Die neue Doppelausgabe 08/09 bringt Reportagen und Berichte von den großen Turnieren des Sommers, ausführliche Gespräche, überraschende Eröffnungsideen und Geschichten, die weit über das Geschehen auf den 64 Feldern hinausgehen.
Schachgipfel Dresden
Leonardo Costa und Jana Schneider sind die neuen Deutschen Meister! Der Schachgipfel machte Dresden für fast 2 Wochen zum Zentrum des deutschen Schachs. Jonathan Carlstedt war vor Ort und berichtet vom Kampf um die Titel, den entscheidenden Momenten und der besonderen Atmosphäre eines Festivals, das weit mehr zu bieten hatte als nur die Deutschen Einzelmeisterschaften.
Im Mittelpunkt: die neuen Titelträger GM Leonardo Costa und WGM Jana Schneider.
Biel – im Gespräch mit Matthias Blübaum
Einer der stärksten deutschen Großmeister im ausführlichen Gespräch: GM Matthias Blübaum spricht über Biel, sein Schach und seine Entwicklung.
Ein langes Gespräch mit einem Spieler, der zu den großen deutschen Hoffnungsträgern gehört – und dessen nächsten großen Herausforderungen bereits wartet.
Willy Hendriks: Strahlende Züge
Was macht einen Zug wirklich überraschend?
Willy Hendriks beschäftigt sich mit jenen strahlenden Zügen, die wir lieben – und die vor allem eines gemeinsam haben: Der Gegner hat sie nicht kommen sehen.
Genna Sosonko über „Cheating“
Betrug im Schach ist eigentlich kein Thema zum Lachen. Eigentlich.
Genna Sosonko nähert sich dem „Cheating“ auf seine ganz eigene Weise: scharfsinnig, hintergründig und mit einer gehörigen Portion Humor.
Blohbergers Eröffnungsecke
GM Felix Blohberger präsentiert neue Ideen für die Eröffnungspraxis.
Keine endlosen Varianten zum Auswendiglernen, sondern moderne Konzepte, überraschende Abspiele und Ideen, mit denen man den Gegner früh vor eigene Probleme stellen kann.
SCHACH-Fragen – Dr. Gottfried Braun
Was steckt hinter dem Schachspieler?
In unseren SCHACH-Fragen stellt sich diesmal FM Dr. Gottfried Braun unseren Fragen. Dazu erzählt Rüdiger Bock in Zusammenarbeit mit Dr. Braun die Geschichte hinter einem bemerkenswerten Schachleben.
Naroditsky Memorial
Ein Turnier im Gedenken an GM Daniel Naroditsky. SCHACH berichtet von vor Ort und bringt Eindrücke von einem besonderen Memorial, bei dem sportlicher Wettbewerb und Erinnerung eng miteinander verbunden waren.
Grand Chess Tour Zagreb
Die Weltelite im Schnellschach-Modus und Vincent Keymer mitten drin: Rapid und Blitz der Grand Chess Tour in Zagreb.
Und außerdem:
Kombinationsschule – Taktik zum Mitrechnen und Trainieren
Problemschach – die besondere Welt der Schachkomposition
Rezension – "Classic Amateur Mistakes And How to Avoid Them" auf dem Prüfstand
Terminkalender – die wichtigsten Turniere und Veranstaltungen der kommenden Wochen
A complete and practical repertoire against the Ruy Lopez built around the solid and flexible Deferred Steinitz Variation. This guide equips players with reliable structures, clear plans, and modern insights, while also providing full coverage of the critical Exchange Variation—ensuring you’re prepared for both positional battles and tactical challenges.
Available via subscription
British Chess Magazine (August 2026)
Seizing the Initiative: The 1.e4 Repertoire presents a complete 1.e4 repertoire for White built on active, purposeful chess. The emphasis is on high-reward lines that create pressure, generate attacking chances and force Black onto the defensive, without compromising soundness at a serious level of play.
Combining ambition with sound judgement, GM Gawain Maroroa Jones offers a thorough revamping of his acclaimed Coffeehouse Repertoire. This first volume focuses exclusively on meeting the Sicilian Defence with a cohesive, practically dangerous and theoretically trustworthy set of weapons. Volumes 2 and 3 will complete the repertoire.
Gawain Maroroa Jones is an English grandmaster, three-time British Champion and winner of the 2020 European Blitz Championship. He has defeated some of the world’s best players using the ideas recommended in this book.
The brainchild of 19th century Welsh seafarer and inventor, Captain William Davies Evans, The Evans Gambit has long enjoyed a reputation for daring and adventurous play. Arising after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4!, the Evans Gambit forces Black to navigate stormy seas from the outset.
IM Andrew Martin takes you on a journey through the ages, showing how the Evans Gambit was used by the leading players of the Victorian era, before being moulded into a deadly weapon by Garry Kasparov, and subsequently by modern-day grandmasters who have proved its validity in the computer era.
