Let the discussion begin! You're favorite? Least Favorite? Assuming you've read the magazine - no trolling in this group please!

I'll start!

First of all, does GM Yermolinsky ever *not* write something that's awesome? Not sure how, but he actually picked games I had not reviewed from 2013. His analysis of the Andreikin-Karjakin game was entertaining and instructive.

Gormally's piece on the 6.h3 Najdorf was great, though I admit I was a little disappointed when I saw it only covered 6...e6, and not the popular 6...e5 reply - however, I've learned he's making up for it in February's coming issue

LOVED Moskalenko's piece on the 1.b3 "Larsen System". Seriously, I am going to learn this system as a weapon (and not just for Bullet Brawls ).

Of course Robert and Arthur were good as usual. Admit that I didn't spend enough time on Afek's Corner puzzle to solve it this month... Will make up for it next month!

To answer a question about my Master Bulletin Article.

I go through dozens of games daily. When something catches my eye I move that game into one of my work databases - file it in for future study. My choices are biased; I have my favorite players I always keep my eye on, and, as a rule, I avoid anything from the Berlin Variation.

Seriously, there are "second tier" players who always play enterprising chess. One of them, Dmitry Andreikin, will soon get his chance at the Candidates. I hope Dmitry hangs in there and one day he'll be joined by Maxim Vachier-Lagrave, Ding Liren and some others.

Another thing that might influence my selection is the tournament situation the game in question was played in. I love the World Cup; them knockout matches often produce incredibly tense "must-win" scenarios.

Although I don't play nearly as often as I used to, I try to stay in shape and travel to tournaments occasionally. There I get to meet with somebody much younger, and that might produce an interesting clash of styles. I'm used to analyzing my games; when I was active it served as my main method of training, now I just create and store material for my articles and videos.

Thanks Alex. Makes sense. I would ask who you think may be the next player in the world to join the 2770+ ranks - but maybe you already answered that with Vachier-Lagrave and Ding Liren?