British Chess Magazine : June 2009

Cover photo: Ketevan Arakhamia beat British champion Stuart Conquest at the 4NCL final weekend

4NCL Final Weekend - the showdown between the leaders and the 2007/8 champions went down to the wire. Action, stats and photos, supplied by BCM editor John Saunders.
FIDE Grand Prix - there’s no doubt that Levon Aronian is on a hot streak at the moment but Peter Leko gave him a run for his money in Nalchik. Lubosh Kavalek annotates.
Venice 1950: Bob’s Breakthrough - Bernard Cafferty looks back at a tournament where the late Bob Wade first made his mark in European chess.
Read the June 2009 new book reviews

Speelman on the Endgame • The Kavalek File (with Lubosh Kavalek) • Easter Congresses • Games Department (with IM Sam Collins) • Spot The Continuation • News in Brief • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Problem World (with David Friedgood)
 

British Chess Magazine : May 2009

Cover photo: Akopian wins at the Melody Amber

Melody Amber - Peter Doggers was in Nice to see the famous rapidplay/blindfold tournament unfold. There were quite a few blunders – but also plenty of brilliancies.
Speelman - Jonathan Speelman also looks at the South of France event, with particular reference to the famous (notorious?) two knights versus single pawn endgame.
European Individual Championship - BCM engaged a new writer, IM Lorin D’Costa, to cover the action in Budva, Montenegro. Lorin was also playing, but this extra task didn’t spoil his chances – far from it, as he achieved a grandmaster norm.
Read the May 2009 new book reviews

Games Department (with IM Sam Collins) • Chess Questions Answered (with Gary Lane) • Test Your Chess (with Shaun Taulbut) • FIDE Ratings, April 2009 • Spot The Continuation • News in Brief • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Endgame Studies (with John Beasley)
 

British Chess Magazine : April 2009

Cover photo: Alexander Grischuk wins Linares

Linares - Magnus Carlsen played the most beautiful chess – but he didn’t finish first. Ian Rogers was in the Spanish town to see Russian ‘super-sub’ Alexander Grischuk lift the trophy.
Who Dares Wins! - Topalov and Kamsky played off in Sofia for the right to challenge Vishy Anand. The pundits got the result right but not its manner. Ian Rogers tells all.
Speelman on the Endgame - the top English GM focuses on the world champion’s endgame wizardry in Linares.
Read the April 2009 new book reviews

Gibtelecom Festival, Gibraltar (continued) • Games Department (with IM Sam Collins) • Speelman on the Endgame • 2009 Varsity Match • The Kavalek File • Test Your Chess (with Shaun Taulbut) • Spot The Continuation • News in Brief • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Problem World (with David Friedgood)
 

British Chess Magazine : March 2009

Cover photo: Sergey Karyakin won the Corus Wijk aan Zee tournament

Corus - in the absence of Anand, Topalov and Kramnik, Karyakin came through to win. Ian Rogers was there to witness the chess – and a couple of controversies.
Raaphy Persitz - BCM’s popular columnist (of Student’s Corner fame) has died – John Saunders, Leonard Barden and Amatzia Avni pay tribute to a great chess lover.
Test Your Chess - Shaun Taulbut brings back an old favourite. You know how it works: figure out the grandmaster’s next move and add up your points.
Read the March 2009 new book reviews

Gibtelecom Festival, Gibraltar • Games Department (with IM Sam Collins) • Speelman on the Endgame • Spot The Continuation • News in Brief • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Endgame Studies (with John Beasley)
 

British Chess Magazine : February 2009

Cover photo: Igor Kurnosov, victor at Hastings

Hastings - a good line-up of Brits this year, but still the East Europeans took the first prize. Yet, as always, there was a lot of very entertaining chess played there.
4NCL - we cover the December and January weekends of the new-format British League. With one round to go of the preliminaries, most of the issues are settled – or are they?
Conversations - to talk or not to talk (while you are in play, that is). Bernard Cafferty considers the ethics of talking during play.
Read the February 2009 new book reviews

