The Battle for Britain | 04 April 2020
Miscellaneous
Saturday
Bridge | 4 April 2020
I’m finding it harder than I thought to concentrate while playing bridge online. And not just because my two children are constantly at home. No, my worst distraction turns out to be… myself. Until now, I’ve never fully appreciated the importance of sitting patiently while you’re dummy. Often, I’ve found myself wishing it wasn’t considered rude to read a magazine or stretch your legs when a hand is taking ages. During my first ever online game last week — a Young Chelsea duplicate with Peter Taylor — I took full advantage of my invisibility. Whenever I was dummy, I would reply to an email, or fetch a snack; at one
Wednesday
With Andrew Doyle
17 min listen
On the latest episode, Andy and Benedict talk to comedian and author Andrew Doyle, the brains behind the Twitter persona ‘Titania McGrath’. Andrew explains just why he’s so suited to self-isolation, the politicisation of coronavirus, and which quarantined celebrities he feels most sorry for.
About Wine Club and our partners
The Spectator Wine Club is a club without sub. In fact it isn’t really a club at all, since no membership is required; no proposing, no seconding and no minimum order. Our nine merchant partners – Armit Wines, Corney & Barrow, FromVineyardsDirect, Honest Grapes, Mr Wheeler, Private Cellar, Swig, Tanners and Yapp Bros – represent the cream of the UK’s independents and boast centuries of experience between them. They all have particular areas of expertise and stock wines that you would never be able to find on the supermarket shelves or local off-licence. It works like this: I taste a range of 20 or so wines from each merchant, whittle
Tuesday
With Camilla Fayed
20 min listen
Camilla Fayed is an entrepreneur, restaurateur, and daughter of Mohamed Al-Fayed, former owner of Harrods department store. On the podcast, she talks to Lara and Olivia about her childhood love of Finnish cuisine, interning in the Harrods kitchens, and Farmacy, her vegan restaurant chain.
Saturday
The slow puzzle movement
I could list all manner of things I don’t try, because I know I won’t like them, like skydiving and revolting cocktails. But there’s another list of things I don’t try, knowing I might like them just a bit too much. ‘Puzzle Rush’ was, for some time, in the second category. Chess.com is one of the websites where people go seeking out internet games, and their release of ‘Puzzle Rush’ in late 2018 was an instant hit. The challenge is to solve as many chess puzzles as you can in five minutes. The puzzles get gradually harder, and after three strikes, you’re out. It goes to show that even games
No. 597
A puzzle used in the solving championship, composed by Vittorio de Barbieri in 1918. White must give mate in two moves, against any defence. It is tempting to use the long diagonal directly, but the solution is more subtle: look for a move without a direct threat. Answers (first move only) to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 30 March. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address. Last week’s solution 1 Rhf3! breaks the pin. 1… exf3 2 Rxe7 Bxe7 3 Qe6 and White won.Last week’s winner Robin Murfin, Lyme Regis, Dorset
2450: Titled Men
The unclued lights consist of one author, two titles and four characters; ignore one accent. The titles (three words and five words) are pairs. Across 6 50% caught in large-scale disease outbreak (8)12 Get everyone out of Aleppo, due to lunatic taking over (10)13 Rolls makes an impression (9)14 Killer gets into motor car (4)15 Wherein somehow I see the cold? (8, two words)17 Vagrant’s absolutely not bonkers (5)21 Eccentric work about witch being an old ass (11)22 Isn’t conscious, so zones out (7)24 Who supplies seashells essentially? (3)26 Aim for boundary (3)28 Geneticist analysed sockeye salmon, not finding mace so different (7)33 Sink sailor at end of voyage (5)35
The Battle for Britain | 28 March 2020
Bridge | 28 March 2020
It was impossible to imagine, when I filed my column a fortnight ago, that I would be writing this one in a new and totally unrecognisable world. All places of social activity have been closed, which of course includes bridge clubs, and all games, leagues and tournaments have been postponed ‘until further notice’. The last event to take place was the trials for the World Bridge Games due to be held in August in Salsomaggiore. Eight teams competed over three days and two would qualify for the two-day final. Those two teams were Black and Phoenix and I don’t think anyone would argue that Black was the favourite. But these
Songs to wash your hands by
