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The rules are simple - send us your questions and see them featured in the weekly Q&A column!
Q1: Let say you are playing in a tournament and there are players there that use the
same opening, but the difference is that one player is much stronger than the other. Let's
say in that tournament you have a strong idea or novelty against the opening used
by both players. You have play to play the weaker player first, would you use that
idea or novelty against that weaker player or save it later for the stronger player? A1: Nowadays the openings are being explored so quickly that it doesn't make much sense to hold off certain novelties. Get your point today before someone else does it tomorrow. Also, there are less "crushers" as opposed to the pre-computer era where you could find a move that changes the evaluation of the position from lost to won. Chess engines have changed the way we treat chess.
Q2: Have you encountered John's Nunn's "Chess Puzzle Book"? For a mere mortal like
me, the problems are very hard, but for a GM like you,would that book not give you
trouble of finding the solutions? A2: I haven't read this book, but I am sure the problems there should be sophisticated since Dr. GM Nunn is the reigning world chess problem solving champion. I also love solving chess studies, and there is a certain correlation between playing strength and the ability to solve problems (the stronger the player, the faster he untackles the problems). However, the opposite is not true. Some of the top problem solvers in the world are below master level in practical chess.
Q3: At GM or master level, is it really necessary for them to always prepare a novelty
for a match? A3: It's very important to be able to get a position that you like and the opponent doesn't. Such matches as Kasparov-Kramnik and Anand-Kramnik have been decided by luring the opponent onto one's home turf, making him feel uncomfortable, disappointed and helpless. Therefore, it's not a matter of knowing some magic moves in certain positions (as the public tends to think), but comprehensive opening systems aimed at outplaying the opponent.
Q4: When I play white with my PC I play really very good against a 2300-2400 Elo. But
when I play black I feel that my level decreases from +2200, to 2000 (or a bit less).
Is it "normal"? Do you feel it too? What should I do? A4: This is not normal at all. Most people score better with White than with Black, but the gap is normally within maybe 100 points. It's hard to imagine someone playing at master level as White, and at expert level as Black (as in your case). Could it be that you are playing inferior openings against the computer over and over again and losing game after game? The first step you should take is carefully analyse your games against the computer and search for repeating patterns to avoid making the mistakes in the future. If you get a slightly better position with White and a slightly worse one with Black, you should score about equal.
Q5: What chess literature have you been using for preparation before? And what about now? A5: Some time ago I compiled a non-comprehensive list of chess books that have influenced me a lot. Nowadays the most common types of chess literature that I'm reading are: 1) books on specific types of positions (e.g. with hanging pawns) 2) tactics and endgame studies 3) books that authors ask me to review 4) chess magazines (New in Chess, 64 Review, etc.) 5) other good chess books. Nonetheless, nowadays one has to spend more time analysing positions with the computer than shuffling through books' pages.
Q6: My rating used to be about 2000. I haven't had a chance to play otb for a few years, but have had extensive correspondence experience. I will be soon playing in a tournament, so what goal should I set before myself? A6: Generally speaking, it's VERY hard to return to otb play after quitting it for a few years, especially if you have practiced correspondence chess at that period. My advice would be not to be too hard on yourself. It is not possible to set Herculean goals under such conditions. Just make sure you prepare well psychologically, physically and in the chess sense. Try to enjoy the game and see how it goes. After finishing the tournament and diagnozing your weaknesses (that you may not be aware of since you didn't have them back then), you can find out where you are at and proceed to goal-setting and creating a new training plan. Good luck at the tournament!
Q7: When playing against the World right now, do you rely on your positional understanding, or follow the advice of chess engines? A7: Do not underestimate the power of the human brain. I prefer playing my own moves unless they are quickly refuted by the engines. I take a look at the position and find some ideas/plans. Then I try to implement them on the board. Sometimes it runs into a tactical refutation (computers are good at that). If not, then I just play my move without caring what the "best line" provided by the silicon beast is. Also, this is much more entertaining than simply comparing what different engines at different depths are suggesting without thinking about it yourself or learning something new. After all, the World is playing me, not my laptop.
Also, there are less "crushers" as opposed to the pre-computer era where you could find a move that changes the evaluation of the position from lost to won. Chess engines have changed the way we treat chess.
I prefer playing my own moves unless they are quickly refuted by the engines. I take a look at the position and find some ideas/plans. Then I try to implement them on the board. Sometimes it runs into a tactical refutation (computers are good at that). If not, then I just play my move without caring what the "best line" provided by the silicon beast is. Also, this is much more entertaining than simply comparing what different engines at different depths are suggesting without thinking about it yourself or learning something new. After all, the World is playing me, not my laptop. 