Chess Questions Answered (with Gary Lane) • Speelman on the Endgame • Games Department (with IM Sam Collins) • Spot The Continuation • FIDE Ratings, January 2009 • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Problem World (with David Friedgood)
 

British Chess Magazine : January 2009

Cover photo: Bob Wade (1921-2008)

Dresden Olympiad - once again the rating list was turned upside down as Armenia took the gold medals and Russia disappointed. Ian Rogers annotates some of the best games.
Dresden Rules - OK? - Ian Rogers appraises the drastic rule changes made at the so-called ‘Reform Olympiad’, including the controversial default time arrangements.
Bob Wade (1921-2008) - John Saunders pays a personal tribute to the late, great chess all-rounder, with photos and reminiscences.
Read the January 2009 new book reviews

Dresden Women's Olympiad • Speelman on the Endgame • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Endgame Studies (with John Beasley) • Eight-page index for 2008
 

British Chess Magazine : December 2008

Cover photo: Vishy Anand beats Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn

World Championship - Kramnik finally won a game but it was too late to turn the tide. Ian Rogers wraps up coverage and conducts a fascinating interview with the winner.
Half a Century Ago - John Saunders looks back at chess in 1958 and finds that, even in those seemingly calmer times, controversy raged in the chess world.
Meandering Through Books - Bernard Cafferty compares and contrasts chess books written by EGR Cordingley and PG Wenman.
Read the December 2008 new book reviews

The Kavalek File • Speelman on the Endgame • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Chess Questions Answered (with Gary Lane) • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Problem World (with David Friedgood)
 

British Chess Magazine : November 2008

Cover photo: Vishy Anand beats Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn

World Championship - most pundits expected a cagey, cautious match between Kramnik and Anand – but so far it has been one-way traffic as the great Indian chalks up three wins without reply. Ian Rogers was in Bonn to see the match that has astounded us all.
4NCL - the British Team League format has been revamped to cater for more teams in the top divisions. There were some surprises and much exciting chess at the season curtain-raiser.
Russian Championship - Peter Svidler seemed to be streaking away from the field with some dazzling chess, but some of the younger guys got back on terms with him.
Read the November 2008 new book reviews

European Union Ch’ship (Part 2) • Bilbao Grand Slam (Part 2) • FIDE Rating List - October 2008 • Speelman on the Endgame • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Endgame Studies (with John Beasley)
 

British Chess Magazine : October 2008

Cover photo: Jan Werle wins the European Union Championship

EU Championship - one of the strongest tournaments ever held in Britain took place in Liverpool last month as part of that city’s Capital of Culture celebration. BCM’s editor John Saunders was on hand to see Jan Werle claim first prize for the Netherlands, ahead of some big names.
Tal Memorial - Vladimir Kramnik made his last appearance before his match with Vishy Anand but it was Vasyl Ivanchuk who took the honours in an exciting event.
Women’s World Championship - not all the qualified players made it to Nalchik, but in the end Alexandra Kosteniuk was crowned the new Queen of Chess.
Read the October 2008 new book reviews

Bilbao Grand Slam (Part 1) • Games Department (with Jack Rudd) • Chess Questions Answered (with Gary Lane) • Speelman on the Endgame • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Problem World (with David Friedgood)
 

British Chess Magazine : September 2008

Cover photo: Stuart Conquest wins the British Championship

Biel - for a while it looked as though Magnus Carlsen would continue his winning ways but then the script changed, not once but twice. Ian Rogers was present to witness the twists and turns.
British Championship - Stuart Conquest is the new champion. Jonathan Rowson and Stewart Reuben comment on the non-appearance of the Scottish challenge.
Staunton Memorial - Simpsons in the Strand once again hosted this splendid event, sponsored by Dutchman Jan Mol. And once again Michael Adams triumphed.
Read the September 2008 new book reviews

FIDE Grand Prix, Sochi • Mainz Chess Classic • World Junior Championship • Speelman on the Endgame • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Endgame Studies (with John Beasley)
 

