ChessBase Journal provides a window to the world {of professional} chess. The newest situation, CBM 217 is out. Our columnist, Nagesh Havanur takes a glance.

1582 video games (35 annotated), decisive encounters from the FIDE Grand Swiss deeply annotated. 12 opening surveys, 3 opening movies, 6 demo. lectures and several other workout routines for coaching. Annotators embrace Anish Giri, Nordibek Abdusattorov, Ruslan Ponomariov, Vidit Gujrathi and Praggnanandhaa amongst others.

Evaluate by Nagesh Havanur

Vidit and Vaishali shine

Whilst I write these traces, the Wijk aan Zee Event has drawn to a detailed, with Wei Yi prevailing over Anish Giri, Gukesh and Abdusattorov in a blitz play-off to win the primary prize. A lot was anticipated of Vidit Gujrathi who was among the many leaders until the final spherical. Right here he was brilliantly outplayed by Wei Yi and ended up with a rating of +3, -1 = 9. The extent of chess right this moment is excessive and competitors fierce as ever. All of it displays the wonderful uncertainty of profitable and dropping.

The FIDE Grand Swiss Event that concluded in November 2023 was a strong contest with 114 prime rating gamers and the individuals included veterans, Giri, Aronian, Shirov and the younger abilities, Abdusattorov, Duda, Firouzja, Pragggnaanadhaa amongst others. The present situation of ChessBase Journal offers with this huge contest and it additionally showcases the winner, Vidit Gujrathi’s play. However his expertise, few anticipated Vidit to complete within the prime listing of the FIDE Grand Swiss Event, not to mention clinch the title. He stunned each his rivals and chess followers along with his efficiency, 8.5 /11 (+7 -1 = 3). On this situation he annotates his recreation with Predke that enabled to qualify for the Candidates’ and in addition win this event.

Picture: Vidit versus Predke

Supply: https://grandswiss.fide.com/

It’s a superb technical efficiency. I used to be extra drawn to his recreation with Sindarov.

It’s annotated by Anish Giri on this situation.

Whereas Vidit must be recommended for his combinational play, Sindarov additionally must be recommended for his preventing spirit on this recreation.

Nakamura got here second on this event and certified for the Candidates’. Within the following recreation he beats Caruana. It’s fascinating to see how Caruana wards off wave after wave of assault solely to lose ultimately.

Within the Ladies’s Part R.Vaishali (Praggnaanadhaa’s sister) got here first forward of Anna Muzychuk and Tan Zhongyi. Curiously sufficient, her rating was equivalent with Vidit’s within the Open Part, 8.5/11

(+6 -0 =5). She has now certified for the Candidates’ and joins Anna Muzychuk and others who’ve already entered the cycle. On this situation she annotates a key encounter.

A photograph end!

This situation additionally consists of video games from the European Group Championship. It was robust occasion with 38 groups collaborating within the Open part and 32 groups within the Ladies Part. Bulgaria clinched Gold on this Feminine Part forward of Azerbaijan and France.

Within the Open Part Right here Germany and Serbia vied for the primary place. Predke and Sarana led Serbia. Keymer and Svane led Germany. In the long run Serbia clinched gold on account of its superior Sonneborn-Berger rating over Germany. Nevertheless, Serbia got here near dropping the race when it met Greece within the final spherical.

Picture: Greece versus Serbia

Predke misplaced to Theodorou on the primary board. Solely Ivic and Sarana scored over their Greek rivals. Nevertheless, Indjic was outplayed by his opponent at the same time as they raced to make it to the primary time management.

If Kournkouolos-Arditis had gained this recreation, Serbia would have fallen behind by one level and Germany would have gained gold. Of their particular person match with Serbia that they had scored a win.

Picture: Germany versus Serbia

Nevertheless, Serbia had made an excellent effort to attract degree with Germany and had been rewarded ultimately.

One welcome shock was Carlsen’s participation within the occasion. He scored nicely (+5 =3 -0). Nevertheless, his efficiency was not with out adventures. The next recreation turned out to be outstanding.