In Competition No. 3141, you were invited to submit a song we can sing instead of ‘Happy Birthday’ during hand-washing. Congratulations all round: this challenge produced a cheering entry — funny, varied and drawing inspiration from far and wide; from the Knack’s ‘My Sharona’ to the Hokey-Cokey. Commendations to David Silverman, Frank Upton and Nick Syrett. The winners earn £25 each. And now the peak is near, So wash your hands with soap and water. My friends, I’ll say it clear, We wash our hands because we oughta. We’ve lived a life that’s free With many friends who all desire us; But now it’s time to kill Coronavirus. We
2447: No small matter solution
BIG, the solution at 21D, can be associated with the ten unclued lights. First prize Elizabeth Shorter, St Austell, CornwallRunners-up John Fahy, Thaxted, Essex; Roger Theobald, Laverstock, Salisbury
Saturday
Bridge | 21 March 2020
Bridge is obviously another casualty of the coronavirus. Clubs have closed their doors; tournaments have been cancelled; championships have been postponed. Safety, of course, comes first. But for many of us, the prospect of life without the constant challenge and stimulation of the game, or the companionship of our fellow players, is pretty miserable. There is a silver lining, though: we can still play and practise online. In fact, I intend to do a lot of it — especially bidding with my regular partners. Thank God for BBO (Bridge Base Online)! To keep our bridge brains sharp, we can also browse through BBO’s Vugraph archives and re-live the action of
Candidates goes ahead
Coronavirus is causing chess events to fall like dominoes, with cancellations all over the world. But the Candidates tournament in Yekaterinburg, which selects a challenger for the World Championship, is still standing. The first round took place on Tuesday 17 March. It goes ahead without Teimour Radjabov, from Azerbaijan, whose request to postpone the event was denied by Fide, the governing body. Emil Sutovsky, Fide’s director-general, pointed to the size of the event (just eight players) and a number of sanitary measures that will be instated. (Larger events have been cancelled or postponed). But a photo of a packed auditorium at the opening ceremony looks distinctly at odds with a
No. 596
White to play. Shirov–Yuffa, Nutcracker Battle of the Generations, Moscow 2020. The rook on f7 is pinned, and 1 Rxf8+ Qxf8+ costs White the rook on h3. How did Shirov turn the tables? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Tuesday 24 March. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a -postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1…Rd7! 2 Nd6 Rxd6! 3 exd6 Qe1#. Instead 1…Qxb7? 2 Rc7, provoked resignation as Rxf7 and Qxh7 mate will follow. Last week’s winner Boris Alperowicz, South Nutfield, Surrey
2449: Stateless
Eight thematic words (one of two words), which solvers have to discover and whose two-letter abbreviations form the anagram I’M IRISH-CAVAN-YORK, do not appear in the grid, as the title suggests, but each can be linked with one of the unclued lights. Two unclued lights are of two words, another includes an apostrophe and a fourth is hyphened. Across 1 Petty to conceal TV (11, two words)7 Quarrel about sovereignty (3)13 Wonky furniture, if left out, becomes more wonky (7)15 Girl having the same name – new one (5)16 Sprinkle last bit of pepper into casserole (5)17 Ethnic artist spies on learner (6)18 Backs around 8s (5)20 He imposes taxes
The secret lives of poets
In Competition No. 3140 you were invited to submit a poem in the style of a famous poet in which they make a surprising confession. It’s elbow-bumps all round this week: an excellent entry. Douglas G. Brown reveals the raciness (gin; trollops) that lurks beneath Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s high-minded exterior. Nick MacKinnon exposes the jolly, ‘Kumbaya’-singing side of misery guts Larkin. And E.E. Cummings fesses up, via Christopher Davies: it’stime(i came clean)my typewriter(is)broken. Commendations to Peter Mills, Paul A. Freeman, David Silverman, P.M. Davidson and Lachlan Rurlander. The winners earn £25 each. Breathes there a man with mind so prim That he would ne’er indulge the whimOf borrowing his lady’s
2446: Spring time solution
The omitted letters reveal SATURDAY THE TWENTY-NINTH OF FEBRUARY TWENTY TWENTY. First prize Lewis Osborne, Newton Mearns, Glasgow Runners-up G.H. Willett, London SW19; Ian Graham, Holt, Norfolk
Wednesday
Win Afternoon Tea for 4 at one of 5 Luxury Family Hotels
We’ve teamed up with Spectator Life’s Best Coastal Hotels to offer our valued subscribers the chance to WIN a limited edition ‘edible garden’ Beatrix Potter-inspired afternoon tea available until 31st March. With beautiful character inspired options for both grown-ups and little ones worth £25 per adult and £12.50 per child. Perfect for Mother’s Day, winning aside! Teas will be served at your choice of the following Luxury Family Hotels’ properties: · Fowey Hall Hotel, Fowey, Cornwall (as featured in Spectator Life’s article) · Moonfleet Manor, Dorset (also featured in Spectator Life’s article) · New Park Manor, New Forest · The Ickworth, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk · Woolley Grange Hotel, Bradford-on-Avon
