Yearbook 122: Chess Opening News

This Yearbook 122: Chess Opening News is a quarterly chess opening theory magazine that brings together current analysis, practical novelties and less obvious repertoire ideas. It is aimed at players, coaches and ambitious club players who want reliable material for opening preparation and repertoire building.

This issue goes beyond a simple survey of popular lines. It combines current opening news, practical novelties and unusual ideas that can be useful at the board, making it valuable for both targeted preparation and broader study.

What’s inside this issue?

Yearbook 122 covers opening theory for 1.e4, 1.d4 and selected side systems, with contributions from experienced authors and grandmasters. Inside you will find:

• 1.e4 openings: Najdorf Sicilian (6.Bg5, 6.a3, 6.Nb3, 6.Be3), the Rossolimo with 3...g6, early 2...b6 lines, the Tarrasch French with 3...Be7, the Caro-Kann with 4.h4, the Neo-Arkhangelsk Spanish with 6...Bc5, the Arkhangelsk with 6...Bb7, and the 6.d3 line.
• 1.d4 openings: Catalan lines with 6...dxc4, several important Queen’s Gambit Declined lines, the Slav Defence, Rubinstein’s Nimzo-Indian with 4...b6, the Grünfeld with a fianchetto, the King’s Indian Defence with a fianchetto, and the Richter-Veresov with 2.Nc3.
• Other systems: English Opening lines with the reversed Sicilian and 2...Bb4, symmetrical variations, and two approaches to the Réti Opening after 1...d5 2.c4.

Authors and practical value

The issue includes regular columns by former US champion Joel Benjamin and Russian grandmaster Alexey Kuzmin, who coached world champion Anatoly Karpov. It also features opening-book reviews by English GM Glenn Flear, adding a wider perspective on current opening literature and tournament practice.

That mix of analysis, commentary and reviews makes Yearbook 122: Chess Opening News useful for opening preparation, coach-led study, independent work and tournament preparation. It is a practical way to follow changes in opening theory and look for new ideas for your own play.

Opening exercises

The magazine also includes more than 75 practical opening exercises, designed to test your understanding of plans, typical responses and key moments in the opening. They add an active study element for readers who want to work through the material rather than only read the analysis.

Key details

• Product type: chess opening theory magazine
• Issue: 122
• Series: New In Chess Yearbook
• Publication frequency: quarterly
• Content focus: chess opening theory and practical opening news
• Exercises: more than 75 practical opening exercises
• Authors: contributions by grandmasters and experienced authors
• Book reviews: opening-book reviews by GM Glenn Flear