ChessBase Magazine Extra 231

Opening videos

Nico Zwirs: Russian experiments at the 2026 Candidates Tournament

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nd3/4.Nc4

Matthias Bluebaum relied on the Petroff with Black at the 2026 Candidates Tournament. On two occasions, his opponents deviated from the main line after 3.Nxe5 d6, placing the knight on unusual squares: Caruana chose 4.Nc4 and Praggnanandhaa went for 4.Nd3. In both games, White gained the upper hand. Nico Zwirs has taken a closer look at these encounters and, in his video, examines the advantages and disadvantages compared to the variations following the typical 4.Nf3.

Robert Ris: Caro-Kann Attack Variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Bb5

As a 1.e4 player – particularly in blitz or bullet games on the server – one is increasingly encountering the Caro-Kann Advance Variation with 3...c5. Normally, White continues with 4.dxc5, but in his video Robert Ris examines the sub-variation 4.c3. After 4...Nc6 5.Bb5 the starting position of his analysis is reached. The IM from the Netherlands examines all relevant responses by Black: 5…Bf5?, 5…e6, 5…Qb6, 5…cxd4 and the main line 5...Qa5. In his analysis, which lasts almost 40 minutes, Ris presents exciting and completely new ideas across many variations! And against the main line, he recommends 6.Ba4 cxd4 7.b4 Qb6 8.a3!? – a pawn sacrifice that promises excellent practical opportunities!

“Special”

Fiona Sieber: A surprise weapon against the Najdorf

In her video contribution, Fiona Sieber first looks back on her own practical experience with 6.Nb3 in the Najdorf Variation. Our author then provides an almost half-hour-long overview of the theory. She begins by examining the main line 6…Nc6 7.Be3 e6 8.g4 h6 9.Qe2 with the typical play on opposite flanks. The Grandmaster then takes a look at the various alternatives for Black on the sixth move, including 6…e6, 6…g6, 6…e5, 6…Nbd7 and 6…b5.

“Lucky Bag”: Analyses by Surya Ganguly, Erwin l’Ami, Nikita Vitugov and many more.

Extra #231 delivers 40 annotated games from a wide variety of tournaments in the “Lucky Bag”.

And the Update Service delivers over 50,000 new games for your database! Included are games from almost all the world’s top players.

The games from the Update Service are also included in the Mega Update Service 2026, which can be used with a current ChessBase programme (and a corresponding subscription).