Blog Profile / The Chess Mind

The New Website is Up!

As I mentioned some time ago, PowerBlogs is shutting down, permanently, on November 30, so I've had to pack my bags and find new lodgings. The new location is here,...

Tal Memorial, Round 2: Five More Draws

While today's games weren't as impressive as yesterday's, they had their moments. Even so, the players ended the round where they started the tournament: in a ten-way tie for last place....

This Week's ChessVideos Show: Viewer Games, Episode 10

Every so often ChessVideos viewers will submit games or questions for discussion, and the resulting shows are often especially valuable. It's important to see master and grandmaster play - to see...

Tal Memorial, Round 1: 5 Draws

But very good draws! Carlsen-Kramnik in particular was a thriller, but Morozevich-Leko had its high points, and none of the other games could be described as dull. If the play continues...

The 2009 Tal Memorial: First Round Pairings

Thanks to the many readers, who have already provided them in the notes to this post. For those who aren't comment-browsers or are brand new to this site, here's what...

This Week's ChessBase Show: Lombardy-Fischer, US Championship 1960

Tomorrow, Magnus Carlsen makes his debut as a 2800 in the Tal Memorial, and it's not much of an exaggeration to say he has taken the chess world by storm. Although...

The 2009 Tal Memorial Starts Tomorrow

The participant list looks like this:...

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave: World Junior Champion

Sergei Zhigalko led or co-led from round 4 all the way to the finish, but despite this it was Maxime Vachier-Lagrave who the World Junior Championship title on tiebreaks. From rounds...

The Daily Update: Anand Drubs Karpov; Zhigalko Regains World Junior Lead

The only drama there would be in the Anand-Karpov match was whether Anand would exceed Kasparov's 3-1 ratio against Karpov, and the answer is that yes, he did. Anand won 2-0...

Tactics Time: Tasty Morsel, or Poisoned Pawn: The Solution

Yesterday I offered this position, from a 1944 battle between future world champion Mikhail Botvinnik and one Abram Khavin:...

Kasparov-Karpov, Paris Edition, is Cancelled

New Ratings: Real and Live

Those are two different ratings: the "real" ones are the ones that count, those of the international chess federation (FIDE). The live ones are those generated by 2700s and up on...

The World Junior Championship: Tied Again!

And yes, it's the usual suspects. Once again, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sergei Zhigalko are tied for first, both with 9/11. Zhigalko only drew with Andreikin, but Vachier-Lagrave beat Alex Lenderman (darn...

Tactics Time: Tasty Morsel, Or Poisoned Pawn?

Here's the position after White's 23rd move in the game Botvinnik-Khavin, USSR Championship 1944:...

The Daily Update: Anand Leads Karpov, Zhigalko Leads World Junior

The first two games of the Anand-Karpov rapid match are now history, and they've gone about as one would expect: Anand won with White, then drew with Black. Games 3 &...

Notre Dame 40, WSU 14

And it wasn't even that close!...

Notre Dame vs. Washington State U.: The Beating is Just Underway

World Junior Championships, Round 9: The Dynamic Duo Continue to Lead

For almost the entire tournament, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sergei Zhigalko have been tied for first, and it's still true after round 9. The former defeated David Howell and the latter Li...

Not Enough Chess Videos? Try ChessLecture.com

Yes indeed: this is shilling, but for a reason: I'm now one of ChessLecture.com's video presenters. It is a site requiring subscription, but with it you have full access to...

Azerbaijan Wins European Team Championship

And this is largely thanks to Daniel Stellwagen, who shockingly lost a drawn rook ending to Gashimov in the sole decisive game of the Azerbaijan-Netherlands match. As Russia could only draw...