With additional chapters providing similarly active and aggressive ideas against Black's main alternative tries after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, this book is the ultimate guide for 1.e4 players looking to take the fight to their opponents.
Andrew Martin is a FIDE Senior Trainer and International Master. He is a popular chess writer, presenter and commentator, renowned for his ability to clearly communicate vital ideas to club and online players.
The second volume of Sergey Voronkov's epic psychological biography of the fourth world champion covers the period in which Alekhine played his strongest chess and was at his most dominant. The author draws on contemporary publications from countries throughout the world to craft a living history of Alekhine's thoughts, feelings, activities and career, as though viewed in a film.
The journey now takes us to his first years of exile in France, major international tournaments on both sides of the Atlantic, his rivalries with Rubinstein and Nimzowitsch, his training match with Euwe, the drama and tension of three world championship matches with Capablanca and Bogoljubov, and a host of simultaneous displays in the Americas, Europe and Asia. One area explored in particular detail is Alekhine's psychological approach to the match with Capablanca and how he adapted his style to win it.
84 games and fragments are presented, including 46 never before published in books, using contemporary commentary from the protagonists themselves and other well-known players, writers and journalists of the period. Extended commentary by Euwe, Nimzowitsch and Kmoch is prominent. The annotations are supported by modern engine analysis from International Master Dmitry Plisetsky.
This work is supplemented by over 100 photographs and drawings, many of which are also published in a book for the first time.
All the regular features of the UK's best-selling CHESS magazine and more! Regular features include: How Good is Your Chess? by GM Daniel King, Saunders on Chess, Find the Winning Moves, Never Mind the Grandmasters..., Studies, Home & Overseas News, Forthcoming Events Calendar and Book Reviews.
In this issue:
Editorial
Malcolm Pein on the latest developments in the game
60 Seconds with...Szymon Gumularz
We learn a little about the Polish Champion, who took on Gawain Jones
A Match and Two Norms!
Jonathan Arnott reports on some high-quality chess in Sheffield
Forthcoming Events
How Good Is Your Chess?
Daniel King on the talent, rise and potential of Yagiz Erdogmus
How to Beat a Grandmaster
Paul Littlewood recalls the attacking prowess of his father, John Littlewood
Trying to Understand the Lasker-Reichhelm postion
Neil Hickman continues to investigate the theory of corresponding squares
Find The Winning Moves
A bumper 33 puzzles lest you’re feeling rusty and about to play this summer
The Immortal Enigma
John Henderson grapples with a very (in)famous game, Anderssen-Kieseritzky
ChessFest in Pictures
A visual recap of the goings on at the UK’s largest one-day chess event
Is the Ratings System Broken?
Ben Graff explores why ratings matter and whether the system is working
Genius Ideas
Geoff Chandler never passes by a charity shop
Night Clubbing
Edinburgh’s Keith Ruxton on the evolution of the second-oldest chess club
Never Mind the Grandmasters
Carl enjoyed a simul given by the Editor in Kenilworth, including a notable defeat
Don’t Like Licking Stamps
Mike Donnelly recalls two strong OTB players suffering at correspondence
An Unsung Hero
Neil Pennock looks back on the Scarborough Chess Festival of 1926
As Easy as ABC: Part II
Junior Tay continues his coverage of Matthias Blübaum’s antidote to the Catalan
Overseas News
Success for Alireza Firouzja, Danny Gormally and Mukhiddin Madaminov
Home News
Andrew Greet retained his Scottish title and Surrey the County Championship
Solutions
This Month’s New Releases
Sean Marsh very much enjoyed Salo Flohr: From Chess Fighter to Chess Writer
Saunders on Chess
John on Charles Wreford-Brown, chess, soccer and the World Cup
Play Winning Chess is an enthusiastic introduction to chess that will transform you into a veritable gladiator of the chessboard.
Yasser Seirawan begins by explaining piece movement, chess notation, the rules of play and basic tactics. His examples, question-and-answer sections, psychological hints, and lively sample games help you learn strategies and play aggressively while having fun. Discovering how to engage in clever attacks and subtle defenses will take you beyond the thrill of competition into the realm of creative art.
Play Winning Chess is exuberant and conversational, enlivened by personal anecdotes and fascinating historical details.
The entire Winning Chess series is fully revised with a modern, fresh layout.
Yasser Seirawan, born 1960, is a 4-time US Champion, and 13 times US international, representing the US first time in the 1980 Chess Olympiad, and last time at the 2011 World Team Championship, where he won a personal silver medal and defeated Polgar and Mamedyarov.
In his long career he managed to defeat six World Champions: Smyslov, Tal, Spassky, Karpov, Kasparov, Topalov and Anand. His highest World Ranking was no. 4 in 1982.