Bjerre-Carlsen, 2023 (obtain pgn)

Opening movies and surveys

There are 3 opening movies on this situation:

Within the first video Rustam Kasimdzhanov provides an introduction to an uncommon line 5…Nxe4 within the Scotch 4 Knights Recreation,

1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nxe4!?

Within the second video Mihail Marin presents evaluation of a uncommon line within the Spanish, generally known as the Taimanov Variation within the outdated days and now known as the Norwegian Defence on account of its revival by Simen Agdestein, the Norwegian GM. It arose in a recreation performed final 12 months, Puranik-Carlsen, Qatar Masters 2023. It could be seen “reside” right here:

You may additionally try the strikes of the sport earlier than you take heed to Marin’s Demo Lecture:

Within the third video, Luis Engel concludes his evaluation of a brand new line within the Sicilian Najdorf Variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6.6.Rg1!?

Take your decide.

What’s extra, there are as many as 12 opening surveys starting from the Caro-Kann to the King’s Indian. Amongst them I’d single out Petra Papp’s work on the Taimanov Variation (A67). After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Bb5+ Black has at all times confronted issues. Her conclusion is that White is at all times on the highest. As for Black, there is no such thing as a manner of surmounting these issues. One can solely concur along with her except the silicon monster performs a miracle tomorrow and finds salvation for Black.

In recent times gamers who wish to keep away from this line are attempting out a distinct transfer order like 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5. Nevertheless, if White doesn’t oblige with d4-d5 advance, they might find yourself with transposition to the Sicilian or the Semi-Tarrasch.

Amongst different surveys I discovered Sergey Grigoryants’ evaluation of the French Classical Steinitz Variation attention-grabbing (C11).

His principal line runs 1.e4 e62. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Ne2 Qb6 9.Qc1. Right here he analyses 9…f6, Black’s commonplace counter transfer. Maybe a case could also be made for Morozevich’s transfer, 9…g5!?. It has not been seen in OTB video games in recent times. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless performed in correspondence video games.

In addition to opening surveys, this situation has commonplace options on ways, technique and the endgame. Right here I’d make a particular point out of the part, Excelling in Endgames during which Karsten Müller continues his collection of demo. lectures on king and pawn endings. This part additionally provides a column, “Readers write” during which we discover contributions by specialists like Charles Sullivan and Frederick G. Davies. Within the outdated days their analyses associated the endgame. In current days additionally they give attention to later middlegame positions and now and again essential video games from the previous. Thus this column has acquired a person identification of its personal and deserves a separate part.

Right here is the evaluation of a little-known recreation from the London 1922 Worldwide Event. It provides each the unique notes by Geza Maroczy who edited the E book of the Event and in addition annotations from a contemporary perspective by Frederick G. Davies.

Final, however not least, we’ve got Jan Markos’ demo lecture on traps. Sensible recommendation for the event participant.

Summing up

The principle database of the problem has 1582 video games of which 35 are deeply annotated. There’s a lot else on this DVD that deserves to be explored. Other than the gamers I’ve already talked about, the

commentators embrace amongst others. It could be famous that there are extra annotated video games within the opening and coaching sections of this situation. Properly, apply makes good.

Notes

1)There’s extra information. on the FIDE Grand Swiss Event on its official web site:

2) The European Group Championship was reported in CHESS Ja. 2024 and British Chess Journal, December 2o23. I’ve discovered GM Aleksandar Colovic’s commentary on the sport, Kournkouolos-Indjic helpful on this BCM situation. The ChessBase Information Web page additionally carried stories on the ultimate rounds of this essential occasion:

https://en.chessbase.com/submit/european-team-championship-2023-r8

https://en.chessbase.com/submit/european-team-championship-2023-r9

Extra information. On this event could also be discovered on the official web site: https://etcc23.me/

3) The London 1922 Worldwide Event was gained by Capablanca forward of Alekhine, Rubinstein, Reti and Euwe amongst others. The E book of The Event was edited by Geza Maroczy with transient notes. A 21^st Century Version has been revealed by Russell Enterprises: