Link of The Month January 2006
Chess Today Newspaper
Review by Michael Blake
For the hottest news, cool down with Chess Today!
Chess news is everywhere on the Internet, there is so much of it that for many of us, knowing where to begin can be quite daunting. Chess Today has provided me with a reliable source of great news and informative analysis and is heartily recommended to you. Chess Today is not only the first daily electronic newspaper on chess but also a great way to obtain high quality games analysis and a few puzzles to solve.
The newspaper is circulated daily via email and to date I have found no problem with this method of delivery. The newspaper arrives as three files, first you have the Adobe Acrobat formatted newspaper (Acrobat Reader is a free program and opens the files) Secondly you also receive the games and analysis as an additional Chessbase file, thirdly for those unable to open Chessbase files, all games are also provided in the popular PGN format.
The three files are tremendous value and edited by top class players and well known chess authors. The file size is typically in the region of 150kb and will download very quickly on a 56k modem. Almost every issue has at least one well-annotated game and 1-2 tactical puzzles, each issue also features the latest top class chess news on a daily basis! You will also be treated to instructional materials, book reviews, interviews and cartoons. This venture deserves to succeed and it is for that reason I have chosen Chess Today as our site of the moment in May 2004.
GM Alexander Baburin began the newsletter in November 2000 and is well supported by editors and journalists. Chess Today has readers all around the world - in USA, Canada, Australia, Asia and in most European countries.
Players rated 1500+, who are serious about chess, will benefit from the paper most. Subscription price is modest: £11 for 3 months, £25 for 6 months and £45 for a year. If you are considering a subscription to Chess Today, you might like to visit the site and take advantage of the free sample copies.
The opinions above are personal to the author.