In the last decade he has mostly worked as a live commentator for top level events, such as the US Championship and the Grand Chess Tour.
Yasser Seirawan knows winning chess.
Set yourself up for success by understanding the art of the chess opening
Chess Openings For Dummies helps beginning and intermediate chess players improve their game by making the first few moves count. With a strong opening, you can dictate the flow of the game, control the center, and keep your king safe. This book shows you how to make tactical early moves that put you on a strong footing for the rest of the game. Chess master James Eade shares his expert knowledge for coming out triumphant in open, semi-open, closed, and semi-closed games. Plus, you'll discover the perks of advancing with flank openings and learn the major mistakes to avoid. Learn the importance of online competitions, computers, and faster-paced chess events and their impact on the game. In language anyone can understand, this Dummies guide helps you gain a strategic advantage in chess.
• Discover the most effective openings for open and closed games
• Advance your game with new and advanced opening techniques
• Learn why certain openings have become more popular―and why you should use them
• Gain the upper hand in the first few moves and keep opponents on their toes
Looking to improve your chess openings? Chess Openings For Dummies makes it easy.
Want to play chess like a champ? Dummies can help.
From Netflix's “The Queen’s Gambit” to podcasts, virtual and mobile gaming, and beyond, chess is back in a big way. But, with all those kings, queens, and knights, chess can be a royal pain to grasp. Chess For Dummies is here to help beginners wrap their minds around the rules of the game, make sense of those puzzling pieces, and sharpen their chess strategy such that even Paul Morphy would be impressed. You’ll learn the laws of chess, its lingo, and engage in the art of the attack with the easy-to-follow, step-by-step explanations found in the latest edition of Chess For Dummies.
Whether you’re playing chess online, in a tournament, or across the dining room table with a family member or friend, this hands-on guide is sure to capture your interest (and your opponent's queen), getting you up to speed on the game and its components and giving you the know-how you need to put the principles of play into action from the opening to the endgame.
• Grasp the rules of play and the nuances of each phase of the game
• Familiarize yourself with the pieces and the board
• Pick the perfect chess set and chessboard for you
• Get to know each of the pieces and their powers
If you feel like you’re in a stalemate before you even begin a game, Chess For Dummies is your guide to forcing moves, raking bishops, and skewering your opponents like a true champion.
English edition. We also offer a Dutch edition.
Godfried Vos — the hero of The Sponsor, Part I — uncovers a sinister plot: the Mafia is preparing an attack on the legendary chess festival in Marostica.
Together with blind detective Gino Cancellara, he sets out to expose the truth behind the so-called Fourth Mafia, a ruthless network of drugs traffickers across Europe.
Their investigation leads deep into Italy’s hidden history, where the secret Masonic lodge P2 and the clandestine Gladio network once operated as a state within a state. The landscape of The Sponsor II still bears the scars of the brutal World War II battles fought between Fascists and the Allied forces — battles whose consequences echo into the present.
Against this charged backdrop, Godfried and Gino risk everything to confront organised crime. Their shared passions — chess, history, and Italian cuisine — thread through the narrative, giving this literary thriller a unique atmosphere and emotional depth.
A special appendix includes detailed analyses of the chess games featured in the story, as well as recipes for the authentic Italian dishes enjoyed by the protagonists.
Fred Das is an international entrepreneur and property developer who is also a keen chess player. Having sold his business, he is now also a part-time stay-at-home father.
Jeroen Terlingen is a former trade union journalist and editor at Vrij Nederland, as well as a journalism teacher. He now writes books, makes films and teaches courses.
Are You Ready for a Strong, Dynamic Line against the French?
For some reason, many chessplayers feel a little uncomfortable when facing the French Defense. They search for active lines against this popular black reply to 1.e4. The Monte Carlo Variation of the French might be just what fits the bill.
The line begins 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.c4. It is worth mentioning that many other openings, including such diverse ones as the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, the English, the Petroff, etc., may also reach this position. The author, Ukrainian-French Grandmaster Vladimir Okhotnik, has had this variation in his repertoire for over 50 years and, by his own count, has played it in more than 200 serious tournament games. He now shares his extensive experience in this line.
For the most part, the Monte Carlo Variation has not been covered very well in chess literature. In fact, this is the first book devoted exclusively to this variation. Thorough coverage of positional concepts as well as tactical prospects make this a must-read for both Black (how to navigate the narrow path to equality) and White (how to maximize the pressure on the opponent). If you are looking for a strong, dynamic line against the French, go exploring with the author and look no more.
Ukrainian-French Grandmaster Vladimir Okhotnik won the Ukrainian Championship in 1979. He has won the World Senior Championship twice. Previous books include Carpathian Warrior, vols 1 & 2. This is his first book for Russell Enterprises.
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