British Chess Magazine : August 2008

Cover photo: Vasyl Ivanchuk wins the MTel Masters in Sofia

Aerosvit Foros - BCM’s man in Ukraine, Mikhail Golubev, was on the spot to see Magnus Carlsen’s spectacular tournament success at the super-tournament in Foros.
Games Department - three times British champion Jonathan Rowson is this month’s guest annotator, with a superb game from his recent tournament victory in Sardinia.
Dortmund - Vladimir Kramnik usually wins in Dortmund but the former world champion came horribly unstuck this year. Peter Doggers reveals what happened.
Read the August 2008 new book reviews

• Speelman on the Endgame • South Wales International (by Jack Rudd) • Karen Asrian Memorial Rapidplay • FIDE Rating List, July 2008 • Chess Questions Answered (with Gary Lane) • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Problem World (with David Friedgood)
 

British Chess Magazine : July 2008

Cover photo: Vasyl Ivanchuk wins the MTel Masters in Sofia

MTel Masters - Vasyl Ivanchuk came to Sofia and showed he had not read the script by depriving Veselin Topalov of his fourth successive triumph. Ian Rogers annotates Ivanchuk's games.
Bosna Sarajevo - Morozevich worked his magic at the traditional tournament in Bosnia, leaving a strong field gasping in his wake. Some superb attacking chess...
Boris Spassky - BCM’s editor John Saunders went to Wales to hear the chess legend talk about life, chess and Fischer – and ask what he thought of our venerable mag. All is revealed!
Read the July 2008 new book reviews

• Speelman on the Endgame • The Kavalek File (with Lubosh Kavalek) • Letter to the Editor • King’s Tournament, Bazna • Bronstein: Genius of Attack (by Efstratios Grivas) • Games Department (by Danny Gormally) • Coulsdon Easter Tournament • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Endgame Studies (with John Beasley)
 

British Chess Magazine : June 2008

Cover photo: Harriet Hunt at the 4NCL

4NCL Final Weekend - no surprises at the British Team League’s season finale: Guildford-A&DC teams finished first and second. But there were some excellent games played.
Heroes Day - Grandmaster Keith Arkell has returned to active duty after a break from tournament chess. Recently he had the chance to sample chess in the Caribbean. Lucky man...
Stockholm Ladies - England women’s no.1 Harriet Hunt recounts her experience when she was invited to take part in a well-funded women-only event in Stockholm.
Swindle in Durham - Danny Gormally pulls off a wicked swindle against his friend David Eggleston at the recent Durham Congress. With friends like that...
Read the June 2008 new book reviews

• Speelman on the Endgame • European Individual Championship • FIDE Grand Prix, Baku • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Problem World (with David Friedgood)
 

British Chess Magazine : May 2008

Cover photo: Michael Adams, winner of the Ruy Lopez tournament in Merida

Ruy López, Mérida - Michael Adams put his reputation on the line when he played in a tournament commemorating Ruy López in the Spanish province of Extremadura, but he came through with flying colours. And the old Spanish opening was prominent in the play.
The Kavalek File - Lubosh Kavalek presents a selection of recent brevities from around the world, featuring important theoretical developments.
Congress Round-Up - chess is alive and well and being played all over the UK. John Saunders takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the Easter congresses and other recent events.
Read the May 2008 new book reviews

• Speelman on the Endgame • Russian Team Championship • FIDE Ratings, April 2008 • Melody Amber Tournament • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Endgame Studies (with John Beasley)
 

British Chess Magazine : April 2008

Cover photo: Vishy Anand, winner of the Morelia/Linares tournament

Morelia/Linares - Vishy Anand did most of the hard work in Mexico and took things easy on the tournament’s transfer to Spain. Ian Rogers reports from the ringside and also comments on fifteen ways to lose a chess game.
Speelman on the Endgame - Jonathan Speelman also focuses on Morelia/Linares, in the shape of a fascinating struggle between Peter Leko and Vishy Anand.
Fischer Reflections - a whole host of British chess personalities pay tribute to the late champion and his influence on their chess careers.
Read the April 2008 new book reviews

• Corus Wijk aan Zee ‘B’ Section • 4NCL, January and March 2008 • Chess Questions Answered (with Gary Lane) • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Problem World (with David Friedgood)
 

British Chess Magazine : March 2008

Cover photo: Magnus Carlsen, joint winner of the 2008 Corus Wijk A tournament

Corus Wijk aan Zee - the younger generation displaced their elders this year, but not by much. Magnus Carlsen was front runner for the first half but was then pegged back by Leko and Anand. But he still fought back to share first with Levon Aronian. Ian Rogers reports.
R.I.P. Bobby Fischer - the American genius had a bigger influence on chess worldwide than any other player in history. But he means different things to different people. We present a tribute to the former world champion as seen by contemporaries such as Lubosh Kavalek, Lajos Portisch and Peter Lee, plus comments from some of the countless players that he inspired.
Read the March 2008 new book reviews

• Gibtelecom Masters • Speelman on the Endgame • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Endgame Studies (with John Beasley)
 

British Chess Magazine : February 2008

Cover photo: Bobby Fischer (1943-2009)

Hastings - not a vintage year as regards the battle for first place (more of a pillow fight, actually) but there is much entertainment to be had from games up and down the field. John Saunders summarises the action, while Steve Giddins takes us through the games.
FIDE World Cup - so in the end it was ‘Kome-Back Kid’ Kamsky who won. All the action from the semi-finals and finals is wrapped up by Ian Rogers.
Russian Super-Final - the super-champion of all the Russias is ‘Super-Moro’ – Alexander Morozevich started unconvincingly but then went on a ‘Fischer streak’ the like of which has not been seen for years. We put his games under the microscope.
Read the February 2008 new book reviews

• Speelman on the Endgame • Mihail Marin on Portisch (Part 2) • Chess Questions Answered (with Gary Lane) • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Problem World (with David Friedgood)
 

British Chess Magazine : January 2008

Cover photo: Gata Kamsky and Alexei Shirov contest the final of the FIDE World Cup

FIDE World Cup - 128 players (and a few camp followers) trekked to Siberia in the middle of winter to play a knock-out chess tournament. They must be completely mad. Ian Rogers helps to make sense of the chess while Gulag survivor Tara MacGowran (i.e. Michael Adams' wife) shows us the pictures. Brrr!
Portisch 3, Marin 0 - the first of three articles by Romanian grandmaster Mihail Marin on his three games against the great Hungarian, Lajos Portisch. Inspiring!
Tal Memorial - dethroned champion Vladimir Kramnik was back to his absolute best form in Moscow as he utterly dominated a field of fellow 2700+ rated players. Steve Giddins puts the tournament under the microscope.
Read the January 2008 new book reviews

• Speelman on the Endgame • 4NCL, November Weekend • British Rapidplay Championship • Games Department - (with Sam Collins) • News in Brief • Spot The Continuation • Quotes and Queries (with Chris Ravilious) • Endgame Studies (with John Beasley)
 

British Chess Magazine
Subscription Rates 2009 for First-Time / Junior Subscribers

ARE YOU A FIRST-TIME SUBSCRIBER TO BCM? OR AGED 18 OR LESS? THEN CLICK ON ONE OF THE BOXES BELOW. IF YOU HAVE SUBSCRIBED BEFORE AND WISH TO RENEW, PLEASE USE THE TABLE ABOVE.

Note: as a first-time subscriber, or if you are aged under 18, you save £16 on the one-year subscription rates listed above.

FIRST-TIME SUBSCRIBERS / JUNIOR ONLY

UNITED KINGDOM

£26.00

EUROPE (Airmail)

£29.00

REST OF THE WORLD (Airmail)

£33.00

BCM Binders:

BCM Cordex Binders are another good way to store your magazines, month-by-month, for easy reference. The binders are red with British Chess Magazine embossed in gold lettering on the spine. Each has 13 'cords', which exactly fits a full year's magazine plus index.

Price £7.00 each (postage £1.00, overseas £2.00)